Speaker Orders Babu Owino Apologize For Hiding MP's Crutches

Deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi during a session in Parliament on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
Deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi during a session in Parliament on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
File

Deputy Speaker, Moses Cheboi, was forced to halt parliament proceedings after crutches belonging to Nominated Member of Parliament, David Sankok, went missing.

The Deputy Speaker asked the Sergeant at Arms to find Sankok's crutches after the lawmaker raised the issue in Parliament and reported them missing.

Cheboi questioned Sankok for not reporting that his crutches were missing on time. It later emerged that they had been hidden by Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino.

“The matter raised by Hon Sankok is very serious… What is surprising is that Hon Sankok you are seated there all the time. If you have lost your crutches, you should obviously have the person in mind who has taken your crutches,” Cheboi stated.

Deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi during a session in Parliament on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
Deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi during a session in Parliament on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
File

Cheboi asked Babu if he had taken the crutches and the Embakasi East lawmaker admitted that he was in possession of Sankok's walking crutches.

The Deputy Speaker called out Babu Owino for hiding the crutches and asked him to hand them over immediately as part of the National Assembly asked the speaker to punish the lawmaker.

He was ordered to hand them over and directed to apologize to the House for stalling an important sitting.

“Hon Babu Owino you should probably take the crutches back if you are the one who took them…” the speaker stated.

Babu apologized to Sankok and they shared a light moment.

“Hon Speaker, Hon Sankok does not need the legs (crutches) as at now… I apologize,” Babu stated amid laughter from the members of parliament.

It emerged that Babu took the crutches during a debate on the controversial Political Parties Amendment Bill. 

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.

Nominated MP David ole Sankok
Nominated MP David ole Sankok
The Standard