Emotions keep boiling over
What you need to know:
- A brief look at past disputes in the House.
October 09, 1975
Butere MP Martin Shikuku alleges that ruling party Kanu is “dead.” When Nakuru MP Kihika Kimani asks for substantiation, Deputy Speaker Jean-Marie Saroney says it is “obvious.”
The comment angers the then leader of official government business, Mr Daniel Moi, who walks out of the House with his supporters.
The walk-out cripples House operations over quorum for the next three days. Saroney and Mr Shikuku would be detained until after Jomo Kenyatta had exited the scene.
June 19, 1997
Budget Day but opposition MPs are clamouring for constitutional reforms.
They shout down Finance Minister Musalia Mudavadi, saying either reforms or no budget.
One MP tries to run away with the mace. A fist fight and a shouting match breaks out. Police patrol the streets as the chaos ensues.
Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo sticks to his guns, ejects seven MPs and rules the budget speech must go on.
January 16, 2008
National Assembly Clerk Samuel Ndindiri weathers a storm from MPs over his decision to allow secret ballot for the Speaker of Parliament. They later agree to vote that way after the intervention of Attorney-General Amos Wako.
New Speaker Kenneth Marende is forced to make a Solomonic ruling over whether the then President Mwai Kibaki could be sworn in in Parliament. Mr Kibaki had already been sworn as President but opposition MPs disputed his election. Marende rules that Mr Kibaki be sworn in as MP.
April 28, 2009
Wrangles on who between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka should lead official government business threaten to cripple House operations.
Both Mr Odinga and President Kibaki in the Grand Coalition had written to Speaker Kenneth Marende sticking to their positions.
Marende appoints himself as leader of government business and ask Kibaki and Raila to decide who should take it. Mr Odinga would later relinquish that position to Mr Musyoka.
