Uhuru, Raila Adopt New Strategy to Defeat Ruto in Parliament

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga at Bomas of Kenya
President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga at Bomas of Kenya on November 19 2019 during the launched of BBI report.
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President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have devised a new strategy to win the Political Parties Bill in Parliament.

National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya, on Wednesday, December 29, wrote to Speaker Justin Muturi to hold a 3-day special sitting to conclude voting on the bill.

The new strategy is aimed at hastening the process to avoid delays experienced during the chaotic voting exercise on Wednesday.

In his letter, Kimunya was seeking for the special sitting to be held between Wednesday, January 5 and Friday, January 7 in 2022.

Lawmakers seated in Parliament
Lawmakers seated in Parliament.
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“Madam speaker I want to take this opportunity to report to this house that I have already signed a request to the Hon. Speaker for a Special Sittings on the 5th, 6th and the 7th next week so that we can be able to finish this process,” stated Kimunya.

The Wednesday voting exercise was adjourned at midnight after being marred by chaos that saw Sigowet/Soin MP Kipsengeret Koros sustain a face injury.

Deputy President William Ruto's camp lost the first round of voting in their efforts to stop changes to the law governing political parties.

During a special parliamentary sitting to debate the highly controversial Political Parties Amendment Bill, Deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi threw out a number of proposals by Members of Parliament allied to the DP.

Among them were proposals by Kikuyu MP, Kimani Ichungwah, Dagoretti South MP, John Kiarie and Kilifi North lawmaker, Own Baya.

While Ichungwah and Baya proposed the insertion of Clauses 19A, 25A, 25B, 26A and 26B  to the bill, Kiarie wanted to amend clause 20 in entirety, proposing that it be replaced by clauses 19A, 19B, 19C, 26b and 26C.

The legislators fronted the establishment of a Political Parties Registration Board and the position of the Chief Executive Officer of the Board. The latter would replace the current Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.

Lawmakers allied to Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula seemed to side with those supporting Uhuru and Raila's handshake.

Sigowet Soin MP Benard Koros pictured bleeding as he holds a handkerchief in Parliament on Wednesday, December 31.
Sigowet Soin MP Benard Koros pictured bleeding as he holds a handkerchief in Parliament on Wednesday, December 31.
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