Parliament reconvene to debate contested political parties bill
A showdown is expected in Parliament today after the United Democratic Movement (UDA) warned it will rally its MPs to shoot down the Political Parties Amendment Bill.
The party, which is associated with Deputy President (DP) William Ruto, yesterday expressed reservations with the move to recall Parliament terming it “fishy” as it is aimed at ensuring the controversial Bill sails through.
Speaking at UDA headquarters yesterday, the party officials claimed that the proposed Bill is meant to benefit both President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga at the expense of Kenyans, who have different views.
The bill which comes for the Second Reading seeks to among other aspects, provide for the formation of a coalition political party.
The new arrangement, will allow dual membership of both political parties and individual membership and allow candidates to run on either coalition party tickets or individual parties, which is lacking under the current Constitution.
Interestingly, the Bill is sponsored by the Leader of Majority Amos Kimunya as opposed to the leadership of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
Rule of law
“They want to bring in parties to come together to form the Azimio coalition.
What does this have to do with other parties outside the formation,” posed party Secretary-General Veronica Maina.
“As a party, we are opposed to this Bill, why did they have to call for a sitting few days to Christmas. Why couldn’t they wait until next year when everyone is back,” said Maina.
She added; “The attempt to recall Parliament at such a particular time is targeted and we are aware what they want to do, because we have expressed our discomfort with the Bill”.
Uhuru’s Jubilee Party, Raila’s ODM and other friendly parties have signaled intentions to form a coalition which the former Prime minister will use as his vehicle in next year’s election.
The Bill is among the businesses on today’s Order Paper as MPs reconvene for a two-day Special Sitting.
Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua told People Daily that UDA had not yet reached a position on the Bill but hoped it will, ahead of the afternoon session.
“We are yet to take a position on this but what I have from members, is that they are not comfortable with the Bill,” Gachagua said.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said UDA will fight the Bill which he termed draconian and crafted to favour an individual.
“Laws are made for posterity and not in favour of an individual. We will gang up at the Senate to shoot it down.
I plead with our colleagues in the National Assembly to do the same,” he said.
Although the Bill requires a simple majority to go through, it might face a hurdle should the UDA team gang up with those from parties outside the “Azimio team” including the Amani National Congress (ANC), Wiper Party and Ford Kenya.
The bill seeks to replace political party with coalition political party. It also roots for direct nomination of candidates as opposed to current party primaries’ process (indirect party nomination).
It provides that in case of a coalition political party, the coalition agreement must be submitted at least six months to election and that a person may be expelled from a political party if he or she contravenes any provisions of the Constitution of a political party, in this case prohibiting party hopping.
The new Bill also proposes to change the formula for distribution of the Political Parties Fund.
It seeks to give 70 per cent of the fund based on the number of votes secured by each political party and15 per cent based on the number of candidates of the political party from special interest groups elected among otehr considerations.
At the same time, UDA unveiled a team of lawyers dubbed ‘UDA Lawyers Brigade’.
UDA Secretary in charge of Legal Affairs Edward Muriu said the lawyers will help the party in its quest to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the Constitution.
“This is a group of about 50 lawyers who subscribe to the bottom-up economic model and have volunteered their services to the party and the Hustler Movement,” Muriu said.
