The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill No 1, which seeks to change the date of the election from August to December/FILE
Duale said the House Business Committee has slated the Constitutional Amendment Bill by Ugenya MP David Ochieng’ seeking to shift the election date from August to December to avoid disrupting the budget cycle, the national examination calendar and peak tourism season for debate.
The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill No 1, which seeks to change the date of the election from August to December.
The House will also be voting on a Bill by Samburu West MP Lati Lelelit seeking the transfer of Equalisation Fund, from counties to be managed by Constituency Development Fund.
“The passage of these bills require two-thirds majority of all members. I therefore remind honourable members to avail themselves at the same time and the sponsors of the bills and Whips should use all available means to lobby our colleagues to attend the sitting so that two-thirds majority is attained for those bills to sail through to the next stage,” Duale said.
Before the MPs went on recess in August, the amendments were defeated as they were supported by 216 MPs out of the 233 required.
The Speaker said he had allowed extra time for the vote on the bills to be taken “in view of the fact that members have just returned from recess”.
Lelelit and Ochieng’ petitioned the Speaker seeking a second vote which was granted though Muturi said that in future such a motion which requires a fixed majority shall only be voted for again if at least 30 members indicate their support to the request.
Speaker Muturi announced that he will not be convening an informal meeting as some MPs had requested to build consensus on the two bills.
“I guess that was clear enough. I don’t have to call an informal meeting,” Muturi said after Duale’s announcement to the House.
The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill No 2, sponsored by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma that will cushion members from court injunctions in the course of performing their parliamentary functions is also slated for debate on Thursday after it easily garnered the required numbers during the second reading.
It will proceed to the committee stage for any further amendments before the final vote by MPs.
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