52 Senators Vote in Support of BBI Bill

President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga allies on Tuesday passed the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (BBI) in the senate.

52 of the 67 senators voted in favour of the bill with only 12 voting No.

One senator abstained from the vote while two did not participate.

The debate resumed after three weeks of debate characterized by calls to amend the document.

Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, however, ruled out amendments to the Bill, saying members will either vote for the Bill as a whole and not a particular clause.

Senators, Lusaka said, will either vote yes, no or abstain.

Read: Here’s How MPs Voted on the Constitution Amendment Bill (BBI)

On the typographical errors, Lusaka said speakers of both Houses of Parliament will correct the same before the document is taken to the president.

“I therefore rule, in respect to the specific question asked, that, no amendments may be made to the provisions of a Bill to amend the Constitution by way of popular initiative in the Senate. The Senate has the option of either passing or rejecting the Bill in toto in accordance with Article 257(8) of the Constitution,” Lusaka said.

“Following from these findings, I declined to approve the notices of proposed amendments to the Bill at the Committee Stage submitted to my office.”

Senators Moses Wetangula (Bungoma), George Khaniri (Vihiga), Petronilla Were (nominated), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), (Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Mithika Linturi (Meru) and Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi), had sought to change the document arguing that Parliament’s role cannot be ceremonial.

Last week, 235 MPs voted in support of the Bill.

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