Parliament dissolution looms as MPs miss deadline
File | NATION Parliament Buildings, Nairobi. To save themselves from being sent home through a constitutional provision, MPs can extend the deadline for certain Bills key to the implementation of the Constitution through a two thirds majority vote.
By NJERI RUGENE nrugene@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, May 28 2012 at 22:30
Posted Monday, May 28 2012 at 22:30
Parliament is staring at the possibility of dissolution for failing to meet deadlines on the enactment of two crucial laws key to setting up county governments.
This, even as a key House committee meets on Tuesday to try and forestall such an eventuality.
To save themselves from being sent home through a constitutional provision, MPs can extend the deadline for certain Bills key to the implementation of the Constitution through a two thirds majority vote.
However, the House has been unable to marshal enough MPs needed to pass the motion for the extension of the deadline to enact the County Governments Bill 2011 and the Public Financial Management Bill 2012.
This delay in passing the Bills has caused anxiety among some MPs, who have been complaining about laxity on the part of the government.
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua and Gwasi MP John Mbadi raised the red flag in the House on Thursday, with the ODM MP warning that Kenyans could go to court to have Parliament dissolved.
Ms Karua, the Gichugu MP, asked House Speaker Kenneth Marende to direct the Leader of Government Business, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, to have a motion for extension debated “for the sake of the House and the country.”
“There are sanctions in the Constitution where Parliament fails to do what it is supposed to do,” Ms Karua said.
The House Business Committee, which sets out the daily agenda of the House, is expected to meet this evening to discuss the issue.
On Thursday, Medical Services minister Anyang’ Nyong’o, who was sitting in for Mr Musyoka, undertook to ensure that the matter was addressed urgently.
The motion for the extension of the deadline of the two laws to July 27 was moved on May 4, but the number of MPs in the House then was below the required two thirds threshold.
Deputy Leader of Government Business Amos Kimunya, Attorney-General Githu Muigai and Cabinet ministers Njeru Githae and Otieno Kajwang’ were alarmed that the House may have to take blame for frustrating devolution.
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