It was all a big scramble for seats, matatu-style

The Old Chamber of Parliament provides for a pretty tight squeeze.

On special occasions like Tuesday’s State of the Nation Address when the Chamber is full to capacity, MPs have no option but to sit matatu-style, with each seat taking more than a person.

MPs and ministers rushing and squeezing to occupy the most prestigious positions have always provided an interesting spectacle over the years.

On Tuesday, on the prized seats to the right of the Speaker that define the government pecking order, the first four slots were clearly marked “reserved”.

Protocol would demand that they be occupied, in this order, by the Leader of Government Business, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and Deputy Prime Ministers Musalia Mudavadi and Uhuru Kenyatta.

Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi made his way into the Chamber early and took the fourth seat.

He was followed by Special Programmes minister Esther Murugi, who took the other reserved seat to his left. That left two seats.

Then came Environment minister Ali Mwakwere, who sandwiched Ms Murugi between himself and Mr Murungi, leaving just two seats for the four persons they were reserved for.

The first to arrive was Mr Mudavadi, who sat to Mr Mwakwere’s left, and stretched out across the vacant seat to his left to exchange visibly cold greetings with Regional Development minister Fred Gumo.

Crowded days

On crowded days, orderlies bring in extra armchairs, and that was how Mr Gumo and Lands minister James Orengo sat next to the seat reserved for the Leader of Government Business.

Mr Gumo is MP for Westlands in Nairobi, but is one of the leaders from Western Province who have refused to join Mr Mudavadi’s rebellion against Mr Odinga.

Five minutes after Mr Mudavadi took his seat, Mr Musyoka and Mr Odinga — who had received the President outside — walked in.

There was one seat remaining for the two rivals, and they had to squeeze in together.

With Mr Odinga uncomfortably sandwiched between Mr Musyoka and Mr Mudavadi, the few pleasantries exchanged could not mask the palpable tension.

The Premier turned to his left and engaged the Vice President briefly before turning to his right to acknowledge his want-away deputy.

After that the trio — Mr Kenyatta did not show up — had nothing to tell each other for the few tortuous moments before palpable relief was provided by the sounding of the Presidential Fanfare by the ceremonial buglers of the Kenya Police.

President Kibaki made his entrance at 2:45 pm. He was welcomed by Speaker Kenneth Marende whose brief address dwelt on reform and the inevitability of change.

Then he invited the President to what might be billed as a State of the Nation Address.

The session deserved special attention because it was the first such special gathering of Parliament during the Kibaki presidency.

Expectation were high that such a rare and special occasion would see some major political or policy pronouncement.

The President did deliver a comprehensive speech that dwelt on nearly all topical issues of national interest.

One might have been left wondering whether it was a campaign speech or a farewell speech.

And throughout the 40-minute exposition, Mr Musyoka, Mr Odinga and Mr Mudavadi did not exchange a glance, leave alone a word. Mr Musyoka kept his gaze fixed on the President.

Next to him, Mr Odinga seemed to be intently studying the knot on his shoelaces; while Mr Mudavadi found great interest in the patterns on the ceiling that can hardly match the Sistine Chapel.