Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has been removed as chairperson of the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee after members unanimously passed a vote of no confidence against him on Wednesday.
Committee members accused Osotsi of failing to consult them and making unilateral decisions in running the watchdog panel.
Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera, who moved the motion, said the decision was driven by dissatisfaction with Osotsi's leadership rather than political considerations.
"As members of the committee, we felt we needed to address the conduct and the way the chairperson had been running the affairs of the committee. There is nothing much about politics. It was an opportunity for the committee to put its house in order,” Chimera said.
Osotsi, however, dismissed the move as politically motivated.
“My removal is political. We all know that. They are persecuting other leaders and me for rejecting the broad-based government,” Osotsi said.
“This is a political witch-hunt,” he added.
Osotsi said his removal could not have been based on performance, arguing that the committee had performed well under his leadership.
“This committee has handled several reports, management of special funds as well as hospitals, amongst others,” he said.
The vote came a day after the Senate Business Committee reshuffled the committee's membership, removing both Osotsi and vice chairperson Eddy Oketch.
Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma, who joined the committee during Tuesday's reshuffle, is widely expected to take over the chairmanship.
According to Chimera, Osotsi did not attend Wednesday's meeting at Parliament Buildings despite being formally invited to defend himself before committee members.
Chimera said members had become increasingly frustrated with Osotsi's leadership, saying the committee was being run as though it were a personal office rather than a collective oversight body.
"The senator has been running this committee like personal property. On many occasions, he failed to consult the membership on decisions affecting the committee. You would wake up to meetings having been postponed without prior consultation," Chimera said.
"It was always his way or the highway. Members felt there was no sense of collective responsibility. We need a team player who listens to all members so that the committee can move together."
He said the committee's work requires consensus and teamwork because of its oversight role over county investments and special funds.
"This is an oversight committee that needs a lot of teamwork and collective responsibility. Members felt they had had enough and wanted another chairperson who would collectively steer the committee," he said.
Chimera said the committee complied fully with the Senate Standing Orders governing the removal of committee leadership.
"Before moving the motion, I confirmed that he was not willing to appear before the committee. We wanted to observe the rules of natural justice, but after he declined to attend, we proceeded in his absence," he added.
The committee is expected to convene within the next seven days to elect a substantive chairperson and vice chairperson, in line with the Senate Standing Orders.
Wednesday's decision is the latest setback for Osotsi, who has been among opposition senators critical of the broad-based government.
The County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee is one of the Senate's key watchdog committees.
It examines audit reports on county corporations, investment entities and special-purpose funds and oversees accountability in the use of public resources by devolved units.
