The Busia County Assembly has kick-started the process of passing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2020.
This follows the tabling of the draft bill on Thursday hence paving way for public participation that commences on February 9, 2021.
Nominated Member of the County Assembly Florence Ologi (ODM) tabled the bill after which the Deputy Speaker referred it to the Legal and Human Rights Committee to commence the public participation process.
During the tabling of the Bill, Ologi, who is also the vice chair Legal and Human Rights Committee said her party leadership took them through the draft bill in Nairobi on Tuesday and they saw no anomaly in the document.
The committee chairman David Kokonya said the draft bill is a public document hence the public must be given a chance to make informed opinion.
Although he noted that the bill cannot be subjected to amendments, he said the public views shall help the MCAs to debate the bill before it is subjected to a vote on the floor of the County Assembly.
The Members of the County Assembly present during the tabling of the Bill said they are ready to move all over the county to enlighten those they represent.
Angurai South Ward representative Grace Olita said she will hit the road to sensitise residents on why the document is pro-devolution, noting that more resources will trickle into counties.
Her Nangina Ward counterpart John Obwogo said they are ready to go to the grassroots and enlighten county residents on the contents of the draft bill to enable them make informed decision.
In an advert in the daily newspapers, the assembly has invited residents to either submit memoranda containing their views on the Bill or attend public participation forums in all the seven sub-counties of Busia.
Public participation hearing will run from February 9 to 12. On February 9, the exercise will be held in Port Victoria, Town Hall and Funyula CDF Hall. On February 10 it will move to Butula Family Life Hall and Nambale DCC’s Office. The next day it will move to Teso South and Teso North DCC offices. Matayos will host the last meeting on February 12 at
Busia Agricultural Training Centre.
by Melechezedeck Ejakait/Maureen Kwena
