Eight Tangatanga-allied lawmakers stormed out of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee meeting on grounds there were other stakeholders – non-parliamentarians who were present.
Garissa Township MP Aden Duale, his Kikuyu counterpart Kimani Ichungwa, and Alice Wahome of Kandara said they read the invitation as having been specific for members.
They protested the presence of the Registrar of Political Parties, the chairperson of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal among other persons interested in the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
Duale, before walking out said, “On procedure, based on the letter I have received to engage this committee. I will execute the amendments on the floor on Wednesday.”
Wahome and Ichung’wa followed suit.
They were followed by Kipkelion East MP Joseph Limo on grounds he was denied a chance to speak.
Others who walked out included MPs Didmus Barasa, Owen Baya, Daniel Tuitoek and John Mutunga.
Wahome said, “I was coming as a member with a right to move my amendment on the floor. If I sit in the same meeting with stakeholders with no rights, I will be ceding my legislative job.”
“JLAC should have first sat and prosecuted the public participation…complete the process and then members can come and see if we can harmonize,” she added.
Barasa said, “It is about the law. I have amendments limiting ORPP involvement in primaries. Will she defend it while here?”
The meeting was chaired by Kangema MP Muturi Kigano who ruled that the stakeholders had a right to stay in the meeting without contributing to the deliberations.
Mogotio MP Daniel Tuitoek also walked out too.
The meeting was called in order for members with amendments to discuss and have the same harmonised.
The meeting precedes a special sitting called on Wednesday to debate the parties bill at all stages.
Edited by D Tarus