- Senators struggled to conduct their proceedings on Tuesday after UHC workers barricaded outside the Senate, blasting loud music
- Deputy Senate Speaker Karungi Muthuri expressed concern, stating that while there was much to be done, the playing of Kasongo music was creating an unsuitable environment
- Muthuri questioned whether their choice of music was deliberate, subtly hinting that “Kasongo” is a term Kenyans use to refer to President William Ruto
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Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Nairobi: Senators faced challenges on Tuesday, March 18, as they struggled to proceed with their sessions due to a group of protesters repeatedly playing Super Mazembe’s iconic 1970s song “Kasongo.”
The protesters, who were Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workers, had gathered at the Senate as part of their strike demanding better employment terms and salary harmonisation.
To express their dissatisfaction with the government, UHC workers played the song “Kasongo,” a symbolic track that Kenyans online use when referring to President William Ruto.
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How did Senators try to reduce noise at Parliament?
During a Senate proceeding, Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi expressed concern over the persistent noise coming from outside Parliament premises.
Murungi argued that the loud music disrupted the parliamentary proceedings, making the working environment less conducive.
He called for intervention to determine if the UHC workers could submit their petitions to the clerk’s office without playing excessive music.
“We are busy in this house, this afternoon and the working environment is not conducive Mr. speaker. Is it intentional music that they are playing Mr. Speaker? Maybe if you can through the sergeant at arms that they can be asked to submit their petitions silent,” Murungi argued.
In response, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi agreed with Murungi, noting that the music had been playing on repeat for nearly five hours and had become a nuisance.
However, Kingi suggested that instead of sending the Sergeant-at-Arms to address the workers, he would nominate Senators Boni Khalwale, Edwin Sifuna, and Deputy Speaker Murungi to speak with them and later receive their petitions.
“Whatever is the grievance, I think the leadership should be able to go listen to them. Pick whatever memorandum that is to be picked and there after ask them to retreat, as Parliament looks into their grievances,” he said
“I think thereafter, then we can invoke the powers of the Sergent at Arms to disperse them. I think its good to give them an ear before we tell them to disperse,” Kingi added
Kakamega Senator Khalwale, however, declined to address the workers, stating he had spoken to them the previous week. This led Sifuna and Murungi to go on their own to engage with the workers.
Kingi further urged senators not to be irritated by the workers’ petitions outside Parliament, explaining that they are hopeful solutions to their issues can be found within Parliament.
“It goes to prove one thing, the trust and confidence they have in you as a leadership. And therefore when these things happen it’s good to give these people a shoulder to lean on and as leadership let’s seek for solutions that will address their problems,” he added.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
