Major row in House over Pan Africa Parliament nominees

John Mbadi proposed Ong’era be dropped and replaced by Daniel Maanzo saying women and the Senate had already been represented.

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU
KENYA: Hostile MPs defied Speaker Justin Muturi and Majority Leader Adan Duale as they forced the withdrawal of the names of Senate nominees to the Pan Africa Parliament (PAP).
The MPs said the Senate had no business sending representatives to the body, even, if the protocol that sets up the Pan Africa Parliament demands representation from both Houses in a bicameral setting.
The Senate has already approved Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Janet Ong’era (nominated), and members of the National Assembly Zakayo Cheruiyot (Kuresoi South), Rachel Shebesh (Nairobi County Woman Representative) and Millie Mabona (Mbita) to sit in the Pan Africa Parliament.
But Wednesday, MPs said Senators had no business sitting in the PAP.
Just as it had happened when the names came to the House the first time,  the MPs went into rage and insisted that as per the Constitution the “Senators do not represent people, but regions”.
They were piqued that the opposition had picked a nominated Senator to sit in the regional House.
“When you are a nominated Member of the Assembly, is this a body we send you to? We have enough people elected to the National Assembly and in the Senate to represent the people of Kenya in the Pan African Parliament,” argued Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town).
Humbled into submission
Duale tried to threaten MPs that they should not delay the matter further because the Pan-Africa Parliament urgently required Kenyan MPs in the House. But they told him that they will not be beaten into submission because of deadlines.
Amid heckling, John Mbadi proposed Ong’era be dropped and replaced by Daniel Maanzo (Makueni). He argued women and the Senate had already been represented.