MPs fault Speaker, Majority Leader over debate chaos

MPs have challenged the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Majority Leader to style up and consult more.

The MPs say this would avoid the sort of chaos that marked debate Wednesday when the Speaker had to postpone debate because of anarchy.

Thursday’s morning sitting began with some soul-searching over the chaos Wednesday evening when Energy Committee chairman Jamleck Kamau withdrew agreed amendments to the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill because there were not enough embers to overturn the President’s memorandum.

Although Barre Shill (Fafi, URP) and Majority Leader Aden Dualle appeared intent on having Cord MPs reprimanded for their behaviour on Wednesday evening, the discussion eventually turned into criticism of the Speaker and the Majority Leader.

Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo said although there are House rules and the Speaker may be right, it all comes down to attitude.

“Attitude is important. We address each other, with bad attitude, with bad face. We don’t need to annoy each other. It is six months down the line and we might not have known each other. Now we must learn to live like brothers and sisters,” said Mr Midiwo.

The Gem MP said from past experience, the House leadership would often engage in negotiations behind the scenes and avoid the sort of confrontations that lead to chaos in the chambers.

“The tone of (the Majority Leader’s) voice offends half of this country. It is offensive. We can’t take it lying down. If we are to lead, there is only one Majority Leader in the House and he leads all of us. There is only one Leader of Minority. We have to cross that line,” said Mr Midiwo.

Saying that a leader who doesn’t realise when he offends people is a bad leader, Mr Midiwo told Mr Duale his voice “is not leading the people to Canaan” and asked him to consult more.

He said matters were more delicate during the coalition government than they are now, when the Jubilee government has “a super majority” in the National Assembly, and it should be much easier to negotiate.

Before he spoke, Speaker Justin Muturi had stated that Rachel Shebesh was correct in brushing aside an attempt by Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town, ODM) to have debate on the KICA Bill postponed.

He said the bottom line was that MPs have to live by the rules.

“You have to live with the Judiciary edict that justice is as long as the judge’s foot,” he said as he told the MPs to stick with the Standing Orders, which they can change when the need arises.

“I do know for a fact that those who are Christians have found it difficult sometimes to observe and obey the 10 commandments but I think as Members of Parliament we have responsibility to try and make efforts to observe these very simple rules,” said Mr Muturi.

John Mbadi (Suba, ODM) had before said that Ms Shebesh, a member of the Speaker’s Panel, failed the competence test as she presided over debate on Wednesday evening.

He said it was apparent that despite meeting media interest groups, the Energy Committee was not wholly committed to have the commitment they made with the Media Council was honoured.

Mr Kamau protested that this was not the case as they had met media interest groups from Monday to Wednesday that was a display of commitment.

WITHDREW AMENDMENTS

He said he withdrew the amendments agreed with the media so that the committee can have an opportunity to bring them back “sometime later.”

Jubilee Chief Whip Katoo Ole Metito urged his colleagues to act with decorum and learn to differ in a civilised way.

He said the House leadership failed on Wednesday and the withdrawal of the Energy Committee’s amendments would have been avoided had there been enough communication to MPs and 233 would have shown up to overturn the President’s memorandum.

Mr Metito said if the KICA Bill is passed, the committee still retains the option of bringing a Bill to amend it when the House resumes in February next year.