MPs unanimously approves House Business Committee

Members of Parliament have closed ranks in a bipartisan approach and approved reconstituted House Business Committee (HBC) after vote rescinding last week’s decision to reject an earlier motion.

The Assembly will resume its sitting tomorrow after lawmakers successfully welcomed a decision rescinding an earlier vote that scuttled House business.

The motion with newly proposed names was reintroduced by Majority Leader Amos Kimunya after the House withdrew its earlier decision as required under Standing Order 49 January 25.

Those approved include; Joyce Akai Emanikor, Shadrack John Mose, Kawira Mwangaza, Mohamed Abdikhaim Osman, Makali Mulu, Mishi Juma Khamisi Mboko, Godfrey Osotsi.

“Now that the house has approved the motion of the House Business Committee. Honourable Members the house stands adjourned until Wednesday 2nd of February 2022 and they will be business,” said National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi.

HBC sets the agenda of Parliament including prioritising the motions in order of their precedence. It is chaired by the Speaker and comprises among others, the leaders of the two sides and the Whips and seven other members nominated by parliamentary parties.

Last week, Kimunya highlighted that the move to disapprove the crucial committee of the house would have left the common mwananchi on the losing end and it was upon the house to make a wise decision.

“Am aware that members may have voted for whatever reasons but without considering the implications of that decision not just on this house but on the pain of the ordinary Kenyans out there without a Parliament in six months,” he said.

Kimunya blamed partisan politics for the move by legislators to scuttle the approval of the top decision-making organ of the law-making house.

“This is our house and we can’t let partisan politics get into the way of what we are committed to do. This cannot be done by some faction trying to get even with another faction just because of some petty politics out there that should not have a place in this house,” he said.

Kimunya had asked the National Assembly Speaker to reconvene the House to rescind its decision to reject the formation of the house business committee.

The anti-handshake MPs had rejected a motion for the reconstitution of the HBC, which was a blow to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s legislative agenda.