This archive report was first published on 8 December 2019.
Published on December 8, 2019, by DAVID MWERE
Kenya's House Speakers have given the Punguza Mizigo draft bill a lifeline, affirming that it is well on course until the remaining 21 county assemblies make their stand known.
Speaker Justin Muturi notified lawmakers in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon that the threshold for introducing the bill in Parliament is yet to be met.
Only three of Kenya's 47 county assemblies have approved the bill, far below the threshold of 24 required under Article 257 (7) of the Constitution to trigger its introduction in Parliament.
The three county assemblies — Machakos, Turkana, and Uasin Gishu — have formally informed the National Assembly and Senate of their decision.
Speaker Muturi directed House Clerk Michael Sialai to notify the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of the status of the bill.
The Punguza Mizigo initiative had long been considered dead, with its promoters — the Thirdway Alliance Party leadership of Dr Ekuru Aukot and Mr Miruru Waweru — disengaging from the process after 23 county assemblies rejected the bill.
However, Speaker Muturi ruled that it would be premature for Parliament to make a determination on the bill when 21 county assemblies are yet to formally communicate whether they have approved or rejected it.
