The MPs resolved unanimously to extend their sitting every Thursday from 6.30 pm to 8 pm so they can dispose of a backlog of important Bills before they break for Christmas recess. However, they could not implement their resolution on the same Thursday they passed the motion and had to, in fact, adjourn 15 minutes before time.

By the time of adjourning, there were only a handful of MPs in the House. Two Bills slated for debate –The Presidential Retirement Benefits Bill and the Persons with Disabilities Bill – could not be moved. Finance assistant minister Mutua Katuku said he was not prepared to move the Bill addressed to his ministry, while Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services minister Najib Balala was not in the House to move the Disabilities Bill. Mr Balala had left the Chambers after responding to contributions on a Bill to set up a Gender Commission which was passed, albeit by a handful of MPs.

On Tuesday, representatives of people with disability had visited Parliament to seek audience with the National Assembly Clerk. The group wanted to know what special sitting arrangements had been put in place for them at the public gallery, since they intended to be in attendance when the Bill comes before the House. They complained, and rightly so, about provisions for people with disabilities. To get to the galleries, one has to go up a flight of stairs.

Heated arguments and sometimes emotional scenes are still part and parcel of debate in the House and especially during Question Time.

On Wednesday morning, Water Resources minister Martha Karua was responding to a question by Baringo East MP Abangotum Kamama (Ford-People) who had wanted to know what her ministry was doing to revive collapsed irrigation schemes and how many of those under the National Irrigation Board were still operational.

Mr Raphael Wanjala of Budalangi (Narc) rose to ask a supplementary question. He sought to know why, in this year's Budget, Sh47 million was allocated to start irrigation in the Mount Kenya region while, he observed, the Bunyala irrigation scheme needed Sh20 million and Ahero scheme required Sh25 million.

"What criteria did the Government use to allocate funds to some areas and forget needy irrigation schemes such as the collapsed ones?'' Mr Wanjala asked. He also demanded to be told the criteria used "to remove some irrigation schemes'' from the Agriculture ministry to that of Water.

Ms Karua: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I first want to inform the MP that we do not deal with regions. Mount Kenya area is a part of Kenya and also has citizens of Kenya like Bunyala and any other place.

She denied knowledge of any Sh47 million budgetary provision for irrigation for the Mount Kenya region, saying that the Mwea irrigation scheme, which is in the area, did not have any budgetary vote for the current year.

"Let us be responsible as MPs and speak factually and without emotion. I have said irrigation is under-funded ...'' she was cut short by Mr Wanjala.

Mr Wanjala insisted that "it was clear Sh47 million had been allocated to start new irrigation schemes in Mount Kenya area''.

Ms Karua: ''Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I will once again state that the Mount Kenya area is in Kenya and has citizens who pay taxes. I am not aware of any such funding. I will give services throughout Kenya, including Mount Kenya, where I come from. Let no MP stand here to question why monies are voted for any region which is within the map of Kenya.'' 

But Mr Poghisio cut the minister short, cautioning her against deviating, saying this would only lead "to more arguing''.

Ol Kalou MP Muriuki Karue's Bill, which seeks to have a chunk of the Government's annual budget allocated to constituency-based development projects, was unanimously passed on Thursday.

In the well drafted Bill, Mr Karue (Narc) wants at least 2.5 per cent of the annual revenue devoted to general development in the country to be directed to constituency-based projects. This, the MP said, will help focus on the constituency as a unit in an effort to alleviate poverty.

The Bill establishes a Constituencies Development Fund in which the money, a minimum of 2.5 per cent of the annual Government budget, will be paid and administered by an officer in consultation with a national committee.

This means a constituency could get an average Sh24.8 million annually, going by last year's annual budget put at Sh280 billion. 

It was all applause as Mr Karue took the House through the Bill, informing the MPs that the law was bound to relieve them "from the heavy demands'' of fund-raising for projects which ought to be financed through the Consolidated Fund.

"In the eyes of the electorate, MPs are seen as the people responsible for steering the course of development in a constituency,'' he noted. 

MPs debated and passed a motion by Wajir East MP Mohamed Mahamud in which he asked the Government to build at least two model secondary schools in disadvantaged areas that have been performing poorly in national examinations. The schools, he proposed, would serve as centres of excellence in the marginalised areas and improve performance.

Those present supported Mr Mahamud but the debate took place in an almost empty Chamber. On the front bench, only assistant minister for Education Kilemi Mwiria, in whose docket the motion fell, sat through the motion.

Bumula MP Sylvester Wakoli (Narc), a former teacher, blamed dismal performance in poor schools to introduction of cost-sharing. But he also felt that lack of motivation of teachers by parents and the community contributed to poor performance.

"A teacher is like an animal which ploughs or produces milk. If you do not feed it well, it will not produce milk in the morning,'' the MP said.

Mr Wakoli also argued against religious-sponsored schools, alleging they were "full of religious biases''. He suggested that the Government takes over all schools managed by religious organisations saying there were "certain notorious religions'' which "possess'' schools, yet they do not employ efficient teachers because their consideration is religious affiliation.

"We need teachers who can perform and not ones who only go to church to please religious leaders. The Government should be the main sponsor of our schools so it can post teachers who it trusts,'' he said. 

Some new MPs were still learning Parliamentary standing orders, Local Government assistant minister Betty Tett had just informed the House, while responding to a question by Kisumu Town East MP Gor Sungu, that her ministry would repossess all grabbed public utility land.

Muhoroni MP Ayiecho Olweny was dissatisfied with the answer and shot up seeking to catch the Speaker's eye, shouting order! order! instead of seeking a point of order.

Prof Olweny: Order! order! Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir (Samuel Poghisio).

Mr Poghisio: Order namna gani! (how) What do you mean by order? Prof Olweny, did you say order to the Chair?

Prof Olweny: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I said point of order.

Mr Poghisio: What is it? It had better be a point of order!

The MP insisted it was a point of order. He took issue with Ms Tett's response to part of the question. "Is she in order to suggest that they cannot get the names of other allotees and yet the records are with the Commissioner of Lands?'' Mr Poghisio: That is not a point of order! It is a supplementary question!

E-mail: nrugene@nation.co.ke

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