MPs come to near blows in Parliament

By JOHN NGIRACHU, jngirachu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, May 11 2011 at 16:28

There was drama at Parliament Buildings Wednesday afternoon after MPs Elias Mbau (Maragua, PNU) and William Kabogo (Juja, Narc-Kenya) got in a physical confrontation metres away from the chamber.

The altercation in full view of colleagues and journalists would have lasted longer had Muturi Mwangi (Kiharu, PNU) not stepped in and stopped the two from going at each other.

Mr Mbau was chatting with MPs Peter Kenneth (Gatanga, PNU) and Njoroge Baiya (Githunguri, Safina) on the Speaker’s Walk when Mr Kabogo appeared. 

Journalists in the media centre a few metres away said Mr Kabogo then stopped  and confronted Mr Mbau, and what initially appeared to be a friendly hug turned violent as they pushed each other towards the wall.

The Speaker’s Walk is the corridor leading to the chambers from the room where the mace is kept. It is usually cleared when the mace is carried into the chambers and also leads to the MPs’ library.

The confrontation took place as Mr Baiya and Mr Kenneth looked on, with Mr Mwangi stepping in  and pulling Mr Mbau away.

They separated completely as journalists rushed to the scene, with Mr Kabogo walking away in the company of Mr Baiya and Mr Mbau going in the opposite direction.  

The two MPs were later spotted at the office of the Searjent-at-arms, who is in charge of security at Parliament, in the company of others who had watched the confrontation.

The fight apparently stems from a disparaging remark Mr Mbau alleges was made by Mr Kabogo when he introduced him to speak to the crowd at a rally in Nyeri last week.

They have in the past been in separate political camps, with Mr Kabogo supporting Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Mbau in that of Mr Kenneth.

Mr Mbau was at the prayer-cum-political rally organised by Mr Kenyatta’s allies in Nyeri last weekend.