Kenya MPs voting on Tribunal Bill

A section of MPs during a past session of Parliament. Photo/FILE.

What you need to know:

  • President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are in the chambers and are expected to cast their votes.

MPs are voting on a Bill that will put in place a local tribunal to try suspects of the 2008 post election violence.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are in the chambers and are expected to cast their votes.

Already, the government has failed to raise the required number of 148 MPs needed to make a constitutional amendment two times.

In the first instance, only 52 MPs were in Parliament when the Bill was brought to vote.

On Tuesday, Leader of government business Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka attempt to withdraw the motion was thwarted by Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, who ruled that it was the House Business Committee that should decide what should be in the Order Paper.

This followed a failed attempt by government to marshall support among its ranks.

IKolomani MP Bonny Khalwale has questioned the independence of the House saying that Public Service Head Francis Muthaura wrote a letter instructing ministers to vote for the Bill. He also cited the presence of President Kibaki and PM Odinga as a hinderance.

Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanayara has said that Deputy Speaker Maalim had deferred the matter to Tuesday and the House should follow that.

VP Kalonzo Musyoka rose to say that nothing hinders Parliament from debating the Bill.

Justice minister Martha Karua has told the Speaker to rule on the issue of MPs bringing frivolous orders to thwart debate.

House Speaker Kenneth Marende has ruled that Parliament will resume with the Order of the day and the House will go into Division.

Mr Marende has called four MPs, two each from the government and the Opposition to oversee the voting.

The government side requires the support of at least 145 MPs if it is to prevail.

Most of the MPs have cast their vote and are huddled in small groups in animated discussions.

Mr Marende has called the House into order, ready for the announcement of how the MPs have voted.