Tough deadline for NASA
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Mr. Lusaka instructed the legislators to submit names of their members to various House committees by November 20.
NASA leaders have been adamant to appoint members to the various House Committees claiming that Parliament was illegally constituted.
“We will not be part of any parliamentary proceedings and House committees as the House currently constituted is full of illegalities and is a Jubilee parliament,” NASA Principal Moses Wetangula said.
On Friday, November 3, 2017, however, Mr. Lusaka noted that the current situation had created sharp divisions in the House.
“Let’s start a dialogue in the Houses because that is why Parliament is there in the first place. Let the minority side bring their issues for debate because we shall have failed if we don’t seize the moment and address the issues; after all, we are all Kenyans.
“The executive can have its own efforts but that does not mean that as Parliament we cannot proceed to deal with the matter," Lusaka said.
The Speaker highlighted that though he received a letter from NASA asking for an extension until November 31, to submit the names of its leadership and names to House committees, he did not agree with the proposal.
“I have received the letter but to say the least November 31 is far off and I can say I will not accept this. There are lots of pending issues which, as a House, we must deal with. Already it is long overdue and we can’t wait longer,” Lusaka was quoted by the Nation.
In September, NASA MPs and Senators snubbed the opening of the 12th Parliament stating that President Uhuru Kenyatta could not legally hold the ceremony.
This came days after the presidential results for the August 8 General Election was nullified by the Supreme Court.
The Opposition is also expected to table names of minority leader, deputy minority leader, opposition whip and deputy whip.
The current committees include Administration and National Security; Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives; Defence and Foreign Relations; and Education.
Others are Energy, Communication, and Information; Environment and Natural Resources; Health; Justice and Legal Affairs as well as Labour and Social Welfare.