Slay kings and queens in parliament have decided to test each others patience in nomination of members especially on the new bill that is after increasing the representation of women in the chambers.
In a bold move,Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei is now pushing for the dissolution of the National Assembly by February next year should the postponed Gender Bill flop again.
The legislator argues that there will be no need to have a National Assembly in place if it can’t support implementation of constitutional requirements.
On Wednesday, the Leader of Majority Aden Duale called for the voting to be pushed to February 2019 over lack of quorum in the House.
According to Mr. Duale, the Bill – which requires quorum of 233 members in the House – would have flopped if voted on on Wednesday and would then have to be considered earliest in June next year.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to seek your indulgence to allow me to defer the business appearing as order number 10, both in terms of replying and voting on the second reading, until such further time as a House business committee shall decide having consulted widely,” said Mr. Duale.
“Mr. Speaker, in making this request, I am conscious – after consulting the House leadership, and moreso the Whips – I am conscious that should we proceed to attempt to take the vote, and upon counting the members present and if it is discovered that we are less than the requisite threshold of 233 members as required under article 256 (d) of the constitution, we will risk losing the Bill,” he added.
On his part, Homabay County senator Moses Kajwang’ rubbished the dissolution calls terming it as unnecessary threats.
A section of MPs supported Duale’s stand and, despite opposition by others, Speaker Justin Muturi shelved voting of the Bill for a date to be communicated at a later time.
The last dissolution of Parliament was on 3 May 2017, to make way for the general election to be held on 8 June 2017. It dissolved after a two-thirds majority vote by the House of Commons, as required by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.
Do you believe the National Assembly as Shollei has suggested can in deed be dissolved after the flop of the two third bill?