Members of Parliament during a special sitting in the past. The House will on Tuesday afternoon stop its scheduled order of business to discuss the increased cost of living brought about by the rise in the price of fuel.
By JOHN NGIRACHU, jngirachu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, April 18 2011 at 14:01
Posted Monday, April 18 2011 at 14:01
Kenya’s Parliament will Tuesday afternoon stop its scheduled order of business to discuss the increased cost of living brought
about by the increase in the prices of fuel.
about by the increase in the prices of fuel.
Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba has written to Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende to allow a special adjournment motion to allow the debate.
He says in his letter to the Speaker that it would be bad if MPs did not discuss the matter, especially given that there have been protests
over the same matter in Uganda.
over the same matter in Uganda.
“I hold the humble view that it would be a dereliction of duty for Parliament to remain silent amidst the groans of pain from the
citizens we represent,” says Mr Namwamba in the letter.
citizens we represent,” says Mr Namwamba in the letter.
He adds: “There is no better arena than the August House to focus the nation on what must be done to ameliorate the suffering of our Kenyan people.”
The motion could be allowed under the provision that allows Parliament to suspend its scheduled business to discuss matters of national
importance.
importance.
The Nation confirmed that Mr Marende had received and allowed the motion to be presented when the House convenes this afternoon.
Although the government does not often abide by their wishes, MPs usually use the opportunity offered by such motions to ventilate on crucial issues.
Although the government does not often abide by their wishes, MPs usually use the opportunity offered by such motions to ventilate on crucial issues.
The motion comes on the same day the Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) has planned countrywide peaceful protests over the high cost of living brought about by the high cost of living.
“We want to have the peaceful demonstrations in all provincial headquarters, and only Embu has not confirmed so far. All the others are prepared to go ahead,” Cofek secretary general Stephen Mutoro said on Monday.
The protests in Nairobi will be held at Uhuru Park, with similar activities taking place at Mama Ngina Gardens in Mombasa.
The food situation could worsen, forecasts from the Meteorological Department indicate, as the long rains, which reach their peak in
April have been far below expectations.
April have been far below expectations.
The Department says rainfall recorded from the beginning of this month to date shows “very low-key rainfall activities over most parts of the country”.
“This is a continuation of the dry conditions that started in the last week of March and depicts a prolonged dry spell over most parts of the country into this usually peak rainfall month of April,” said Dr Joseph Mukabana, the director of Meteorological Department.
He said the trend is likely to continue over the next seven days, with most parts of the country getting very low rains.
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