This archive report was first published on 13 October 2019.
On October 11, 2019, the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) unanimously rejected the Punguza Mizigo Constitutional amendment Bill 2019, introduced by Dr. Ekuru Aukot, chairman of Third Way Alliance.
The proposed amendment aimed to lower the country's wage bill, but CAF Secretary General Kipkurui Chepkwony argued that it did not incorporate public participation and consultations prior to preparation of the bill to county assemblies across the country.
‘Members of the County Assemblies that have processed the Bill and rejected it have noted sections in the bill with flaws hence making it impossible for us to support it the,’ Chepkwony said.
CAF Chairman Ndegwa Wahome added that public participation undertaken by county assemblies that rejected the bill revealed fears over its contents, including the removal of nominated members in the senate and deletion of Article 177 of the Constitution, which defeats the not-more-than 2/3 gender rule in the county Assemblies.
Earlier, the Nyeri county assembly had rejected the Punguza Mizigo Bill, citing residents' rejection during public participation meetings. The assembly's Legal Committee chairman Michael Karumba presented the motion, stating that residents were not comfortable with the proposal to extend the presidential term by two years.
‘The bill does not clearly lay out a transition strategy. So what if this bill passes? Does it mean that Uhuru Kenyatta who has already served for seven years will retire or vacate office,’ Karumba asked.
