Police Brutality: Shame As MPs Debate Nothing For 2 Hours

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula once opined that the quality of debate in parliament has declined to worrying standards compared to the early 1990s.

Wetang'ula was then the senator for Bungoma county and one of the best debaters in the House, having served as a lawmaker for nearly three decades.

Perhaps at this point, Wetang'ula had no idea he would later become the National Assembly Speaker and preside over a House of chaos where motions and debates quickly degenerate into petty arguments and ugly confrontations.

For a long time, the disorder has become a norm in the August House. Tempers and emotions flare up so quickly, like flashes of lightning on a rainy day. Unnecessary disruptions and political hollering fueled by egos and unmitigated obstinacy have become the hallmark of debate in the National Assembly.

Shame, dishonour in National Assembly

Although this happens quite often, the events of Thursday, July 28, evening, brought more shame and dishonour to this otherwise honourable House.

What started as a genuine, sober and timely discussion on the conduct of the police during the anti-government protests that left at least 30 Kenyans dead and several others injured degenerated into a divisive debate characterised by imbroglio and a cacophony of insults.

The motion was of utmost national importance and was shamelessly reduced to mere street talk with sound bites of mockery in the background. It then started limping on the clutches of tribalism before it acquired political limbs and swiftly ran into emotional headwinds.

For two good hours, the honourable members engaged in dishonourable activities that added no value to the motion. Unnecessary disruptions erupted like thunderstorms every minute.

The decorum that once graced these chambers was shredded to tatters, replaced by a cacophony of shouting, jeering, and childish taunts.

Police brutality debate divides house

Perhaps, the only person who made a meaningful contribution was the mover of the motion, Rozaah Buyu, MP for Kisumu West constituency.

She made her presentation well and hacked it as expected. The rest was for members to debate and give the country direction on how to end police brutality and protect the lives of protesters in the future. Unfortunately, it just ended at that point.

The first to counter Buyu's motion was Endebess MP Robert Pukose, a surgeon. He blamed the organisers of the protests for the killings, arguing that had they not called for protests, no one would have died.

Pukose further accused protesters of hurling stones at the police during the demos prompting the officers to confront them.

He then swiftly pressed the live wire button by dismissing opposition leaders' parades, vigils and prayers for departed souls, accusing them of "shedding crocodiles tears".

Up next was Elego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, who didn't mince his words. He threw jibes at Pukose before accusing the police of engaging in genocide.

Police brutality during maandamano

However, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah interrupted him instantly before he could exhaust his points.

Ichung'wah demanded that Atandi withdraws the word 'genocide' from his utterances or substantiate that; indeed, the police engaged in genocide.

Here, the madness began. The Alego Usonga MP refused to withdraw and pulled a document that he alleged contained names of people killed by the police. The lawmaker claimed 90% were from the Luo community. Tempers flared up.

Moiben MP Phylis Bartok was next in line. Like Pukose, she alleged the organisers of the protests were responsible for the deaths and police shouldn't be blamed. She even alleged the opposition team had a script and calendar of events that should happen for them to gain relevance and popularity.

Azimio accused of perpetuating violence

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa escalated the maelstrom by alleging the motion was meant to sanitise Azimio leaders who had "planned chaos and violence" that resulted in deaths.

He was interrupted by irked Azimio MPs who wanted to go for his jugular. Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Minority Whip Junet Mohamed and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo could not take it anymore.

Endless points of order, accusations and counter-accusations took centre stage for the rest of the time.

Efforts by interim Speaker Martha Wangari (Gilgil) to restore order and guide the House accordingly failed. She was interjected and, at some point, openly accused of being biased.

The debate turned political and lost meaning and purpose. The hallowed halls of democracy transformed into a pit of discord and vitriol. The session turned tempestuous.

Hatred, anger, bitterness, raw emotions and unbridled partisanship were all displayed on the floor of the House.

Ichungwah, the majority leader, made it worse when he accused Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance leaders from Luo Nyanza of perpetuating violence and causing bloodshed.

"As the spokesperson of the government in this House, I want to go on record, that even with bloodshed, there will be no handshake. We will not allow people to use violence, bloodshed and anarchy as currency for political negotiations," said the Kikuyu MP.

It was rather a reckless statement coming from the leader of the majority, who ought to have helped the speaker restore sanity by calming down his troops.

But as expected, it was countered with more noxious and venomous utterances from the opposition, raising the temperatures even further.

Chants of no 'more bloodshed' rent the air, with some members leaving their seats to go dance and picket at the heart of parliament, near the mace.

Quorum hitch hits house

After all the drama, the real shocker came when the MP for Ainabkoi Samuel Chepkong'a stood on a point of order.

He reminded the Speaker that the house lacked a quorum and that there was no need to continue wasting time.

The Speaker ordered the clerk to ascertain the number of MPs who were present, and to the shock of everyone following the proceedings, it was confirmed that indeed the House had no quorum.

The session was called off. More than two hours were wasted on petty arguments and unnecessary chest-thumping pronouncements. The sanctity of debate was obliterated, drowned in a sea of ego, self-interest and political posturing.

The Speaker of the National Assembly and the entire leadership should put this House in order sooner than later. Kenyans expect and demand quality and meaningful debate, not these endless sideshows and juvenile theatrics.

The writer is Masolo Mabonga, a journalist and regular political commentator. The content and views expressed here are his and do not reflect the position of TUKO.co.ke