Parliament in session. The MPs had earlier rejected proposed changes to the Public Benefit Organisations. FILE
MPs on Wednesday threw out the Statute Law Miscellaneous (Amendment) Bill, 2013 which contains changes to various laws.
The MPs had earlier rejected proposed changes to the Public Benefit Organisations, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the National Police Service Acts.
The legislators voted against the Bill after majority leader Aden Duale marshalled MPs to force a physical vote. MPs had voted to reject the Bill through acclamation.
When the division was called, eight MPs abstained, 73 supported while 83 voted against the Bill.
The omni-bus legislation which contained 49 amendments to various Statutes was lost and can’t proceed to the committee stage. The Bill can only be republished and reintroduced after six months.
Earlier, Mr Duale said amendments touching on the appointment of the Inspector General of police and his two deputies and those seeking to alter the membership of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) would be withdrawn at the Committee of the Whole House stage, where MPs scrutinise each section of the Bill.
A number of MPs both from the minority party Cord and majority Jubilee Coalition criticised the drafters of the Bill and warned that if passed the proposed law could reverse gains made in the country.
“I am shocked and perturbed by what the Attorney General has proposed in this law. I do not understand why Prof Githu Muigai who is schooled in law could bring such amendments that are clearly unconstitutional,” said John Mbadi, the MP for Suba.
Risk suffocation
Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando rejected the proposed amendments targeting the Public Benefit Organisations Act that limits funding from foreign donors to NGOs to 15 per cent.
“If we cap the money received by these organisations, then we risk suffocating them and those people who entirely depend on them for survival,” he said.
Prof Muigai had proposed amendments to convert SRC from a part time to full time commission. But MPs opposed the proposed changes.
The legislators also criticised the proposed amendments to the National Police Service Act to remove a clear provision requiring compliance to the one-third gender rule.
Deputy minority leader Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem) said the changes were targeted at removing Ms Grace Kaindi, the deputy Inspector General-Kenya Police.
“Why would somebody want to remove Ms Kaindi who has done her job professionally? Is it that she did not kill anyone during the 2007/2008 post-election skirmishes?” he asked.
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