The PM delivered a statement titled Tribute to Tenth Parliament praising MPs for their cooperation in enacting relevant pieces of legislation and for keeping a close eye on the government’s undertakings.
“There is reason for members of the Tenth Parliament to bow out holding their heads high… working closely with the Executive, the Tenth Parliament has overseen. The biggest ever investment in infrastructure development, with growth in roads,mobile telephony, energy and ICT standing out,” Mr Odinga told the House on Wednesday.
He also thanked the legislators for their input in the drafting and the passage of the new constitution in 2010.
The PM, who entered into a coalition with the President early 2008, said the government had improved food security through irrigated agriculture in places such as Turkana.
After the tribute Speaker Kenneth Marende allowed MPs to make their contributions to the PM’s message.
Martha Karua (Gichugu, Narc-Kenya) said although the government and parliament had done well there were challenges that dented their stellar performance.
“We did well in passing the new constitution and to bring various pieces of legislationbut we failed in others because of underlying self interests for example the manipulations in the manner of passage of appointments and also the failure to give a solution to the gender rule,” she said.
Mosop legislator David Koech said Parliament deserved more praise having passed more than 100 bills in 2012.
Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Chache, PDP), said senior members of the House had oriented well first time legislators like him and were going out with more knowledge about parliamentary business.
Some MPs, however, took the chance to drum up support for their favourite presidential candidates in the coming general election. Noah Wekesa (Kwanza, PNU) said the PM was the best candidate to take the country forward when President Kibaki retires.
“We can only hope for the best if we choose Mr Odinga,” Mr Onyonka, also the Foreign Affairs assistant minister said.
Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi urged the two leading coalitions’ leaders, Mr Odinga of Cord and Mr Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee Alliance to look at the possibility of joining hands together and form another grand coalition government after the poll.
The premier's message followed a similar one by President Kibaki's on December 19 who thanked the legislators for passing important laws and contributing towards the the development of the country.
source: Daily Nation
