Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has been suspended from transacting any business on the floor of Parliament for failing to apologise over remarks he made about Kenya Pipeline Company shares.
The lawmaker was given the orders over remarks he made on the floor of the House touching on Kenya Pipeline Company shares.
Speaker Moses Wetang'ula ruled that the lawmaker will not transact any business in the August House.
“I will not exclude you from the House. You can take a day, a week or a year. It is up to you. And those colleagues who sit with me on this chair, be duly advised,” Wetang'ula said.
The Kiharu lawmaker was taken to task to provide evidence about the claims.
He asked for two more weeks to provide the required evidence.
“I respectfully ask you to exercise your authority, but I cannot apologise for saying the truth,” the MP said.
“What I stated is the truth and the truth rises higher than the rules,” Nyoro said.
But Speaker Wetang'ula said the lawmaker was free to attend the House, only that he would not contribute.
Wetang'ula said there was nothing for the lawmaker to bring as the allegations had been expunged from the records of the House.
The Speaker asked the lawmaker to simply apologise as the records had been expunged.
He declined the lawmaker’s request for more time.
“This is House of rules. Common decency must be separated from grandstanding. When you change your mind, I will give you the first opportunity,” Wetang'ula said.
The ruling means the lawmaker can attend sittings but not contribute to debates, motions and other business of Parliament.
Nyando MP Jared Okello said the ruling was lenient, saying the lawmaker fell short of being kicked out for the rest of the session.
“It is a lesson for all of us that as the Speaker exercises due diligence and carries himself with greater dignity, as a House we just have to give back that dignity to him. Because dignity begets dignity and arrogance begets arrogance,” the MP said.
The lawmaker said he had observed some people were keen to milk political mileage from proceedings in the House.
The unique ruling is among steps a speaker can take to punish members ruled out of order.
Parliament has a history of lawmakers being kicked out for weeks and denied privileges that come with their membership.
Speaker Wetang'ula cited Standing Orders 107.
It says, "The Speaker may call a Member whose conduct is grossly
disorderly to order, and shall order the Member to withdraw
immediately from the precincts of the Assembly for a minimum
of five days and a maximum of twenty-eight days, including
the day of suspension."
Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri urged colleagues to end the habit of playing to the gallery.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma invoked Standing Orders which speak to defying a ruling of the Speaker or committee chair.
He cited the rules which set a five-day suspension, but not more than 28 days.
“This is about the integrity of the House. We cannot abandon standing orders and say he can sit and not transact any business.”
Wetang'ula ruled that the lawmaker is excluded from the sitting for five sitting days.
