Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris was on Tuesday, March 3, forced to apologise after her remark failed to sit well with her colleagues in Parliament.
In the proceedings aired live on her Facebook page, the Members of Parliament had been angered by the failure of Health CS Mutahi Kagwe to appear before the joint Health Committee meeting in Parliament.
This led to an almost unilaterally agreed decision to postpone the session until Kagwe showed up, but Passaris challenged the MPs that they ought to have at least considered submissions by Health CAS Rashid Amani who was sent by the CS.
“We can just allow the Chief Administrative Secretary to read the recommendations in the report he has. We shouldn’t adjourn simply because we need to be addressed by the CS and not the CAS. Let us drop our egos in this,” suggested Passaris.
Attention turned from the Health CS' absence to the Nairobi woman who received a tongue-lashing from her colleagues.
“She cannot tell us that we have egos in this house. This is uncalled for and totally unnecessary,” remarked Laikipia Senator John Kinyua in the middle of the heated debate.
Eventually, Passaris gave in to the demands, giving an apology for her statement. She, however, insisted that the CAS should be allowed to go on with his presentation, a request that did not see the light of the day.
“We shall not take this lightly. If they just abscond their duties the way they want, how shall we ever get to handle this major problem?
“Seriousness from our CSs seems to be something that has not been embraced. I just hope that they have children and grandchildren who also need it,” remarked Kesses MP Swarup Mishra.
“Unless all CSs summoned in this house get here, we will not continue with any proceedings in this meeting.
“Adjourn everything in this meeting until we get the right person to answer,” remarked Seme MP James Nyikal Nyikal.
The Members of Parliament also castigated Kagwe for lack of priority, stating that he had opted to rather participate in the launch of other projects at the expense of Kenyans’ lives.
The National Assembly Health Committee chairperson Sabina Chege ordered that the three Cabinet Secretaries appear before the joint house committee on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.
Watch Passaris' remarks from minute 9:00
