Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka has asked his National Assembly counterpart Justin Muturi to stand down a government bill that is allegedly watering down its mandate and functions as outlined in the Constitution.

Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings after holding the Senate Business Committee meeting, a top decision-making organ of the House, Lusaka said the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill 2022 currently before the National Assembly, seeks to take away some of the roles of the Senate.

According to Lusaka, the bill sponsored by the National Assembly Leader of Majority Amos Kimunya seeks to, among other changes, stop constitutional commissions and independent offices from reporting to the Senate. Mandates “We are concerned.

For example, in a proposed amendment to Section 38 of the Judicial Service Commission, the miscellaneous amendment seeks to align that the reportage only goes to the National Assembly leaving out the Senate.

“Even the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), which is supposed to submit a report to both the Senate and the National Assembly. The current Amendment says it only goes to the National Assembly,” he added.

Lusaka accused the Executive of gradually chipping away through legislative and other means, the mandate and functions conferred to the Senate.