NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 — The National Assembly will resume its sitting on Wednesday after lawmakers successfully endorsed a decision rescinding an earlier vote that scuttled House business.
The rejection of the proposed membership of the House Business Committee by the National Assembly on January 25 forced House leadership back to the drawing board in a bid to reintroduce the motion.
The motion with newly proposed names was reintroduced by Majority Leader Amos Kimunya after the House rescinded its earlier decision as required under Standing Order 49.
The House is required to approve members of the House Business Committee at the commencement of every session of the National Assembly.
Those approved include; Joyce Akai Emanikor, Shadrack John Mose, Kawira Mwangaza, Mohamed Abdikhaim Osman, Makali Mulu, Mishi Juma Khamisi Mboko, Godfrey Osotsi.
“Now that the house has approved the motion of the House Business Committee. Honourable Members the house stands adjourned until Wednesday 2nd of February 2022 and they will be business,” said National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi.
Majority Leader of the House Amos Kimunya pointed out that the move to disapprove the crucial committee of the house would have left the common mwananchi on the losing end and it was upon the house to make a wise decision.
“Am aware that members may have voted for whatever reasons but without considering the implications of that decision not just on this house but on the pain of the ordinary Kenyans out there without a Parliament in six months,” he said.
Kimunya blamed partisan politics for the move by legislators to scuttle the approval of the top decision-making organ of the law-making house.
“This is our house and we can’t let partisan politics get into the way of what we are committed to do. This cannot be done by some faction trying to get even with another faction just because of some petty politics out there that should not have a place in this house,” he said.
Kimunya had asked the National Assembly Speaker to reconvene the House to rescind its decision to reject the formation of the house business committee.
Minority leader John Mbadi faulted the move by Tangatanga lawmakers to reject the business house committee saying it costed the house vital time, yet they were working on a limited timeline before the polls.
“I regret that the house had to waste a whole week because of the grandstanding that was witnessed in the house last week. I believe the move was purely politics and grandstanding,” said Mbadi.
Deputy President William Ruto allies took advantage of their numbers during the last week sitting to disapprove motion on members of the house business committee thus disrupting the business of the legislative the house.
“I thank you for guiding the house on the implications of that decision that was taken by house on that fateful afternoon. Hon Speaker you saved this country the uncertainty of being without a house for six months. We cannot let partisan politics get into the way of legislative matters in the house,” said Kimunya.
The National Assembly usually reconstitutes the HBC and other sessional committees at the start of every session of Parliament.
The committee chaired by the Speaker sets the day-to-day agenda that is to be transacted by the August house.
