NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 26 – Senators were on Wednesday afternoon set to begin debate on the Political Parties Amendment Bill 2021 during day-two of the special sitting.
The sitting will consider proposed amendments which were initially left out of a report by Justice Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee chaired Senator Okongo Omogeni (Nyamira) tabled on Tuesday to pave the way for the second reading.
Speaker Ken Lusaka intervened and ordered that those who have amendments should present them before the Office of the Clerk by Wednesday afternoon following protests by Senators allied to Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA.
“Those with amendments can notify the Office of the Clerk as soon as possible before we start the debate on the Bill,” he ruled.
The Bill was passed by the National Assembly in chaotic and violent sittings earlier in the month.
Upon conclusion of the Second Reading, the Bill will stand committed to the Committee of the Whole where Senators will take a vote.
The Senate is required to pass the Bill without any amendment to avoid any delays to its implementation.
Any amendment to the Bill by the Senate will result in the formation of a mediation committee comprising of the members of the bicameral Parliament.
