MP Caroli Omondi suspended from National Assembly for five sittings

MP Caroli Omondi suspended from National Assembly for five sittings

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Suba South Member of Parliament (MP) Caroli Omondi has been suspended from the National Assembly for five sitting days after Temporary Speaker Peter Kaluma ruled that he used unparliamentary language during a heated exchange on the floor of the House.

The confrontation, which ensued during debate on the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, began after Kaluma gave Omondi less than three minutes to contribute.

Instead, Omondi rose on a Point of Order under Standing Order No. 35, protesting what he termed a lack of quorum in the House after members had waited for several hours to participate in the debate, before telling Kaluma to “stop being stupid”.

His remarks immediately drew protests from members, with Matuga MP Kassim Tandaza accusing him of using derogatory language against colleagues.

The situation escalated when Kaluma sought clarification on whether Omondi had directed the words “stop being stupid” at him, a claim the MP denied.

Omondi insisted that he had instead said “we’re not stupid” and urged the Chair to refer to the Hansard record for verification.

"I said we are not stupid... I did not say the Speaker or the House. If you want me to withdraw the word 'stupid', I've withdrawn it," Omondi said.

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah also weighed in, urging the Speaker to rely on the official record, insisting that the remarks had been directed at the Chair.

"I would like us to go back to the Hansard because the honourable Caroli Omondi indeed did utter those words," Ichung'wah said.

After reviewing the Hansard, Kaluma informed the House that the disputed phrase had been confirmed on record. He then allowed Omondi to make an unequivocal withdrawal and apology.

Although the MP withdrew the remarks and apologised to both the Chair and the House, Kaluma ruled that he had failed to comply with the Speaker’s directive.

Invoking Standing Order 107A on gross disorderly conduct, the Temporary Speaker ruled that Omondi’s conduct warranted disciplinary action, noting that failure to retract unparliamentary language after a ruling from the Chair constitutes an offence punishable by suspension.

“This being the first time I am meting out this punishment, I will suspend you from the House for five sitting days,” Kaluma ruled.

He then ordered the MP to leave the precincts of Parliament immediately, with the suspension taking effect forthwith.

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