Kenya’s National Assembly descended into chaos Thursday as lawmakers fought over a controversial security bill.  The government has supported the legislation as necessary, but the opposition objects to sweeping new powers it would give the state to address terror threats.

Members of Kenya’s parliament opposed to the new security bill shouted, sang, and threw papers, while the speaker tried desperately to restore order.

The chaos erupted over the government’s proposed amendments to laws that give security forces broad powers to arrest and detain terror suspects for one year, and to intercept communications without a court order.

The bill also imposes harsh penalties on the media for publishing and broadcasting images of terror victims without authorizations from the police and the victim.

Opposition member Shakil Shabir told reporters lawmakers requested more time to study the changes.

“We requested that the speaker give us some time to look at the amendments.  The speaker and others, they refused to give us any time.  They said, ‘You will hear the amendments on the floor of the House and you will debate them there.’  And I do not think that was the right thing to do….  So we objected,” said Shabir.

Lawmaker Muthoni Wahome, from the ruling Jubilee coalition, supports the security bill.  She says opposition members were aware of the changes.

“For now they are playing to the gallery.  [It] is a political gain they are trying to score, but Kenyans are not interested in that; Kenyans are not interested in scoring security.  We have suffered as a country and therefore we are not relenting, as Jubilee and the people of goodwill we are passing this bill today,” said Wahome.

Opposition member Junet Mohamed says the ruling party brags about having a majority in the House but it’s up to individual member to make a decision.

“It is not about floating numbers, ‘Oh, we have the numbers to pass it.’  No, it is every member is entitled to his opinion, entitled to make his own decision with his conscience.  It is not about numbers, if numbers [were] working, it could have worked in the morning,” said Mohamed.

Lawmaker Alfred Keter is allied with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.  Keter said he was not happy with the behavior of legislators from both sides.

“I am so sorry to be a member of that House, that we have reduced ourselves into going physical instead of engaging in a manner that is going to be helpful to this country.   We really need to have good laws that can assist us to move forward,” said Keter.

Despite the chaotic scene in the parliament, the legislators were able to approve the nomination of Cabinet Secretary for the Interior, Joseph Ole Nkaissery, who takes the place of the outgoing secretary as part of a security-related Cabinet reorganization.

Outside the parliament building, police maintained a heavy presence in anticipation of planned demonstrations against the bill.

A small group of demonstrators from the Occupy Parliament movement were quickly arrested after locking arms and singing protest songs at a traffic circle outside parliament.

Nine foreign missions in Kenya, including the United States, on Wednesday released a statement expressing concerns about the bill. They said they support plans to improve security, but not at the risk of human rights infractions. [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: War and Conflict