Gilgil Member of Parliament (MP) Martha Wangari on Wednesday was drawn into a nasty Twitter brawl.
Trouble began when a tweep by the name Mzalendo Watch quoted the MP's sentiments in parliament: "I am on the delegated legislation committee and many laws that we approve are actualized and pass into law without coming to the house. Here, you only hear about the ones we have rejected".
A netizen by the name Owino K'Otieno picked a battle with the MP over the revelation that not all laws necessarily pass through the parliament.
"How would a member chosen to legislate on behalf of the public dare say the parliamentarians pass the laws without passing through the house.
"Regulations from Delegated Legislation Committee always have serious ramifications because executive always hides dirty clauses in there. Shame on you!" the disgruntled Owino quipped.
It is at this point that things took a downward spiral with the two trading harsh words over the matter.
"Did u say shame on me?" Martha posed. "Kuwa MCA kwanza (Bag an MCA seat first). If you heard me I said regulations and if u want to know more refer to the Statutory Instruments Act," she retorted.
This saw K'Otieno respond: "Am an authority on Legislative procedures, be clear and don't think being an Mpig is a big deal. I was right at the committee that drafted that law in the Tenth Parliament".
It is the mention of the word Mpig, a word coined by activists to mirror the perceived selfish and greedy nature of the legislators, that irked the Gilgil MP.
"Mpig ni wewe. Heshima (Respect) is two ways. You don't attack me without verifying. Shame on you too," the vocal legislator told-off the MP.
K'Otieno called off the heated exchange by proposing that Martha should benchmark at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in the UK to sharpen her skills and read the book "Erskine May: Parliamentary Practice".
Though uncommon, Twitter spats between legislators and the electorate are shuddered at as citizens often have high expectations on how leaders should conduct and the level of decorum they should observe.
