Kenyan MPs, a major Let Down

By Francis Mureithi
Pressure is still mounting on the Kenyan government over the Media Bill with journalist, in a rare spectacle, conducting a peaceful protest in the streets of Nairobi to pressurize the President not to sign the Bill into law.
Ironically, several MPs have moved to court to block the signing of the bill by President Mwai Kibaki. The group, led by presidential aspirant Raila Odinga has taken their suit to Nairobi's High Court to block the publication of the Bill intending to force journalists to disclose their sources to the government.
Dozens of other MPs have voiced their opposition to the enactment of the Bill. But the big question is, where were these MPs when this draconian Bill was passed by Parliament?
How comes only 29 legislators were present when the Bill sailed through? Why should MPs start shedding crocodile tears now that the Bill is in the hands of the President yet they had a golden opportunity to make the necessary amendments in Parliament.
This is a clear indication of how MPs have neglected their legislative role despite their hefty salaries each and every month. They have proved that, apart from a few such as nominated MP Njoki Ndung’u, that they are professors in gluttony at the expense of what actually took them to Parliament.
As a Parliamentary reporter, I have seen how this (Dish) honorable members have been conducting the business of the House with the quorum hitch being the order of the day.
They are a pure letdown to Kenyans, a disgrace to the kind of Kenya we dream of. They should stop whining about the Media Bill, they are the same people who passed it, or were not in the House to ensure draconian clauses do not sail through. Let other quarters such as the media practitioners, the church, the civil society, the foreign envoys and the like make noise about this Media Bill as it is the only way to ensure it is not signed into law. But the MPs should, as a matter of fact, shut up and consider themselves a disgrace to the brilliant citizens of this nation.
Ends