MPs set for another showdown next week as they conclude debate on Coalition Bill

Parliament will meet yet again next week for a special sitting to conclude debate on the Coalition Bill.

The Wednesday sitting went late into the night with house adjourning on Thursday at 1.43 am.

This was after House voted for Clause 7 which among others seeks to amend Section 8 of the parent Act, to include slogan of the party as one of the factors to be considered in determining whether to register a political party or not.

The provision also gives Registrar of Political Parties more powers to decline registration of a party if the name or slogan, abbreviation or symbol is associated with a proscribed group or association.

A record 142 MPs in Uhuru, Raila camp voted for the amendments against a paltry 15 from Ruto side who opposed the inclusion of the amendment.

MPs allied to Tangatanga used all the tricks in the books to derail conclusion of the debate including sponsoring multiple amendments to ensure the matter was not concluded on Wednesday.

National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya had by Wednesday written to the Speaker Justin Muturi for a three-day special sitting from Wednesday to Friday next week.

"What we are doing we are doing for posterity and in good faith," Kimunya said.

"I have already signed a request to the Honourable Speaker for special sittings on January 5,6,7 so that we can be able to continue transacting this business until we finish this business."

He maintained that the Bill, which has divided the House in the middle is for better political governance.

The Star has established of a push by pro Uhuru and Raila camp to have the Bill dispensed of before the House resumes normal sitting.

"We are considering a special sitting next week to conclude on this Bill, this is one piece of legislation that must be dispensed with before we resume in January," an MP told the Star on Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, the House turned chaotic in an occurrence that saw National Assembly Minority leader John Mbadi suspended for the next five consecutive sittings for punching and injuring Sigowet-Soin MP Kipsengeret Koros.

Luanda MP, Chris Omulele who was leading the session had to suspend the sitting for 15 minutes, in a bid to calm MPs.

The bill is seen as part of the strategy to turn Azimio La Umoja, Raila Odinga's 2022 machine, into a coalition party.

At the onset, the pro-handshake team suffered their first defeat in the hands of well organised Tangatanga team after 123 MPs voted for John Mutunga's proposals to amend Clause 3 of the Political Parties Act against 118 from the handshake side.

Mutunga had among others proposed amendments to have specific colours for each of dominant parties to avoid confusion.

Pro-handshake MPs stung by the surprise win whipped their members for the second round of vote, beating their Tangatanga colleagues hands down in what turned out to be a game of numbers.

In a supremacy show, 150 MPs supporting Uhuru and Raila voted against  Duale's move to amend Clause 5.

Duale garnered 136 members who voted in support of the amendment.

Later, a vote on amendments to Clause 6 backed by Ruto was defeated with 158 against and 134 in favour of it. 

Tangatanga MPs had lined up numerous amendments to among others derail the sitting and weaken the office of the Registrar of Political Parties.

According to pro-Ruto MPs the proposed amendments by National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya give imperial powers to Anne Nderitu’s office.