Busia County senator Okiyah Omtatah has denied claims that he has shifted his allegiance to Kenya Kwanza, after voting in former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi as the new Senate Speaker.
Omtatah was among 10 Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Alliance senators who voted for Kingi, defying their colleagues who walked out in protest.
"I voted for you but that does not mean that I joined Kenya Kwanza. I’m a member of the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) and I will guard my autonomy jealously. I will vote on issues and on conviction; I will not be whipped to vote on anything," said Omtatah.
46 Senators voted to elect Amason Kingi as Senate Speaker in the first round of voting that requires 45 (two-thirds) of the House.
Azimio Senators that joined Omtatah in voting for Kingi
Azimio Senators Johnes Mwaruma (Taita-Taveta), Joseph Githuku (Lamu), Mohammed Faki (Mombasa), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Issa Boy Juma (Kwale), Abdulkadir Mohamed Haji (Garissa), Prof. Malachy Ekal (Turkana), Fatuma Adan Dullo (Isiolo), and Jubilee Nominated Senator Kamar voted for Kingi to be Speaker.
