• The lawmakers stormed out of the Chambers to scuttle the passage of a motion for the House to go on recess for the December festive season.
• However, Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro attempted to return to the Chamber just as the bell rang notifying MPs to resume the afternoon sitting.
MPs on Tuesday stormed out of Parliament in protest over delayed disbursement of NG-CDF funds. https://rb.gy/7xvzwq
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MPs on Tuesday stormed out of Parliament in protest over delayed disbursement of NG-CDF funds.
The lawmakers who were shouting 'no CDF no recess' demanded the release of about 40 per cent of the funds whose delay they said would affect the disbursement of bursaries before schools reopen in January.
The lawmakers stormed out of the Chambers and scuttled House business which included tabling of a motion for them to go on recess for the December festive season from Thursday.
However, South Mugirango legislator and Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro attempted to return to the Chamber just as the bell rang notifying MPs to resume the afternoon sitting.
Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss ordered the bell rang after Majority Leader Opiyo Wandayi rose on a point of order saying there was no quorum.
Osoro's attempt to respond to the bell and return to the Chamber was, however, thwarted by Opposition MPs who blocked and held him while shouting "Osoro ni wetu".
"Bursary haina chama, no CDF no Parliament," a female MP was heard saying.
"The children of the poor must go to school. Kenyan children must go to school," the MP added.
The MPs stormed out of the House in a rare show of solidarity after Wandayi raised concerns over the delayed disbursement of the NG-CDF funds.
"What is the justification for the National Treasury not releasing the funds earmarked for NG-CDF board?" he asked.
"Therefore it behooves us as a House to take action. I want to ask you to compel CS National Treasury to come forth and inform the House when are we expecting the disbursement of NG-CDF funds, at least to take care of the bursary component before we proceed on recess," he added.
"It's a matter that cannot be dealt with after recess has started, it's an issue that must be dispensed with now before Thursday."
Majority leader and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah concurred with Wandayi's sentiments saying he was not in the business of defending the government on matters that concern his constituents.
"On NG-CDF, we cannot afford to compromise, not for the benefit of Members of Parliament, and we must never make it look to the world that Members of Parliament have an interest in Ng-CDF. We only have the interests of people who sent us here to represent them," he said.
Attempts by CDF committee chair and Eldama Ravine MP Musa Sirma to assure the MPs that the monies would be disbursed in a two-days' time were rejected by the MPs who demanded that the money be released "now".
In January, MPs threatened to cut short an induction seminar over the delayed dispatch of NG-CDF funds by the National Treasury.
The move prompted the National Treasury to disburse Sh4 billion to the NG-CDF kitty.
On January 26, Sirma told the media at Pride Inn Hotel in Mombasa that they had agreed to continue with the workshop as whatever was bothering them had been settled by the Treasury.
"A sense has prevailed to the National Treasury because we told them what was important. The CDF kitty belongs to the people and MPs are only custodians. Now we can relax as we know our children are going back to school," he said.
MPs are set to go on recess on Thursday for long December holiday and will resume sittings on January 28, 2024.
Should they go for the recess before the funds are released, they will have no platform to push for the same meaning children who rely on bursaries will delay going to school in January.