Senators were interrupted to run their operations on Tuesday after UHC workers detained outside the Senate, playing music loudly.
Senate Deputy Speaker Karungi Muthuri expressed his concern as saying that although there was a lot to be done, Kasongo's music play is creating a negative environment.
Muthuri questioned whether their music option was deliberately made, citing the trick that Kasongo is a word that Kenyans use to refer to the President William Ruto.
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings a three -year experience to focus on politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi: Senators faced challenges on Tuesday, March 18, as they struggled to continue their sessions due to a group of protesters playing regular Super Mazembe song of the 1970s in Kasongo.
Source: Twitter
The protesters, who were all health care workers (UHC), were gathered in the Senate as part of their strike demanding better employment conditions and salary reconciliation.
To express their dissatisfaction with the government, UHC staff played the song Kasongo, a model song that Kenyans use online referring to President William Ruto.
How did the senators try to prevent the noise from entering the parliament?
During the Senate activities, Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi expressed his concern over the ongoing noise from outside the parliament buildings.
Murungi claimed that the great music disrupted Parliament's activities, thus making the working environment uncomfortable.
He called for intervention to determine if UHC staff could submit their requests to the clerk's office without playing excessive music.
“We are crazy at this house, this afternoon and the working environment is not appealing to Mr. Speaker. Is it the deliberate music they beat Mr. Speaker? Murungi argued.
In response, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi agreed with Murungi, noting that the music had been played for about five hours and had been a nuisance.
However, Kingi suggested that instead of sending a sergeant to address the staff, he would appoint senators Boni Khalwale, Edwin Sifunaand Murungi to talk to them and later receive their requests.
“What is every complaint, I think the leadership is supposed to go to listen to them, choose any case to be taken and then ask them to go back, while Parliament looks at their complaint,” He said.
“I think after that, then we can use the authority of the soldiers to disperse them. I think it's good to give them an ear before we tell them to disperse,” King added.
Khalwale, however, refused to address the staff, saying he had spoken to them the previous week. This led to Sifuna and Murungi to go on their own to engage with staff.
Kingi also called on senators not to be offended by employees' requests outside Parliament, stating that they hope the solution to their affairs can be found within Parliament.
“It is going to prove one thing, faith and faith they have for you as leadership. And so when these things happen it is best to give this people a shoulder and if leadership we look for solutions that will address their problems,” he added.
Kenyans invade parliament and burn part of the building
Tuesday's event is not the first of its kind. In June 2024, protesting Kenyans invaded Parliament following the adoption of a 2024 financial bill by MPs.
Source: UGC
They reached the point of burning part of the building and destroying property. Some even reached the restaurant and supported the meal intended for parliamentarians.
Read English version
Do you have an exciting information that you would like to publish? Please, contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
