The MPs made the decision so as to fast-track the BBI process and to pressure counties to expedite the debates despite the local assemblies arguing that they have 90 days to pass or reject the BBI proposal.
The Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) in a joint meeting with Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) said there was a need to reduce debating time to a month.
The joint committee also presented amendments of the BBI that will expunge some detailed procedures on how county assemblies process the bill.
“The amendments seek to remove detailed procedures on how the county assemblies process a bill, to amend the Constitution under the popular initiative (article 257). It was agreed that the Bill should be processes under the County Assemblies Standing Orders and the provisions in the Referendum bill.
The amendments also propose to reduce the period within which a county assembly must consider the Bill to 30 days,†read the amendment.
This came at a time when seven counties officially passed the proposal with Nairobi County Assembly holding its public participation exercise on Wednesday, 17 February at Charter Hall, Nairobi.
While county assemblies were deciding on the Bill, the National Assembly advised the JLAC’s bill be debated into conclusion and that the CIOC’s bill is kept on standby should it be rejected.
MP Muturi Kigano who also chairs the JLAC said he expected the amendments to be implemented immediately if adopted by the Parliament.
“You know, we do not have a referendum law in this country so we hope these changes will take effect as soon as possible. As of now, the assemblies are using the laws we have in place to guide them on the Bill,†he said.
The committees also agreed not to give IEBC the authority to govern how the referendum is done claiming it would only delay the passage of the Bill.
“The amendment seeks to set reasonable timelines for filing and hearing of referendum petitions at the High Court cognizant of the fact that time is an essential resource,†read the document.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
