Ex-UDA Secretary General Veronica Maina Replaces Keroche as Senate Deputy Majority Leader
Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja Keroche has been removed as the Senate Deputy Majority Leader, with Nominated Senator Veronica Maina elected to replace her in a leadership change that takes immediate effect.
Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi announced the changes on Wednesday, following a resolution by the Senate Majority Party to remove Keroche from the position.
In a communication to the House, Kingi said he had received a letter dated November 3 from Senate Majority Whip David Wakoli, notifying his office of the changes in the Majority Party leadership.
The letter was accompanied by minutes of the party meeting held on Tuesday, November 3, and a duly signed list of senators supporting the resolution.
Kingi said the decision to remove Keroche was made in accordance with Standing Order 22(5), which provides that an elected office holder in the Senate Majority Party may be removed through a majority vote of all senators belonging to the party.
"I have verified the correspondence received and hereby communicate that the Majority Party has effected a change in the Office of the Deputy Senate Majority Leader. The new office holder, with immediate effect, is Sen. Veronica Maina, CBS, MP," Kingi said.
The changes come weeks after Keroche publicly announced a political shift from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), declaring her intention to align herself with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
On October 9, while addressing supporters, the Nakuru Senator said she had listened to voters' concerns about the government's performance and would pursue her political ambitions under the DCP.
"Look at me. Can’t you see even the ring is green? Even those watching can see everything is green. Isn’t that true? Even the clothes, isn’t that true? Therefore, we are going to fight for that seat with DCP," she said.
She also questioned whether the government had met the expectations of Kenyans who voted for it in the 2022 General Election, citing the rising cost of living and the price of basic commodities.
Keroche, who previously served as the Deputy Senate Majority Leader, is the founder of Keroche Breweries and was elected Nakuru Senator in the 2022 General Election.