Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1056390,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1056390/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 82,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following procedural Motion: THAT, noting that the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020, popularly referred to as the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill, was published in the Kenya Gazette on 25th November 2020; whereas the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) submitted the draft Bill between 27th January 2021 and 2nd February 2021 to each of the 47 county assemblies for consideration in accordance with the provisions of Article 257(5) of the Constitution; further whereas as at Tuesday, 2nd March 2021, the draft Bill had been approved by a majority of the county assemblies, therefore meeting the threshold set out in Article 257(7) of the Constitution for introduction in Parliament; cognisant of the provisions of Article 257 of the Constitution requiring Parliament to expedite processing of a draft Bill proposing to amend the Constitution through popular initiative upon meeting the threshold set out in Article 257(7); and further cognisant of the guidelines and communication so far issued by the Speakers of the Houses of Parliament with regard to the processing of a Bill proposing to amend the Constitution through popular initiative, particularly the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 promoted by the BBI. Now, therefore, this House notes the approval of the draft Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 by a majority of the county assemblies and affirms to expeditiously consider the said Bill in keeping with the requirements of Article 257(7) of the Constitution. Hon. Speaker, allow me first of all to clearly state that the intention of this Motion is obviously not to debate the content of the BBI Report or even the BBI draft Bill, if we refer to it as such, in terms of its merits and demerits. Instead, this Motion seeks to facilitate debate by the House in terms of the process of how we consider the Bill so that we speak in one voice as a House, especially on matters that are not currently covered in the Standing Orders or by law and yet will be critical at this stage. We need to be in tandem with the requirements of the Constitution that such a Bill shall be introduced without delay. Most importantly, we need to process it without delay so that it can then go to the people of Kenya. In any case, we cannot debate a Bill that has not been introduced in the House. It will be introduced through the next Order. I also want to remind Members that in November last year, I did table in this House the full BBI Report. I would like to urge Members that even as we prepare to debate this Bill, it would be important for them to read the full Report so that you can put issues into proper context. The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill is only a small part of the entire Report. Hon. Speaker, I was honoured together with Hon. Muturi Kigano, Hon. Junet Mohamed and Sen. Orengo to be part of what was referred to as an “editorial team” that reviewed and fine- tuned the constitutional amendment Bill within the Report to come up with what we now have as the one taken to the IEBC. I am sure that either of those people will be at hand to respond to any issue Members may have in terms of why some things are in while others are not. I thank the promoters for giving us that opportunity. Hon. Speaker, as you have explained in your Communication, the House is aware that our Standing Orders only provide for Bills that have come through Committees or Parliamentary The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}