MPs meet to unlock committee stalemate

Transport Minister Amos Kimunya has told Parliament that the House Business Committee (HBC) will deliberate on the fate of the wrangle-ridden Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

Kimunya told Parliament on Tuesday that the HBC was scheduled to meet last evening to discuss the matter but noted, “It is not necessarily that we might come up with a solution.”

Early in August, the HBC had attempted to disband the committee to allow for its reconstitution.

The committee has been dogged by power struggles after its membership allied to PNU and two ODM rebel members moved to oust its chair, Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba.

On Tuesday Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto demanded a statement on the status of the committee, saying they have not been allowed to meet despite the Liaison Committee directing that members meet and elect a new chairman.

“The House needs to be told the state of the committee and upon which powers it was allegedly disbanded,” said Ruto.

Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, as chairman of the Liaison Committee had asked members of the committee to pick a new chair and get on with their mandate of ensuring that all constitutional laws are implemented.

The wrangles in the committee forced the Constitution Implementation and Oversight Committee (CIOC) to take up the responsibility of scrutinising constitutional Bills. On Tuesday, House Speaker Kenneth Marende directed that the HBC give a statement next Tuesday on the state of the committee.