The wave of handshakes seem to have finally landed in Parliament and this time it has knocked on the door of the National Assembly’s Committee of Power and Privilages.
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The committee has ordered Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino and his Starehe counterpart Charles ‘Jaguar’ Kanyi to apologise over a fight they had at Parliament grounds in October 2017.
The National Assembly’s Committee of Power and Privileges reprimanded the two first-time parliamentarians for conducting themselves in a manner that reflected adversely on the dignity and integrity of the House.
The two legislators traded blows within Parliament on October 10, 2017 after Owino referred to President Uhuru Kenyatta as a leader in charge of a caretaker government, whose reign “will end soon.”
After the dramatic incident, a shouting match ensued with Owino insisting that he would not recognise President Kenyatta’s legitimacy.
The physical confrontation between the two first time Parliamentarians triggered myriad reactions with Kenyans condemning the two for portraying intolerance, terming the incident shameful.
“What happened (in Parliament) was very unfortunate. I forgive Babu Owino. I also ask him to forgive me. However, I insist that Babu Owino must respect the president. Should he fail to respect the Head of State – again –, I will deal with him,” said Jaguar, when a addressing a press conference at the media centre in Parliament on Wednesday, October 11.
The two legislators have since, following the handshake between President Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga, made up and are often seen together in public sharing laughs.
Babu and Jaguar are part of the Legislators that are currently debating the 2/3 Gender Bill. The Bill has already caused great division within the house with a heated debate ensuing between those that oppose it and the camp that propose it.