Self-centred Adan Keynan and his odd bills

NAIROBI: In an interview with a local media house, Adan Keynan once described himself as a protector of life. But this was before he was accused of murdering Somali MP Ibrahim Ali Abdulle in a trial that took two years and was terminated in 2005.

The son of a Muslim spiritual leader was categorised as a 'high-risk prisoner'.

Today, Adan Keynan, the Eldas legislator, embodies the very character of a Kenyan politician. He is loud, controversial, cunning and always thinking of his own survival.

The name Keynan, with a little rearrangement, reads Kenyan. He is the perfect embodiment of a Kenyan leader today.

When he came up with the Parliamentary Society of Kenya Bill to assure failed or retired politicians of medical cover financed by taxpayers, he was thinking survival. He was protecting lives – his own and fellow MPs.

"Significantly, the bill is aimed at reversing the worrying trend where there are too many former members who cannot find their way around after losing a political seat," Mr Keynan wrote in the memo.

In the bill, the MPs are assured of counselling and psychiatric services to help them deal with the emotional turmoil of losing an election.

In 2012 as the Wajir West MP, Keynan made an amendment to the Finance Bill 2012 awarding MPs Sh9.3 million each as severance pay. Again this was the protector of life at his best, looking out for his fellow MPs.

Mercifully, President Kibaki declined to append his signature following public outrage.

Last year, Keynan sponsored the Order of Precedence Bill. The protector of life wanted to bring 'order' by stripping the governors and MCAs of the titles 'Excellency' and 'Honourable'.

Before this, there was the National Flag Emblems and Names Amendment Bill, 2013. In this bill, Keynan was keen to clip the governors' wings by ensuring that they did not fly the national flag.

And most recently, Keynan's brainchild – the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill – was passed on Wednesday with amendments meant to gag the media.

Like before, Keynan distanced himself from the bill saying he was just the conduit, not the originator.

With loud shouts of 'aye', MPs bought 'get-out-of-jail-free' pass. They can award themselves big salaries and change laws that suit them without nosy journalists 'scandalising' them. The protector of life seems keen to save the lives of his fellow MPs from close scrutiny of the media.