Kenya Kwanza: MPs Stage Mid-Session Walkout
On Thursday, July 27, a portion of members of parliament affiliated with the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition left the August House in the middle of a session.
The lawmakers were discussing alleged police brutality during the nationwide demonstrations of Azimio la Umoja.
MPs left the chamber during National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah’s speech, leading to the session’s adjournment.
“We have not reached the necessary quantity. Consequently, we will all be upstanding, respected members. This house is adjourned until Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at 2:30 p.m., announced Gigiri MP Martha Wangari, who was presiding over the session.
The two factions, Kenya Kwanza and Azimio, clashed violently over who was in the wrong, with the former defending the police and the latter claiming that several protesters were killed by the police.
During his speech, Ichung’wah urged opposition leaders to cease leading protests, arguing that they have cost the lives of numerous Kenyans.
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“You must lead by example, and you must stop mobilizing your people to their deaths.” You must declare “Enough is enough” and end the carnage, he said to jeers from the legislators.
After the exit, opposition lawmakers can be heard chanting, “We have pursued the government. “We have pursued the government…”
On July 25, Interior PS Raymond Omollo revealed that since March, 305 law enforcement officers were severely injured and one was killed during protests.
“The National Police Service also lost 158 vehicles and nine police stations, which were either destroyed by fire or severely damaged by protesters posing as criminals.”
“More than 850 shops and other business premises were also broken into and looted, while 199 buildings were destroyed and various public utilities worth billions of shillings were vandalized,” reads a portion of the statement.
The Ministry also reported that a total of 156 assaults and violent robberies were committed and that several non-protesting motorists and pedestrians were assaulted and robbed by rioters who blocked 69 roads during the protests.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) agents began investigating civilians accused of transporting firearms during the demonstrations.
Kenya Kwanza: MPs Stage Mid-Session Walkout