MPs passed many bills this year, but December chaos left sour taste

The National Assembly started the year on a high note after successfully undertaking its legislative agenda during its second session. But it ended the year disgracefully after MPs exchanged kicks and blows on the floor of the House.

The Assembly also saw the fruitful completion of the 2014-2015 budget cycle passing over Sh1 trillion, which resulted in county governments getting Sh226 billion equitable share and Sh1.87 billion for Level Five hospitals.

The House leadership in evaluating its performance is contented with the accomplishment of its legislative activities undertaken between February and December, which saw 77 bills introduced of which 12 were from the Senate.

But the National Assembly's activities were not without confrontation and disquiet from the Senate over its exclusion in determination of bills.

There were also wrangles with the Judiciary and the Executive over "interference with the legislative agenda".

In November, Senate expressed concern over what it termed as continued interference with its core mandate by the National Assembly, following the enactment of 46 Acts of Parliament without its involvement.

Majority Leader Aden Duale said the House passed 31 bills, of which three were forwarded to the Senate for consideration. Of the three bills forwarded to Senate, two ended up before the mediation committee.

"These were the County Government (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and the Division of Revenue Bill, 2014, which after deliberations were later passed by the two Houses," noted Duale.

He continued: "As at December, 19 bills were assented to by the President. This is a great achievement by the House."

Watchdog committees

Duale noted that indeed the House faced challenges in discharging its constitutional mandate, which included the three months lost in drafting the Westgate Mall attack report by the joint security committees, stand-off on the establishment of a fund for men and the appointment of legislators to various watchdog committees.

"We had our low moments but this did not deter us from focusing on our legislative agenda. We are happy we have done our best," he said.

MPs resorted to kicks and blows on the floor of the House over disagreement on the contentious Security Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 which was passed despite the acrimony.

The special sitting to debate the nomination of Joseph Nkaissery as Interior Cabinet Secretary and the controversial law, left a sour taste in the mouth, and Kenyans expressed outrage over the MPs' poor conduct. MPs gave Nkaissery's nomination a clean bill of health but debate on the security law was what embarrassed Kenya to the world. However, Duale is optimistic that next year, they will perform even better and change the negative perception Kenyans have developed against the House following the chaotic scenes witnessed during the passage of the Security law.

The House is also credited with the consideration of 125 ordinary motions of which 61 were adopted (23 in committee reports, 27 general motions and 11 special motions).

Duale said the House considered the eleven special motions, which included the deployment of Kenya Defence Forces in South Sudan following the outbreak of civil war, the extension of seven constitutional bills by a period of nine months and the approval of nominees to public institutions.

 It approved many nominations, starting with two commissioners to the Parliamentary Service Commission, Gender and Equality Commission (one), the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (four, one rejected), the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (15),  National Intelligence Service Director General, Ambassadors and High Commissioners (25), Chairperson Teachers Service Commission, Nkaissery and Constituency Development Board members (one approved, three rejected).

Joint sittings

The assembly further had 51 petitions, 26 presented by Speaker Justin Muturi, 25 by MPs of which it conducted nine with one withdrawal.

"The House had three special sittings this year, with two being joint sittings addressed by President Uhuru Kenyatta," said Duale.

Kenyatta had a State of the Nation address in the House when he was leaving the country to attend a status conference at the International Criminal Court.