Sonko impeachment splits senators on Twitter

Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi) and Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni).

The impeachment of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko seems to be creating fireworks in the Senate even before the case is received by Speaker Ken Lusaka.

On Friday, senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni) and Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi) gave Kenyans a sneak preview of what to expect in the House when they took to Twitter to size up each other ahead of the expected duel.

Provoking Mr Kilonzo Jr, the Elgeyo Marakwet senator accused his Makueni counterpart and Siaya Senator James Orengo of being unreliable when a “call from above” is made.

“Governor Sonko's impeachment mirrors Waititu’s. It is State sponsored. 2/3 threshold not achieved. Fraudulent figures announced.

Impeachment is procured by force. Luckily Sonko has documented evidence well but don’t rely on Orengo and Mutula with a call from above can do anything,” tweeted Murkomen.

But it did not take long before Mr Kilonzo Jr hit back at the former Senate Majority Leader, calling him a siren.

“Mutula and Orengo again. You have become a siren,” the Makueni senator tweeted in response to the accusations by his counterpart.

But Senator Murkomen hit back saying, “You are right bro. I want to be the siren of truth. The siren of fairness. The siren of justice.”

However, it took the intervention of Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja to calm the situation from escalating further by calling for a ceasefire. “Wacheni,” he urged the two with a time-out GIF of US rapper Snoop Dogg. Mr Sakaja’s mediation worked as the two stopped attacking each other.

Tweets

“Tell your friend not to drag my name into his tweets. Nimetulia kwa tent yangu,” tweeted Mr Kilonzo Jr.

“Relax. This is a compliment considering your position as de facto majority whip. Had I mentioned Kang’ata, he would have blessed my M-Pesa account,” Mr Murkomen tweeted in response.

Interestingly, the two were in Governor Sonko's corner in December last year when he was facing a Sh357 million corruption charges.
Mr Sonko was on Thursday impeached with 88 MCAs voting in support of his ouster with only two opposing the censure motion.

Senator Murkomen, however, differed with the resolution of the MCAs hinting at contravention of the law in the process.

“One of my proudest moments in the Senate was the day I opposed the impeachment of Governor Waititu. It’s important to always do the right thing in and out of season. You may not like Waititu or Sonko but the rule of law is important,” he said.

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina replied, “Mountains inspire leaders, valleys mature them! - WC - democracy on trial! His defence must be prepared very well.”