By Standard team
The House Business Committee has resolved the controversy over the size of a key team on the implementation of the new Constitution.
This happened as Parliament unanimously voted to break until September 28.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said the House Business Committee (HBC), the organ that schedules House business, had settled on the "traditional membership of 27" for the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee.
Kalonzo, who is the Leader of Government Business in Parliament and chair of HBC, said when Parliament reconvenes, the first order of business should be formation of the oversight committee.
A joint PNU/ODM Parliamentary Group meeting chaired by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had proposed a lean committee comprising of 15 members, but the Cabinet later recommended the team be expanded to 21 to accommodate all political interests.
On Wednesday, Kalonzo moved the Motion of adjournment, which was seconded by the Deputy Leader of Government Business Sally Kosgei.
MPs unanimously supported the Motion, saying they needed time off to celebrate with their constituents following the birth of the Second Republic occasioned by the new Constitution.
Appropriations bill
The Motion of adjournment was due last week but shelved at the 11th hour to allow "consultations" and passage of the Appropriations Bill that legalises taxation measures contained in the budget, which was approved on Wednesday.
The recess would offer MPs an opportunity to attend the 56th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference being hosted by Kenya for the second time since Independence.
The meeting, to be held at the Kenyatta International Conference, Nairobi, runs from September 10-19 and will be opened by President Kibaki on September 14.
In Parliament, members amended the Motion of adjournment, which initially proposed the House resumes on September 21, to extend their break by one week.
Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula said members would use the time to heal rifts caused by the referendum contest. Wetang’ula said the Constitution belongs to all Kenyans and focus should now be in ensuring its full implementation.
—Stories by David Ochami, Peter Opiyo and Alex Ndegwa
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