The National Assembly is in limbo after Members of Parliament allied to Deputy President William Ruto rejected the formation of a key committee.
While making remarks after the vote had been taken by the legislators on Tuesday, January 25, Speaker Justin Muturi stated that the Assembly had been paralysed and would not transact any business until the vote on the formation on the House Business Committee is overturned.
The House Business Committee is a critical committee of the house that is mandated to prepare and adjust the parliamentary calendar of the house.
Additionally, the committee decides the order in which reports by various committees are debated before the floor of the House. The committee is comprised of the speaker, leaders of majority and minority parties, and selected MPs.
Until the decision is overturned, the House is limited to hold another debate on the motion as standing orders do not allow debate of a motion that has already been decided for a period of six months.
However, as directed by the Muturi, another motion to overturn the decision made can be tabled in parliament under special circumstances.
“Unless they bring to me a motion in terms of the standing orders number 49 which is the motion on rescission, there may be no need for the house to come.
“Consult among the leaders and see how best to proceed. Otherwise, we will not be able to do any other business,” Muturi stated.
According to Standing Orders number 49, a motion to rescind the decision made will have to be tabled before the floor of the House with the approval of the speaker.
“No motion may be moved which is the same in substance as any question which has been resolved either in the affirmative or in the negative during the preceding six months in the same session.
“Despite the paragraph above, a motion to rescind the decision on such a question may be moved with the permission of the speaker,” read the Standing Order.
If the leadership of the House fails to table a rescinding motion, critical bills such as the Political Parties Amendment Bill will be in jeopardy as the National Assembly is still expected to approve amendments debated by the Senate.
