The men who listen but are called ‘Mr Speaker’

By Patrick Wachira

As Members of Parliament take a three-month break, focus is on Tenth Parliament and the tasks ahead. The House is expected to resume for its third session in March but the President can summon it any time to discuss urgent matters.

One of the pending key aspects is the establishment of a special tribunal to probe and prosecute instigators of post-election violence. On the MPs’ plate is also the long awaited new Constitution, for which Parliament has to provide guidance.

Undoubtedly, Speaker of National Assembly is often the individual on the spot. They at times find themselves in tricky situations, as past history indicates.

Francis ole Kaparo

Kenneth Marende

He got his new job just seven days after his 52nd birthday.

Marende’s bid for Speaker was not apparent until after he ended the two-term reign of Sheldon Muchilwa to be elected MP for Emuhaya.

Marende became speaker when debate in the House was characterised by hostility and between PNU and ODM MPs.

Towards the end of the year, he stirred an hornet’s nest when he joined the raging debate on whether or not MPs should pay taxes on their allowances.

Taxed

Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama became the first MP to have his allowances taxed.

The Speaker was asked about his views on MPs’ taxation and replied that MPs were free to pay taxes if they felt "sufficiently philanthropic".

The reply drew a barrage of criticism.

The remarks were seen as stinging, coming just when the cost of living had spiralled to unbearable levels.

Fred Mbiti Mati

Jonathan Kimetet arap Ng’eno

His long journey to become Speaker started after serving in the Cabinet in various capacities.

He assumed the hot seat just when the country was agitating for multiparty democracy, which posed a headache for the establishment.

He was elected on June 12, 1991, five months before Parliament repealed the contentious Section 2A of the Constitution to recognise the multi-party system.

Under his watch, for the first time in the history of Kenya, there was a woman Cabinet minister, Winfred Nyiva Mwendwa, then MP for Kitui West.

During this period, there were 14 by-elections, which saw members shift alliances time and again. Ford Asili was dislodged as the Official Opposition party by Ford Kenya, which later lost to the Democratic Party.

House debates were characterised by tension and the political playing field was described as uneven, especially by Opposition MPs.

Finally, the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group came into being in 1997 to level the field, somewhat. However, most of its recommendations lacked the force of law.

A select committee was appointed to probe the 1991-2 clashes during Nge’no’s tenure and debate on the matter was derailed four times, with MPs threatening a mass walk-out.