UHURU/RUTO?

Before the Wednesday walkout in Parliament that killed the push for a three-tier Government, a PNU MP had alluded to a planned betrayal.

He said: "We will leave our Rift Valley colleagues ‘high and dry…" and that is exactly what happened during the hour of reckoning.

Rift Valley MPs had agreed with their colleagues from Central Province to marshal a 65 per cent majority to pass a three-tier government with 25 regions. And true the marriage of convenience between central Kenya and Rift Valley legislators eventually crumbled after the former rejected the proposal to introduce provincial governments, saying it was a scheme to introduce a three-tier government through the backdoor.

That is how political treachery played out in Parliament where all the 356 proposed amendments to the Proposed Constitution dramatically collapsed prompting its passage without alteration.

Deals cut in secret night meetings that preceded the crucial vote were broken on the floor of the House, after a spirited campaign by legislators who feared that allowing one amendment would open a floodgate. The pro-Committee of Experts Draft MPs took advantage of the fact that MPs had retreated to regional blocs in defiance of party positions.

Rift Valley MPs, coalescing around Agriculture Minister William Ruto, were stung by the defeat after their central Kenya counterparts retreated on their promise. The defeat of the amendments rocked the cozy political relationship between Ruto and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta that appeared to have had an upper hand during a retreat by MPs last week to seek consensus on the Proposed Constitution.

That the dalliance between the two groups was causing discomfort was evident in an outburst in Parliament by Heritage Minister William Ntimama who was contributing soon after Ruto spoke: "We shall not be intimidated by two people, meeting in a corner and coming here to bang the table. To think that one or two powerful individuals can bring changes to the proposed law without the people of Kenya is wrong."

Worked overnight

Central Kenya MPs argued nothing could stop their people from being evicted from new regions like it happened in 1992, 2002, and 2007 General Elections.

On Wednesday, MPs from Central, Eastern, Western and a section of Nyanza provinces walked out of the chamber and denied the proposal by Lands Minister James Orengo the mandatory 145 members to allow a vote to proceed.

Among those who stormed out — fearing the proposal could divide the country into ethnic enclaves — were Regional Development Minister Fred Gumo, Assistant Minister George Khaniri, and Kaloleni MP Kambi Kazungu.

Metropolitan Minister Njeru Githae termed the calls for regions as a ‘nicely couched’ case for majimbo.

"This is majimbo by another name. Whether you call it ugatuzi, provincial governments or majimbo, it is dangerous for this country," said Mr Githae.

Five MPs convinced their like-minded colleagues to walk out of Parliament once voting on any amendment by the Uhuru and Ruto allies was set to begin.

"They worked overnight to impress upon their friends in Parliament that two people should not use us to gain political mileage with the constitution," said an MP who declined to be named.

The move by the MPs to scuttle efforts to amend the Proposed Constitution by walking out of Parliament once the division bell was rung angered Ruto, who stood on a point of order to demand the MPs be given permanent chairs outside the chambers.

"Mr Speaker Sir, it seems that some members are happy moving out of the chambers once voting is called. They should be given permanent chairs outside," said Ruto.

Ruto was apparently referring to members of the Parliamentary Caucus for Reforms notably Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara, Gichugu MP Martha Karua, and Bonny Khalwale (Ikolomani), Charles Kilonzo and John Mbadi.

The caucus members opposed alteration of the Proposed Constitution and faithfully walked out of the chamber every time an amendment was called, complicating the equation.

Politics of deceit

The proposal for regional governments was popular with Rift Valley, Coast and North Eastern representatives, and a part of Nyanza. Tourism Minister Najib Balala, a close ally of Ruto also criticised the legislators who sabotaged the proposed amendments.

Instructively last week during debate Livestock Assistant Minister Adan Dualle had alluded to the horse-trading and behind-the-scenes deal-cutting, which he called politics of deceit.

Dualle said: "If we are going to have horse trading where we say, ‘remove the transitional clause and I will support you in the abortion clause, bring majimbo and I will give you more counties’, then I think we better be honest with each other. We should not play the politics of deceit!"

From then on walkouts, sabotage and strong-arm tactics dominated debate on proposed changes, ending up in hostility on the final day when several members withdrew their proposed amendments.

Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi shared the view when he earlier expressed shock at reports 150 amendments were lined up, saying he could not support moves to radically change the document.

Once it became apparent the case for a three-tier Government had collapsed Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey warned the Proposed Constitution faced rejection because "this is why people wanted a new constitution".

But Government Whip and Juja MP George Thuo countered: "Kenyans want less Government."