Senators blame National Assembly colleagues for youth protests crisis

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi addresses a past session of the House. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The rivalry between the Senate and National Assembly reared its head as Senators contributing for the second day on the motion on the State of the Nation accused their colleagues for failing to rise to occasion when required to.

Senators also told off those who are calling for scrapping of the Senate as part of austerity measures saying, unlike their National Assembly colleagues, they have stood to be counted and should in future have an input crucial issues like the Finance Bill.

“We have impeached five governors. Our colleagues in the National Assembly should tell us how many Cabinet Secretaries they have impeached,” said Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang.

Kajwang criticised what he said was display of sheer arrogance and tribalism by the country’s leadership. He said that some politicians were boasting that the Generation Z were not registered voters and would, therefore, not influence the outcome of the next General Election, adding that every Kenyan who has a national identity card should automatically be eligible to vote.

Kajwang said Generation Z are demanding rights granted to them by the Constitution.

“It is this Parliament that passed a housing law and health law that nobody understands. That seemed to the tell the youth that they can go to hell,” said the senator.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua said that if the National Assembly had listened to what the people were saying, the country would not be where it is today.

Wambua differed with President Ruto on his position that the 204 MPs who voted in support of the Finance Bill will be regarded as heroes in future, dismissing them as sellouts who went against the will of the people.

“The youths who have come out to demonstrate against the Finance Bill and other ills committed by the government are the true heroes of Kenya. The Senate, which is sitting during the crisis is out to clear the mess created by the National Assembly,” said Wambua.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said the issues that have caused the current political crisis started at Independence, adding that a year ago, he had predicted that Generation Z would eventually go to the streets.

“It should be noted that this country is not a company with shareholders but a nation of 50 million Kenyans with equal rights and should be treated so by the ruling class,” said Onyonka.

The Kisii Senator lauded Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango and Auditor General Nancy Gathungu for keeping government entities in check on financial management.

“The offices of the Controller of Budget and Auditor General have done their job to keep the various government institutions’ spending in check to the chagrin of powerful people. We are calling on other officers to emulate the two gallant officers,” said Onyonka.

He said young people killed during the demonstrations should be accorded a State funeral while those in police cells and prisons should be set free.

Onyonka accused politicians of financing militias, facilitating cattle rustlers and perpetuating corruption in government by being associated with companies that do business with the government.

He said rampant corruption among public officials was one of the reasons for the uprising by young people.

The Kisii Senator said Kenya collects revenue that can run the economy of eight African countries and called for transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.

“We have enough revenue to run our country. The problem is that we have everyone in position of authority looking for an opportunity to steal. We need prudent financial expenditure in all government departments,” said Onyonka.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey said journalists should not be blocked from accessing Parliament and asked the Parliamentary Service Commission to rescind a gag order against the media.

He, however, condemned some media houses for streaming live as MPs were being evacuated during the invasion of the House by protesters on June 25.

“If there was proper planning, the youths could have been allowed to enter Parliament. We have goons that have infiltrated the peaceful demonstrations and destroyed property of hardworking Kenyans,” said Cherarkey.

Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute called for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police, citing widespread cases of police brutality against protesters.

Chute also decried corruption in national and county governments and demanded that heads must roll over the Sh17 billion edible oil and fake fertiliser scandals.

“Counties have become dens of corruption. Governors who are accused of embezzling billions of shillings should be asked to step aside and legal action taken against them. These are some of things that are annoying Gen Z,” said Chute.