National Assembly 'delaying bills'

The National Assembly is once again on the spot over delays in transmission of bills to the Senate, especially those with constitutional deadlines.

Senators did not hide their disappointment as they took issue with the matter, arguing that as a result of the delay, the House had been forced to fast-track its legislative process to meet the strict time-lines.

The Public Audit Bill, Mining Bill and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Bill have a May 27 deadline.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi) and his Minority counterpart Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma) while moving and seconding the commencement of debate on the Public Audit Bill, faulted the assembly for attempting to reduce the Senate to a ‘rubber-stamp’ House.

Critical bill

“This is one of the three bills that are required by the Constitution of Kenya to be enacted by both Houses of Parliament, latest May 27, 2015, after an extension of an earlier deadline was given sometime last year. This bill is very important. However, we must now fast-track the legislative process,” said Prof Kindiki.

Wetang’ula said: “For a bill as critical as this to arrive a week or two to the deadline, that simply means the Senate is being called upon to act as a rubber-stamp.

“This is because we are denying members of this august House an opportunity to scrutinise the bill in great detail and, where possible, seek professional advice and conduct public hearings to bring on board the principle of public participation,” he added.

“Kenyans should know that as the ‘Upper’ House, we are efficient and we do not sit on any Bill,” Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi said.