- On Tuesday, senators had difficulty carrying out their business as UHC employees blocked access to the Senate premises and played loud music.
- Deputy Senate Speaker Karungi Muthuri voiced his concerns, mentioning that although numerous tasks were still pending, the performance of Kasongo music was fostering an inappropriate atmosphere.
- Muthuri wondered if their musical selection was intentional, gently suggesting that "Kasongo" is a term used by Kenyans to refer to President William Ruto.
Faith Chandianya, a journalist with Pawonation.co.ke, has accumulated more than three years of expertise in reporting on politics and current events within 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 demonstrators, employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program, assembled at the Senate during their work stoppage to advocate for improved employment conditions and synchronized salaries.
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.
What methods did the Senators use to decrease noise levels at Parliament?
At a Senate session, Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi voiced worry about the ongoing disturbance originating from beyond the Parliament grounds.
Murungi contended that the loud music interfered with the parliamentary proceedings, rendering the workspace less suitable for work.
He requested assistance to find out whether the UHC employees could file their appeals with the clerk’s office without blasting loud music.
"We are quite occupied in this household today, and the work atmosphere is not supportive, Mr. Speaker. Could it be deliberate music being played, Mr. Speaker? Perhaps if you could instruct the Sergeant-at-Arms to request that they present their petitions quietly," Murungi contended.
In reply, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi concurred with Murungi, acknowledging that the song had been looping non-stop for around five hours and had turned into an annoyance.
Kingi proposed that rather than having the Sergeant-at-Arms confront the workers, he would appoint Senators Boni Khalwale, Edwin Sifuna, and Deputy Speaker Murungi to communicate with them and subsequently accept their petitions.
"No matter what the complaint may be, I believe the leaders ought to take the time to hear them out. Choose whichever memo needs attention, and subsequently request they step back, allowing Parliament to examine their concerns," he stated.
"Afterwards, I believe we should call upon the Sergeant at Arms to remove them from the premises. It’s important to listen to their concerns before asking them to leave,” Kingi added.
The Kakamega Senator, Mr. Khalwale, chose not to speak to the workers, mentioning that he had addressed them the prior week. Consequently, Sifuna and Murangi proceeded independently to interact directly with the workforce.
Kingi encouraged the senators not to let the workers' demonstrations outside Parliament frustrate them, noting that these individuals remain optimistic about finding resolutions to their concerns inside the legislative body.
"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.
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