By SAMUEL KARANJA
In Summary
- The motion on dissolution of the Senate is expected to be introduced to parliament by Mr Kang’ata who ironically is from the same county and constituency as Mr Gitura.
The Deputy Senate Speaker Mr Kembi Gitura has
strongly condemned the move by members of the National Assembly to scrap
the senate.
He termed efforts by Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata to
table a motion that seeks to dissolve the senate as ‘ignorant’ and
contrary to the constitution.
The Murang’a County senator said the Senate was a
creation of the constitution and was the gate keeper in ensuring
devolution succeeded.
“Anyone who wants to do away with the senate is
acting out of ignorance and must properly read article 96 (1) on
devolution,” said Mr Gitura while speaking at a prize giving ceremony at
Kiaguthu Boys High School on Sunday.
The motion on dissolution of the Senate is
expected to be introduced to parliament by Mr Kang’ata who ironically is
from the same county and constituency as Mr Gitura.
The Deputy Speaker who laughed off the move by MPs
said the Senate had a role to stand up to the rights of the Counties
and had an over sight role over the devolved units.
“It would require a referendum to scrap the Senate
as the constitution states, and that would be a hard task to convince
Kenyans to vote for the scraping of the senate,” he added.
Mr Gitura also denounced the passing of the
Revenue Bill by the National Assembly which ignored amendments that the
senate had made.
He termed the move as an act in futility adding that if the bill is assented to as it is, that would be unconstitutional.
He advised that if the input by the Senate would
be ignored, then the Speaker of the National Assembly was supposed to
come out clear on the issue and create a mediation committee to re-look
at the bill again and come up with a way forward.
And commenting on the supremacy battle between
senate and the National Assembly, the Deputy Senate Speaker denied there
was a tussle but said every elected leader should understand their
position and duties.
“There is no supremacy battle between the two
houses and even if there was, all leaders ought to understand their
roles,” said Mr Gitura
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