PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE DECLINES: MPS BEMOAN THE SILENT CHAMBERS
Regarding activity, Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss pointed out in December that the opposition's inability to oppose measures put forth in Parliament by the Kenya Kwanza government has been facilitated by the absence of its members from the National Assembly.
Some National Assembly members have expressed their views regarding how active they believe Parliament should be.
Otiende Amollo, a Rarienda MP, claimed in a Tuesday interview that Kenyans have been let down by Parliament.
"I'm the first to admit that we as the National Assembly, Parliament generally, have failed Kenyans," he told KTN News.
The legislator continued by saying that Parliament is becoming a rubber stamp for the Executive's demands rather than a House of Debate.
The MP for Kamukunji, Yussuf Hassan, shared his thoughts, stating that it was a reality that the caliber of discourse in the 13th Parliament had decreased.
Hassan questioned the caliber of the legislation presented to Parliament.
The Jubilee MP clarified that their role as legislators is to scrutinize the laws and disclosed that there is less room for debate in the House.
"Some people may argue that the numbers of the members of parliament have increased and I do agree with him (Amollo)," stated the politician.
"It is true and facts that the level of debate has narrowed down in the current Parliament there is no question about it."
As he explained why he thought Parliament's trust had fallen, MP Amollo remarked that to solve the problem, they needed to examine the specific areas where the members had fallen short.
He proposed that the practice of illegally swapping dwellings was one of the causes.
"The unwillingness of elected members to respect their lanes is one of the reasons we have failed. Stick with the minority if you were elected there and resist being persuaded to join the majority, Amollo said.
He clarified that several elected members who should be in the opposition have asserted their position of authority and established a provisional supermajority, which prevents Parliament from adequately scrutinizing the matters that require attention.
Regarding activity, Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss pointed out in December that the opposition's inability to oppose measures put forth in Parliament by the Kenya Kwanza government has been facilitated by the absence of its members from the National Assembly.
Few opposition-allied MPs attend plenary, but those who do often complain about being sidelined during parliamentary debates, according to Boss.
Boss, a Uasin Gishu Woman Representative, said that the majority is not to blame and that the opposition's legislative power has been diminished by the absence of attendees.
Only a small number of individuals visit the Parliament. "So why are you not in the House, even though the opposition feels that Parliament is being used as a rubber stamp?" she asked.
"It is so well to come here on national television and complain but why are you not in the House when you are required?"
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