Connect with us

General News

Kenya: Ruto MPs Vow to Block Parties Amendment in Court If Passed

Published

4 years ago

on

[ad_1]

Nairobi — MPs loyal to Deputy President William Ruto have vowed to block the implementation of the Political Parties Amendment Bill of 2021 should it pass in the National Assembly and Senate.

The leaders issued the threat Wednesday at the start of a three-day special sitting in the National Assembly to debate the Bill expected to shape the August election.

“I wonder why they are chest-thumping; this Bill would never survive if it’s taken to court. It has issues with public participation, clauses that clog and fester democracy in the country, so my view is fine, let him use the numbers in Parliament and we will go to court,” Tharaka MP George Murugara told Capital FM, revealing the plan by the Tanga Tanga wing comprising leaders supportive of Ruto’s quest to become president.

Also read:

MP seriously injured during National Assembly chaos pitting Tanga Tanga and Kieleweke

His counterpart from Kandara Alice Wahome who has proposed several amendments in the Political Parties Act has maintained the House was passing the Bill in vain as it is in contravention of the Constitution.

“Even if this House passes the laws, they will be doing it in vain. This House should not be passing laws in vain,” Wahome stated.

Majority Leader in the National Assembly Amos Kimunya who is the sponsor of the Bill says he has marshaled enough members to ensure that the amendments are dispensed with, and the Bill forwarded to the Senate for concurrence.

“I am confident that we will amend laws without acrimony witnessed previously. Some MPs have even written to indicate that they will drop their amendments. This essentially means that we will just deal with the Bill within two days or so,” Kimunya said.

He said that they are pushing to have the Bill ready for assent by President Uhuru Kenyatta by the end of January despite the filibustering witnessed in the last two special sittings last week.

“It’s important to have this bill passed by both houses this month so that in February political aspirants and political parties have know-how on the procedure they should follow. The essence of dispensing it quickly is so that political parties have ample time to understand and implement it,” stated Kimunya.

Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe cautioned MPs against engaging in acrimony while debating the Political Parties Bill insisting that they are set to impede any such moves.