Senate passes the Anti-Doping Bill
Athletics
By
Moses Njagih
| Apr 22, 2016
Giving the bill the nod will rescue the country from the jaws of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) that had threatened to suspend Kenya from taking part in the Summer Olympics in Brazil.
Yesterday while hosting the triumphant Kenyan Sevens team at State House, President Uhuru promised to sign the bill into law today.
After taking the proposed law through a marathon first and second reading on Wednesday afternoon, Senate was forced to summon a special sitting yesterday morning to clear the legislative processes, as they sought to ensure that the Bill is sent for assent latest today.
Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki led legislators in calling for fast-tracking of the bill, including lobbying legislators to shelve any amendment they may have wished to pass, to ensure that the law that establishes a local anti-doping agency is in place before the deadline set by Wada to avoid Kenya being excluded from the August games.
“I undertake to introduce any amendment that may be required at a later date once the Bill has been passed and assented to and our athletes allowed to participate in the Olympics,” said Kindiki.
Had the senators introduced any amendment, then the bill would have gone for a mediation with representatives from the National Assembly, a move that could have jeopardised the country’s chances of taking part in Rio.
Several senators indicated that they would in future propose amendments to the law, but allowed it to pass through the third reading to save the country from any possible sanctions.
In a rare show of solidarity, Senators were in agreement on the need to fast-track enacting of the law, hence the decision to hold the special sitting. “We were supposed to go to Meru (for the devolution conference) but we made a U-turn to show our solidarity and support for our sportsmen because we want to see them shine in Rio,” said Baringo Senator Gideon Moi.
The legislators hailed the decision to fast-track the enactment of the law.
“This is not about any one of us. It is all about those gallant sons of this country who make our country proud. The Olympics cannot be in their right status in the absence of Kenyans,” said Machakos Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.
Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula said the House must not act in any way that compromises the interest of the sportsmen, who were doing the country proud.
Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe said it was crucial for Kenya to pass the law, saying there were many people eager to see local athletes banned from the games.
“We must do this (pass the law) to shame these enemies. But we also must do it for our sportsmen because we all know that if there is a team that shames tribalism in this country, it is our athletes,” said Kagwe.
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Kindiki also concurred adding: “There are many people out there who would want to see Kenya come down tumbling in the athletics front. We must disappoint them by passing this bill and ensuring that our athletes are in Brazil from August 5.”
The senators also took time to hail the Kenya Sevens Rugby team for their emphatic win in Singapore, saying Parliament must always act in the interest of the country’s sportsmen.
“We possibly need to come up with the National Sports Awards Protocol so that we have a scheme to commensurately award our sportsmen who are doing the country proud,” said Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o, dismissing the token rewards given to the Sevens rugby team.