The National Assembly is seeking to extend the implementation of three constitutional Bills by four months.
Members of the National Assembly
If the extension being sought is not granted, any member of the public can move to the High Court to seek for Parliament to be dissolved for failure to implement the Constitution.
The MPs seek to push to December the implementation of the Freedom of the Media Bill, Support for County Governments Bill, and the Public Participation and County Assembly Powers, Privileges and Immunities Bill.
Leader of the Majority Aden Duale on Thursday urged legislators to be in the House on Tuesday so as to meet the two-thirds majority required to amend the constitutional implementation timelines.
“It is not possible to beat the August 27 datelines to pass the Bills even if MPs forego their recess in August, thus the need to extend the period by four months,” Duale told Parliament yesterday.
Last-minute rush
He said failure to seek the extension would put Parliament in a spot with civil society groups and citizens likely to move to court to petition Parliament be dissolved for failing to implement the Constitution.
“We do not want to go through a situation like the one that the Tenth Parliament was subjected to, of passing Bills at the last minute and in a rush,” Duale said.
MPs accused the Constitutional Implementation Commission (CIC) chairman Charles Nyachae of failing to deal with the Bills in liaison with the Attorney General’s office.
“The delay in bringing the Bills to the House could be a deliberate move by some people to prolong the lives of some commissions since their lifespan is pegged on the passage of Bills,” Suba MP John Mbadi said.
Baringo North MP William Cheptumo said CIC should not hold the House at ransom and that the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) chaired by Githunguri MP, Njoroge Baya, should take up the matter with the CIC.
“CIC should deliver on its mandate and it should not hold Parliament at ransom. The delay in tabling the Bills is also affecting Parliament and putting MPs on the spot when in reality it is not the mistake of the legislators,” Cheptumo said.
Budalangi MP Ababu Namwambu said CIOC had express constitutional mandate to summon CIC commissioners and anyone on the matter and give timelines.
By VITALIS KIMUTAI, The Standard
