MPs dare senators on referendum

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU

Kenya: The National Assembly has hit back at the Senate’s threat for a referendum to amend the Constitution with a dare: Bring it on and we’ll put you in your place.

The MPs went into rage when it emerged that the Senate had approved a list of representatives to the Pan-African Parliament, among them, two senators, yet, in their view “senators do not represent people, but regions”.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Justin Muturi, whose leadership has been questioned in the Upper House, told the lawmakers in the Lower House that the Senate had already approved five lawmakers to represent the Kenyan Parliament in the continental body.

The five approved are Senators Mr Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet County) and Janet Ongera (nominated), and members of the National Assembly Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi South), Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi County woman representative) and Millie Mabona (Mbita).

But Mr Muturi reminded the MPs that they had the final say in deciding if the list was conclusive or if they want it amended.

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“This being a deliberative House, it has the power to change those ratios (of the representatives from the Senate and the National Assembly), but bear in mind that we have a bicameral Parliament,” said Mr Muturi as he promised the legislators that the matter comes for debate today.

The MPs, led by Leader of Majority Party Aden Duale, Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini) and Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i), jumped at the chance to tell off the senators and dared them to bring the referendum.