The National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee is to meet on Tuesday to receive proposed amendments to Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The Bill is backed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
The committee chaired by Kangema MP Muturi Kigano is meeting for a second round of public participation on the proposed law following its deferred passage in the National Assembly on December 22.
National Assembly deputy speaker Moses Cheboi in a ruling on the date directed the committee to convene a sitting to receive amendments proposed by lawmakers.
The ruling followed a heated and acrimonious debate by MPs backing Uhuru and Raila and those allied to Deputy President William Ruto.
Whereas the Uhuru and Raila-side wanted the business on the bill concluded on that day, Ruto allies put up strong fight, forcing the speaker to prematurely adjourn the sittings – to give room for further public participation.
In this regard, at least 16 MPs have been formally invited to appear before the Kigano-led committee to argue out their amendments and have the same harmonised.
The heavily contested bill seeks to anchor coalitions as political parties ahead of the August 2022 general election where Raila and Ruto have emerged as the frontrunners. Azimio la Umoja could get party status and smaller parties in the coalition would get money if the Bill in its present form passes.
A letter by National Assembly clerk Michael Sialai inviting the MPs to the meeting indicates that the MPs would get an opportunity to discuss the amendments with JLAC.
Those invited are Garissa Town MP Aden Duale, Gathoni Wamuchomba (Kiambu WR), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Owen Baya (Kilifi North), Caleb Kositany (Soy), Godfrey Osostsi (Nominated) and John Kiarie (Dagoretti South).
Others are Ayub Savula (Lugari), Daniel Kamuren (Mogotio), John Kanyuithia (Tigania West), David Ochieng (Ugenya), Alice Wahome (Kandara), Nelson Koech (Belgut) and Joseph Limo (Kipkelion East).
"…the purpose of the meeting is to accord you an opportunity to discuss your proposed amendments to the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the committee.
"Thereafter, attempts will be made to harmonise the amendments together with others proposed by various members," the letter reads.
Featuring mostly in the amendments by the lawmakers is the proposal to extend the deadline for forming coalitions to at least three months before the election.
The Bill proposed that parties entering into a coalition do so six months to the general election date, sparking a heated disagreement between the two sides of the political divide.
Already, the Justice Committee has proposed that the provision be changed to three months to give political parties adequate time to consult on coalition plans.
“Clause eight of the Bill should be amended by deleting the word ‘six’ and substituting, therefore, the word ‘three’ ….to enable the coalition party to participate in the election process including party nominations,” JLAC indicated in its initial report on the bill.
The amendment will allow for a timeline that is not too long for parties to negotiate with like-minded parties on forming of a coalition party
Sialai said the meeting, from which an addendum to the report is expected, will be part of the preparation for the special sitting of all members on Wednesday, December 29.
He said all the necessary arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the House and marshalling of the said business – second and third reading of the Bill.
The clerk said members have been recalled from their Christmas break since the Bill would be heading to the Senate for concurrence with the National Assembly.
Sialai, in a press statement, said the two Speakers of Parliament Justin Muturi and Kenneth Lusaka have discussed the same.
"The Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament have jointly resolved that the Bill concerns county governments as it relates to the election of Members of a County Assembly,” Sialai said.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi published the notification of the special sittings in the Kenya Gazette on Friday.
At the sitting, MPs are also expected to debate — and approve in all stages, amendments to the public procurement law.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
