Uhuru set for lunch date with pro-Handshake lawmakers

President Uhuru Kenyatta has invited pro-Handshake MPs to State House for a luncheon today, a week after they passed the contentious Political Parties (Amendment) Bill 2021, in the National Assembly.

While the meeting’s agenda was not immediately clear, sources said it would be used to review their performance in Parliament.

Members of the National Assembly leadership who spoke to People Daily confirmed the invitation had been extended only to MPs who support the government’s business in the House.

“This is a pro-Handshake and like-minded MPs’ meeting. Those who have been opposing government business have not been included,” said Jubilee Coalition Joint Parliamentary Secretary Adan Keynan. 

He was categorical legislators allied to Deputy President William Ruto who tried unsuccessfully to derail the passage of the Bill during last week’s stormy deliberations were not invited.

“Those who have been opposing government business in Parliament should keep off the meeting. Certainly no Tanga Tanga member will be entertained in the meeting.”

Thanking members

National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi separately confirmed he had been tasked to send invites to MPs from the Minority side who supported the Bill.

Mbadi, a close ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga, said the State House meeting will be a luncheon to thank members for passing the Bill. “I am the one inviting members of the Minority side.

We have invited only those who are supporting the Azimio La Umoja and those who supported the passage of the Bill.”

Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe said; “I have received an invitation for a luncheon at State House tomorrow (today).

So I can assure you I will attend. We will be told the agenda once we reach there.”

Jubilee Party deputy secretary general Joshua Kuttuny said the meeting comes at a time the ruling party members have been yearning for an audience with Uhuru.

“It has come at the right time. We need to plan for the future especially now that we are going for elections.”

Kieni MP Kanini Kega added; “The meeting is a bipartisan meeting. The President has called all like-minded MPs, those of us who support him and the Handshake.

We don’t expect to see any Tanga Tanga MPs in the meeting. As for the agenda we are waiting for him to tell us why he called us, maybe he wants to say thank you.”

Kimilili MP Didmus Baraza, a key Ruto ally, said he had not been invited. “I am not aware of such a meeting. Maybe it is for a chosen few. In any case, I cannot attend a meeting whose agenda is not known.”

Keynan said the meeting will address issues to do with Parliament’s calendar for the final leg of the current term.

“We will be reviewing our performance and prepare ourselves for the final leg which as expected will be a busy one considering that it is an election year,” Keynan added.

Azimio Coalition

Uhuru and Raila used their numerical strength in Parliament to wade off resistance from Ruto’s allies to pass all the critical clauses in the Political Parties Bill.

Although Ruto’s UDA team made a spirited fight to pass amendments to the Bill, the Handshake side marshalled their troops to defeat all of the proposed changes.

The Bill, which is before the Senate, seeks to allow the formation of a coalition party, which, according to the Handshake team, will pave the way for creation of the Azimio coalition which the ODM leader will use as his election vehicle.

Debate on the Bill was heated and at one time turned chaotic with members engaging in physical confrontation. As a result, Mbadi was thrown out for five sittings for attacking his Sigowet Soin MP, Benard Kipserenget.

Two other MPs, Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu) and Fatuma Gedi (Wajir County) were also reprimanded for misconduct.

Nyoro had claimed that the latter was dishing out cash to members supporting the Bill, an allegation he could not support.

Garissa Town MP Aden Duale, who led the onslaught against the Bill, sought to have a clause proposing a six-month period for coalitions to be formed ahead of a general election but lost in the vote.

“This proposal is being pushed by dishonest individuals who are known for failing to keep promises,” Duale claimed.

In chaotic sessions punctuated by constant shouting, the proponents of the Bill pushed through the amendments despite spirited resistance from Ruto allies.

The issue of lack of public participation dominated debate but was overruled by Speaker Justin Muturi who directed that the Bill was properly before the House.

Duale also lost his bid to amend clause 5 of the Bill which provides that an application for provisional registration of a political party.