Intrigues by legislators during swearing in ceremony

MPs during the swearing-in ceremony in the National Assembly, Nairobi, on August 31, 2017. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The oath was in English and Kiswahili and those electing to take it in English had to encounter the troublesome word.
  • Some MPs were caught adding to the oath. Kiambu Town MP Jude Njomo added the words “a servant of the people of Kiambu” and was forced to stop and start afresh.
  • Embakasi East MP Babu Owino added the name “Raila Odinga” and was forced to take the oath as written.
  • Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi also made an alteration and Mr Sialai asked him to repeat.

On the first day of their first term in Parliament, most of the 187 new MPs were accompanied by their families, friends and supporters.

For the supporters, the journey to see their person transform into a lawmaker would end at the gate, as one MP was allowed a maximum of two visitors, and those without invitation cards were turned away.

Inside the compound, it was like the first day at a new school for many, with those who have been longer in school showing the new ones around.

The staff had a hard time telling who in the crowds were the new members.

When they identified themselves, they were given a name tag and a distinctive green lanyard, making life easier.

SWEARING IN CEREMONY

The swearing-in ceremonies in both Houses began shortly after 9 am with National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai and his Senate counterpart Jeremiah Nyegenye presiding.

In the National Assembly, the disabled were given first priority. Ms Rose Museo, the Woman Rep for Makueni, was the first.

It, however, became apparent that one word in the oath was an oral hurdle.

Family, friends and supporters of the MPs during the swearing-in ceremony in the National Assembly, Nairobi, on August 31, 2017. PHOTO | WANYIRI KAHITO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Every few minutes, one MP would find it hard to say “conscientiously”. There was a variety of mispronunciations – consciously being the most common. Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua pronounced the word in three parts.

The oath was in English and Kiswahili and those electing to take it in English had to encounter the troublesome word.

ADDED WORDS

Some MPs were caught adding to the oath. Kiambu Town MP Jude Njomo added the words “a servant of the people of Kiambu” and was forced to stop and start afresh.

Mr Joshua Kuttuny, who made it back for a second term after about five years in the cold, added “na watu wa Cherangany (and the people of Cherangany)” and was asked to repeat it.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino added the name “Raila Odinga” and was forced to take the oath as written. When he took it again, he added his signature word “Tibim”.

Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi also made an alteration and Mr Sialai asked him to repeat.

HONOURABLE MEMBERS

“Kindly, honourable members, let us take the oath in the right way. If you do not take it in the prescribed form, then it will not be considered an oath,” he told the MPs.

On matters clothing, Turkana Central lawmaker John Lodepe was among the colourful members. He was in an orange suit.

Former Minority Leader Francis Nyenze caused a stir when he walked in with an oxygen tank.

He later told the Nation that he suffered pneumonia a week before the elections and was put on oxygen support by his doctors.

In another predicament before the polls was Othaya MP James Gichuki Mugambi. He was involved in an accident and took the oath on a wheelchair.