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Absentee MPs to lose private Bills, motions

Absentee MPs to lose private Bills, motions
National Assembly in session. PHOTO/Print
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Members of the National Assembly risk losing their private Bills if they fail to physically attend Wednesday’s morning sittings when their proposals are scheduled for debate.

Deputy Majority Leader Owen Baya raised concern that MPs were not taking seriously the Wednesday session, which is purposely set aside for Members’ Bills and Motions.

Speaker had to order the bell to be rang three times to raise quorum as the leadership struggled to mobilise Members to avail themselves.

“Members who have business slated for the transaction must come to the House, especially on Wednesday mornings, which we know are for private legislative matters,” the Kilifi North MP said.

He continued: “Members should come to the House to avoid situations where we must step in to do things for them. Sometimes I do not have to be here for Wednesday morning sessions. The Whip does not need to be here to execute Member’s private matters.”

According to him, the leadership have to lobby other colleagues to come to the Chamber to render their support either to Bills, Motions or when casting votes.

The Kilifi North legislator regretted that Members who have sponsored Bills have made life difficult for the leadership when they put them in awkward situations where they have to move around and lobby members, on their behalf, even in situations where they had not requested them to sit in on their behalf.

“I would like to request every Member who has a Motion a Bill or something else that is coming to the House to ensure they come and mobilise their colleagues for support,” he emphasised.

“Yesterday I had to go to the tea area, library the parking bay, and other areas to look for members to raise quorum to save the private members businesses,” Baya lamented.

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