Opposition MPs stage walkout after National Assembly backs Kenya Pipeline privatisation

The National Assembly has approved a motion seeking to privatise the Kenya Pipeline Company, in a heated session that saw members of parliament allied to the opposition stage a walkout in protest, claiming the motion was sneaked into the order paper.

The members opposed to the privatisation have now threatened to move to court to challenge the takeover, which they say lacks public participation.

The motion on the consideration of the Sessional Paper on privatisation of the KPC and the Public Privatisation Bill drew the line in the sand on Tuesday afternoon between the government-leaning members of the National Assembly and those in the opposition benches.

The opposition team, up in arms, termed the planned privatisation of KPC as opaque and skewed.

“The ground for this privatisation is a crooked process, all skewed to benefit a few people, and leave the Kenyan people poorer than they were,” said Finyula MP Dr. Wilberforce Oundo.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, added, “This issue of KPC will bring a lot of excitement, but after the announcement of the share capital in February for the full year, the share company will collapse and the share price will collapse. And this is the reason: the current investor in the NSE is not buying assets; they are buying revenue.”

The heated debate divided the House down political lines, as the government side, led by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah launched a pushback.

“Government has no business in business. We are told there is a pending lawsuit amounting to 5.7 billion. Your guess is as good as mine—who are the claimants, who are the lawyers and who are the brokers?” Funyula MP Dr Wilberforce Oundo posed.

Ichung’wah, on his part, stated: “It is good for Oundo to speak to the gallery and excite those he seeks to excite. Facts speak better than speaking to the gallery. Whether the Sessional Paper or the Privatisation Bill, the matter of inclusivity, transparency and accountability have become cardinal in this law.”

In the end, the majority had their way, giving a green light to the motion on the government's Sessional Paper.

The move jolted a section of the opposition MPs, who stormed out of the House, choosing instead to address from the media centre as the debate continued on the Privatisation Bill.

“I have also seen some members who came here to vote and walk out… Ask the Member of Kajiado North what is in this Bill—he has no idea,” Ichung’wa noted.

Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo in his response said: “KPC inauzwa, nani alihusishwa? Wananchi wamehusishwa? kwa kuwa wengi walikuwa wamepea serikali shamba. Ripoti inasema KPC ina deni ya zaidi ya Ksh.5 billion, nani atalipwa hiyo deni? Hii ni ukora ambayo Rais analeta na inastajabisha. Wamekiuka sheria.”

The members are now threatening to seek legal redress should the Bill, which is in the second reading stage, pass.

“The government has ambushed members on the motion to approve the motion… We will be moving to court. A matter as grave as this one should not be dealt with in a casual manner like this,” Kathiani MP Robert Mbui said.

The Bill seeks to include public participation in the existing law, after the High Court quashed another Act passed in 2023 for lack of public participation.