Kenyan MPs stall house business in record time

By Martin Mutua

In what seems to be a quest to join Guinness Book of Records, Kenya's Parliament made history on Wednesday morning when it only sat for a record 10 minutes and then adjourned.

The house, which was supposed to sit the normal three and half hours, was unable to transact its business as members failed to ask questions.

All the eight questions that had been listed on the order paper were dropped as all the MPs who were to ask them were absent.

This is the first time in the life of the 10th parliament for such a scenario to take place and Speaker Kenneth Marende is likely to read the riot act to the members as it does not depict the August House in good light in the eyes of the public.

The Mps whose questions had been listed were those of Mohammed Hussein Ali (Mandera East), Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga), Dr Joyce Laboso (Sotik), and Charles kilonzo (Yatta).

Others were Joshua kutuny (Cherangany) Isaac ruto (Chepalungu), Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi) and Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa).

Riot act

If the speaker is to strictly put his foot down and adhere to the standing orders and his rulings the questions will be dropped are not supposed to see the light of day until after six months.

Cooperatives Minister Joe Nyagah and Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode were in the house to respond to the questions that were to be directed to their ministry.

Deputy leader of Government Business and Agriculture Minister Dr Sally Kosgei was also in the House although there was no question that was directed to her ministry.

Temporary Acting deputy speaker Gitobu Imanyara had no option but to adjourn the proceedings since there was no business for the house to transact.

Normally Wednesday morning is day reserved for private members motions soon after question time and there were two motions listed.

A motion by Turkana central MP Ekwee Ethuro urging the government to speed up the resettling of IDPs and also to form a select committee of the House to deal with the matter was hurriedly passed.

The motion had been moved by Ethuro last week and I anterestingly none of the members who were present stood up to debate forcing Imanyara to put the question and motion was

passed.

Other members of the select committee apart from Ethuro are Martin Ogindo, Kiema Kilonzo, David Koech, Imanyara, Kioni, Kilonzo, Hussein Ali, Erastus Mureithi, Sophia Abdi, Millie

Odhiambo, Laboso, Shakila Abdalla, Boaz kaino, Ntoitha M?Mithiaru, Joseph Kiuna, Eugene wamalwa, David Ngugi, Robert monda, john Mututho and Joshua kutuny.

They are required to report back to the house in six months.

Another motion to debate a report by the Departmental Committee on Labour and social welfare on a fact-finding tour to Mai Mahiu. Gilgil and Kurbanyat IDP camps was dropped.

This was because the Committee’s chairperson nominated MP Sophia Abdi Noor was also absent.