WAIKENDA: Soberness needed at Senate for coalitions Bill

A hound having started a hare on the hillside pursued her for some distance, at one time biting her with his teeth as if he would take her life, and at another fawning upon her, as if in play with another dog.

The hare said to him, “I wish you would act sincerely by me, and show yourself in your true colours. If you are a friend, why do you bite me so hard? If an enemy, why do you fawn on me?”

The Political Parties (Amendment) Bill was passed by the National Assembly last week and is due to be discussed at the Senate starting today. What we saw at the National Assembly was shameful, with parliamentarians acting as hooligans to the shame of the nation.

The controversies that arose in the National Assembly were as a result of mistrust among politicians who quickly forget about Kenya and its people. Eventually, those who were more focused on the benefit of the law to Kenyans carried the day.

As argued here last week, coalitions and political alliances are critical to the democratic growth of the country and there is a need to mainstream them. This is the only way that Kenya can gain political harmony and ensure that every politician is held to higher ground.

The Senate has been on the receiving end from the National Assembly and the Executive for standing its ground on various occasions. We, therefore, expect that the Senate will rise to the occasion and pass the proposed law without undue drama.

Articles 94, 95 and 96 of the Constitution outline the functions of the two houses of Parliament and there should be no doubt in what the Senate is supposed to do with the Bill.

Other than protecting devolution, the Senate has been a critical body to oversight the National Assembly, which has produced more than necessary drama since the enactment of the 2010 Constitution.

As the Upper House, the Senate at Independence was critical to Kenya’s functionality as a nation out of colonialism. The current Senate has done the same and has been seen to be soberer in its debates and decisions than the National Assembly.

When bills have come from the National Assembly in a controversial manner, the Senate has been able to deal with them in a very sober manner. Senators have always put the country first as they debate through controversial legislation.

I doubt there is any Kenyan who can mention instances when the Senate has been in the news for petty brawls as we have witnessed in the National Assembly. This is why most Kenyans trust the Senate when weighty matters come to the floor as the Senate does offer leadership.

At a time when the country is very politically divided, we do not expect the Senate debate this week to be easy. Already some have, outside the House, expressed their views on the Bill in a manner that suggests there will be heated debates.

However, Kenyans will be watching to see if the Senate will remain sober and offer leadership on this particular matter. We expect the Senate to save the face of Parliament by ensuring that the debate is based on facts and not petty political divisions.

It’s time for the senators to show why they represent the counties, carry themselves with decorum, and conduct their affairs in a way that brings respect to the Senate.

This is not the time to please tribal chieftains or get paid for your vote. Kenyans are watching. You may benefit in the short term but you will pay in August.

Despite the different political formations that exist even within the Senate, senators must rise above suspicions and mistrust and put the country first. If they fail to do the right thing, history will judge them harshly if the country does not manage to stay together.

The Bill before the Senate will give Kenya a political rebirth and this is the history that senators should work to be judged on. It is through this that the Senate can continue to be held on a high pedestal by Kenyans and the rest of the world.

Political and communications consultant @MachelWaikenda