Thirdway Alliance Party in court seeking to reinstate Punguza Mizigo Bill 2019

The Third Way Alliance and an independent petitioner have gone to court seeking to reinstate the Punguza Mizigo Bill 2019 before Kirinyaga County Assembly.

Kenda Muriku and the Third Way Alliance Party yesterday filed a petition before the High Court in Nairobi, challenging a decision by the Speaker and the County Assembly of Kirinyaga to withdraw the Bill.

Through lawyer Eunice Ng’ang’a, the petitioners claim on September 10, 2019, the County Assembly of Kirinyaga County breached a constitutional process and timeline through an illegal process of withdrawing the Bill.

“We want the court to quash the decision of September 10, 2019, declaring that the Punguza Mizigo Bill 2019 stands withdrawn,” said Ms Ng'ang'a.

Muriku is also seeking to have County Assembly and its Speaker compelled to reintroduce the Bill for debate and voting within five days of the court’s judgment.

The petitioners want to have the County Assembly and the Speaker compelled to conduct public participation on the Bill as per the Constitution and other enabling laws.

They also want a declaration that the County Assembly breached the applicant’s constitutional rights and those of other constituents of Kirinyaga County. “We are seeking that the respondents have violated constitutional principles on leadership and good governorship,” stated the petitioners.

They pointed out that Article 257 of the Constitution required the County Assembly of Kirinyaga to debate and vote on the Bill within three months of receipt from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. The timeline lapses on October 22, 2019.