Dramatic scenes ensued in the Senate on Wednesday, February 19, after Senators Samson Cherargei and Edwin Sifuna clashed over the alleged abduction of Ugandan politician Kizza Besigye in Nairobi, Kenya.
Things took a turn for the worse after Nairobi Senator Sifuna rose to welcome lawmakers from Uganda present in the chambers and condemned the abduction of Besigye in the Kenyan capital.
“It is something that causes me personal pain and embarrassment as the Senator of Nairobi that Dr Kizza Besigye is facing the things that he is facing right now, including an illegal and unconstitutional court martial because he was abducted in my own city of Nairobi,” Sifuna stated.
Besigye was reportedly abducted on Saturday, November 16, 2024, in Nairobi. According to his wife, Winnie Byanyima, the politician went missing while in Nairobi to attend the launch of Martha Karua’s memoir, Against the Tide.
Expressing his disappointment with the situation, Sifuna further assured the Ugandan delegation of Kenya’s continued support in securing Besigye’s release.
However, Cherargei, standing on a point of information, criticised Sifuna for commenting on the matter, arguing that it was before the court. Typically, matters before the courts are not supposed to be discussed on record.
Cherargei termed Sifuna’s actions an embarrassment to the Upper House, triggering a verbal exchange between the two senators, who were elected through opposing political factions.
Mr Speaker, is it in order for us to discuss an active case in another jurisdiction—Kizza Besigye’s case, which is being considered in the High Court of Kampala? Our standing orders are clear that when a matter is before the court, it should not be discussed, Mr Speaker,” Cherargei asserted.
“You (Sifuna) are embarrassing the Senate by speaking about such matters!” the Nandi senator added.
The heated exchange between the two senators escalated, forcing acting Speaker Kathuri Murungi to intervene before the situation spiralled out of control.
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