This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
Published on October 16, 2019, Nairobi News reported that Ekuru Aukot, leader of the Thirdway Alliance Party, had accused bribery, coercion, and political sycophancy of being the main reasons behind the rejection of his Punguza Mizigo Amendment Bill.
As the debate deadline for the initiative nears, Aukot has moved to court to challenge the grounds for the bill's rejection. He claimed that ward representatives have reported being bribed to reject the bill, while others have faced threats of being de-whipped party leaders if they do not follow the party line.
Aukot pointed out that distortion, lies, and selfish political ambitions have clouded the passage of the initiative. He observed that the reasons for rejecting the initiative are simplistic and based on technicalities and party leadership's statements, rather than the views of those they represent.
“It is not being rejected by the general public but by a choreographed plan by a few selfish leaders in some political parties. We are getting reports from county assemblies that money is being dished out for them to shoot down the Bill,” Aukot said during an interview on Citizen TV.
He rejected claims that the bill was not subjected to public participation, explaining that the initiative went through public participation when the party met with members of the public at markets and garnered support from 1.2 million Kenyans.
The Punguza Mizigo Bill has already been rejected by 21 county assemblies, with Uasin Gishu County Assembly being the only exception. With a deadline of October 15 for the debate, 25 county assemblies are set to discuss the initiative, requiring support from 23 more assemblies to pass.
Aukot expressed optimism that his party will garner the needed support, stating that they will continue finding solutions to the country's problems, including the ballooning national debt.
