Why MPs have plotted to censure Speaker

By  NJERI RUGENE nrugene@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Saturday, February 19 2011 at 21:00

In Summary

• At a highly charged meeting last Thursday, PNU and allies agreed to criticise Marende’s ruling publicly and ‘expose’ him as a Raila henchman

The plot to censure House Speaker Kenneth Marende over his contested ruling was hatched on Thursday night after an emotional news conference addressed by PNU big-wigs and Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s allies, the Sunday Nation can reveal.

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The highly charged meeting was held at the exclusive MPs’ restaurant in Parliament soon after the press conference. So angry with Mr Marende’s ruling was the group that majority insisted on an immediate no confidence vote against him.

Ridicule the President

They described the Speaker’s ruling as “insubordinate behaviour” meant to humiliate and ridicule the President, said an insider who cannot be named given the sensitivity of the issue.

Similar sentiments were expressed at the press conference attended by more than 40 MPs, including Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Ruto, and which was characterised by angry outbursts.

On expressing their outrage at the strategy meeting, the MPs were eventually convinced against impeaching Mr Marende and instead agreed on censuring him publicly.

It was then resolved that the politicians use all forums available over the weekend to hit out at the Speaker “in the strongest terms possible” and “expose” him as allegedly working for Prime Minister Raila Odinga and portray him as dictatorial, said the insider.

It is understood that it was some of Mr Odinga’s ODM rivals who convinced the rest against impeaching Mr Marende and instead “continue targeting our enemy (Mr Odinga)”.

“We should not open up so many battlefronts so we do not lose focus,” one of the MPs was quoted advising colleagues. They resolved to use their numbers in the House to humiliate Mr Odinga.

Earlier at the news conference, it was also insinuated that Mr Odinga, who appeared to be the anti-Marende group’s target, had a hand in the ruling.

“Are we now saying that this country will not move unless Raila says so? That is unacceptable,” said an angry Mr Kenyatta at the news conference.

By depicting the Speaker as a Raila henchman, the group hoped to portray him as an ODM agent, based on the fact that the party sponsored him for the seat, rather than the unbiased arbiter he is perceived to be.

And indeed from Friday, the MPs in the group lived up to their resolve and made Mr Marende the subject of scathing attacks at public forums.

Apparently, PNU and allies also want the Speaker to “reverse” his ruling that referred the nomination of constitutional office holders back to the President.

Leader of Government Business Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said on Friday that MPs will debate the ruling in the House on Tuesday and “may even overturn it”.

Although Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi also said the aggrieved MPs will challenge the Speaker’s decision “by all available means”, it remains unclear how they intend to overturn it given that a Speaker’s ruling is unappealable.

And to debate the Speaker’s conduct, the MPs will have to do so through a motion whose notice must be given three days in advance as specified in Standing Order 79 (4).

But not all PNU-allied MPs are with their party. Kinangop MP David Ngugi said MPs baying for Mr Marende’s blood are being emotional and asked that they consider what their actions will mean for the country before they rush to censure the Speaker.

“It is misguided, premature and uncalled for. Leaders ought to reflect and ask ourselves whose interests we’re serving,” says Mr Ngugi, a Sisi kwa Sisi MP.

Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara lauded Mr Marende’s ruling as consistent with the position of the Commission on Implementation of the Constitution and the ruling by Justice Daniel Musinga which dismissed the nominations as unconstitutional.

Ms Rugene is the Nation’s Parliamentary Editor.