Absentee MPs risk losing seats as speaker set to crack whip

The Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi has issued a stern warning to MPs who miss sittings without the approval of his office. Muturi said MPs who miss sittings without informing him will be punished according to the law, even if they are away to attend to other national duties.

The Speaker particularly pointed a finger at MPs who miss parliamentary sessions while accompanying President Uhuru Kenyatta in his trips overseas. "If you go out without my permission and miss a total of eight sittings, your seat will be declared vacant," said Muturi.

The Speaker made the announcement yesterday after it emerged that the chair of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Affairs Ndung'u Gethenji and his vice chair Barre Shill were absent. The two were said to be with the President in the US. They were supposed to present to the House a report on proposed amendments to Kenya Defense Forces Act 2012.