Livestock Bill 2024 shelved as Parliament calls for more public sensitisation

Parliament has withdrawn consideration of the Livestock Bill, 2024, which sought to revitalize and provide an enabling environment for unregulated value chains in livestock sector industries in Kenya.

Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah announced the development on Thursday, explaining that Parliament had opted to postpone the Bill’s first reading, in favour of sending it back to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development for public sensitization.

According to Ichung’wah, if the public is not adequately informed about the legislation, they might strongly oppose it, similar to the recently withdrawn Finance Bill 2024.

“When people read things and interpret them in their own way, they can misinform the public and use the publications to incite them. Misinformation and disinformation are being peddled online about this livestock bill and I have engaged the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock Development,” he said.  

“They have clarified on several things but we have asked them to engage all stakeholders so that they get to understand the policies before the bill comes to us for consideration.”

Ichung’wah likewise urged ministries to take full ownership of any proposed legislation they submit to Parliament, criticizing them for proposing laws and abandoning them, which forces legislators to deal with public backlash when such bills are poorly received.

“We want the Ministries, in line with what President William Ruto said, to take ownership of communications within their departments so that parliament does not bear the brunt of all proposed brought before the House,” he said.

“Courts have been nullifying proposed bills citing further public participation. Ministries should sensitise the public on each clause in that Bill and their meaning before sending them back to us for further consideration.”