Garissa County assembly has unanimously rejected Dr Ekuru Aukot’s sponsored Punguza Mizigo bill claiming it will erode gains made by 2010 constitution.
In rejecting the bill, the chair of Justice and legal committee Hamdi Ahmed told the assembly Tuesday that what the bill is taking away from Kenyans is ‘much bigger’ than what it offers.
The chair said the bill will encourage clannism in the county because it will not be possible to get one representative for the region in parliament as proposed in the Punguza Mizigo bill.
Hamdi added that the bill was further marginalizing the already underprivileged areas by abolishing nominations slots.
“The bill has enticing clauses, but it is too toxic to be consumed because the reduction of the constituency will lead to more marginalization in underprivileged areas,” she told the house.
Hulugho ward representative Mohamed Adow told the house that the reduction of the presidential terms to 7 years will create irresponsible leaders.
“The bill is taking us back. A president who wins will not bother much because he or she does not stand a chance of being re-elected,” Adow said.
While addressing journalists after rejecting the bill the MCAs who earlier promised to support the bill said they will wait for the Building Bridges Initiatives (BBI) proposals chaired by Garissa Senator Mohamed Yussuf Haji.
Garissa Governor Ali Korane had 2 weeks ago urged the assembly to reject the Aukot’s sponsored bill saying they will gain more from the BBI if their proposal is captured in the final report.
National assembly majority leader and Garissa Township MP Aden Duale had also cautioned the MCAs against passing the bill ‘lest they face the wrath of the community.’
By Tuesday, 21 counties had rejected the bill with Uasin Ngishu, the home tuff of deputy president William Ruto being the only one that approved it.