How Ruto survived the censure motion: Inside power politics

Agriculture minister William Ruto decisively beat back an attempt to have him censured by Parliament over the mismanagement of maize stores. Mr Ruto got the support of 119 MPs to defeat the motion brought by Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale which was supported by only 22 MPs.

Four decided not to vote. The vote reflected more the complexities of the politics of the day than the merits of the motion.

Cabinet was split with Justice minister Martha Karua joining those against her Cabinet colleague while Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi supported Mr Ruto.

Displays of temper

Similar divisions emerged at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday where ministers clashed in the presence of President Kibaki.

Mr Ruto had clearly built sizeable support ahead of the debate. His supporters raised numerous points of order in an encounter full of emotion and displays of temper.

Dr Khalwale (New Ford-K) was unable to exhaustively move the motion because of interruptions from MPs on the opposition benches who appeared to be totally against it.

Kimilili MP Simiyu Eseli (Ford-K), who seconded the motion, told the House that he had been threatened in the precincts of Parliament by fellow lawmakers when he declared that he was going to support the motion. Education assistant minister Kilemi Mwiria was accused of supporting the motion because of personal interests allegedly because he was denied maize by the minister.

It was the day of reckoning for Mr Ruto whose management of maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board is said to have caused a shortage of food.

Dr Khalwale faced hostility from MPs who were sitting behind him on the opposition benches as he rose to move the motion. The Ikolomani MP said the House in its history had passed two motions of censure in former Agriculture ministers. The ministers were Paul Ngei in 1965 and John Osogo in 1979.

“Those of us who love the Republic of Kenya, those of us who love the future of our children, and the welfare our society will not wait for a revolution. Matters of hunger affect us all,” he said amid boos from MPs.

Not a personal attack

The New Ford-K MP said the motion was not a personal attack on the minister but a query on the manner in which he had handled the maize issue leading to the shortage. This, he said, had forced the country to seek Sh36 billion to save 10 million Kenyans facing hunger.

“At the end of this motion, the House will have to take a vote. This House will either vote for the welfare of the minister to keep his job or the welfare of hungry Kenyans. This vote is between Hon Ruto and innocent Kenyans who are starving,” he argued. His attempts to display in the House pictures of people faced with starvation were stopped by Mr Maalim.

Dr Khalwale was interrupted several times by assistant ministers Aden Duale, Charles Keter, MPs Millie Odhiambo (Nominated, ODM), Musa Sirma (Nominated, ODM), Olago Aluoch (Kisumu Town West, ODM), Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu, ODM), David Koech (Mosop, ODM) and Julius Kones (Konoin, ODM).

They challenged him to explain his motives for moving the motion. He was also pressed to explain claims that maize was exported to Sudan, selling of subsidised maize, the role of people linked to the minister and the failure to sack managers of the cereals board.

Dr Khalwale accused Mr Ruto of importing only 1.5 million bags of maize instead of the three million bags; raised the question of 6,500 tonnes of maize held at the port and the alleged allocation of maize to favoured millers. The MP said since the forensic audit ordered by the Prime Minister were investigating the matter, the minister should step aside. Interruptions compelled Water assistant minister

Mwangi Kiunjuri to remind the deputy Speaker that Dr Khalwale had not been able to move his motion “because of numerous points of order.”