President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga have suffered a blow at the National Assembly after pro-Ruto MPs won round one in their bid to water down the Political Parties (Amendments) Bill, 2021, allowing for the creation of coalition parties.
In the first round of the vote, Tangatanga MPs outnumbered their Kieleweke counterparts allowing proposed amendments by Tigania West MP John Mutunga.
Ruto MPs have lined up amendments to water down the Bill. Uhuru and Raila MPs on the other hand want the Bill passed without amendments.
Ruto MPs managed to get 123 lawmakers voting for the amendments against Kieleweke’s 118.
Mutunga had among others proposed amendments to have specific colours for dominant parties.
Tangatanga MPs have lined up amendments to among others weakening the office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
According to pro-Ruto MPs, the Bill as proposed by National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya gives imperial powers to Anne Nderitu’s office.
On Tuesday, DP warned the proposed law will give the office of the Registrar of Political Parties more powers to control the affairs of the parties in the country.
While speaking during an interview with Inooro TV on Tuesday, the DP said that if the registrar will be given powers, there is a need to have a board that will supervise the activities of the office, rather than being a one-man show thing.
"Let every party be allowed to decide about its affairs. It should not be that the registrar, for example, will decide about the ruling of the UDA party, no. Those are the things that we are saying must be amended.
“The way I see, there will be a truce in the Parliament because the majority of the MPs are reasonable…I am hoping that there will be a win-win, give and take,” Ruto said.
