MPs vote to retain August 2017 General Election date

The National Assembly in session. FILE PHOTO | 

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By JOHN NJAGI
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Kenyans can expect to head to the 2017 elections in August as contemplated in the Constitution.

This is after MPs rejected a Bill that would have changed the date to December.

 Despite the MPs having passed another constitutional amendment Bill to transfer the Equalisation Fund from the counties to the constituencies — by garnering the required two thirds majority — the numbers fell below moments later, defeating the second Bill.

MPs from marginalised regions celebrated, as the billions of shillings in the Equalisation fund will now be handled by them.

The MPs will now have a say on which projects will get priority, away from the governors.

ELECTION DATE

However, the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill No. 01 of 2015, to change the election date, suffered a blow.

The Bill, sponsored by Ugenya MP Mr David Ochieng, failed to meet the required two thirds.

It managing 216 votes, 17 short of the required majority, with 24 voting against it and four abstaining.

The Bill on the transfer of the Equalisation Fund, which was set aside in the Constitution to benefit marginalised counties, was sponsored by Samburu West MP Mr Lati Lelelit.

246 MPs voted Ayes, and only two voted Nay, leading to passage of the Bill, well above the 233 majority required.

Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi said the Bill, which led to the first amendment of the Constitution voted for by Kenyans in 2010, would be forwarded to the Senate for consideration.