A heated exchange broke out in the Senate on Tuesday after Kakamega Senator Bonni Khalwale alleged that the removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) was politically motivated.
Khalwale told the chamber that Sifuna faced the move because he opposed the government’s direction and refused to support the broad-based administration. Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu, however, challenged the claim, saying it remained unsubstantiated.
The fiery lawmaker, colloquially known as Bullfighter, argued that Sifuna’s position did not appear consistent with how other senators who also supported the opposition had been treated. Khalwale said, “If the problem of Edwin is that he’s supporting the opposition, if that is the crime, why is Wambua still in position, and he’s also supporting the opposition?”
He also said Parliament and its committees should operate independently, without political interference from outside the House.
“Let Parliament function and let committees work. Let the best among us chair committees,” he added.
Nyamu immediately raised a point of order, asking the Speaker to direct Khalwale to stop tying changes in committee leadership to outside political influence without offering evidence.
She said such leadership changes follow parliamentary procedures, not external political pressure. Temporary Speaker Catherine Mumma agreed and ordered Khalwale to refrain from making allegations unless he could back them up.
The ruling, however, failed to cool the tempers in the chamber. Khalwale dismissed Nyamu’s intervention as a bid for publicity, saying it aimed to raise her political profile.
“However much Senator Karen Nyamu attempts to draw the attention of the people of Nairobi to herself by attempting to respond to me, the people of Nairobi know that even if she’s given 100 years, she would not be able to rise to the occasion to match the contribution that we have made on the political landscape of this country,” he said.
Nyamu then rose again on a point of order, arguing that Khalwale had used parliamentary privilege to belittle women leaders. She told the Speaker that he was using the House to insult and intimidate women, and she demanded that he withdraw the remarks.
“Madam Speaker, Bonni Khalwale is using this House to insult and intimidate women. It is such a shame. He did that to Senator Tabitha another time; today it’s me. Address yourself to the issue that I have raised,” she said.
Temporary Speaker Catherine Mumma urged Khalwale to avoid casting aspersions on the abilities of fellow legislators and to stick to the issue before the House.
Khalwale later adjusted his remarks, saying he had no intention of damaging Nyamu’s reputation. “But she can’t interrupt my flow of thoughts and expect to get away with it just like that,” he said.
Nyamu Accuses Khalwale of Blocking Her Mining Bill
With the matter settled, senators resumed debate on the day’s business, including the Mining (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Nyamu.
The nominated UDA senator later accused Khalwale of mobilizing colleagues to block her legislation. She said Khalwale had backed efforts to reject her proposed mining bill and added that some older senators believed only they could introduce progressive legislation in the House.
“Today, Bonni Khalwale, senator, I don’t know what he has against me. He has championed people to shoot down my bill on mining. The entitlement with these older senators who think that they are the only ones who can bring a progressive bill to this House,” she said.
The Mining (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to amend the Mining Act to give local communities a stronger role in mining activities and to increase their share of mineral royalties. Mumma then directed Nyamu to either substantiate her claims against Khalwale or withdraw them.
Nyamu responded that she had witnesses and said she would challenge Khalwale to take part if he wanted to compete with her for the Nairobi Woman Representative seat.
“I have witnesses in this House, and I want to tell Senator Bonni Khalwale, if he wants to come and vie for Nairobi Woman Rep with me, he’s free to do so,” she said.
She also told the House that women legislators should carry out their duties without intimidation.
“But if he wants to go low, Madam Speaker, we know how to go lower,” she said.
Khalwale did not respond to Nyamu’s allegations during the debate, and there was no immediate reaction from him by the time of publication.
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