The committee is co-chaired by Baringo North Member of Parliament William Cheptumo and Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo/COURTESY
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 9 – The Joint Parliamentary Committee that collated views from the members of the public and stakeholders on the Bills on electoral laws is on Tuesday expected to table its all-inclusive report in both Houses of Parliament.
The committee co-chaired by Baringo North Member of Parliament William Cheptumo and Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo concluded receiving input on the controversial laws last Thursday.
The committee later retreated to Windsor Hotel in Nairobi on Sunday to craft its report after receiving varied views from the members of the public.
During the three-day exercise, the parties that came forward to submit their views on the Bills including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, civil society groups among others raised concerns over the timing of the amendments with the fresh presidential election a little over a fortnight away.
The Opposition legislators who skipped the entire process during the hearings for the sole reason that they intentionally failed to submit its list for the preferred members to sit in the committee have vowed to fight the laws through the courts if adopted.
With the presentation of the report in Parliament on Thursday, a showdown is in the offing with both Majority and Minority Coalitions expected to further lock horns over the Bills which were sponsored by Jubilee Party.
The Majority Coalition is however expected to use its numerical strength in both Houses to fast track the enactment of the laws before October 26.
The Bills which were sanctioned by the Jubilee Party were highly informed by the Supreme Court ruling that annulled President Uhuru Kenyatta’s August 8 poll win. The Jubilee lawmakers believe that the amendments will seal loopholes that will occasion future annulments of a presidential election.
The lawmakers who were on short recess will sit from Tuesday until Thursday to either adopt or reject the report prior to breaking for another 25-day recess.
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