A heated debate was witnessed on Friday during a Senate sitting with the subject being Nairobi Senator Mike Mbuvi Sonko following his persistent absenteeism from committee sittings.
The Senator name featured prominently during a Senate session with Speaker Ekwee Ethuro calling for his punishment and terming him a "persistent offender".
The debate began after Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti sought the speakers direction on a matter that Sonko had raised in regards to the Standard Guage Railway land compensation. The matter had been deferred a couple of times due to the Sonko's constant absence in the floor of the house.
The issue even led to a formation of two factions whereby some were for the issue to discuss despite Sonko's absence while some wanted the issue dropped until Sonko appears in the house.
Migori Senator Wilfred Machage wanted the issue dropped since Sonko was not in, to respond.
"We had set a precedence to guard against a situation where members asked questions then they disappear," recalled Machage.
However, Senators Stephen Sang, Moses Wetang’ula, George Khaniri and Boni Khalwale insisted that the matter should be debated since Sonko is a chronic absentee.
"There was tradition set before but now the Senate has set a different one. Once the information was been tabled in the House, it is of interest to everybody. If the member is consistently not available, the statement should be read instead of being dropped," said Sang.
"Let's not sympathise, the Senator is constantly absent. He is a persistent offender. The Nairobi senator is not always around, let's allow the statement be read so we can interrogate it," Wetangula affirmed.
The Senators told Speaker Ekwee Ethuro to punish chronic absentees in the house to serve as a corrective disciplinary measure.
However, Sonko has until Tuesday to appear before the Senate as the matter was yet again deferred to 19 July.