A heated session unfolded in the Senate yesterday morning as members of the Azimio la Umoja Senators staged a walkout following the dismissal of a motion seeking to censure Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria over his attacks on the media.

The Senators expressed their concerns over allowing CS Kuria to address the House while a motion of censure was pending, fearing that he would take advantage of the opportunity to absolve himself of the accusations.

Leading the protest, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna sought clarification on the grounds for allowing CS Kuria to address the House despite the motion filed on June 19.

Senator Sifuna voiced his apprehensions, saying, "My fear is that the CS is going to use this privilege of appearing before the Senate to cleanse himself of the accusations contained in that motion."

"We in the minority side are objecting to his presence in this House and seek guidance on whether his presence here today to the dispense of this motion is prejudicial to the same motion," Sifuna added.

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Sifuna's sentiments were echoed by Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, a former journalist, who described the attacks on the media as personal and painful.

Wambua expressed his concerns about a public servant facing a motion of censure being granted the opportunity to address the House on matters within his docket.

"To allow a Cabinet Secretary to use the floor of this House to sanitize himself over accusations of abuse and insults directed at media houses is a painful thing for me," Wambua stated

However, Speaker Amason Kingi ruled in favour of CS Kuria, citing the failure of Senator Sifuna to follow the proper procedure in filing the motion, thus rendering it inadmissible.

"Pursuant to Standing Order number 60 that addresses on matters motion, a Senator first, before moving a motion, they must file a notice of motion and before you move it the first thing you do is to take to the clerk a copy of the proposed motion," Kingi explained.

"Thereafter the clerk is required to submit it to the Speaker and the Speaker, using certain parameters as guided under Standing Order 63, the Speaker guided himself in order either to admit that particular motion or to rule it inadmissible."

As he had not received any motion, Speaker Kingi declared Sifuna's argument out of order and allowed CS Kuria to address the House.

"As far as I am concerned I have not seen the proposed motion that Senator Sifuna has submitted on. Therefore having not seen it it cannot be a subject of discussion on the floor of the House today," the Speaker said.

"What we are doing is anticipating debate contrary to Standing Order 99. I, therefore, rule that Senator Sifuna you are out of order because your argument breaches order 99 and you are anticipating debate. I will therefore allow the CS to proceed to respond to the question as asked by Marsabit Senator."

Following Speaker Kingi's ruling, the Azimio-aligned Senators staged a walkout, causing a temporary halt in the proceedings due to a lack of quorum.

The Senators left the chambers, expressing their dissatisfaction with the decision and the perceived disregard for their concerns.

The walkout demonstrated the Senators' strong objections to the proceedings and their determination to hold CS Kuria accountable for his alleged actions.

The motion to censure CS Kuria remains unresolved, leaving future actions and repercussions uncertain.

As the Senate reconvenes, it is expected that further discussions and deliberations will take place regarding the motion and the manner in which it was dismissed.