Two MPs will face a National Assembly panel over chaos that erupted when lawmakers debated the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill on December 29.
Minority Leader John Mbadi and Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri will face the Powers and Privileges Committee, chaired by Speaker Justin Muturi, over alleged disorderly conduct.
Mr Mbadi is accused of hitting Sigowet-Soin MP Kipsengeret Koros while Mr Ngunjiri allegedly choked Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni during the tumultuous special sitting called to discuss the bill.
Mr Kioni, in a January 5 letter to the Speaker, wants action taken against Mr Ngunjiri for behaving in a disorderly manner.
“I would like to bring to your attention that Hon. Kimani Ngunjiri attacked me physically by strangling me and (I) was only helped by members who were around me. He did it (in) the full glare of the Tangatanga team,” Mr Kioni says in the letter.
“The CCTV cameras should be examined to confirm and should give adequate evidence. This is an issue that I would like the Powers and Privileges Committee to take action on.”
Mr Kioni said the MPs should be decisively punished in order to restore sanity in the National Assembly.
Chaotic session
Mr Kioni also said he will raise issues about the behaviour of some members of the Speaker’s panel during the chaotic session.
He claimed that some of them were biased and aided the chanting and shouting of MPs opposed to the bill by not warning them or calling for order.
“I will name them on the floor of the House when we resume (sittings). They clearly took sides during the debate, something that is unexpected of them. Since they are appointees of the Speaker, I will demand that action be taken against them by the Speaker himself,” Mr Kioni said.
Mr Mbadi told the Nation yesterday that he was ready to face the committee and provide an account of what transpired that day.
“I welcome him (Mr Koros) to report the matter to the Powers and Privileges Committee because it will give me an opportunity to say what he did to me,” he said.
“He is only suspecting that I hit him but he has no evidence. I will expose before the committee what he wanted to do.”
Speaker Muturi confirmed to the Nation that he had received Mr Kioni’s complaint.
“The committee does not act unless a complaint is referred to it. I referred Kioni’s complaint against Kimani Ngunjiri to the committee,” Mr Muturi said.
It is upon the Speaker to decide what to do with members who behaved in a disorderly manner, said Majority Leader Amos Kimunya.
The committee is mandated to investigate the conduct of a member alleged to constitute a breach of privilege and report to the House its findings along with recommendations.
It also enforces the codes of conduct under Chapter Six of the Constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act, the Public Officer Ethics Act and the Fourth Schedule of the Parliamentary Power and Privileges Act. It recommends sanctions after a disciplinary hearing.
If a member is found guilty of the offence, it issues, with the approval of the House, a formal warning, reprimands the member or orders him or her to apologise to the House or the offended person.
The committee can also impose a fine, deducted from the member’s monthly salary and allowances, or suspend the member for a period determined by the House.
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