Legislators in the National Assembly are on lockdown; they are not allowed to travel abroad today and tomorrow.
Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale said this is necessary so as to finally elect EALA MPs.
Kenya’s is the only East African country that has not appointed its representatives to the Arusha based Assembly.
Duale requested Parliament Speaker Justin Muturi to restrict any foreign or local travel until the House elects EALA MPs, form committees and approve the list of commissioners to the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
“Speaker and the clerk, let us make sure we do not allow members to go on foreign and local trips next week [today and tomorrow] so that they have an opportunity to vote. The polling station will be the Chamber and there are 349 voters,” said Duale as reported by the Star.
EALA business has stalled because of lack of quorum. Some of its business cannot be conducted without representation of Kenya’s nine representatives.
Jubilee will give five names while the other four will go to NASA.
Lobbying is quite intense at the moment with former Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua being fronted for the appointment on Jubilee side while Raila Odinga’s elder brother Oburu Odinga is lobbying for the same from the opposition.
Wednesday morning, the House is expected to debate a motion by Nyali MP Mohammed Ali seeking the establishment of a teaching and referral hospital in the Coast region.
The referral hospital will provide sophisticated diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative healthcare.
Another motion to be discussed this morning will be the gazettement of designated picketing areas. The motion is sponsored by Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut.
His motion also seeks the establishment of an athletics remuneration and endowment fund with the intent to pool resources with the aim of rewarding and supporting the country’s sportsmen.
The third motion for the day which is expected to spill over to Thursday morning will be the appointment of members to the Parliamentary Service Commission.
This is one of the most powerful committees of the National Assembly. Serious lobbying has been ongoing.
Duale said appointment of nominees to PSC should be over and done with as soon as possible. “There are a number of issues that deal with members’ welfare and we will be happy if the House concludes its nominees to the PSC so that those and other issues are dealt with before we go on recess.”