Parliament to hold urgent Friday sitting to handle priority business, mediated bills

Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro stated that the session will cover critical bills, including the Sugar Bill, Water Bill, and the Division of Revenue Bill, as well as other pressing business before the House recess. 

While moving the motion, Osoro informed the house that there are several pending business matters that require the members' attention.

"The rationale for the house to change its calendar stems from the fact that we need to recover the time of the house on Mazingira Day and when we suspended the house for public participation in the impeachment of the Deputy President." He said.

"Its also due to urgency to conclude certain priority bills before the house before we proceed to recess like Sugar bill, Water and Division of revenue bill, and then there is also need to provide for the house to consider any other business that may arise that may require expedited consideration."

The decision to alter the schedule also reflects the need to recover time lost during Mazingira Day and the public participation process for the Deputy President’s impeachment. 

With the Senate set to vote on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment, the Assembly is likely to convene on Friday to approve a new nominee, should the impeachment pass.

It's expected that as soon as the Senate votes to impeach Gachagua, he will immediately be degazzated before a new nominee is gazzetted. 

Meanwhile, the besieged Deputy President awaits his date with fate as Senate embarks on hearing and determining the ouster motion. 

This comes after the High Court in Nairobi on Tuesday refused to prevent the Senate from hearing the impeachment motion against the embattled DP.

A three-judge bench on Wednesday declined to issue conservatory orders stopping the impeachment trial of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at the Senate. 

Judges Erick Ogolla, Antony Mrima and Frida Mugambi said Gachagua would not suffer any prejudice if the Senate proceeded with the impeachment motion.

While declining to grant him the orders, the bench said that Gachagua's case would not be lost as he could move to court to challenge the outcome. 

"Petition will not be lost, the court can still adjudicate the outcome of the parliament process," noted the judges.