Members of Parliament on Tuesday afternoon staged a walkout of the National Assembly, paralyzing legislative activities delays of the National Government Constituency Development Funds (NG-CDF).
The lawmakers walked out after sitting had commenced, forcing a quorum hitch, leading to the house being adjourned prematurely.
The legislators are set to commence their two-month-long recess on Thursday but have insisted they will not proceed for the break without commitment to the disbursement of the NGCDF.
As they stormed out, some were heard shouting, “no bursaries, no recess” while others sang “solidarity forever for the bursaries make us strong”.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Shollei was forced to adjourn the house prematurely after ringing the quorum bell twice according to the standing orders, with no quorum being attained.
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Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi raised a point of order, pointing out that if the NGCDF funds are not provided by January, students from low-income households may suffer a crisis during the transition to 100% secondary education.
“The house would be in order to decline to transact any other business in sympathy in expressing empathy with the thousands of children of poor Kenyans out there, the children of hustlers, who are suffering out there, not knowing how they will go back to school.”
On this part, Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa told the House that he has engaged the National Treasury on the matter seeking commitment on when the disbursement will be made as MPs head to recess.
“I listened to many members who came to my office from last week is what is bothering many of us. Is money especially for bursaries and therefore we have asked the national treasury and NGCDF they know what is provided for in law, the maximum for bursary with or without the proposal,” he said.
“We must cause them to disburse. At least up to that 40% For bursary so that by the time our children are breaking from the Christmas break.We have processed the bursary.”
