National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah criticized certain Members of Parliament for frequent absenteeism during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, November 6.
Ichung’wah specifically called out committee chairpersons and vice chairpersons, even publicly listing those who were absent. He urged these leaders to either fulfill their duties or step down from their roles, suggesting that Parliament should consider impeachment for those who consistently fail to attend sessions.
“We need to reiterate the need for members to be in the House especially chairpersons and vice chairpersons. If you are a chairperson or vice chairperson of a committee, you must be in the House at 2:30 p.m. Let me tell chairpersons from both sides of the House, if you’re a chairperson or vice chairperson of a committee please take your work seriously.
“If you don’t, we have another 280 members who can take those positions. If you don’t have time for the House, do the honourable thing. I’m not encouraging anyone to impeach anyone but if need be, please impeach these chairpersons and vice chairpersons if they can’t be in the House,” Ichung’wah remarked.
The National Assembly Majority Leader made these remarks after several MPs serving as committee leaders failed to attend the Wednesday afternoon session.
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In response, Deputy National Assembly Speaker Gladys Shollei mentioned that some MPs had suggested replacing the chairpersons. However, she clarified that she would not begin the process until National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who is currently abroad, returns to the House.
“What Kimani Ichung’wah has said is part of what was resolved during the leadership retreat in Mombasa. I know that members have actually proposed that those chairpersons be changed, but I’ll restrain myself from putting that question until the substantive speaker is in the chair,” Shollei remarked.
