IT WAS FRIDAY, 5TH JULY 1974. The language used by Members of Parliament up to that point was English. Then President Kenyatta communicates his desire that the Kiswahili language should be the language to use in the Chamber. But first, the bombshell by Speaker Fred Mati, MP:
Before Mr. Mutiso-Muyu stands to reply, I have an important announcement to make. I have spoken to His Excellency the President on the question of this House switching from English to Swahili. I have explained to him the difficulties we have in switching over to Swahili but it is his feeling that we should as an experiment start straightaway, but we shall in due course start sorting out our difficulties. He is going to listen to what hon. Members are going to say in Swahili. So, all the other problems which we have, like the question of our palantypists and the Constitution, are taken into account. However, he would like to hear Swahili spoken right away, to see that we make a start, So, as from now, I am afraid Mr. Mutiso-Muyu will have to reply to his Debate in Swahili.
It is hilarious how things pan out from then on. They are confronted with an immediate need to know the Kiswahili translations of the words Speaker, Standing Orders, Bill, Point of Order, Motion, Member, Honourable Member. Honourable Araru felt that the Kiswahili translation of Speaker should be Msemaji and not Spika. Perhaps the words that took the crown in giving the Members most trouble was point of order. Some stuck to mouthing the English version. Others said sahihisho, kanusho. But the prize goes to the late Hon. Martin Shikuku who proposed that point of order in Kiswahili is hitilafu. The late Hon. Jean-Marie Seroney was tired of the circus and blurted out the famous words in English: “I am not against anybody who wants to speak in Kiswahili, but I insist on speaking in English.”
Now pull your chair, get closer. You are now in the Public Gallery and it is 5th July 1974. The late Hon. G.G. Kariuki is speaking immediately after the Speaker’s Communication on adoption of Kiswahili as the language of communication.
Waziri Mdogo wa Ardhi na Makao (Bw. G.G. Kariuki): On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, Sir, mimi nasema kwamba communication yako ingefaa iletwe kwetu kwa lugha ya Kiswahili ili tuweze kufahamu ni kitu gani unasema.
Bw. Spika: Ha! Pengine ni kweli isipokuwa labda nilikuwa nataka kusema lugha ya Kiingereza kwa siku ya mwisho. Lakini mimi nafikiri Bw. Mutiso-Muyu amekwisha sikia vile mimi nilivyosema na sasa itakuwa ni mahali pake kujibu mazungumzo kwa lugha ya Kiswahili.
Wabunge: Hear! Hear!
Bw. Mutiso-Muyu: Bw. Spika sasa ningetaka kujibu.
Bw. Gatuguta: On a point of order, Bw. Spika. Tunajua ya kwamba kuna maneno mengine ambayo hatuwezi kuyatumia kwa lugha ya Kiswahili katika chumba hiki na kwa hivyo pamoja na ya Kiingereza. Kwa sababu sasa sijui tutamwita Mwenyekiti au msemaji; na hata sijui point of order tutasemaje kwa lugha ya Kiswahili.
Bw. Spika: Mimi nafikiri tungependa kusema lugha ya Kiswahili peke yake bila kuchanganya lugha ya Kiingereza kama inawezekana. Lakini, kama Mjumbe ana shida, pengine tunaweza kumuacha atumie maneno mawili au matatu hivi ya Kiingereza.
….
Waziri wa Mambo ya Nchini (Bw. Shikuku): On a point of order, Bw. Spika, mimi nimesimama kwa jambo moja. Na hii Katiba ya Kenya itachukua muda kuigeuza. Lazima “Bill” iletwe hapa ndio tupige kura na baadaye tugeuze. Lakini zile “Standing Orders” zetu au sheria zetu za Bunge hapa ambazo twaweza kugeuza, si ingekuwa bora, Bwana Spika, kama tungepitisha Azimio kwa wakati huu “ku suspend“- sijui tunasemaje kwa lugha ya Kiswahili! Kuondoa kwa muda “Standing Order 62” ambayo inasema kwamba mazungumzo yote katika Bunge hili yatakuwa kwa lugha ya Kiingereza ili wakati huu tuwe katika “Standing Orders” tusimamishe hiyo kwa muda ili tuingilie Kiswahili. Hatuwezi kuleta “Motion” saa hii”?
…
Waziri Mdogo wa Ardhi na Makao (Bw. G.G. Kariuki): Bw. Spika, inaonekana kwamba tangu ukate hili shauri ya kusema Kiswahili Wajumbe wengine hawasikilizi. Wengine wanasimama wawili na wengine wanasimama watatu. Mimi nauliza kwamba Bunge imegeuka na kuwa soko. Si ni lazima Wabunge wakae chini.
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Bw. Araru: Sahihisho, Bw. Spika, ikiwa tunatumia lugha ya Kiswahili basi naonelea ya kwamba Mheshimiwa Migure akuite wewe kama “Msemaji” badala ya “Spika”.
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Bw. Mwitaga: Bw. Naibu wa Spika, mimi sitaki kubishania jambo hilo na huyu Mjumbe. Siwezi kujishusha hivyo.
Bw. Komen: Bw. Naibu wa Spika, nasimama kwa Sahihisho juu ya Mjumbe Mheshimiwa ambaye anaongea sasa. Kwa sababu gani anamwita Mheshimiwa Mjumbe mwenzake, “Mjumbe” tu badala ya “Mheshimiwa Mjumbe”?
Waziri Mdogo, Afisi ya Makamu wa Rais na Wizara ya Mambo ya Nchini (Bw. Shikuku): Bw. Naibu wa Spika, mambo yametokea hapa ni mengi sana. Nasikia kuna maneno kama “kanusho”, “sahihisho” na mengineo. Ningependa kusema hivi, kama mtu anasimama kanuni za Bunge hii ni kuonyesha ati msemaji anaongea nje ya jambo ambalo tunajadiliana. Kwa hivyo neno la kutumiwa ni “hitilafu”. Kufuatana na hili neno “hitilafu”, Mheshimiwa Mwithaga angetueleza maana ya neno “kuajiriwa”, kwa sababu yeye anatupa Kiswahili ambacho sisi hatufahamu. Sisi tumeajiriwa na tunalipwa mishahara.
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During the passage of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill to make Kiswahili the official language in parliamentary proceedings, debates were heated. Hon. Jean-Marie Seroney rose up and said: “Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have a few words to say about this Motion”. Members of Parliament wouldn’t allow him: “Zungumza Kiswahili”.
Bw. Seroney: I am not against anybody who wants to speak in Kiswahili, but I insist on speaking in English.
Wajumbe Fulani: Ee, wewe! Aibu!
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Bw. Seroney: Bw. Spika, tunayo mambo mengi au shida nyingi ambazo zinakabili wananchi….Bw. Spika, sasa ni karibu ya zaidi ya miaka kumi tangu tumepata Uhuru–
Mbunge Fulani: “Kunyakua”- hapana “kupata”!
Bw. Seroney: Sawa sawa. “Kunyakua”! Na wakati huu wote- Hata ukinyakua, si ukishanyakua umepata?
Waheshimiwa: Hear! Hear!
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Photo credit: The late Hon. Jean-Marie Seroney/paulbirech.wordpress.com
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