This archive report was first published on 11 September 2019.
Published on September 11, 2019, the Punguza Mizigo Bill 2019, a key proposal by the Thirdway Alliance Party, suffered a setback in Kirinyaga County after the county assembly rejected it.
The bill, tabled by Majority Leader Kamau Murango, failed to gain traction due to a lack of a seconder, a requirement under the county's standing orders.
According to the rules, a bill that lacks a seconder is dismissed and can only be revived after six months.
However, Tebere MCA Gurdison Muchina disputed the technicality, terming it an organized plot to defeat the bill.
Meanwhile, Kirinyaga County Governor Ann Waiguru welcomed the rejection of the bill, urging residents to await the report of the Building Bridges Initiative taskforce.
Waiguru also dismissed a proposal in the bill to reduce the number of wards and parliamentary seats.
Despite the setback, a section of MCAs has vowed to reintroduce the bill before the six-month window lapses, terming it a matter of public interest.
Thirdway Alliance Party leader Ekuru Aukot remains optimistic that the bill will gain the support of the majority of the counties.
