2 MPs Suspended After Chaotic Attempt to Seize Parliamentary Mace

The National Assembly was in tension on Thursday afternoon when Kathiani MP Robert Mbui and Embaksi South MP Julius Mawathe were suspended for five days following an argument that they tried to take the ceremonial mace when a heated debate was going on.

The theatrical moments worked out on November 13 when MPs played the controversial Government-Owned Enterprises Bill, in which 67 state parastatals are planned to be privatized.

The fight was precipitated by the fact that MPs, who supported a united opposition, especially the Deputy Minority Whip Robert Mbui, vehemently protested against the course of the bill.

The legislators claimed that the National Assembly was not in a position to form the necessary quorum to pass the bill to the third reading. After their outcry, Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei allowed Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah to proceed with presenting the bill which caused the opposition bench to erupt immediately.

As a demonstration of what he considered to be procedural injustice, Mbui rose to his feet, stormed toward the desk of the Speaker and tried to seize the mace, a symbol of parliamentary authority and legitimacy.

In parliament, any touching or removal of the mace is believed to be a great offence, which denotes the disturbance or nullification of business. The chair of the Speaker responded promptly and decisively.

It was found by Deputy Speaker Shollei that Mbui had acted contrary to Standing Order 107A through gross misconduct. Honourable Mbui, should you wish to take the matter of order, thou must respect it. You cannot even make an effort to take the mace off, she said.

She subsequently ordered the sergeants-at-arms to remove the MP from the precincts and suspended him to five days. When he was forcibly expelled, Mbui kept on screaming, claiming that the House did not have the numbers to legally conduct business.

A few minutes later, Shollei also suspended the Embakasi South MP, Julius Mawathe on grounds that he was involved in the bid to loot the mace off its stand. Honourable Mawathe, you were a part of it in attempting to take the mace away. You have abused the Standing Order 107A, and consequently, you will be removed and expelled from the precincts of Parliament in the next five days, she said.

The decision caused a new wave of dissatisfaction among the opposition members of parliament, but the situation was eventually brought under control.

Parliament Out of Parliament, Mbui criticized the way the Deputy Speaker conducted the proceedings, saying that she was biased and withheld an opportunity to the opposition to present a legitimate procedural issue. He maintained that it was not in line with the integrity of the legislative process to allow the third reading of the bill to pass on the basis of not ascertaining a quorum. There was no justification for the Deputy Speaker to deny us a chance to speak.

We are no longer going to have our rogue Parliament who are running around like a marketplace. Kenyans must know that, he said to journalists.

He also promised to make a formal complaint with the Speaker Moses Wetang'ula, contesting not only his suspension, but also the move to proceed with the bill without sufficient numbers in the house. Mbui claimed another instance of flouting the rules of parliament and undermining of democracy by the afternoon events.

The Government-Owned Enterprises Bill as the focus of the conflict, has received extensive criticism because of its privatization of 67 state-owned corporations. The proponents of the bill believe that privatization will help in improving efficiency, lowering government spending, and boosting economic growth, as it will introduce expertise in the hands of the private sector.

Critics are, however, worried that the move would see the state lose its own assets, downsizing of jobs and lack of accountability in vital sectors of the economy.

The anarchic scenes of Thursday highlight the mounting tension in Parliament over the way in the public sector reforms should be implemented.

With the bill progression and increasing political polarization, the conflicts recently observed in the National Assembly can be an indicator of more controversial discussions soon.

Whether the complaint submitted by Mbui or the increase in the opposition pressure will make any difference to the progress of the bill remains yet to be observed.