Feb, 2nd 2021 – Kisumu county Assembly will later this afternoon hold a special sitting for the tabling of the draft bill on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) on constitution amendments.
The special sitting has already been gazetted by the assembly ahead of the 2.45 pm sitting. According to the notice, “Pursuant to standing orders of the Kisumu county assembly, it is notified for information of members of the county assembly and the general public that the assembly shall have a special sitting on Tuesday at the assembly chambers.”
Kisumu County will be the first to table the bill after it was released by the IEBC following the verification of signatures. The BBI bill will need the support of at least 24 county assemblies to move to the next step of parliament and thereafter a referendum exercise.
In the notice signed by Speaker Elisha Oraro, it further stated that, “Business to transact shall be tabling of the Draft on BBI report on constitutional amendments.” In the notice, the assembly also invited residents to attend public participation forums in all the six subcounties or rather submit a memoranda containing their views on the Bill. The memoranda was to be submitted to the office of the clerk before Tuesday.
According to the advert signed by the assembly clerk, it read, “Article 196 (1) (b) of the Constitution read together with section 87 of the County Governments Act and Standing Order 129 (3) provides for public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of the assembly and its committees.”
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said that the speakers of the assemblies will be required to submit to the decision to speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate within three months of the date of the IEBC letter.