•  MPs ought to follow the party’s take. 

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, during the official opening of the civil registration services offices on June 16, 2023 in Maraba, Tinderet Constituency, Nandi County emphasized on party position when it comes to matters legislation.

According to him, making one’s choice is not bad. However, Members of Parliament ought to follow party’s take. This he says following the votes taken on the Finance Bill by MPs on June 14, 2023. UDA's Gathoni Wamuchomba, Member of Parliament for Githunguri voted against the Finance Bill.

“Tunataka order; tunataka Rais akisema Yes, wote tunasema Yes, akisema jump, tunauliza, Your Excellency, how high can we jump? Akisema enda left, tunaenda left, akisema enda right, we go right. Kwa sababu sisi ni watu wa kazi, Kenya Kwanza, UDA, na hii ndiyo serikali iko kwa sasa.” (We want order, when the president says yes, we all follow, when he says jump, we ask how high we can jump. This is because we are people who work, Kenya Kwanza, UDA is our government.)

Cherargei’s utterances has spiked reactions from netizens who seem to disapprove his words saying that this is not how democracy functions.

These are some of the reactions of people from twitter:

@OmusatsaSurv

Hii ni ujinga. Moi alitoka. We have a new constitution.


@sidney_sanday

The primary cause for our continual lagging behind stems from this particular line of reasoning. Irrespective of party affiliation, it is crucial for individuals to form their own opinions rather than blindly conforming to someone else's directives without questioning their acts.


@JaredKibet10

@scherargei, I disagree with you on this, even Pres. @WilliamsRuto himself has held as he was told by Paul Muite SC back in 1998 when he was a fresh Parliamentarian that supporting the government doesn't mean that you won't criticize it when it goes wrong.


@MunduWaAndu254

One can accelerate development by accommodating critics. The secret lies in Stakeholders Engagement Forums. The first step to a development plan is the identification of a problem faced by the people. Solutions to problems lies with the people who face the problem but not experts.


@smiling_sailor

pardon me for thinking that parliament is an independent arm of govt.


@Babalucky254

Democracy doesn't work like that!


 @normanondego

This one thinks we are in the Moi era!


@kelvohkips

Hey Mheshimiwa unatudanganya hapa......Mudavadi warned people against being remote controlled let democracy prevail.


@ft_dice

If this is how our leaders speak, we are a long way from democracy.


@tonyndiangui

No sir, we need legislators with brains and who are not afraid to call out the executive when need arises. Hatutaki Kondoo amboa kiongozi akiwaelekeza kichinjioni wanafuata bila kuuliza wanapelekwa wapi! Na hakuna kitu kama raia wa UDA.


@entreok

So, KK/UDA is the rubber stamp of the executive? They are the representative of the presidency not of We the People? So, no oversight is expected?


@RwWanjala

@scherargei Parliament is not an extension of the executive. I thought you should know!