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Kenya: Nakuru MCAs ‘Shoot Down’ Abortion Bill

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Nakuru County Assembly was on forced to withdraw a controversial Bill that would have legalised abortion.

The Bill was sponsored by Elburgon Ward Rep Peter Njuguna Mwaura.

The House described the Nakuru County Maternal, Newborn Child Health Bill, 2019 as “dead on arrival.”

Speaker Joel Maina Kairu faulted the Bill saying it was not subjected to public participation.

“This House was not sensitised on this Bill. Last week, it was brought in the House without giving members enough copies,” said Mr Kairu.

CONSTITUTION

He added: “The objectives of the bill are against the Constitution and I approve its withdrawal.”

The Speaker advised the sponsor of the Bill to involve MCAs before it is reintroduced to the assembly.

Mr Kairu said the Bill has good things for maternal health and children and should be republished in an acceptable form.

“The external forces behind this Bill should desist from sponsoring it. This House will not be used to further other peoples’ sinister motives,” ruled Mr Kairu.

The withdrawal of the Bill comes in the wake of opposition by the Nakuru County residents on social media.

“This is a big win for the people of Nakuru and I commend the Nation.co.ke for highlighting the bad bill because it would have been passed if we did not escalate it on social media,” said Mr Simon Simon Sangale, Senior Administrator Sauti ya Wachuuzi WhatsApp Group.

“This Bill has glaring loopholes. It seeks to introduce abortion through the back door while sugar coating it as termination of pregnancy. Nakiuru has been known as a county of firsts and we are not ready to be the first county to legalise abortion,” said Kabazi MCA Dr Peter Mbae.

SELLING CONDOMS

Dr Mbae faulted the Bill saying it was against the Constitution which gives everyone a right to life.

“We should stop this habit of encouraging NGOs to pollute our laws with information that is not compatible with the laws of the land. Selling condoms to children as advocated by the Bill will turn Nakuru into Sodom and Gomorrah,” said Dr Mbae.

Kwa Rhonda MCA Timothy Kabutu said Nakuru cannot legalise abortion. Subukia MCA Mary Waiganjo said life is scared irrespective of how life starts.