Nyachae wants rogue senators, MPs punished

Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Chairman Charles Nyachae (right) has asked the anti-corruption agency to start disciplinary proceedings against leaders who have been involved in unruly behaviour in recent times. FILE PHOTO |

What you need to know:

  • “There was general mayhem in the National Assembly, where physical fights erupted, insults were traded liberally and property was destroyed by members of the National Assembly,” noted the statement.
  • Ms Wanga was recorded on camera pouring water on Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso, while Mr Mbadi was seen snatching and tearing the order paper in an attempt to stop Tiaty MP Asman Kamama from moving the Bill.
  • The anti-corruption agency announced soon after that it would launch investigations, but nothing has been heard of since.

Violent and unruly leaders should be punished, the Constitution implementation commission says.

Those to be punished include governors, MPs and other leaders who have engaged in violence and other dishonourable acts.

Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Chairman Charles Nyachae has asked the anti-corruption agency to start disciplinary proceedings against leaders who have been involved in unruly behaviour in recent times.

The letter cited leaders such as MPs Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills), Sunjeev Birdi (nominated), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati) and John Mbadi (Suba).

Others are senators Mike Sonko (Nairobi), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma), James Orengo (Siaya), Johnstone Muthama (Machakos) and Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.

“Sometime in 2013, one of the governors was recorded by the media slapping a member of Parliament in full view of television cameras. Whereas the matter is said to have been settled out of court, the act by the governor is unaffected by any private settlement,” the commission said in the notice.

This is in reference to an altercation between Dr Kidero and Nairobi Woman Representative Rachael Shebesh. The matter went to court, but was settled when the two leaders publicly announced they had forgiven each other.

The commission also cited ugly scenes witnessed in Parliament last month during debate on the controversial security laws, when some MPs exchanged blows and hurled insults at each other in December 2014.

MAYHEM

“There was general mayhem in the National Assembly, where physical fights erupted, insults were traded liberally and property was destroyed by members of the National Assembly,” noted the statement.

The members who participated in these unruliness were clearly in breach of the conduct expected of State officers, it said.

Those cited by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for their role in the chaos were Dr Khalwale, Mr Wetang’ula, Mr Orengo and Mr Muthama. They were accused of forcing their way into the Speaker’s Gallery.

Others were Mr Ngunjiri and Mr Kuria, who are said to have assaulted their opposition colleagues during the mayhem.

Ms Wanga was recorded on camera pouring water on Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso, while Mr Mbadi was seen snatching and tearing the order paper in an attempt to stop Tiaty MP Asman Kamama from moving the Bill.

The anti-corruption agency announced soon after that it would launch investigations, but nothing has been heard of since.

The Nyachae team also referred to Mr Sonko and said that a “member of the Senate has on several occasions been recorded by the media traversing different parts of the city with armed bodyguards brandishing weapons in public view”.

Early this month, Mr Sonko was with bodyguards brandishing rifles at the Lee Funeral Home where former Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua had gone to collect the body of his mother for burial.

Acting Inspector-General Samuel Arachi ordered the immediate disarming of the police bodyguards.