Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leader Raila Odinga addresses
journalists at Okoa Kenya offices in Langata, Nairobi, on October 28,
2015. Cord has challenged in a Nairobi court President Uhuru Kenyatta’s
powers to reject Bills from Parliament. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION
MEDIA GROUP
Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) has challenged in a
Nairobi court President Uhuru Kenyatta’s powers to reject Bills from
Parliament.
Cord cited nine Bills it claims the President had interfered with by usurping the roles of the National Assembly and the Senate.
“What
we want is a declaration that the President’s role is limited to making
reservations, but not sharing legislative duties through his own
amendments or insertion of fresh clauses to what has been passed by
Parliament,” said lawyer Anthony Oluoch, representing Cord.
One
of their concerns is the rejection of the Retirement Bill to give
millions of shillings in pensions to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga
and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.
According to
Cord, the President abused his powers by rejecting the Bill and
proposing amendments to prevent the two from receiving their pensions.
“The
President’s proposed amendments went beyond his powers, were an
invasion of powers of the National Assembly and a breach of the doctrine
of separation of powers,” said Mr Oluoch.
He said that
the proposals by the President were against the rights of Kenyans to
enjoy their retirement benefits, and a limitation of rights of
individuals seeking to hold political offices.
Cord, he
added, had taken up the issue with National Assembly Speaker Justin
Muturi, but he ruled that the President is not prohibited from making
his reservations or recommending proposals.
Cord
leaders are also claiming that the President illegally changed some
clauses in the 2014 Public Audit Bill and proposed recommendations that
go beyond his mandate.
No comments :
Post a Comment