Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula has made it clear that he will vote in support of the Building Bridges Initiative bill when the Senate vote on the Bill next week.
This is despite the fact the vocal senator tore into the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2020 and called for radical amendments to realign several provisions.
The former Senate leader of minority said that he criticized the bill since it was his duty as a legislator but he will vote YES in what appears to be his party’s position.
“It appears to me that that many don’t understand the different between a critic on a bill and opposing a bill. Pointing out shortcoming in a bill like I did on the BBI bill is a legislator’s duty. I will vote yes for the bill. It’s my Ford Kenya’s party position,” Wetang’ula said.
The Justice and Legal Affair Committee of the National Assembly had revealed that the BBI Bill had several errors.
The BBI promoters had ordered their members to pass the faulty document that seeking to amend the Kenyan Constitution 2010 in its entirety.
Speaking during the debate on the Bill in the Senate Chambers on Tuesday, May 4, Wetang’ula said that the provisions are a clawback and should be changed by parliament to realign them to the Constitution.
“That is why I don’t agree with proponents that we cannot amend this, Bill. If you read articles 257 to the latter, nothing ousts the authority of parliament to amend any bill, including a bill such as this he said,” he said.
Wetang’ula, who is a principal in One Kenya Alliance took issues with the second schedule of the Bill that creates 70 constituencies, the creation of a Judiciary Ombudsman, scrapping of 47 Woman rep positions in the National Assembly, and creation of youth Commission.
‘‘I don’t understand why we are creating a Youth Commission. We have so many laws that govern our youth. Kenya must learn to understand that youth is neither a disadvantage nor a disability. It’s a state in human life,” Wetang’ula said.