Embakasi East’s Member of Parliament (MP) is set to be absent from four upcoming parliamentary sessions after being forcefully removed from the chamber by Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei.
The outspoken MP found himself ousted following a disruptive episode during a discussion concerning the leadership of the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association (KYPA).
Owino’s actions drew the Deputy Speaker’s attention when he stood up on a point of order. The MP then began shouting while challenging the presented list for KYPA leadership.
Maintaining her composure, Shollei cautioned the MP about his disorderly behavior and demanded an apology. She highlighted to Babu that parliamentary rules prohibit shouting at the Speaker.
“Babu Owino, you are out of order. You do not shout at me. You better withdraw your remarks,” Shollei stated.
Unyielding in his stance, the MP persisted in engaging the Speaker with agitated gestures and vocal opposition.
In swift response, Soy MP David Kiplagat then intervened and engaged Owino in a heated shouting match.
In a bid to defuse the escalating situation, the Deputy Speaker rebuked Kiplagat for his involvement. She firmly asserted that her ability to manage the situation did not require assistance.
Final warning
With Babu Owino showing no signs of compliance with Shollei’s directives, the Deputy Speaker, standing in place of Moses Wetangula, had no recourse but to issue a final warning to the parliamentarian.
However, the ODM legislator disregarded the warning, persisting in his vociferous disagreement with Shollei.
Shollei subsequently invoked the standing orders, stating, “Babu Owino, I will read you Standing Orders 107 and 107a. If a member commits an act of disorderly conduct, creates disorder, or knowingly raises a false point of order or unnecessarily interrupts proceedings, the Speaker may caution the member or order the member to leave the assembly for 4 days.”
Consequently, the Sergeants-at-Arm were summoned to escort Owino out of the parliamentary premises.
Members of the Azimio coalition parliamentarians tried to voice their support for Babu Owino. The opposition legislators expressed their dissent with audible boos as the Sergeants at Arms carried out their duty.
“Babu Owino, do not come to the precincts of parliament for four days,” he was officially instructed.
