Standard Team
20 March 2006
Nairobi — Daggers are drawn ahead of Tuesday's State reopening of Parliament after a five-month recess, one of the longest in Kenya's history.
Cabinet ministers and Government-friendly MPs dug in to do battle with an Opposition that has sworn to scuttle State agenda in the House. Parliament is deeply divided over corruption - specifically, the Sh7 billion twin Anglo Leasing scandals - the stalled Constitution review, the raid on The Standard Group and presence of alleged mercenaries in the country.
Even before President Kibaki performs the opening ritual, also to be attended by diplomats, the clergy, and other guests, tension is rising. The President will be opening Parliament at a time when four of his strong allies - David Mwiraria, Kiraitu Murungi, Chris Murungaru and George Saitoti - will be struggling to fit into the backbench after being shunted from the Cabinet by graft claims. There will also be several new faces in the Cabinet sitting for the first time a feet away from the President.
On Sunday, MPs and Cabinet ministers sympathetic to the Kibaki administration described the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as an "amorphous entity" featuring mainly Kanu and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Despite the disparaging description, ODM, which was cobbled together during the referendum campaigns last year, defeated the proposed Constitution and remains a big threat to the Government side.
But defiance was evident among Government ranks, with ministers and MPs confident that they would weather any ODM tsunamis. All those we spoke to, except Kabete MP Paul Muite, said they would overcome it.
Fireworks in Parliament
The Leader of the Official Opposition, Uhuru Kenyatta, said ODM would mobilise MPs to put the Government on the spot over the raid on The Standard Group, the alleged mercenaries, the Anglo Leasing scandal and the stalled constitution review.
"I'm certain that these are the issues that will come up on he floor of the House," he said.
Trade minister Mukhisa Kituyi and his Public Service counterpart, Moses Akaranga, said the Government was ready to tackle the Opposition in Parliament, adding that no Government Bill would be shot down. They were speaking at Busia Friends Church during a funds drive. Vice-President Moody Awori was also present.
Awori urged MPs to put their differences aside and address issues affecting their constituents.
"MPs will be judged harshly by people they represent if they fail to use the august House to articulate issues of great concern to Kenyans," he said.
Kituyi said there would be fireworks in Parliament due to personal differences arising from the referendum.
"Most of the differences amongst MPs are trivial and personal and are a result of an absence of camaraderie and personal respect. Such trivialities will be extended to the House."
Muite said: "That there will be war in Parliament is a foregone conclusion." But Ford-Kenya chairman Musikari Kombo predicted Kenyans would witness sober debate.
LDP Secretary-General Joseph Kamotho said he would ask for a ministerial statement on the issue of the mercenaries.
"I will raise the issue of the mercenaries and the Government should give Kenyans a conclusive answer," he said. "Can the Government tell us who brought into the country the foreigner, Artur Margaryan?"
Government Bills
Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang' warned: "Wait and see we how we will deal with the matter on the floor of the House."
MPs Linah Chebii Kilimo, Musa Sirma (Eldama Ravine), David Koros (Eldoret South), John Sambu (Mosop) and David Sudi (Marakwet West) vowed to bring Government to account on the issues of the alleged mercenaries, the Anglo-Leasing scandal and the famine ravaging parts of the country.
Lugari MP Dr Enock Kibunguchy said Ford-Kenya MPs were not going to support the Government on things that are not right such as the presence of alleged mercenaries and corruption.
Sambu said MPs would also push for a new Constitution as soon as possible, saying the country should go into the next general election with a new Constitution. Wycliffe Osundwa and Sospeter Ojaamong said the Government should expect a vicious and hard-tackling Opposition in Parliament.
Labour minister Newton Kulundu, however, struck a conciliatory note. "We have worked together in Parliament before when things were expected to be bad, even now, we will work together in the House." Kulundu downplayed the effect of the Anglo-Leasing scandal on the Government side in Parliament, saying, "It is just a theft case like Goldenberg and will be dealt with".
Assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri and Mathira MP Nderitu Gachagua termed as wishful thinking plans by ODM to shoot down Government Bills. He said the Government side was under no threat as it had overwhelming support. "These threats are baseless and the noise and bickering does not give us a run. We have over 120 MPs on our side and that is our weapon," he said.
Presence of strangers
But Baringo North MP William Boit warned that the ODM was capable of marshalling forces to block all pending Government Bills.
Eldoret North MP William Ruto said the Government had hijacked the constitutional review exercise from the people, saying that would lead to a rejection similar to that witnessed last year.
Rongai MP Alicen Chelaite said the Government was ready to transact business as it braced itself for hard times while dealing with the combined forces of LDP and opposition MPs.
Subukia MP Koigi Wamwere said: "There is no need for speculation, we can only wait and see what they will do then we tackle them," he said.
Meanwhile, Coast MPs want Parliament to discuss the presence of strangers in the country as an urgent national security matter.
Taveta MP Dr Naomi Shaaban said:"We are alarmed by the presence of strangers in our country.
But Transport minister Ali Mwakwere said the Government was in control and urged MPs to concentrate on development. He urged MPs to discuss doubling of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from 2.5 per cent of the country's annual revenue to 5 per cent.
Assistant minister for Immigration, Anania Mwaboza and Shaaban also called for the immediate enactment of the Sexual Offences Bill and the National Social Health Insurance Fund (NSHIF). Mwaboza said many "people-driven Bills" had been pending for too long.
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