Chaos broke out in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon as MPs clashed during debate on the contentious Government-Owned Enterprises Bill, which seeks to pave the way for the privatization of 67 state corporations.
Trouble began when Deputy Minority Whip and Kathiani MP Robert Mbui led opposition lawmakers in protesting the bill’s progression, arguing that it was pushed through without the required quorum. The MPs demanded that debate be deferred to next week, with Mbui accusing the Executive of using its influence to control parliamentary proceedings.
However, Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei dismissed the objections and allowed Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah to proceed with reading the bill, a move that intensified the standoff.
The situation escalated when Mbui, visibly frustrated, attempted to move towards the mace Parliament’s most symbolic item—before security stopped him. An angry Shollei reprimanded the legislator, accusing him of disorderly conduct and violating House rules. She immediately suspended him and Embakasi South MP Julius Mawathe for five days, directing sergeants-at-arms to eject them from the chambers.
“Honourable Mbui, you cannot raise a point of order disrespectfully, nor can you attempt to remove the mace,” Shollei ruled. “You have committed gross misconduct under Standing Order 107A.”
Addressing the press outside Parliament, Mbui expressed his disappointment with how the session was handled. He criticised the Deputy Speaker for allegedly denying the opposition a fair chance to raise points of order, and accused Ichung’wah of habitually insulting leaders from the minority side without reprimand.
“I am uncomfortable with how the Deputy Speaker managed the House. She consistently shut us down,” he said. “The Majority Leader cannot be given the leeway every day to insult opposition leaders both inside and outside the chamber.”
The contentious bill is expected to return to the House next week, setting the stage for yet another heated session.
