Okiya Omtata explains why he betrayed Raila and voted for Speaker Amason Kingi
Activist Omkiya Omtata was among the Azimio la Umoja senators who voted for Speaker Amason Kingi.
Mr Omtata – who is serving his first term – said that he chose Mr Kingi because he believes he was the most suited candidate for the race.
“I’m a member of the National Reconstruction Alliance. I will guard my autonomy jealously. I will vote on issues and on conviction. I will not be whipped to vote on anything,” said Mr Omtata.
Mr Omtata’s decision to vote for Mr Kingi went in contravention with the other Azimio la Umoja Senators who on Thursday, September 8, 2022 walked out of the Senate just before the process of voting for the speaker kicked off.
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The Senators stormed out of the Senate just moments after the clerk, Jeremiah Nyengenye announced that Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka had withdrawn from the speaker’s race.
The clerk announced that via a “letter reference WDM/SEM/GC 2022, his Honorable Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka withdrew his candidature of the speaker of the senate and will not appear on the ballot paper.”
Narok Senator, Ledama ole Kina and his Kisii counterpart Richard Onyonka led the Azimio allied leaders in the protest.
“We also have integrity issues of candidates running for speakership of the house. Nominated senators were only put on gazette late yesterday hence disenfranchising them yet they are also qualified to vie,” said Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang.
Mr Kingi, won the seat with 46 votes in an exercise that was conducted shortly after senators allied with Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition staged a walk out. He was sworn in shortly after.
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