Amendments by MPs allied to DP Ruto on contentious bill dismissed

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi Wednesday morning struck out amendments by MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto as debate on the controversial Political Parties Amendment Bill of 2021 continued.

Cheboi dismissed amendments by Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa, Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie as well as Kilifi North MP Owen Baya saying they were not subjected to public participation.

“I noted that these proposals fall short of the requirements of Standing Order 133(5). These are new amendments that ought to undergo public participation as required by the Constitution, given the far-reaching changes envisioned therein and having gone outside the scope of the Bill as printed,” He said.

The MPs had proposed to amend clause 20 in its entirety and insert new sections all seeking to establish the Political Parties Registration Board and the office of Chief Executive Officer of the Board.

This would alter the manner of appointment of these officials and amend the terminology referring to the Office of the Registrar to the Chief Executive Officer.

“I therefore direct that the Committee of the whole House shall NOT consider the proposed amendments to by the Hon. John Kiarie and the insertion of new Clauses proposed by the Hon. Kimani Ichung’wa, Hon. Owen Baya and Hon. John Kiarie, respectively,” Cheboi ruled.

The Deputy Speaker further revealed that his office was in receipt of amendments proposed to the Bill by the Belgut MP Nelson Koech.

“One of the proposals in his amendments was seeking to amend Clause 1 of the Bill to change the title of the Bill from the ‘Political Parties (Amendment) Bill’ to ‘Political Parties Coalition Bill’. I disallowed that particular proposed amendment since there is no law called “Political Parties Coalition Act”. Therefore, the proposed amendment is technically inadmissible, He said.