Chaos in Parliament as MPs clash over political parties amendment bill
The National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) sitting turned chaotic after Member of Parliaments allied to Deputy President William Ruto walked out in protest over political parties amendment bill.
According to the members allied to United Democratic Alliance (UDA), they do not trust the committee that had been tasked to harmonise the amendments.
MPs Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Aden Duale (Garissa Township), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Owen Baya (Kilifi North), Daniel Tuitoek (Mogotio), John Mutunga (Tigania West), and Joseph Limo (Kipkelion East) walked out of the stormy session protesting the presence of the Registrar of Political Parties, the chairperson of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal among other members of the public.
“The composition of the meeting was not in line with Standing Order 31. We felt that public participation was long done and the committee had submitted a report. We raised objections in line with our legislative powers,” Duale said.
“The biggest problem we have with this Bill is that the registrar of political parties is being given express powers to interfere with affairs of political parties like managing party nominations.”
Meanwhile, MPs behind President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga sought to block inclusion of various amendments by lawmakers in Ruto’s camp.
The committee, which is populated by pro-handshake duo, were in the process of including a recommendation that MPs who failed to prosecute their amendments before JLAC be barred from presenting them before the Committee of the Whole House this morning.
“A report has findings, observations and recommendations. One of my recommendations is that those members who walked out are in contempt of the committee and should not be entertained at the plenary,” said Minority Whip Junet Mohammed said.
His proposal was backed by a majority of members, who described the walkout as contempt to the committee instructed by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi to harmonise the proposed amendments.
The committee however proceeded to consider amendments of the members present and resolved to recommend rejection of proposals of members who walked out.
At least eight MPs allied to UDA contested the presence of the Registrar of Political Parties and Office of Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and refused to proceed with consideration of their amendments.
Committee Chairperson Muturi Kigano defended the decision to invite the two stakeholders saying it was informed by the speaker’s communication but directed they will not contribute.
