True, Parliament has lost its glory and honour

Kenya: Let me start by saying that the Parliament of the Republic of Kenya has lost taste, colour and decorum. On this fact, I owe no one an apology.

The Parliament of Kenya, just like every other Parliament across the world, is a representation of the citizens who entrust their voices with a small percentage of the country’s population to speak for them in the august House, legislate and ensure full implementation and execution of the laws they make, policies and other national agendas that are of benefit to the public.

In the 1960’s through to the 80s, a parliamentarian was viewed with very high esteem, regard and respect.

Members of Parliament were not just ordinary men or women; they wielded some power that came naturally. Maybe that was then and perhaps times change. 

Many in the present generation of the country’s population were not there when the likes of the JM Kariuki, Thomas Joseph Mboya, Arthur Ochwada, Joseph Otiende, Martin Shikuku, Argwings Kodhek and Lawrence Sagini just to name but a few, made good contributions on the floor of the House.

Names like James Nyamweya, Moses Mudavadi, Elijah Mwangale, James Gichuru, Mbiyu Koinange, Ngala Mwendwa, Paul Ngei, Peter Oloo Aringo, James Orengo, Jean Marie Seroney, Koigi wa Wamwere, Chelagat Mutai, George Anyona, Lawrence Sifuna, Burudi Nabwera were household names.

They were humble, but thorough in their duty.

Even in recent parliaments were have had veterans like Raila Odinga, Kiraitu Murungi, Henry Obwocha, Prof Rashid Mzee, Boy Juma Boy, Noor Abdi Ogle, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, Otieno Kajwang’, Charity Ngilu, Martha Karua, Agnes Ndetei, Bonny Khalwale, Moses Wetangula et’al. Parliament proceedings were worth following on radio and on TV because of the quality and mature debates and articulation of facts by legislators. Such were the days when Kenyans were proud of their representatives.

The salary was little, but they executed their job very well. But today, alas, things have changed.

The House (the National Assembly) has been turned into a market place.

Voice competition is the order of the day. Nothing compared to ‘quality debate’ can be said of the current crop of legislators.

In 2006, when the country lost six Members of Parliament in a military chopper crash in Marsabit as they traveled on a peace mission, Parliament was united in grief. Then Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo gave members two hours to pay tribute to their departed colleagues. It was a somber mood in the House, and the whole country mourned.

Fast forward to Tuesday last week (June 17, 2014) was perhaps one of those sad days in Kenya. As the nation mourned the deaths of their fellow countrymen who were butchered in cold blood in Mpeketoni, Lamu, last Sunday, Parliament turned grief into a big joke.

It was sad watching the Leader of Majority Aden Duale shout at the top of his voice, hurling insults at other leaders, accusing them (without substantiation) of being behind the Mpeketoni tragedy. He went ahead to make chilling allegations on how, when, why and what prompted the attack on the innocent people of Mpeketoni.

Mr Duale, perhaps playing to the galleries, used un-parliamentary words aimed at the Opposition, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), perhaps forgetting that like Jubilee, which he speaks for, CORD too has a following.

The Speaker, Mr Justin Muturi lost control of the House and at some point, seemed to get mesmerised by the insults coming from one side of the House and agitated with the defence from the opposite side.

As the Leader of the Majority in Parliament, Mr Duale acts like a prefect in a classroom.

He is expected to guide the rest in their team. When he sets the tone on a particular issue the rest of the Members follow suit.

Sadly, sanity seems to be a matter of the past in Parliament today. The Speaker is the Head of the House and the Driver of everything. This is a prestigious position that requires sobriety at all times.

The House is characterised by shouting matches, name calling and something akin to the world of ‘mchongowano’.