War of words in Parliament over police service Bills

By ALLAN KISIA

Two controversial police Bills elicited a heated argument in Parliament after CORD MPs said the proposed laws were unconstitutional.

Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso said she would make a ruling on the matter before the two Bills go to the House for debate.

The National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill and the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill were formally introduced to the House yesterday.

Ugenya MP Opiyo Wandayi’s efforts to block the proposed laws from being introduced in the House were thwarted by Jubilee MPs.

Wandayi had argued that the Standing Orders state the House is not supposed to allow Bills that are unconstitutional to come before it. “These Bills are an attempt to amend the Constitution through the back door,” he argued.

Leader of Majority Aden Duale argued it would not be appropriate to reject Bills that were yet to be introduced before the House adding the Bills had gone through the Constitution Implementation Commission. The House was forced to decide by voting on whether the two Bills should be introduced; 131 MPs voted in favour while 63 opposed.

Duale also argued the public would have their input on the Bills at the committee stage.

The amendment will see the power to recruit and appoint persons to hold office or act in the police service being transferred from the National Police Service Commission to the office of Inspector General. Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo said the House should not make any attempts to amend the Constitution without following procedure.

However, Nairobi County women MP Rachael Shebesh accused CORD legislators of violating the Standing Orders by anticipating debate.

Eldama Ravine MP Moses Lessonet said CORD MPs will have an opportunity to make amendments to the Bills when they come back to the House.