On the day Kenyans commemorated the first anniversary of Gen Z protests, the National Assembly was forced to prematurely adjourn its morning sitting over fears of a second breach of Parliamentary precincts by youth.
Earlier in the morning, Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had toured the area, which saw reinforcement of the precincts with razor sharp barbed wire.
A morning session that had taken off under heavy police presence was prematurely cut off after business due to the absence of the movers of six motions and sponsors of four bills.
The morning session which is ordinarily adjourned at 1pm yesterday ended at 11:45am, an hour and 15 minutes before time. The Presiding Speaker David Ochieng was forced to defer the motions and Bills to another sitting.
Earlier in the morning the Public Investment Committee on Governance and Education chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, and the Environment, Forestry and Mining Committee chaired by Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka were also put off.
Some motions that were to be considered included one on implementation of universal health coverage and of a policy on mandatory use of public health care facilities by public officers by nominated MP Sabina Chege, MP Tim Wanyonyi’s motion on formulation of a land use policy on zoning of land for agriculture and built development, and another by MP Abdi Shurie on allocation of HELB funds to support students enrolled at Kenya Medical Training College.
Among the Bills up for consideration are The County Governments (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No. 25 Of 2023) co-sponsored by MP Timothy Toroitich, The Breastfeeding Mothers Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 8 Of 2024) by Sabina Chege and The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 21 Of 2024) by MP Didmus Barasa.
“The time being fifteen minutes to midday, this House stands adjourned until today 2.30pm PM,” said Ochieng. Parliament had been considering the Supplementary Budget Estimates III for the 2024/2025 financial year but by the time the House rose, only 10 MPs were in the chambers.
And immediately the House rose, long convoys of parliamentary staff and MPs could be seen yet again sneaking out the premises through the underground tunnel.
The Sh150 million and five-meter-wide tunnel that lies beneath a section of Harambee Avenue once again proved a welcome escape route for the MPs. Insiders revealed that an advisory had been issued to all MPs and staff on duty to vacate the premises “as soon as they could”.
PIC Education and Governance Committee chairman Jack Wamboka said the committees had been cancelled due to the unavailability of witnesses. “We had planned to hold the committee sittings but our witnesses communicated that they could not make it given the ongoing protests,” he said.
The urgency, speed and fashion within which the MPs vacated Parliament however betrayed the fear reigning in Parliament yesterday. By afternoon, all MPs had left Parliament.
Within the precincts, armed officers run up and down fending off a section of youth who had tried to enter Bunge towers side of Parliament. Outside the main Parliament Buildings which were breached by protesters on June 25, 2024, were fortified with razor wire, with armed officers stationed at all access points. General Service Unit officers barricaded all round-about leading to Parliament road while helicopters could be heard flying above the august House in intervals.
At the same time, opposition leaders yesterday criticised the government over its handling of the protests meant to honour over 60 Kenyans killed during last year’s protests.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka led opposition leaders Eugene Wamwala and a host of other grassroots leaders in commemoration of the Kenyans killed last year.
Shortly before the laying of a wreath along Parliament road, Kalonzo held a press briefing outside the Holy Family Basilica church where he spoke out against state-backed killing of the youths and abductions that rocked the country.
"You cannot let gangs run the streets while police collaborate with them. We will not allow this country to descend into such lawlessness,” said Kalonzo.
“It is also wicked to abduct citizens without warrants. We must say no to this and seek legal redress where necessary,” he added.
Eugene Wamalwa said: “This level of deployment speaks to a paranoid regime…But as the people's opposition, we stand with the people and not the powerful.” By Josphat Thiong’o, The Standard