National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Moses Cheboi, had a tough time controlling Members of Parliament on Wednesday, December 22, who turned unruly while in parliament.
The MPs differed during a debate on the controversial Political Parties Amendment Bill with the debate turning into a shouting match among the lawmakers.
The House turned chaotic with allies of the Deputy President, William Ruto, and Amani National Congress (ANC) leader, Musalia Mudavadi, opposing the coalition amendments fronted by allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Dagoretti South MP, John Kiarie, aggravated the matter when he alleged that the Committee never adopted its report and led his colleagues in chanting and demanding that minutes of the meeting be produced before the House.
Cheboi suspended the debate on the controversial Political Parties Amendment Bill indefinitely to allow for amendments after MPs failed to reach a consensus.
"Honourable members, the Committee of the Whole House stage on the Political Parties Bill is automatically differed to allow harmonisation of the multiple amendments proposed to the Bill," the deputy Speaker stated.
MPs allied to DP Ruto were opposed to the Bill and they protested the move to rush the amendments.
Tharaka MP, George Murugara, ignited the debate after he alleged that the House Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) which conducted public participation, failed to conclusively and sufficiently conduct the exercise.
However, JLAC Committee vice-chairperson, Muturi Kigano, dismissed the allegations and revealed to the House that all procedural legal requirements were followed.
“We followed the procedure and the report was adopted by the committee members and in fact member Murugara sent his message of apologies but never registered any issues concerning the report,” he stated.
His sentiments were backed by Kandara MP, Alice Wahome, who opined that the bill was ill-timed and accused the state machinery of using high-handed tactics to have it passed.
