Editor's Review

MPs allied to DP Ruto have opposed the proposed changes in the Political Parties Amendment Bill, 2021.

Eight MPs allied to Deputy President William Ruto staged drama at parliament after they walked out of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee meeting in protest of the inclusion of non-parliamentarian parties.

Led by Garissa Township MP Aden Duale and his Kandara counterpart Alice Wahome, the leaders said their invite to the meeting did not indicate that non-parliamentarians will be present.

Other MPs who walked out of the meeting include Kipkelion East MP Joseph Limo, Didmus Barasa( Kimilili), Owen Baya (Kilifi North),  Daniel Tuitoek (Mogotio), Kimani ichung'wa(Kikuyu) and John Mutunga (Tigania West).

MP Limo reportedly left the meeting after being denied a chance to speak.

The rest walked out in protest of the presence of non-parliamentarians members.

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Among the parties that attended the meeting that was to deliberate on the Political Parties Amendment Bill, 2021, includes the Registrar of Political Parties, the chairperson of the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal among other interested parties.

“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," MP Wahome told the Star.

"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.

Ichung'wa on his part said; " We were opposed to the involvement of the other stakeholders because it was an attempt to sanitize the lack of public participation. It is true parliament did advertise, members of the public did send their memorandum but they were not considered by the committee".

Kangema MP Muturi Kigano, who chaired the meeting, had ruled that the non-parliamentarian stakeholders had a right to stay at the meeting without contributing.

The meeting was set to have MPs with amendments to make their case and have them harmonized ahead of a special setting on Wednesday where the bill will be debated on.

MPs allied to the DP have expressed their opposition against the bill saying it waters down democratic gains the country has achieved.