Kenya MPs have six weeks to pass laws

Parliament has only six weeks to pass 11 crucial laws or risk being dissolved.

Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo raised the red flag over the pending laws, directing line ministries to hand them over to his office immediately for forwarding to Cabinet for approval before they are taken to Parliament.

In a letter dated July 11 to Attorney General Amos Wako and Constitution Implementation Commission chairman Charles Nyachae, Mr Kilonzo listed the bills that must pass before August 27, the first anniversary of the constitution.

Among them is the Legislation on Elections and Electoral Disputes laws, which both have a direct impact on the next General Election.

“I challenge ministries that have yet to finalise the development of Bills within their areas of focus to take note of the impending deadline, which is slightly over a month away,” Mr Kilonzo said in a speech read on his behalf by Justice assistant minister William Cheptumo on Wednesday.

According to Article 261 of the Constitution, if Parliament fails to pass a law within the stipulated timeline, a citizen may petition the High Court to order Parliament to ensure the required law is enacted.

If Parliament fails to heed the High Court’s orders, the Chief Justice shall ask the President to dissolve it immediately.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Netherlands Ambassador Laetitia van den Assum has said slow legislation might delay the implementation of the Constitution. 

“The Kenyan constitution is good on paper but can turn out to be bad because of slowed implementation,” she said on Wednesday at a farewell luncheon for her. 

She said that there were many detractors who were frustrating legislation for the effective operation of the Constitution. 

She also said that there were worrying signs of politicians aligning themselves along tribal lines.

Additional reporting Nyambega Gisesa