House of shame as MPs exchange kicks and blows over parties Bill

Sigowet-Soin MP Bernard Koros (left) sustained a cut in the face during the chaos. Minority Leader John Mbadi (R) claimed a rival MP bit his finger. [File, Standard]

The National Assembly yesterday descended into chaos as MPs exchanged bitter words and blows while considering the divisive coalition Bill.

The lawmakers turned the chambers into a boxing ring and a theatre of grandstanding and shouting.

At one point, the session chair Christopher Omulele (Luanda) had to suspend the special sitting for 15 minutes.

One of the casualties Sigowet-Soin MP Bernard Koros sustained a cut in the face during the chaos that lasted for close to five minutes.

During the brawl, several lawmakers forced their way to Speaker’s section where some were seen exchanging blows.

Others turned water bottles into missiles, which they hurled at their colleagues as the august House degenerated into a chamber of disorder, shame and chaos.

Consequently, Omulele suspended Minority Leader John Mbadi from the House for five days over his alleged involvement in the fight.

Nominated MP David Sankok and John Kiarie were also cited by the session chair for throwing water bottles at their colleagues and being “disruptive”, respectively.

“Sankok was throwing bottles at members. I saw it and that should not be tolerated. The speaker also saw you, John Kiarie, you have been completely disruptive,” said Omulele.

Addressing the press after being kicked out of the House, Mbadi described the directive as unfair and against the House Standing Orders.

Mbadi claimed that Koros charged at him first, forcing him to defend himself. He said the rival MP bit his finger.

The Suba South MP alleged that Koros was insisting on voting for an absent MP despite a directive against it by the clerks.

Minority Leader John Mbadi (right) was suspended from the House for five days over his alleged involvement in a fight. [David Njaaga, Standard]

“When I told him to leave, the member charged at me and he actually bit my finger. I was acting in self-defence,” he said.

He added, “He decided to bite me but I could not bite him back and decided to respond in another way. I was defending myself and the person defending himself has been kicked out.”

He, however, expressed confidence that the Political Parties (Amendment) would sail through since they have numbers in the House.

Eldas MP Adan Keynan claimed the chaos was orchestrated by Ruto allies in a wider scheme to derail the passage of the Bill.

Keynan, who is also Jubilee Coalition Joint Parliamentary Group Secretary, condemned the chaos.

“We are a House of order, rules and procedure. Instigating chaos in the House to disrupt a legally and properly convened sitting with the procedurally listed business of the day must never be condoned in Parliament. This Bill is for the benefit of all Kenyans and it will pass,” he said.

“What we witnessed in the House today was a contest of numbers between a progressive majority genuinely, who want this country to embrace diversity in political leadership, and the few retrogressive ones ironically keen on locking out minority voices and special interest political parties from sitting on the national table as equal partners with the big boys,” he added.

The chaos erupted when the MPs were taking a vote on a proposed amendment by Kandara MP Alice Wahome that sought to delete a clause on the establishment of a Coalition Party.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga’s parties are seeking to change the law and enable parties join Azimio La Umoja Movement without losing their identity.

The grand plan by the handshake partners is to have provisions that will allow political parties to field candidates jointly across the country under the yet to be registered outfit.

Handshake partners President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga. [File, Standard]

The aim is to prevent the self-cannibalisation of parties and candidates supporting the Azimio movement, through which Raila is expected to vie for the presidency.

But Wahome argued that Clause 6 was unconstitutional and should be expunged.

“You cannot come up with new terminology to legislate what is in the Constitution. Coming up with Coalition Political Party offends the Constitution,” said Wahome.

“This House should never act in vain. I am not here to please you but to prosecute my amendments. These people lost in 2013, 2017 and BBI. They will lose in 2022,” she went on amid jeers from backers of the handshake duo.

Clause 6 provides among other things, the procedure to be followed for registration of a party, which includes a deposit of a coalition agreement.

It further provides that governance of a coalition party shall be in accordance with provisions of the Act and regulations relating to the governance of a coalition.

The clause also provides that a member of a coalition shall not be a member of another.