MPs on the spot over delays in passing Bills

MPs were last evening staring at another prospect of being sent home for failing to enact laws within the set constitutional timelines.

This follows their failure to raise the two-thirds majority required to approve an extension of time for two crucial Bills.

One is for setting up county governments and the other for guidance on spending of resources at both national and county level counties.

Finance minister Robinson Githae, deputy leader of Government Business Amos Kimunya, Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’ and Attorney-General Githu Muigai were alarmed that the House will inevitably have to take the blame for frustrating devolution as envisaged in the Constitution.

They said that the County Governments Bill, 2011, and the Public Financial Management Bill, 2012, had been presented to the House in time, but MPs, out of an oversight, failed to approve them within the constitutional timeline of 18 months. The deadline for both Bills elapsed on February 27, 2012.

On Thursday, the ministers told the House that there was need for all MPs to come to the House and ensure there was sufficient quorum to extend the timelines to July 27 this year.

“If we don’t operationalise these Bills, there would be no county governments,” said Mr Githae.

They said that the Constitution allowed anyone to go to court and petition the Chief Justice to have Parliament dissolved for failing to enact laws within specific deadlines.

“This is a serious matter. There should be no politics … I am pleading and beseeching members of this House to ensure we get the extension,” said Mr Githae.