Parliamentary business in the National Assembly was thrown into disarray on Tuesday after Members of Parliament (MPs) paralyzed all committee sessions in protest over President William Ruto’s recent remarks accusing legislators of engaging in extortion. The boycott meant that no committee meetings convened in the National Assembly, effectively stalling oversight and legislative work that ordinarily takes place in the House.
The MPs expressed outrage over the President’s allegations, terming them an attack on the integrity of Parliament. According to several lawmakers, the sweeping claims amounted to an attempt to undermine the independence of the legislature and paint members in negative light before the public. “These statements are reckless and demeaning to the institution of Parliament. We cannot proceed with business as usual until there is clarity and respect,” one MP said.
As a result, committee sessions, which form the backbone of Parliament’s scrutiny and legislative process, failed to take off. This disruption affected key parliamentary functions such as examination of budgetary allocations, inquiries into government projects, and vetting of crucial bills.
In contrast, the Senate maintained its normal schedule, with its committees proceeding to meet various stakeholders as planned. The contrasting scenario highlighted growing divisions between the two Houses of Parliament in their response to the President’s statements.
The standoff raises questions about the state of relations between the Executive and the Legislature, with fears that prolonged protests could delay key government business before the National Assembly.
