National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has castigated MPs for saying one thing at public events and doing the contrary when they are in Parliament.
In an address to the National Assembly leadership during a retreat in Naivasha on Monday, Wetangula said some MPs who never speak in Parliament have formed the habit of promising the public they will act on certain issues in the House.
“As Speaker, sometimes I get embarrassed in a place like a funeral when an MP who never speaks in Parliament stands up and says I am going to oppose a Bill and says all manner of things,” he explained.
“…and when the Bill comes, you do not see him in the House to speak to the Bill that he was opposing at a funeral.”
Wetang’ula said his office gets a lot of messages from the diaspora expressing concerns over Bills.
“Oh, Mr Speaker, there is a Bill before the House that is going to tax every single income in agriculture. I have not seen that Bill. A Bill that is supposed to tax even an egg. As leaders, do not let this propaganda run ahead of you. There is no such Bill as far as I know,” he added.
Wetang’ula further advised MPs to always point out the areas they are opposed to when condemning a Bill in public.
“I keep telling MPs, you look very good in the public if you point out what you oppose in a Bill,” he added.
During the meeting, the Speaker warned chairpersons and vice chairpersons of committees that they risk being removed from their roles if they repeatedly skip House sessions.
He added that chairpersons who are consistently absent from committee meetings, essentially relinquish their authority to the vice chair.
“That should never be the case. Let’s commit fully to leading our committees effectively,” he said.
Wetang’ula added that chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of departmental, audit, appropriations, and select committees hold positions of privilege.
“You receive additional compensation and enjoy travel privileges because you are leaders. The least you can do in return is to consistently attend House sessions and actively push forward parliamentary business,” he emphasised.
