Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai has said Parliament and not President William Ruto should be blamed for laws that have attracted controversy.
Mbai said it was unfair to accuse the implementing arm of government on a mandate that fully falls under the hands of the Legislature.
“It is not the Executive to be blamed because it does not make laws. I want to urge the respective Cabinet Secretaries through the Leader of Majority to bring back the contentious laws in the House when we resume from recess so that we can realign them with the Constitution,” he stated.
His remarks come as Ruto is faced with a dilemma in implementing his pet project the Affordable Housing Programme as the court has declared the Housing Levy unconstitutional.
Ruto’s affordable housing plan suffered a major blow last week when the Court of Appeal declined to extend orders allowing the government to continue collecting the housing levy from salaried Kenyans.
The government has since filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court over the controversial Housing Levy.
In the notice, Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula has appealed against the verdict by Justices Lydia Achode, John Mativo and Mwaniki Gachoka issued on January 26, 2024.
They held that public interest tilts in favour of not granting the order sought by the Government for a stay.
On Wednesday, Mbai said Kenya Kwanza has taken note of the advice from Judiciary positively and will use the opportunity to align everything with the Constitution for smooth implementation by the Executive.
Mbai downplayed the existence of bad blood between the Executive and the Judiciary saying the standoff was majorly between Ruto’s manifesto and the Judiciary.
Mbai added that he will also be tabling a bill in Parliament seeking to enact a law that will dictate timelines of determination of court cases challenging Government policies.
“That way, we will be able to safeguard the interests of Mwananchi by ensuring government projects don’t take eternity to materialise especially when they are challenged in court.
