DPM SORRY

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi apologised to the House for failing to turn up during the Prime Minister’s time on Wednesday afternoon.

He also apologised on behalf of his colleague deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta who also did not show up in the House during the 45-minute PM time.

On Wednesday, Speaker Kenneth Marende had ruled that the two owe the House an explanation after the PM’s time went unattended.

Either of them is by law required to stand in for the Prime Minister during the time allocated for issuing statements or responding to questions every Wednesday afternoon.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga is away leading a Kenyan delegation at the Copenhagen global climate change talks and the two had been expected to step in for him, but none showed up.

Speaker Marende found them at fault after angry members protested drawing the attention of the House to the Standing Orders which make it mandatory that either the PM or his assistants should rise during the PM’s time that starts at 3.00 pm every Wednesday afternoon.

The Order Paper-Parliament programme detailing the order of business before the House- did not have any matters directed at the PM’s office causing members to question what they described as a flout of the rules and regulations of the House.

MPs Dr Boni Khalwale (Ikolomani, New Ford Kenya) Charles Kilonzo (Yatta, ODM-K), Ekwe Ethuro (Turkana Central, PNU) and Danson Mungatana (Garsen, Narc Kenya) accused the two deputy PMs of taking the House for granted and taking leave at their own convenience.

“If we look at the structure of government, there are two offices of the deputy PMs…in the event that the PM cannot make it to the House he has these two people to choose from to respond to questions from the backbench on his behalf,” the member argued.

Mr Ethuro added that the Standing Orders were clear that the PM’s time was mandatory and not an exception…"this is a total contradiction of the rules and procedures of the House,” he said.

The member argued that allowing the office to get away with the contravention would set a bad precedent and demanded action on the two deputy PMs.

Attempts by Assistant ministers Joseph Nkaissery and Orwa Ojode to defend the PM’s office with arguments that there was no business scheduled for it were dismissed with the Speaker ruling that they owe the House an explanation.

Mr Ojode had argued that the Order Paper determines what comes on the floor of the House.

“If we have to go by the tradition of the House then what gives the order of the House business if the Order Paper so if there are any questions they should be directed to the Clerk’s office,” he said.

But Speaker Marende ruled that the Standing Orders were supreme to the Order Paper. “It is simply one of the products that emanates from the application of the Standing Orders,” he said.

“If there is conflict between the two then the Standing Orders will prevail,” he said.

He ordered that the two should give the House an explanation of their absence.

Mr Mudavadi explained that the two had skipped the session after they confirmed in the House Business Committee on Tuesday that there was no business scheduled for the PM this week.

He, however, promised that either of them would avail themselves in the House during the PM’s time if the PM is unable to attend.