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Drama as MPs chant 'No more bloodshed' in Parliament

Ichung'wah said it was time the Luo Nyanza leaders led by example and stopped demos.

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by SHARON MWENDE

News27 July 2023 - 15:43
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In Summary


  • • The legislators were debating on the alleged police brutality during the anti-government protests when Ichungw'ah rose to condemn the organisers.
  • • He said there was the need for the leaders, especially those from lower Nyanza, to be role models.
MPs at the Parliamentary chambers

There was drama at the National Assembly on Thursday following remarks made by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah on demos.

The legislators were debating on the alleged police brutality during the anti-government protests when Ichungw'ah rose to condemn the organisers.

He said there was a need for the leaders, especially those from Luo Nyanza, to be role models.

"I will speak the truth to you as leaders from Luo Nyanza, you must lead from the front. You must stop mobilising your people to death. You must say 'enough is enough' and no more bloodshed," he said.

He then questioned how many protesters were going to die in the marches for the leaders to "negotiate yourselves into power".

"No more bloodshed in this country," he said.

This led to chants from other parliamentarians of "no more bloodshed", even as the speaker of the day called for order.

Before the remarks, Ichung'wah had directed a similar question to Luo Nyanza leaders.

"Honorable Speaker I was asking, how much violence is enough?" Ichung'wah asked.

Rising to counter the statement, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo demanded the withdrawal of the statement saying it was biased and nonfactual. 

He hit out at his Kikuyu counterpart, saying he had made the debate political even though it was on police conduct.

"But is it in order for the leader of a majority to now single out a single community and talk of blood as if he is imputing that the Luo community have spilt blood?" he posed.

"It is actually the Luo community who are bearing the brunt of all violence in this country every year. Could he please withdraw that statement?"

In his reply, Ichung'wah clarified that he was addressing the leadership from the aforementioned region. 

"I must clarify to Otiende Amollo that I was speaking to the leadership from Luo Nyanza and I was asking if we must come to a time now when we say enough is enough. That we cannot continue mobilising people for riots in the name of Article 37 of the Constitution then we cry foul," he said. 

The MP urged all leaders to be responsible for the choices they make. 

"As leaders whether from Kiambu or Luo Nyanza. We must now start taking responsibility...," he said. 

The motion on the reported police brutality in various parts of the country was moved by Kisumu West MP Rozaah Buyu.

The speaker called for order several times and urged the MPs to observe the standing orders and decorum of the house.

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