Senator Ledama Olekina: Why My Name was Dropped From State Honours

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina now claims that his name was expunged from the list of Kenyans set to receive state honours during the 59th Jamhuri Day celebrations because of his conduct at the Bomas of Kenya during the announcement of the presidential election results in August 2022.

He argues that the least the committee should have done was to prompt him on the latter and allow him a right of reply to defend himself. 

"I was involved in the process, I was called and told that I have been nominated, to share my information and everything. The Joint Secretariat on Conferment of Honors should have written back to me and said there has been a petition that has been raised on your matter, you should come and defend yourself," he said.

The legislator believes that he was pulled from the list by the Kenya Kwanza team led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, accusing them of "being so petty."

"I was nominated to receive honours of the Chief of the Burning Spear because of my work and my position in Parliament by the Joint Secretariat. But because of the incident at the Bomas of Kenya, a petition was engineered and I was removed from the Kenya Kwanza team led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula who sat there and said that I caused mayhem so I should not be honoured," he said.

Olekina further argued that his alleged conduct should not be sufficient grounds to deny him a national honour, arguing that there are Kenyans who have been feted while having pending cases in court including President William Ruto.

"It then beats the question, other people have been taken to Hague like the President and he is an (EHG) Elder of the Golden Heart and (CGH) Chief of the Golden Heart," he said.

"And in 2007 Ruto was asking the same question I am asking now bet because of being petty and letting power get into your head you know say that you will not honour him for the work."

The political firebrand says that he rightly deserves the award, noting that everyone else who has sat into his position as the deputy Minority Whip in the Senate has been honoured with the same.

He ends the interview by defending himself against the allegations levelled against him regarding the chaos witnessed at Bomas. "Everybody saw what happened. I never caused any violence at Bomas," he said.

However, Olekina was not the only member who missed out as other members whose names were on the parliamentary list of nominees did not appear on the final gazetted list from President Ruto.

The members are; Senate Deputy Majority leader Tabitha Keroche who was nominated for a Moran of the Golden Heart (MGH) medal, Senate Minority leader Stewart Madzayo ( Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart, EGH) and Deputy Senate Majority Whip Lelelgwe Ltumbesi (Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear, CBS).

National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge was also nominated for a Chief of the Oder of the Burning Spear (CBS).

President Ruto feted 483 Kenyans on Monday at State House, Nairobi, for their outstanding service to the nation in different capacities.