MPs call for end to rivalry as House adjourns

Parliament went on an indefinite break on Wednesday with MPs calling for a stop to public exchanges and coalition rivalry that have played out over the past few weeks.

MPs complained that the public quarrels among members of rival parties in the coalition had dented the image of Parliament and eroded public confidence in the country's political leadership.

The legislators were unanimous that if the bitter wrangles went unchecked, it would disrupt implementation of the new Constitution.

The House was summoned on February 1 for a special working, to scrutinise and pass two crucial bills to the implementation of the new constitution.

The proposed laws, the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill 2011 and the Judicial Service Commission Bill 2011, were passed by the House whose business was overshadowed by wrangling between President Kibaki’s PNU and its allies and Prime Minister’s Raila Odinga’s ODM.

The wrangles were also drawn into House committees with some like the Justice and Legal Affairs' operations being paralysed, as PNU members and their allies called for the removal of chairman Ababu Namwamba (ODM).

Mr Odinga’s party on the other hand has moved to replace Isaac Ruto and Sophia Abdi whom they term as errant.

It was in that context that during debate on the adjournment motion, moved by Deputy Leader of Government Business Amos Kimunya, that MPs asked the President and Mr Odinga to use the recess to "put their act together, offer leadership and move the country forward devoid of unnecessary political bickering.”

The calls for cessation of hostilities were supported by Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo (ODM-K), who in seconding the motion to adjourn the special session of Parliament, asked:

“The government needs time to look at itself. The people are tired of their behaviour and we want the two principals to lead from the front,’’ said Mr Kilonzo.

The two were asked to “read the riot act to’’ ministers who were have been involved in public spats and use the break to instil discipline in the Cabinet.

Members of Parliament also pleaded with the Government to move fast and address the issue of drought and looming famine in parts of the country.

They demanded action on rising insecurity, resettlement of IDPs, speedy issuance of identity cards and implementation of the Economic Stimulus Programmes.

Forestry minister Dr Noah Wekesa hit out at presidential aspirants who have resorted to using abusive language on their opponents describing it “as shameful.”

Gichugu MP Martha Karua asked the two principals to rid the Cabinet of people who do not pass the constitutional test of integrity and leadership. She said all public offices should be filled competitively.

She described as shameful the collection of signatures in Central Province by Provincial Administration seeking deferral of ICC yet they are not asking the same for resettlement of IDPs.

“We need to accelerate reforms in the country. The two principals need to put their act together on issues of national security. We need new electoral laws, police reforms and judicial reforms ahead of the next election,” she said.