Francis Openda
19 March 2006
Nairobi — The Ninth Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday for the fifth and probably last session.
At the top of President Mwai Kibaki and his handlers' agenda will be how to make peace with, or vanquish, enemies they created following the referendum fall out.
Even though cracks were clearly evident in the Narc coalition right from day one, the referendum was the straw that broke the camel's back.
The re-opening of the House comes at a time when Kibaki is facing myriad problems and he definitely needs more friends than enemies, to hold his Government together ahead of the General Election, due next year.
Though he has not personally come out to categorically declare that he would be defending his seat, signals from various quarters clearly indicate that Kibaki is in the race.
As this is the final stretch before the elections, it is all the more reason why the Kibaki team would be reaching out to bring as many MPs as possible to his side.
The House opening comes about five months after Kibaki suspended Parliament, just after the Government lost the referendum on the proposed new constitution.
Before that, the House had taken a three-week break on November 3, to allow MPs to campaign for or against the proposed constitution.
Kibaki did not reconvene Parliament after the loss, but instead suspended its sittings and dissolved the Cabinet.
As the President takes the microphone, focus will be on his speech and the debate that will follow. After the President's speech, Parliament as a rule debates it for seven days, uninterrupted, during which MPs can comment on several issues. The Government is definitely set to take a bashing over the various issues that have unfolded since the MPs were sent on leave.
Of immediate concern will definitely be the saga of the two Armenians, Artur Sargystan and Artur Margaryan, who are linked to mercenary activities, but who maintain they are 'businessmen'.
The Government will be hard-pressed by the expanded and strengthened opposition bench to reveal their true identities, their local links, their connection, if any, to the raid on the Standard Group premises on Marc 2, and why they are untouchable.
The split in the police force between Police Commissioner, Major General Hussein Ai, and CID boss, Joseph Kamau, might also take centre stage.
ODM leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka on the other hand, will be on the spot to clear their names over the damaging allegations made by the two 'Armenians'.
Taking into consideration that MPs enjoy parliamentary immunity for statements they make in the House and can only be ordered by the Speaker to either substantiate or withdraw and apologise, Kenyans should be ready to hear more interesting information on the two.
The activities of a Nyeri Narc activist, Mary Wambui, are also expected to be the subject of debate and a Nairobi MP plans to raise a question over her role in the distribution of Government relief food, round the clock police protection, and alleged association with the two 'Armenians'.
The House will also be focusing on the Anglo Leasing report, which the Uhuru Kenyatta chaired Public Accounts Committee is preparing in Mombasa.
The Anglo Leasing saga has so far claimed three of President Kibaki's staunch supporters and it will be interesting to hear them defend themselves when the PAC report comes before the house.
Kiraitu Murungi, David Mwiraria and Dr Chris Murungaru were devoured by the Anglo Leasing ogre whose appetite for more is yet to be satiated.
The report will either make or break the career of Vice-President Moody Awori who has all along maintained that he had no role in the scam.
Ndhiwa Orwa Ojode plans to move a motion for the setting up of a Parliamentary Select Committee to probe the Anglo Leasing saga. But even before Ojode's motion comes to the House, the biggest financial scandal to come under the Narc regime will definitely generate heated debate.
The constitutional debate will be back in Parliament, after the Government lost in the referendum last year, making Narc's pledge for a new constitution within 100 days a mirage.It will be interesting to see how Martha Karua, now in charge of the Justice and Constitutional Affairs docket after Kiraitu's exit, will steer the review. Added to the Gichugu MP's cap is the post of Deputy Leader of Government Business, previously held by George Saitoti. Saitoti resigned after being adversely mentioned by the Bosire committee, which was looking into the Goldenberg scandal.
The leader of Government Business is currently Vice-President Moody Awori, but his alleged link to Anglo Leasing could affect support for Government Bills.
The burden of spearheading the Government's agenda in the House will, therefore, rest on Karua and Chief Whip, Norman Nyagah.
However, Karua's determination to crack the whip on past graft enemies might severely test the Government's unity as some MPs on its benches, feature in either the Ndung'u, Goldenberg or Anglo Leasing scandals.
Efforts by the Government to revive the constitutional review by setting up a 15-member committee chaired by Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat is expected to spark intense debate in Parliament because opposition politicians have already rejected the team.
Key Bills expected before the House are the Sexual Offences Bill by Narc nominated MP, Njoki Ndung'u, aimed at severely punishing sex offenders, and the amendment of the Public Officers Ethics Act, to publicise wealth declaration by public officers.
Also on the queue is the Political Parties Bill, which requires the Government to fund political parties to reduce incidents of corruption during or before elections.
Other Pending Bills before the House are the Witness Protection Bill, The National Social Security Pensions Trust Bill, The National Social Health Insurance Fund Bill, which was rejected by President Kibaki after Parliament and the Retirement Benefits Finance Amendment Bill passed it.
Some of the MPs are also planning to revisit the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill by Belgut MP, Charles Keter. The Bill intends to makes Parliament's calendar independent. But the Government could turn the tide against the opposition by taking advantage of the split in Kanu and the emerging cracks in ODM, to push through its agenda.
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