The Information Committee in the national parliament has said they have extended the parliament recess session to the first week of March while appealing to the justice ministry and cabinet to pass the bills at their disposal so that the assembly can resume its business.
The chairperson of the committee John Agany told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the extension is to allow some of the bills passed by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and the council of ministers to reach them (assembly).
“You know the recess is almost three months. But this recess is very exceptional simply because of the urgency of the bills presented by the agreement,” John Agany said. “So, proportionally, it was said to be one month recess, but later on since the bills are not yet in the compound of the assembly, we’re still waiting from the executive. The recess is still extended up to the first week of March.”
On January 17, members of the national assembly extended their recess which was to end on 15 January, till further notice, citing delays by the National Constitution Amendment Committee (NCAC) to table outstanding bills for deliberation, a claim denied by NCAC chairperson Gichira Kibara. Kibara said NCAC has submitted several bills that are yet to be passed by either the cabinet or the legislature.
According to chapter one of the peace agreement, NCAC has been tasked to review and complete amendments to relevant legislation to be incorporated into the agreement. These include The SPLA Act 2009; National security Act 2014, the Police Service Act, 2009, the Prison Service Act 2011, and the Wildlife Service Act, among others.