There was drama during the special sitting held by the Senate to debate contentious changes to elections laws that were passed by the National Assembly last week.
For more than an hour, both CORD and Jubilee Senators expressed their opposition to the heavy police presence near Parliament buildings.
Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale was the first to rise on a point of order.
Khalwale complained to the speaker that police dogs had barked and him, a move he claimed was meant to intimidate him.
Siaya Senator James Orengo and his Kisumu counterpart Anyang’ Nyong’o stated that the presence of paramilitary officers near parliament would make the Senate sitting unconstitutional - given that the law requires Parliament to involve the public in its proceedings.
Unlike the National Assembly sitting where physical violence disrupted debate, Senators from across the political divide disagreed respectfully – often using humour to mock their opponents.
Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar joked that Parliament should not be under siege (pronouncing the word in its corrupted version as popularised by former Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen humourously stated that the police may have been there to protect presidential candidates in the Senate – adding that FORD-Kenya had two senators who are presidential candidates (Bungoma’s Moses Wetangula and Nyamira’s Kennedy Mong’are).
After the grandstanding, Speaker Ekwe Ethuro directed that the sitting would not be adjourned but condemned the heavy police presence.
“This is not a police state. We are a democracy, and members will debate, persuade each other, and they will then vote. I can assure you that the majority will have their way, and the minority will have their say,” Ethuro ruled.
He added that he had called Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery and directed that police would not be allowed within the precincts of parliament and that no person would be blocked from accessing the proceedings at the Senate.
A few minutes after the ruling, police were reported to have dispersed from Parliament road and the area cleared.
