THE UNHOLY UNION GOES FULL CIRCLE: IT IS NOW AN AXIS OF EVIL !

Parliament is this afternoon due for a test- whose result will determine its future engagement with the Kenyan people. The censure motion against Agriculture minister William Ruto will not only test parliaments anti corruption resolve but also the legislators loyalties: are they committed more to their political and personal interests or to the interests of the millions of Kenyan’s threatened with starvation and grappling with the constantly rising cost of the countries staple food all of which is attributed to questionable transactions and implementation of government policy. Reading from the mood in the house and listening to conversations in the corridors of parliament I am convinced the former will triumph! The public interest will be sacrificed at the alter of political interests and mechanizations.
The motion to censure Ruto is bound to flop: It may not even take off! If reports from within parliament’s circles are anything to go by, even the man who was slated to second the motion moved by Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale has been intimidated to withdrawing. Independent minded Imenti Central legislator Gitobu Imanyara may be the only other legislator behind Khalwale as the motion comes up for debate. The debate may just be the graduation ceremony where the unholy union forged to defeat a parliamentary committee indicting Trade Minister Amos Kimunya over the irregular sale of the Grand Regency hotel (now the Grand Laico), formally transforms into an axis of evil, that will drive Kenya’s 10th parliament to voting in favour of Graft. Indeed apart from last night’s late night meeting bringing together MPs from Rift Valley, Eastern and North Eastern Provinces at the Bible society premises in Nairobi. MPs from the Mt Kenya region are set to keep their part of the deal: returning the favour extended to during the motion on Kimunya. It would appear that they have whole heartedly embraced the Mantra ‘scratch my back- I will scratch yours.
The maize scandal also implicates several MPs across the political divide. So far at least 6 have owned up to having written notes seeking that certain companies either associated with them or claiming to be their constituents. For these MPs self preservation will be their greatest motivation as they decide on whether or not to attend or keep away from today’s session. I doubt that any of them would be first to cast a stone at Ruto. That may just be equivalent to stoning their images in a mirror!

Here is the motion Khalwale will move before the house as listed on today’s order paper :

7*. MOTION – ((Dr. Boni Khalwale)
(Leader of Government Business)
THAT, being deeply concerned with the conduct of the Minister for
Agriculture in the manner he has mishandled the purchase, storage, sale and distribution of maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board, leading to the current unprecedented high cost of maize meal coupled with the scarcity of the commodity that has resulted in a National Disaster where some Kenyans have succumbed to death and left a further 10 million starving ; Considering his disregard of the provisions of the Public Officer Ethics Act in particular, Section 12(4)(c),(d); Section 17 and Section 19 and related regulations in the discharge of his duties; this House censures the Minister and resolves that it has no confidence in him and demands that he resigns with immediate effect.

Analyze the issues as raised herein and be the judge – if at all parliament votes on the issues as raised. I am not advocating for a mob-lynch but I would hope that rather than seek to bury this scandal, Parliament would live up to its watch dog role and seek answers on behalf of the people of Kenya. Honestly I’m not expecting much but I certainly hope to be pleasantly surprised!