Fight Breaks Out In Kenya Parliament Over Which Party Is Majority [video]

Fighting broke out in Kenya’s parliament on Thursday evening following a ruling by the Speaker that broke a deadlock over which coalition has the majority MPs in the house.

BREAKING
Chaos in 13th Parliament as Azimio-OKA protest ruling by Speaker Wetangula on Minority ang Majority. Wetangula ruled that Kenya Kwanza has the majority. pic.twitter.com/BayNdW1udu

— Macharia Wangui (@Princewangui) October 6, 2022

Drama in Parliament as MPs start a scuffle trying to grab the mace after Speaker Wetangula declares Kenya Kwanza as majority. pic.twitter.com/ofInKsrcaV

— Kenyans.co.ke (@Kenyans) October 6, 2022

Opposition lawmakers were angered by the Speaker’s ruling that recognised the ruling Kenya Kwanza (Kenya first) coalition with 179 MPs as having the majority.

Speaker Wetangula rules that Kenya Kwanza Alliance has the majority in Parliament.

Speaker Wetangula rules that Kenya Kwanza Alliance has the majority in Parliament. pic.twitter.com/u6hiW1YQmP

— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) October 6, 2022

The opposition has 157 MPs, the speaker said.

The crux of the debate was the placement of 14 MPs whose parties were originally in the opposition Azimio la Umoja (Quest for unity) coalition but have since shifted allegiance across the aisle.

Opposition MPs argued that the constitutional timeline allowing for decamping from coalitions had not yet reached.

One opposition MP tried to grab the mace – the symbol of parliamentary authority – to express displeasure at the ruling.

The live broadcast of the session was cut after the fight broke out on Thursday evening.

Kenyan politics is known to be highly partisan and physical fights are common in parliament.

Kenya Kwanza press-conference outside Parliament after the House was adjourned prematurely after chaos rocked the plenary sitting following ruling that Kenya Kwanza is the majority coalition pic.twitter.com/neHPcQ5gD8

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) October 6, 2022