Wetang'ula asks house committees to follow up Ruto's constitutional amendment proposals

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula. [File, Standard]

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has directed three House committees to look into President William Ruto's constitutional amendment proposals.

The president had written to the Speaker last week, proposing constitutional amendments on gender equality, the establishment of a constituency fund, the establishment of the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition, and the strengthening of parliamentary oversight of the Executive.

In a communique, the speaker directed the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) to look into the proposals for the implementation of the Two-Thirds Gender Rule and the establishment of the Office of the Leader of Official Opposition.

"The Departmental Committee on Justice & Legal Affairs to consider the Message of H.E The President with respect to the implementation of the Two-Thirds Gender Rule; and the establishment of the Office of the Leader of Official Opposition,"

Wetang'ula has also directed a joint parliamentary committee to look into the proposals to amend the Constitution to entrench the establishment of the Constituency Development funds, Senate Oversight, and National Government Affirmative Action Funds.

He also wants the Procedure and House Rules Committee to consider the president's request with respect amendment of the Standing Orders to strengthen parliamentary oversight of the Executive.

In his letter, the president proposes that Parliament considers an amendment to Chapter 9 of the Constitution to establish the office of the official leader of the opposition.

Ruto wants the 13th Parliament to initiate amendments to the country's supreme law, to establish a formula that will guide the computation of the gender ratio in the National Assembly.

On the other hand, Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga questioned the president's proposal to amend part of the constitution to allow for the establishment of the office of the opposition leader.

Odinga said Ruto was being hypocritical since he opposed the very changes that were in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

"The memorandum of His Excellency Hon. William Ruto to the speakers of both the National Assembly and the Senate proposing several amendments of the Constitution of Kenya is puzzling to many Kenyans and myself as it undoubtedly seeks to re-introduce the same matters that had for many months been suggested by the Building Bridges Initiative," said Odinga.