Kingi stops c*mmittee from considering bi*ls not in Nadco sittings
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has stopped a House committee from considering four bills that were negotiated in the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO).
This is after Senate Minority leader Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi) raised concern with the Senate Business Committee (SBC), notifying it that the bills introduced are not in sync with what was agreed on in the NADCO report.
“I received a letter from the Senate Minority Leader, expressing concern as to the content of the following Bills the Elections Offences (Amendment) Bill, the Elections (Amendment) Bill, the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill,” said Kingi.
He went on: “Given the gravity of this matter, the Senate Business Committee (SBC) deliberated on the matter and resolved that corrective measures be taken as a matter of urgency in line with what had been agreed upon in the Report of the National Dialogue Committee.”
In his communication on the floor of the House, Kingi directed that further consideration of the three aforementioned Bills be ceased in order to facilitate the corrective measures.
Stop public participation
“For avoidance of doubt, the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights (JLAC) is directed to stop any form of public participation and the on-going receipt of memoranda. I direct the Office of the Clerk to liaise with the Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Minority Leader to have the said Bills corrected and republished for introduction in the Senate.”
People Daily has established that there are two bills seeking to amend the Political Parties Act co-sponsored by both the National Assembly and Senate Majority/Minority leaders.
Given the importance of the Bills emanating from the bipartisan process, the Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and his Minority counterpart Stewart Madzayo agreed to co-sponsor the Bills.
NADCO team had made some legislative proposals in a recommendation in the report be introduced in the Senate includes the Elections Offences (Amendment) Bill, The Elections (Amendment) Bill, The Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill and The Political Parties (Amendment) Bill.
Standing committee
The Bills having been read a First Time were committed to the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights.
For instance, the Political Parties Bill 2024 introduced in the Senate proposes the establishment of the Independent Political Parties Regulatory Commission (IPPRC) to replace the Registrar of Political Parties as is in the current Act.
The bill proposes to amend by repealing section 33 and instead introduce section 33 A that establishes the regulatory commission.
“The commission shall be comprised of five commissioners appointed by the President with the approval of the National Assembly,” reads part of the proposed amendment.
However, Madzayo contends that the amendment agreed upon during NADCO only enhances the functions of the Registrar of Political Parties.
According to the Political Parties Amendment bill signed by both Cheruyiot and Madzayo, section 33 states that there is established the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties which shall be a corporate with perpetual seal.
The bill proposes that, the Registrar shall be deputized by three Assistant Registrars, and not more than two of whom shall be of the same gender. Currently, the Registrar has two Assistants established under the act.
