House business halted early

Parliament was on Wednesday forced to cut short its sittings after the government side failed to raise business for discussion.

The adjournment, on the second day after MPs resumed their sittings to ostensibly fast track the implementation of the new Constitution by passing requisite Bills, indicted the government for recalling lawmakers without adequate preparations.

MPs will now have to wait until February 1 for the government to bring to the House two crucial Bills— the Judicial Service Commission Bill and the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill—for debate.

Deputy leader of Government Business Amos Kimunya was hard placed to explain the lack of business for debate following the withdrawal of the two Bills on Tuesday by Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo on technical grounds. (Read:

Mutula withdraws Judiciary Bills)

Mr Kimunya said the special session was only meant to debate the business that prompted its recall.

“The House Business Committee found it hard to decide what to put on the Order Paper given that the (government’s) business was not mature,” he said.

Abrupt adjournment

The abrupt adjournment for one week comes in the wake of the resignation of Mr Kimunya’s co-deputy leader of Government Business Sally Kosgei, citing work overload.

Leader of Government Business , Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka whose job is to ensure government generates enough Bills and motions for debate left on Wednesday for Malawi in shuttle diplomacy to rally African leaders to support Kenya’s bid to try the Ocampo Six at home.

This meant that only Mr Kimunya could chair the House Business Committee which agrees on the Bills and motions to be discussed.
MPs were also angry with the government for recalling the House only to adjourn barely 24 hours later.

“There is a need for you on the front bench and us on the back bench to join hands. I am disappointed at having been recalled and then told to go back home,” said Dr Boni Khalwale (Ikolomani, New Ford-Kenya).

Dr Khalwale was one of several MPs who had asked Mr Kilonzo to withdraw the Bills when he presented them for the First Reading last year.

The Justice minister said he would publish the Bills afresh as soon as possible to allow for the 14 days before it can be considered mature for the First Reading.

Mr Kilonzo said he already has a document on the Bills prepared by the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution, which he would use to fortify the two Bills.

The MPs’ argument was that it would be unconstitutional for the minister to publish the Bills without input from the CIC, which had not been constituted at that time.

Refusing to withdraw

On Tuesday, Mr Kilonzo was accused of delaying the implementation of the Constitution by refusing to withdraw the Bills.

Limuru MP Peter Mwathi said the government would need to coordinate its work better. Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo said the government should be reprimanded.

Reports by John Ngirachu and Alphonce Shiundu