Parliament erupted in chaos on Thursday afternoon as the National Assembly passed the controversial Government-Owned Enterprises Bill, proposing the privatization of 67 state parastatals. The bill was introduced for debate through a supplementary order paper during the Committee of the Whole House, sparking immediate protests from opposition MPs.
Deputy Minority Whip Robert Mbui demanded that the bill be deferred to next week, arguing that there was no quorum in the House. Despite repeated calls of “Point of order! Point of order!” by opposition members, Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei ignored them and allowed Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah to read the bill for the third time.
Frustrated by the proceedings, Mbui attempted to grab the ceremonial mace, a symbolic act in Parliament, but was restrained by orderlies. The Deputy Speaker condemned his actions, ruling him out of order and suspending him for five days.
“The reason I am ignoring you is because you are grossly out of order. In fact, you have attempted to grab the mace. I therefore order the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove you from the precincts of the House for five days,” Shollei ruled.
Even after Mbui’s removal, opposition MPs continued shouting “No quorum!” as Marakwet East MP Kagongo Bowen seconded the bill. Opposition members have since described the bill’s passage as unconstitutional, citing the lack of proper quorum during the vote.
Speaking after leaving the House, Mbui defended his actions and said he would lodge an official complaint with the substantive Speaker. “There was no reason for the Deputy Speaker to deny us an opportunity to speak. Kenyans must know that we have a rogue Parliament being run like a marketplace. The fight is not over—it will continue after my five-day suspension,” he stated.
Mbui also expressed suspicion over the government’s urgency, alleging a hidden agenda behind the privatization drive. “There is a plan to privatize state corporations, and I suspect there is an intention to hand them over to individuals. Why couldn’t they wait for debate on Tuesday?” he questioned.
The passage of the Government-Owned Enterprises Bill signals a major shift in Kenya’s economic policy, but its legitimacy continues to be contested by opposition MPs and civil society.
