CORD leaders turn heat on Speaker Muturi

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga has expressed his displeasure with the way the controversial security bill was passed and the manner in which the President quickly assented to it.

"Following the chaotic debate, if I were the President, I would dissolve the Government and call for fresh elections," said the former premier.

Raila condemned the manner in which the controversial law was passed under the watch of National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi who he said should be impartial in the House.

Raila was speaking in Simero village in Ugunja, Siaya County, during the burial of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party supporter James Ochanda, 95. He was accompanied by Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi and former Kisumu mayor Sam Okello.

He accused Jubilee MPs of guarding the Speaker to ensure that the law was passed, claiming that such tactics were only witnessed in failed states.

The ODM party leader said plans were already in place to challenge the constitutionality and legality of the security law in court, adding that he would release a comprehensive statement after the party's lawyers had analysed the amendments.

And speaking in Awendo in Migori County over the weekend, Raila and his CORD co-principal Moses Wetang'ula said plans were under way to censure Mr Muturi over what they said was a betrayal of the rule of law.

They said the Speaker had shown "a high level of partisan allegiance" towards the ruling Jubilee coalition.

Mr Wetang'ula regretted that the country was headed for dictatorship agitated for by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.

Armed orderlies

"It was very unfortunate that the Speaker passed the vote on the contested laws while surrounded by armed orderlies and security agents. And if it can be justified that he passed the bill with the strangers on the floor, then we need to know how legal the session was and what kind of impunity the Speaker exhibited by so doing," said the Senate Minority Leader who is also the Bungoma senator.

Kisumu Woman Representative Rose Nyamunga also blamed the National Assembly Speaker for the chaos that characterised the debate and unprincipled passing of the security bill.

Ms Nyamunga said last Thursday's events were a reflection of Muturi's weakness, lack of tact and the non-independence of the National Assembly he presides over.

"He came across as bluntly partisan, wanting and petty to the extreme, an arbiter starved of decorum, wisdom and the charisma required of a person in his position," said Nyamunga in her reaction to the mayhem that saw the controversial bill passed by acclamation by a divided Parliament amid shouting, name calling and scuffles.

But nominated Senator Paul Njoroge has lashed out at his colleagues who disrupted Parliament proceedings during the debate on the security bill.

The senator attributed the shameful chaos that broke out in the House to senators drawn from the CORD alliance.

"I am disappointed by the action of my colleagues who decided to go to Parliament to incite MPs from CORD, leading to the anarchy," he said.

He noted that the violence demeaned the House but was quick to praise the MPs for passing the security bill.

Mr Njoroge noted that terror attacks were affecting development, adding that the new laws would address this.

The Senator, who represents people living with disability, was speaking to the Press after a wedding at the Kenya Assemblies of God in Naivasha.

-Report by Rushdie Oudia, Stanley Ongwae, Joe Ombuor and Antony Gitonga