It was not business as usual on Wednesday morning at Parliament buildings after honorable members of parliament failed to show up.
Members who had arrived for usual business did not meet required quorum of 50 MPs.
This forced the deputy speaker, Gladys Shollei, to adjourn the sitting in line with standing orders number 34.
“Honorable members I just wish to bring to your attention standing order number 34 which provides that a quorum of the house or a committee of the hall shall be 50 members. If there is not a quorum present when the chair is taken at the appointed time for a meeting of the house immediately after the saying of the prayer, the speaker shall order the bell to be rang for 10 minutes and if no quorum is present and the expiration of the 10 minutes, the speaker may direct that the bell be rang for a further 5 minutes which I have done.
“And if there is still no quorum, the speaker may adjourn the house forth will to the next sitting,” she read out.
Shollei adjourned the house at 9.54 am until the afternoon sitting that is expected to kick off at 2.30pm.
MPs fail to show up to work at Parliament pic.twitter.com/muubcwrV3X
— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) November 22, 2023
The MPs’ action has elicited different reactions among Kenyans as captured below;
Gabriel: In their salaries, today’s pay should be exempted. That would be my policy If I were the President.
Kenya Watch: We have lazy leaders.
Gender Advocate: They should be made to write a “show cause” letter like the rest of workers.
Lerry” Kuna baridi hawataki kupata pneumonia.
Eric Langat: Must be because of bad weather and traffic.
Dr. Otieno: Quorum is 50/290 and they fail.