Moses Wetang'ula [PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]
Senate was on Wednesday paralysed after a bitter exchange between Bungoma senator Moses Wetang'ula and his Elgeeyo Marakwet counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen.
The took upon each other for over 10 minutes after Murkomen ignored NASA's contributions to extending House sittings to December 15.
Senate extended the time to see to it that Kenya's representation at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) was fully dispensed before recess until February 13.
As the Majority Leader, Murkomen moved the motion but deviated from tradition that requires the Minority leader or any Opposition member to second it.
It was here that Vihiga Senator George Khaniri rose on a point of order challenging Murkomen’s choice of his deputy Fatuma Dullo to second the motion.
Khaniri argued that that choice, Murkomen was breaking House rules by ignoring the opposition that is led by Minority leader Wetang'ula.
Wetang'ula took to the floor accusing Murkomen of turning important House matters into a Jubilee affair.
“The issue of bipartisanship is important in every House. Murkomen is treating important House matters casually...this partisan trend should stop,” Wetang’ula said.
But Murkomen was quick to defend his decision and accused Wetang’ula of missing the House Business Committee (HBC) meeting on Tuesday, a meeting that resolved to introduce the motion in question.
“Wetang’ula missed the meeting and did not even bother to look for me to ask what we discussed. How can he second the motion yet he did not attend the meeting?” he said.
“I was engaged in important issues of national interest that are going to happen on December 12. You (Murkomen) have a duty to be cautious now that you have moved from being a back-bencher to a leader in this House," Wetang'ula hit back
Speaker Kenneth
Lusaka intervened by bringing to an end the
exchange and asking the Majority Leader to pick a member to second the motion, only for the latter to
pick Dullo again.
But Garissa Senator Yusuf Hajji lashed out at Wetang’ula and Murkomen for derailing House business by engaging in "nonconstructive exchanges".
“We are tired of seeing the two leaders engage in such kind of talk. The Speaker should not allow them to continue with such talk in this House,” Hajji said.