Senate Temporarily Suspends Sittings Due to Power Blackout - Sifuna

Parliament
Blackout at Senate on May 9, 2024.
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The Senate on Thursday, May 9, was forced to suspend its sittings due to a power blackout. 

This was announced by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna who did not explain if the Parliamentarians would stream back to the House in the event the blackout ended during sitting hours.

"We have had to suspend sittings of the Senate because there is no power in Parliament," Sifuna revealed. 

Immediately after the power went off, the Senators were forced to revert to their smartphone flashlights.

Senate
The Kenyan Senate.
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Senate of Kenya

This did not work out as expected as legislators started shouting and poking fun at each other.

Members of the opposition started chanting "Ruto Must Go" with members of the ruling party responding with "Raila Must Go."

The blackout occurred at a time when select members of the National Assembly were also at Parliament Buildings debating the impeachment motion seeking to hound out Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi from office.

Curiously, members of the opposition did not chant "Linturi Must Go" in relation to the investigation revolving around the CSs handling of the fake fertiliser case.

A week ago, Members of the National Assembly made the chant moments before approving the motion to impeach the Agriculture Minister.

It was not reported why the Senate did not use a backup generator after the power blackout. 

Parliament not only uses power for general lighting but also for audio and live streaming of proceedings. 

Kenya Power did not immediately respond if the power blackout was part of routine maintenance in the area.

Kenya Power staff at work
Kenya Power staff attending to a transformer during a past maintenance exercise in Nairobi County.
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Kenya Power