Supkem, NEP leaders now want MCAs to reject “punguza mzigo” bill

NAIROBI—Supekem and leaders from Nothern Kenya now want local assemblies to reject bid to minimise constituencies. The leaders said move by Dr Okuru Euokot of Third Way Alliance party will disadvantage the locals and the region.

County Assemblies countrywide have started receiving the draft Punguza Mizigo (Constitutional Amendment) Bill, 2019.

The draft Bill was submitted to counties by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) just a day after Ford-Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula termed it “too narrow to justify a referendum on its own.”

Garissa legislator, Aden Duale and his Eldas counterpart Aden Keynan as well as Wajir County Women Representative Fatuma Gedi have called on assemblies to reject the bill saying it was ill-motivated.

Speaking in Garissa last week, Duale said bill was injurious to clan harmony and representation in the North Eastern Kenya.

“We now have 32 members in the legislature. The bill want to reduce that. We call on the assemblies to reject it,” Duale said.

“The clans have now learnt to live harmoniously because of the increased representation,” he added.

Fatuma Gedi rubbished the bill, saying it was not a priority. “ We will lobby the MCA’s to reject it,” she said.

In a consultation gathering at Sir Ali Muslim club on Saturday, Eldas legislator called on Wajir County assembly members to reject the bill saying it proposes only two MPs from Wajir County. 

“We will appeal to the MCA’s to shoot down the bill,” Aden Keynan said.

The regional head of the Supkem, Dr Adan said the orgernisation will rally the people of Nothern Kenya to reject the bill.

As stipulated by law, the assemblies must now consider the draft Bill within the next three months, before Speakers of the devolved units submit their decisions to their counterparts at the National Assembly and Senate.