It wasn’t me, MP says over kiss directive

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU

Speaker Justin Muturi’s directive to two MPs to “stop kissing in the House” has placed an MP in hot political soup with her constituents.

Kibwezi East MP Jessica Mbalu, 37, notified the Speaker about the mix-up in cardinal directions, and insisted that the House records be corrected to show that the kissing reference had to do with her colleague from Kibwezi West, Dr Patrick Musimba.

“It is possible that you were referring to my colleague from neighbouring constituency who was receiving congratulatory messages from his colleagues in the House following his successful re-election through a by-election,” Mbalu (pictured below) said. Mbalu lamented that the reference to her constituency in the same line with kissing was “causing anxiety, excitement and concern” among her constituents.

The MP, who sits in the Speakers’ Panel and moderates debate on behalf of the Speaker, pleaded with Muturi to effect the correction to the official records of the House to make sure that they show she was not anywhere near where the alleged kissing was taking place.

“I know that your intention was in good faith and was meant to enforce Standing Order 104 which prohibits members from crossing from one place to another and maintain decorum at all time,” Mbalu told Muturi.

Mbalu, a certified public accountant, and a former lecturer, sought correction to the records of the House, perhaps, aware of the political damage such comments could have on the campaign trail, if they stay in the records of the House.

“Honourable members, those of you who are kissing… the new Member for Kibwezi East, stop kissing in the House or whatever it is that you are doing with the Member for Kikuyu, who has just walked out. That kind of embrace is uncalled for,” Muturi had said on November 6.

Fresh oath

It was just a day after Musimba had taken a fresh oath following his victory in the by-election in Kibwezi West Constituency. The MP for Kikuyu is Kimani Ichungwa.

Mbalu is the MP for Kibwezi East.

Two days ago, a fortnight after the sensational directive, Muturi ordered the Hansard to be altered to rectify the mistake. “The member who was hugging and, or embracing was honourable Kimani Ichungwa who as you say was apparently congratulating the MP for Kibwezi West the honourable Patrick Musimba. It is correct that those are the two members that the Chair intended to caution and not the MP for Kibwezi East Jesicca Mbalu who was not anywhere near there,” said Muturi in the House.

Though Ichungwa and Musimba were not in the House when the correction was being made, the Speaker said, he had no doubt in his mind that they were the two culprits in the kissing debacle.

“I am sure they will agree with me they are the ones who were hugging and/or kissing by the gangway. I direct that the Hansard bear this correction. It was meant to stop the two members from doing what they were doing to the detriment of House proceedings,” said the House Speaker.