Parliament yesterday turned chaotic and disorderly as Cord MPs made good their threat to disrupt President Uhuru Kenyatta’s State of the Nation address.
Several opposition MPs were ejected from the House after they turned the chambers into a football pitch by blowing whistles immediately Uhuru rose to address the special joint sitting of the House.
The opposition MPs, in what appeared to be a well-choreographed and rehearsed drama, almost spontaneously blew whistles defying, warning from National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi and his Senate counterpart Ekwee Ethuro.
The Star exclusively reported on Wednesday that the opposition was planning to either boycott or disrupt the President’s address.
They disrupted the session for close to one hour, even as security remained tight within Parliament Buildings, asthe President’s security detail, including the GSU’s Recce Squad, advanced to the corridors of Parliament.
DEFIANT
Muturi read the Standing Orders providing for ‘dead’ silence during the presidential address.
Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi was the first one to be ordered out of the Chambers after attempting to raise a point of order.
Parliamentary orderlies nearly fought the MP as they frog-marched him out.
“I have been manhandled by orderlies and some strangers dressed in suits. Some agents have warned me they will be coming for me tonight,” Wandayi said.
“Let them come and kill me in broad daylight.”
Addressing the press outside Parliament Buildings, the Ugunja MP said no amount of intimidation will cow them from opposing what he termed as “resilience by Jubilee to take the country back to dictatorship”.
“We cannot sit back and watch this country is being turned into a military garrison. We cannot accept to be taken back to dictatorship,” Wandayi said.
(+) LEGISLATORS SHOWN THE DOOR
Other MPs ejected were TJ Kajwang (Ruaraka), Millie Odhiambo (Mbita), Florence Mutua (Busia), Simba Arati (Dagoretti North), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Fred Outa (Nyando), John Mbadi (Suba) and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang. “Go home thief,” the MPs chanted as they waved placards and walked out of the chambers. “ is is the beginning of the revolution to liberate this country. We cannot allow a few individuals to take us back to dictatorship,” Kajwang said.