Speaker Kenneth Marende's unexpected decision to refer the matter to two House committees was an anti-climax for the MPs who had already drawn their daggers. Photo/FILE
By NJERI RUGENE nrugene@ke.nationmedia.com and EMEKA-MAYAKA GEKARA gmayaka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, February 5 2011 at 17:10
Although that part of his message may have gone unnoticed, it was clear that House Speaker Kenneth Marende last Thursday reprimanded both President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for their failure to provide leadership.
“You have let the country down,” seemed to have been the implicit message to the two coalition leaders when he delivered his ruling on the controversial presidential nominations last week.
He indirectly demanded that the two put their house in order to avoid catapulting the country into another crisis, three years after the post-election violence. (Read: Speaker declines to make ruling over nominees)
Perhaps alluding to the wave of pro-democracy protests in Egypt and Tunisia, the Speaker cautioned that situations that might have been averted had they been dealt with had plunged countries into crises.
It was clear he was suggesting that Kenya was not an exemption. Mr Marende also recalled that in 2008 the country was on the brink of an abyss because the aggrieved parties could not refer the election dispute to the Judiciary because they did not trust it.
“It is nothing short of heartbreaking to the people of this country that this process, that should herald a new beginning and inspire new confidence and legitimacy in this crucial organ of State, should get off to such a rough start.”
His unexpected decision to refer the matter to two House committees was an anti-climax for the MPs who had already drawn their daggers.
Indeed, a number of MPs were itching for an opportunity to humiliate Mr Odinga with a show of political might in the House.
Those allied to Eldoret North MP William Ruto – the ODM rebels – teamed up with their PNU counterparts to support President Kibaki’s nominations, while supporters of Mr Odinga stood firmly behind him in rejecting the list of the proposed appointees, arguing that the PM was not consulted.
Political heat
Mr Marende’s decision has obviously served to turn down the political heat.
With the focus now on the two House teams chaired by ODM MPs Ababu Namwamba (Justice) and Chris Okemo (Finance), it is understood that some MPs on the committees have softened their earlier hardline positions following the Speaker’s plea to the political class to put the country first.
The Sunday Nation was told on Saturday that since the ruling, some of the MPs who had hardened positions over the matter were now pushing to have the Speaker convene a kamukunji (informal meeting of MPs) including the two coalition leaders to resolve the stalemate.
Mr Marende met President Kibaki last Friday over the impasse and was also expected to hold talks with Mr Odinga.
The two committees will hold their first meetings on Monday in a bid to beat the Thursday deadline given by the Speaker.
In his lengthy ruling, Mr Marende tactfully left the window open for the two principals to address the matter and reach a consensus, even before MPs on the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee and those on the Finance team give their verdict to Parliament.
Still, the Speaker will give the guidance and direction sought once the committees present their findings to the House.
Former Speaker Francis ole Kaparo says the crisis puts his successor in an “unfortunate and difficult situation” because his decisions may be interpreted as partisan.
Mr Kaparo suggested that the Speaker should be shielded from political manipulation to enable him to meet his responsibilities with impartiality.
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