Kenyan MPs introduce bill to make it harder to catch absentee lawmakers

Makini · 2015-10-14T06:34:38+00:00

Barely days after suggesting additions to their retirement package including tax free monthly stipends (Sh100,000) and psychiatric services, Kenyan legislators are at it again. This time round, MPs have launched a fresh attempt to entrench absenteeism in the august House and make it more difficult for truant MPs to lose their seats. The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No 5) Bill, 2015 to be introduced in the House this afternoon seeks to amend Article 103 of the Constitution, which defines the circumstances under which MPs can lose their seats. It says a member risks losing his/her seat if they miss eight sittings without permission in writing from the Speaker. LACK OF QUORUM According to the proposed amendment, a member risks losing a seat if he or she does not attend eight consecutive sittings. "The bill seeks to amend Article 103 of the Constitution so as to prevent the office of a Member of Parliament from becoming vacant for failure to attend eight sittings of the relevant House during any session of Parliament. The bill proposes to introduce the aspect of eight consecutive sittings meaning that a member who is absent for eight sequential sittings loses his/her seat," reads the bill. The proposal, sponsored by Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, is likely to be popular with MPs who have in the past argued that their work is not confined to debates in the House, as they also conduct other House business such as their committee roles. But yesterday, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi complained that some House committees could not raise quorum to adopt reports. Members have often argued that committee work takes up a large portion of parliamentary business and their absence from the House should not be taken to mean that they are idle. This argument is captured in the new bill. "This is in recognition of the fact that the role of the National Assembly and the Senate includes representation, legislation and oversight. Further that these roles can be discharged either in the chamber, in committees or anywhere else in or out of the country," states Mr Gumbo in is bill. But this excuse has led to the incessant lack of quorum in the House, sometimes leading to premature adjournments. standard digital

Thread starter Makini
Start date Oct 14, 2015

Makini

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Kenyan MPs introduce bill to make it harder to catch absentee lawmakers

Makini

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