Wounded Cord MPs to return with new resolve

Senators James Orengo, Moses Wetang’ula and Kipchumba Murkomen at Parliament buildings on December 30, 2014 after Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro declined to allow debate on the controversial new security laws. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• After being frustrated by Jubilee colleagues, opposition law makers expected to devise new ways of dealing with opponents.
• It remains to be seen how House Speaker Muturi will handle opposition MPs’ open defiance against him.

By JOHN NGIRACHU
More by this Author

Cord legislators are likely to change the way they deal with their Jubilee counterparts in the new year if events of the last two sittings in both the two Houses of Parliament are anything to go by.

This will obviously range from a more robust ways of handling legislative matters on the floor of the House to legal battles in the courts whenever they feel offended or unfairly treated.

Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula appeared to point to the direction this could take on Tuesday evening when he referred to Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro as a Jubilee stooge.

This was after Mr Ethuro refused to have the House debate on the controversial Security Laws Amendment Act and possibly declare it unconstitutional.

Mr Wetang’ula stated that Mr Ethuro’s assertions were factually incorrect as he criticised his move to stop discussions on the new laws.

“My worst fears came to pass that the deliberate prolongation of the point of order by the distinguished senator for Tharaka Nithi was in fact a conspiratorial process to make it difficult for this motion to be debated in this House,” he said.

In the National Assembly, Cord MPs have gradually moved from quietly criticising Speaker Justin Muturi to openly defying him, making the management of the House difficult. The MPs also accuse Mr Muturi of favouring Jubilee.

CREATIVE WAYS

The Opposition became more assertive last year, especially in the busier National Assembly, transitioning from protesting by singing or walking out to attempts to physically interfere with proceedings.

Given the events of the past two years, Jubilee and Cord will seek more creative ways to stop each other in the this year.

This would involve the filibustering seen in both Houses. Cord MPs delayed the Second Reading of the security Bill while Jubilee senators ensured Mr Ethuro had enough time to make his ruling Tuesday.

It will be interesting to see how Mr Muturi handles a House in which one half has lost respect for him.

When the National Assembly resumes sittings on February 10, it will be in a race to beat the deadline on two Bills that had the deadline set in the Constitution extended from August 2014 to March 2015.

The House will also embark on the more intense stages of the budget preparation while also looking forward to the final deadline for the passing of laws to fully implement the Constitution.

If the Senate lives up to its promise to file a petition at the Supreme Court against the 47 laws the National Assembly passed without its input, then this could revive the protracted war between the two Houses.

The Senate also appears to have learnt from its failure to assert itself, especially with the failed impeachment of Embu governor Martin Wambora.

Even though Mr Muturi had promised that the two Houses would consult before decisions are made, this did not happen when the security laws were passed