No amendments to IEBC report, Duale tells Jubilee MPs

National Assembly Majority Leader, Aden Duale, has called on Jubilee Members of Parliament to desist from proposing amendments to the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee report on IEBC reforms.

Addressing the press on Thursday, Duale said that the report is as a result of consultations between Jubilee and Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) adding that amending clauses in the report may lead to its mutilation.

“To mutilate the report on the floor of the House is to negate the principle and reasons for establishing the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee on IEBC. This report is a negotiated document and must be passed as it is,” said Duale.

Duale stated that the move by MPs on Wednesday to amend a clause that prohibits politicians from hoping to other parties after missing nomination tickets in their parties was in defiance of both CORD and Jubilee leaders, saying such cases may set precedence for demands for further amendments.

“We have asked the Speaker to make a ruling on the proceedings yesterday (Wednesday) and whether the duly outlined process in the standing order was followed.”

“We have communicated to our members that the report should not be amended. No coma or full stop should be removed or added. We have instructions from our party leaders that the report shouldn’t be amended.”

Duale told off MPs who are keen to defect to other parties after nominations saying anyone who is not firmly rooted in a party should leave now and campaign as an independent candidate.

“As Jubilee, we will not and do not entertain party hopping. If you feel nominations will be rigged, decided to be an independent candidate, move to PNU or Mashinani party. We must not be dishonest as MPs.”

He stated that the motion by Kisumu Town West MP, John Olago Aluoch, to prevent aspirants from defecting to other parties after losing out in nominations is misplaced, saying Jubilee is opposed to party hopping.

The Majority Leader said that it is upon Kenyans to decide whether there will be party hopping or not, adding that even in executing their mandate, MPs should be considerate to due processes and the House Standing Orders.

Duale further noted that there was need to move with speed in passing the report to allow its adoption before the National Assembly goes on recess.

“If the report is passed as it is, I will sign it tomorrow and have them published by the weekend. On Tuesday, I will move to reduce the period of publication so that we have it passed by Thursday. We are working on a strict deadline.”

Majority Whip, Katoo Ole Metito, in his address called on MPs to ape the conduct of the Senate in passing the report without amendments saying any amendments will be effected later.

“We will recommend that the select committee finds a way of accommodating the feeling of those who insist on party hopping to save the report from further mutilation.”

On Wednesday, MPs ‘ganged up’ to amend the clause that would have prohibited them from moving to other parties after missing out on nominations.

The report, drafted following negotiations between Jubilee team led by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and CORD team led by Siaya Senator James Orengo, recommends the cleaning of voter register, adoption of an electronic voting system and the selection of a nine-member panel to pick the next IEBC commissioners.

It also recommends the formation of a new IEBC commission, with seven members by September 30, 2016, and the publishing of aspirants names 21 days before nominations and barring of nominations from running as independent candidates or moving to other parties.