Parliament approves six Bills in record time

By Roseleen Nzioka

Parliament on Thursday approved six Bills in less than three hours and sent them to the President for assent.

The Bills passed were: the National Police Service Bill;  the Commission on Administrative Justice Bill;  the Power of Mercy Bill;  the Environment and Land Court Bill;  the Urban Areas and Cities Bill; and the Citizenship and Immigration Bill.

On Tuesday the House passed the Political Parties Bill, bringing to seven, the Bills passed in a record two days.

The MPs, in an apparent bid to beat the Friday deadline for approval of Constitutional Bills, debated, proposed amendments, approved the amendments and then approved the Bills.  The Bills now await President Kibaki’s assent.

Parliament on Tuesday voted to extend its sittings in a bid to beat the August 26 deadline to enact key constitutional Bills.

MPs also voted to reduce the procedures needed to initiate debate on the Bills from 14 days to four days.