National Assembly drops amendment in KDF deployment law

The National Assembly has dropped an amendment to the law that had elicited controversy on deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

Speaker Justin Muturi said he found Leader of Majority Adan Duale's request to be within the practice of the House and therefore allowable.

"In this regard, the proposed amendments relating to the said statutes, that is the Kenya Defence Forces Act 2012 as contained in the Statute Law Miscellaneous (Amendment) Bill 2014 are hereby ordered to be withdrawn and will henceforth be treated as if they are not part of the Bill," he stated. He said part of the Bill would therefore not be considered when the MPs discuss the proposed amendments.

The Government had proposed a new law that seeks to overlook Parliament in matters of deployment of the KDF internally.

The Bill sought to amend sections of article 241(3) of the Constitution, which provides for internal military deployment process.

The Statute Law Miscellaneous (Amendment) Bill 2014 sought to ignore Parliament's approval on internal deployment of KDF and instead vest the power on the Executive, through the Cabinet Secretary for Defense, who would gazette the start of the military's internal deployment and its end, without necessarily having to consult the House.

KDF can only be deployed internally on two grounds; for emergency and disaster response and to assist in areas affected by security unrest or instability. The internal deployment must receive the National Assembly's approval, in accordance with article 241(3) (c) of the Constitution and Sections 31(b), 33(2) of the Kenya Defense Forces Act.

The Government has been under attack over insecurity in the country.