Muturi recalls House on Jan 5

• Jan 1, 2022

The Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi has recalled lawmakers to parliament after the chaos that rocked the previous special sitting.

In a communication released on Friday, December 31, Muturi has recalled all MPs for sessions starting on Wednesday, January 5 to Friday, January 7.

This follows a request that was lodged by National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya requesting for a special sitting over pending matters.

Among the matters to be discussed is the controversial Political Parties Amendment Bill that ignited chaos in the previous special sitting that left a number of legislators nursing injuries.

 Other issues set for discussion also include the Second Reading of the Committee of the Whole House and the Third Reading of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal (Amendment) Bill.

The Speaker further informed the legislators that the stipulated time may be extended if need be.

"If the need arises, the sittings of the House will automatically extend until the conclusion of the specified business on the three days.

The House may also hold evening sittings on the prescribed dates, for purposes of concluding any business scheduled for consideration herein," the Speaker noted.

He added," I have authorized the Clerk to facilitate Members to use the electronic voting system pursuant to provisions of Standing Order 70 should Division be called. Members who may have misplaced their Chamber electronic cards are required to seek replacement at the office of the Chief Sergeant-at-Arms."

The new political party Bill defines a coalition political party as an alliance that is registered by the registrar as a political party.

If the Bill becomes law and Azimio La Umoja becomes the coalition party, for instance, the presidential candidate and the running mate will be on the ballot under the outfit and its symbol as opposed to the current arrangement.

In the 2017 elections, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Raila Odinga and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka campaigned under the National Super Alliance (Nasa) but the joint presidential ticket was under ODM and the orange symbol on the ballot paper.

The passage of the Bill also means though the Azimio coalition will zone the country to ensure regions are reserved for the dominant affiliate party, the winner of the nominations for governor, MP, senator, and ward representative can be fielded under the Azimio ticket on the ballot paper.

The Bill attracted a lot of animosity in the National Assembly with MPs allied to the Deputy President William Ruto vehemently opposing it. Despite the face-off, Azimio la Uomja grouping, backed by the handshake brigade won the first round of the debate after voting.

Ruto, after losing in the first round, is reported to be courting members of other political parties with their focus being on Amani National Congress led by Musalia Mudavadi.

Ruto's side is against the bill stating that it proposes to shorten the time for coalition-making and is designed to coerce One Kenya Alliance (OKA) leaders to unveil their political strategy by February 2022.

The law currently provides that a pre-election coalition deal must be deposited with the Registrar of Political Parties three months before the General Election.

Following the ugly scenes witnessed on the floor of the House, where MPs engaged in fistfights, the leader of the minority side John Mbadi was suspended for five days. Sigowet Soin MP Benard Koin suffered an injury in the eye and was spotted bleeding from his right-hand cheek.