Azimio la Umoja receives a major boost after Members of Parliament (MPs) rejected a proposed amendment that sought to have political parties submit to the registrar a coalition pact four months to the general election.
Garissa Township MP Aden Duale proposed to scrap a provision meant to anchor the Azimio La Umoja movement spearheaded by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga.
Duale had sought to have Clause 8 amendment by deleting a requirement that parties enter coalition at least six months to the August poll.
The clause provides that “in the case of a coalition political party, the coalition political party shall submit the coalition agreement at least six months before a general election.”
128 MPs behind President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila voted against 104 MPs for an amendment to reduce the period from initial six months to 120 days.
This implies that parties seeking to enter coalitions will have to deposit such agreements with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) by April 9.
Meanwhile, the special sitting kicked off with chaos as MPs allied to Ruto wanted events of the last sitting of debate on the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021 revisited.
Duale rose on a point of order on where the debate on the bill should begin insisting that a clause was not completely amended.
Additionally, he argued that the Order Paper has not included amendments to Clause 7 of the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021 yet it was not dealt with conclusively.
Speaker Justin Muturi warned the MPs against conducting themselves in a shameful manner, especially while transacting House business.
The speaker reminded the lawmakers that they are state officers and peoples’ representatives who ought to conduct themselves with the highest standards and decorum.
“Legislative business is largely about genuine debate and persuasion. At the end of it all and as guided by the parliamentary dictum in a democracy, the minority will have their say and the majority will always have their way,” he said.
