Unity show as House Whips take turns to move Motions

A day after Speaker Kenneth Marende’s ruling on leadership of Government Business in Parliament, its implication became evident as Government Whips took turns to move Motions.

Mr Marende on Tuesday took over as temporary chair of the House Business Committee and directed the position of Leader of Government Business remain vacant until President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga agree on the holder.

The Speaker communicated the interim arrangement to end the impasse occasioned by the President and PM’s haggling over the position.

It was a show of unity by the coalition partners on Wednesday as joint Government Whips George Thuo (PNU) and Jakoyo Midiwo (ODM) shared responsibility to move five procedural Motions setting guidelines for the conduct of debate.

End bickering

The two urged for consultation to end bickering in the Coalition Government.

Thereafter Education Minister Sam Ongeri initiated debate on the President’s speech, on behalf of the Vice-President.

Instructively, the bracketed title on the Order Paper indicating the Motion’s mover read, ‘The Vice President and Minister for Home Affairs’.

Ordinarily it would have stated ‘Leader of Government Business.’ Evidently the Speaker’s ruling had taken effect and Marende disabused the notion that since Kalonzo had tabled the President’s speech in his capacity as Leader of Government Business during the State opening of Parliament without contest, the matter could not be revisited. He explained at that point he had not received conflicting correspondence as to the holder.

On Wednesday, Kalonzo strode into the Chamber minutes later and requested deputy Speaker Farah Maalim to allow him contribute to the Motion since Prof Ongeri had not exhausted time allocated to the mover.

Time allocated

Maalim acceded to his request and assured the VP it would not interfere with time allocated for him.

Mr Kalonzo proceeded with his contribution calling for harmony.

"We need to talk with each other and not at each other," said Kalonzo.

Dr Bonny Khalwale (Ikolomani, New Ford-K) criticised the Speaker’s ruling saying it removed the VP as Leader of Government Business, without the House passing such a Motion. In his ruling Marende said the post would remain vacant until the Executive presents a name of one minister consensually designated by the Government as Leader of Government Business.

—Stories by Beauttah Omanga, Cyrus Ombati, Kepher Otieno, Roselyn Obala and Allan Kisia, Peter Opiyo, Alex Ndegwa, James Ratemo, Susan Anyangu