Parliament now seeks to strengthen Integrity Bill

MPs in Parliament. [Photo:File/Standard]

MPs are rooting for a stronger Leadership and Integrity Bill and have disagreed with the Executive for watering down the proposed law.

Consequently, two parliamentary committees have drafted amendments to strengthen the Bill to ensure that it meets the Constitutional threshold.

The Cabinet has come under criticism for weakening the Bill that would play a crucial role in vetting individuals seeking public office. The Bill actualises Chapter Six of the new Constitution but the Cabinet removed the vetting mechanisms that placed high threshold on those seeking public office.

This drew ire from the Commission for the Implementation of the

Constitution (CIC), the Law Society of Kenya, Transparency International and other civil society groups. They pleaded with Parliament to strengthen the Bill for the benefit of the country.

On Tuesday, the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) and Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs met and deliberated on the amendments. Though no specific amendments had been finalised, the MPs were in agreement that the Cabinet’s version of the Bill was weak.

“Substantially, we are not agreeing with the Cabinet on this Bill and we are not going to support impunity,” said an MP who attended the meeting.

When debate began on the Bill last week Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa defended the Cabinet, saying that it found out that some sections of the Bill were duplicated in other Acts and were therefore expunged.

Public’s concerns

“We had a part that required the declaration of income, assets and liabilities. After going through it, those present (in the Cabinet Sub-Committee) found that, indeed, we still have the Public Officers Ethics Act, 2003, which still has provisions that require declaration of wealth,” Mr Wamalwa told MPs.

CIOC Chairman Abdikadir Mohammed said the Committees will compile a report this morning on the specific amendments but said they are in agreement that the Bill needs to be strengthened.

“We are keen on strengthening the Bill and not weakening it further. It has to adhere to Chapter Six of the Constitution,” said Abdikadir, the Mandera Central MP.

Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee and Githunguri MP, Njoroge Baiya said the committee would consider the public and CIC’s concerns.

“At least we must carry some of the CIC’s amendments and the public’s concerns to ensure the leadership standards as envisaged in Chapter Six are upheld,” said Mr Baiya.

The committees met to consider the public’s memoranda on the controversial Bill and decide on which ones to adopt.

– Stories by Peter Opiyo, Steve Mkawale and Allan Kisia