MPs raise querries over illiegal insertion of clauses to Bil

MPs have raised the red flag over the insertion of new clauses in the Elections Act that were not subject to parliamentary approval.Garsen MP Danson Mungatana raised the matter with the House claiming that public officers at the Government Printer were colluding with officials of parliament to insert illegal clauses in the Bill that was passed among others during the rush to beet the constitutional deadlines of August 26, this year. The words Deputy President had been inserted in some clause that did not contain the sameMr Mungatana said a number of clauses in the Elections Act had been changed and asked Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim to order a fresh scrutiny on all the 8 bills that were passed hurriedly approved to meet the constitutional requirements.He said parliament must conduct a thorough scrutiny on the bills in line with the hansard reports that followed the amendments of the bill before being directed to the Attorney General for onward transmission to the President for assent and the government printer for publication.Gichugu MP Martha Karua supported Mungatana said that a clause that had been amended to block public officers who flout the Elections Law from holding public office for a period of ten years in addition to three year imprisonment had been removed.She called on the Speaker for order a thorough probe on the illegal amendments and bring culprits to account. Karua Kisumu town West MP Olago Alouch reinforced the matter saying that the integrity of parliament was at stake.Mr Maalim said the matter will be looked at and a communication issued on Thursday.