Lusaka calls Special Sitting over controversial Political Parties Bill
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka has called for a Special Sitting on Tuesday next week to commence debate on the controversial Political Parties Bill following its passage at the National Assembly on Thursday.
Deputy President William Ruto’s allies in the Senate have rolled up their sleeves to take on President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, who have dared surrogates of the Second-in-Command for a bruising battle.
On Thursday, Handshake partners triumphed over forces loyal to Ruto by rejecting all their proposals and mainly the one that sought to restrict a coalition party to only field a joint presidential candidate.
After successfully passing through the National Assembly, the Bill now paves way for Azimio La Umoja Movement to field candidates for president, governor, senator, Woman Rep, single constituency MP and Ward Rep.
Just like the Lower House, the Bill will require to be processed for all the stages these being First Reading, Public Participation, Second Reading, Committee of the Whole House and Third Reading.
Timelines at which Senate will dispense off debate on the Bill will be determined by the number of amendments that the Tanga Tanga side will be bringing forth.
Yesterday, Lusaka confirmed receipt and request to convene a special sitting on Tuesday, January 11, to consider the Bill that seeks to anchor Azimio La Umoja Movement championed by ODM leader Raila Odinga.
“I have received a request from both the Leader of Majority in the Senate Senator Samuel Poghisio (West Pokot) and his Minority counterpart Senator James Orengo (Siaya) to convene a special sitting on Tuesday next week, which I have approved, and I will be gazetting the Tuesday sitting today,” Lusaka told People Daily.
“In furtherance to that, today I will have a special House Business Committee and the leadership so that we agree on the road map on how we will proceed in processing the Bill,” added Lusaka.
However, Lusaka said he does not expect the ugly scenes witnessed in the National Assembly to be replicated in the Senate.
“I expect senators as is the norm to debate soberly and with decorum and reason,” he held.
