SPEAKER JB MUTURI BEATEN BY ODM

The National Assembly Speaker, Justin Muturi, has cancelled the Special Sitting for Members of Parliament scheduled for Wednesday, July 13.

In a statement, Muturi explained that he arrived at the decision to allow for more consultations with the Executive.

The NA speaker made the statements hours after the ODM brigade stated that they would miss the sitting, claiming that it was illegal.

“In the circumstances, therefore, I am compelled to call off the Special Sittings to allow consultations by the Executive.

In light of the foregoing, this is to notify you that the Special Sittings of the House that were scheduled to be held tomorrow, Wednesday, July 13, 2022, stand cancelled. Any inconvenience caused to the House and the Members is highly regrettable,” read the statement in part.

Further, he explained that the sitting was not gazetted on time because of a mechanical hitch at the government printer.

“I hence instructed the Clerk of the National Assembly to cause the publication of the procedural notifications in the Gazette and make other necessary arrangements to facilitate the special sittings of the House.

“However, as at 2:30 pm today, the Government Printer had not, for unknown reasons, published the Gazette Notice. Standing Order 38 requires the publication of the Order Paper showing the business proposed to be transacted by the House at least twelve hours before the House meets. The publication of an Order Paper for a Special Sitting of the House follows the publication of the Gazette Notice for the particular sitting,” read Muturi’s statement in part.

The ODM brigade led by Suna East MP, Junet Mohamed, had called on its members to boycott the sitting calling it unprocedural and illegal given that the gazette notice had not been published.

Earlier, Junet had accused the Muturi of being used by Deputy President William Ruto to sneak in the replacement of the NA clerk during the sitting.

The Minority Whip claimed that Ruto allies wanted to find a favourable candidate who will help push their agenda after the August 9 polls.

MPs were expected to debate the contetious Huduma Bill which was set for its Third Reading.