Senate must respect Kenyans’ will on critical matters put up for debate

This is my first article in the year 2015. And it is on the Senate, and on a subject of great concern to the Kenyan people: the Security Laws (Amendment) Act No. 19 of 2014. This law was rushed through the National Assembly within ten days, and was signed into law by the President without being taken to the Senate as required by Article 110(3) of the Constitution. In effect, a total of 21 existing laws were amended which adversely affected the Constitution.

It is with this in mind that the Senate Minority Leader, Sen Moses Wetang’ula, on the 23rd of December, after receiving support from 15 Senators as required by the Standing Orders, petitioned the Speaker to call a Special Session of the Senate to discuss this matter. The Speaker, with a notice in the Kenyan Gazette No. 9288 of December 24, 2014, finally convened the Senate on of December 30, 2014.