Jubilee to name three ODM MPs over House fiasco

Kenya: Jubilee lawmakers on Tuesday resolved to target three opposition MPs for punishment following the chaos that rocked the National Assembly on December 18 during debate on the controversial security laws.

They have identified ODM's National Chairman John Mbadi (Suba), County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Silverse Anami (Shinyalu) as the lawmakers who were caught on camera breaching the Standing Orders.

The Jubilee MPs want to "name" the three. Naming is a Parliamentary procedure that comes with sanctions including suspension from participating in House business for up to 28 days. The three, if the Speaker Justin Muturi agrees with the majority coalition, will be suspended for four days.

The Jubilee threat came as the Speaker warned the MPs that he will be ruthless and unforgiving.

"I wish to reiterate that any future acts of gross disorderly conduct in the House, including disgracing or removing the Mace will be met with the greatest severity of discipline allowed by the Standing Orders and the practices of the House," said Muturi in the House.

In a meeting at Parliament buildings, which was chaired by Majority Leader Aden Duale, and which was attended by 151 MPs out of the coalition's 216, the MPs said they had to deal with the blatant breach of the House rules before the Third Session of the Eleventh Parliament goes on.

The closed-door meeting said the three have to be punished as a warning to the rest of the lawmakers' that any breach in procedure will not be entertained. They also said they will amend the House rules for harsher penalties on MPs.

"We have to amend the Standing Orders... we have to create harsh penalties for our members and parliamentarians in order to protect the dignity and the institution of Parliament. We feel what happened on December 18, 2014 is shameful, uncalled for and not in the interest of the country," said Duale at a news conference at the Media Centre, of the Main Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.

PARLIAMENT FIASCO

On the material day, Mbadi was seen tearing pieces of paper and scattering them on the floor; Wanga emptied a bottle of cold drinking water on the head of the Deputy Speaker. Lisamula's sins were however, undeclared.

Jubilee MPs too were seen shoving and pushing, hurling insults and assaulting CORD MPs, but their coalition remained mum on how it will deal with their people.

Flanked by the Majority Whip Katoo ole Metito (Oloitoktok) and Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East), Duale said the House rules on penalties were weak, and if left the way they are, it will still be easy for MPs to act with impunity in the House.

 

"We have agreed that in due course, we will bring the amendment to the floor of the House for onward transmission to the Committee on Privileges, and to the Procedure and House Rules Committee for deliberation and adoption," said Duale.

In the House, the Speaker pushed for agreement on how to go forward. He told MPs that if they heckle each other, he will issue "an instant four-day suspension".