Senate demands apology from Senators Beatrice Kwamboka, Mary Seneta for nasty catfight

Nominated Senators Beatrice Kwamboka and Mary Seneta will be forced to apologise to fellow Senator after the Powers and Privileges Committee in the Senate found them guilty of lowering the dignity of the house.

The two Senators exchanged blows two months ago during election of the Health Senate Committee.

The two had differed on who to support for the vice chairs’ position.

Reports say the matter was escalated to the Powers and Privileges Committee chaired by Speaker Kenneth Lusaka; with the senators appearing for a hearing whose verdict was released on Tuesday.

The committee reports that the two members were found culpable of “conducting themselves in a manner which, in the opinion of the Committee, reflected adversely on the dignity and integrity of Parliament and its Members and was contrary to the best interests of Parliament and its Members.”

And now,  the two members will be forced to apologize to all members of the senate on the floor of the house before they are allowed to participate in any house business.

“Accordingly, the Committee of Powers and Privileges recommends that pursuant to section 17(3)(b) and (c) of the Powers and Privileges Act, Sen. Beatrice Kwamboka, MP and Sen. Mary Seneta, MP, be reprimanded for breach of privilege and be ordered to apologize to the House from the Bar by reading a written statement of apology approved by the Speaker.” The report concludes.

While appearing before the committee Kwamboka an ODM nominated member had claimed that she was provoked into the physical confrontation by Seneta after they exchanged words.

Elsewhere, Seneta had expressed regret at what had transpired, saying they have continued working well together with Kwamboka even after the incident.

The incident was reported to the committee by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) which noted the “allegations constituted serious ethical issues that would amount to a serious breach of the integrity and ethical requirements governing the conduct of State officers as laid out under Chapter Six of the Constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, the Public Officer Ethics Act, 2003 and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017.