Our Legislators a Shame

Members of Parliament on August 16, 2007 rejected a proposal by the Government that they take a one month break.

The legislators rejected a motion of adjournment moved by Vice-President Moody Awori that the House go on recess until September 25, barely a month from the time the President is expected to dissolve it in readiness for the December general election.

They voted against the motion arguing that there is still too much work to be done by the Ninth Parliament and rejecting Awori’s coaxing that they are “too tired”.

But questions are bound to be raised as to why the MPs rejected the adjournment motion. Their argument is that there is too much work that they cannot afford a break.

The defeat of the motion comes only a day after the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2007 that sought to repeal section 33 of the current constitution which provides for 12 seats of nominated MPs and replace it with that of 50 seats exclusively for women and 40 new constituencies was rejected.

True, there are many pending Bills which ought to be dealt with by Parliament. For instance, there is the Political Parties Bill, 2006, that seeks to regulate registration and management of political parties.

There is the Constituency Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2006 that is aimed at changing the management of the CDF kitty.

There is the Fiscal Management Bill which seeks to give MPs more say in the preparation of the Budget, and the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill which seeks to change more than 20 laws.

Other Bills are the Nutritionists and Dieticians Bill, 2006, the Wildlife (Conservation and Management Bill), 2004, and the National Social Health Insurance Fund Bill, 2004 in which the Health ministry seeks to make available free medical care to the public.

There is also the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Bill, 2006, and the International Crimes Bill, 2006. The Youth ministry has also lined the National Youth Policy.

But did the MPs refuse to go on recess because of this overload? We refuse to buy that line of thought.

Their interest, as a matter of fact, is the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill which contains the proposal that each legislator get a golden handshake of Shs 5.6 million.

Indeed, lobbying had been going on quietly among the legislators to gang against government’s Bills and compel it to approve the Shs 5.6 million “golden handshake” for each MP.

President Kibaki is said to have declined to approve the motion, which, according to Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua, is “unpopular” with the masses.

She has persuaded the legislators, in vain, to accept a Shs 1.5 million “golden handshake” as recommended in a report by a former Chief Justice.

Here, our legislators are being hypocritical at the expense of the voters. Where have these MPs been all along to warrant them start claiming that there is too much work to be handled barely two months before the dissolving of Parliament? Aren’t the same people who have been interrupting House business due to quorum hitches?

All along, Speaker of National Assemble Francis ole Kaparo and his deputy David Musila have been at pains explaining to the legislators that they have to attend Parliament sessions if the House is to serve the public as required.

So serious has been the problem that crucial debates have been interrupted simply because the House could not marshal the minimum number of MPs required for business to be transacted. Standing Orders require that at least 30 MPs be present in the House for any business to be transacted. Many motions and Bills, for example the Media Bill, have been passed by less than 30 MPs contrary to the Standing Orders.

In many cases, the chair has been forced to drop questions listed in the Order Paper simply because an MP, who is the questioner, despite knowing that he or she has a question slated for that particular day, misses to appear.

That is why we state it is hypocritical for the MPs to claim that they cannot afford to go on recess because there is too much work.

Their interest is to ensure that they pass the Bill that will guarantee their Shs 5.6 million golden handshake. And if this turns to be the case, the Ninth Parliament will register a score card of being a complete letdown to Kenyans.