February 19, 2015

Summary

101 MPs voted to have John Mbadi (Suba), Silverse Anami (Shinyalu) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) suspended while 52 MPs voted to reject the suspension

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CORD MPs Suspended From Parliament, Governors Stripped Of Titles

Three CORD MPs have been given a four day suspension from the National Assembly owing to their misconduct in December 18, 2014 during the infamous chaos that broke in parliament during the Security Bill debate.

101 MPs voted to have John Mbadi (Suba), Silverse Anami (Shinyalu) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) suspended while 52 MPs voted to reject the suspension.

On the 19th December last year, Kenyans were treated to a bizarre spectacle after MPs turned parliament to a boxing arena during the controversial Security Bill debate, which was later forcefully passed by the speaker of the National Assembly.

MPS APPROVE NEW LAW STRIPPING GOVERNORS OF ‘His Excellency’ TITLE

Kenya governors stripped of ‘His Excellency’ title

The National Assembly has unanimously passed a new protocol law for top government officials in diplomatic, official and social State functions in Kenya and abroad.

The bill seeks to create order in the handling of protocol matters following the establishment of the county government.

Under the new Bill, which was prepared by Eldas MP Adan Keynan, governors have been stripped off the title ‘His Excellency’ and their spouses will no longer be referred by the title ‘First Lady’. The term is now reserved for the President, his deputy, their spouses and former holders of those offices.

The county bosses will now be referred by the title The Governor as opposed to the current practice where they took the title ‘Excellency, The Governor’.

NO SIRENS

Governors together with Cabinet secretaries and the Leader of Majority in the House have also been prohibited from using sirens on their vehicles.

There’s also a clause that restricts governors to flying miniature flags within their counties and another that denies Members of the County Assembly (MCA’s) the title; Mheshimiwa/ ‘Honourable’.

“If you call yourself Honourable and you are not a Member of Parliament you will be fined Sh1 million as a minimum so let them hear and know this Mr Speaker… henceforth they should know they are MCAs, Members of the County Assembly,” said Chris Wamalwa (MP Kiminini).

Anyone who breaches the law will be liable to fines of between Sh1 million and Sh2 million and a jail term of at least one year. The changes made by the legislators to the Order of Precedence Bill, 2014 have been sent to the President for assent.

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