National Assembly adjourns due to lack of quorum

The National Assembly was forced to adjourn its morning sittings yesterday for lack of quorum.

Ironically the turn of events came even as the House Business Committee (HBC) sought more time to clear crucial business.

HBC sought the approval of the House to extend yesterday afternoon sittings and hold another session this morning.

The House is pressed for time to clear crucial business before heading for a month-long recess, hence the move by the HBC to seek extension of  yesterday's sittings beyond 6.30pm when they conclude business as per the Standing Orders.

Among key bills the House seeks to dispense with before they commence the recess are the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Election Offences Bill, both emanating from the joint select committee formed to look into the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and how to strengthen the electoral process.

But with a crowded business lined up for transaction by the House, the assembly of 349 members was unable to raise the required 50 members to constitute quorum, prompting Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso to adjourn the sitting at 9.48am until the afternoon session.

Although the Wednesday sittings are allocated for private members business under Standing Orders 40(3), the House had in its Order Paper lined up a procedural motion to have other businesses, including Government-sponsored bills, in order to clear the backlog ahead of the anticipated recess.

Among the business that had to be rescheduled after the lack of quorum was a final vote on two bills; the Finance Bill which stipulates the taxation measures and Warehouse, Receipts System Bill, a Government-sponsored bill under Majority Leader Aden Duale; and a consideration of the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Bill and the National Government Constituency Development Fund (Amendment) Bill.

It was also to start debating the Public Fund-raising Appeals Bill and the Kenyatta Mausoleum Bill.