BY SHADRACK NYAKOE
Nairobi MCAs have rejected the Punguza Mzigo bill saying it does not meet constitutional standards such as the two thirds gender rule.
On Tuesday afternoon, the bill was tabled for debate by Parklands MCA Jayendra Malde.
Malde is the chairperson of the Legal and Justice Committee.
Majority leader Abdi Guyo said the bill is “unconstitutional”.
The MCAs said they are against the reduction of wards.
Roysambu MCA Peter Warutere said the bill does not allow for amendments.
Warutere said representation in the Bill is poor.
He said there is no way a whole County can have only two representatives.
“The Bill says a male and female to represent the whole county in the National Assembly. There is no way only two people can represent millions in a county,” he said.
Mugumo-Ini MCA Jared Akama said the sponsor of the bill Ekuru Aukot has personal interests.
“This Bill abolishes the position of the Deputy Governor. However, it should have provided for the Deputy Governor to be female to achieve the two third gender rule,” Akama said.
He said that there could be a crisis in the Counties where Governors who have died in office and by-elections conducted to fill their positions.
Akama said he is opposed to the bill since it addresses the taxpayer as Punda (donkey) while the Constitutional Amendment 2010 referred to Kenyans as Wanjiku.
What Dr Ekuru Aukots Punguza Mzigo bill seeks to achieve
Aukots Punguza Mizigo Campaign proposes to amend the Constitution of Kenya 2010 under the popular initiative as envisioned in Article 257.
He wants to reduce cost of running Parliament from current kshs 36.8 billion to kshs 5 billion per year.
This saves tax payer’s kshs 31.8 billion.
Address over representation and reduce number of MP’s from the current 416 to 147.
Use the 47 counties as single constituency unit for purposes of Parliamentary elections to Senate and National Assembly.
End historical gender inequality and ensure that Kenyans elect one man and one woman from each of the 47 counties into the National Assembly.
The third Way alliance is also seeking to abolish nominations in county Assemblies and Senate and elevate Senate to be an upper house with veto powers.