National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has accused his Senate counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen of allegedly peddling lies on Health Amendment Bill of 2018.
On Monday, President Uhuru Kenyatta assented into law the bill. Ironically, despite Murkomen raising procedural issues, he was among those in State House with Speaker Kenneth Lusaka when Uhuru signed it.
The Bill now an Act of Parliament amends various laws among them the Pharmacy and Poisons Act Cap.244, the Nutritionists and Dieticians Act, 2007, the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act Cap 253, the Nurses Act Cap. 252, the Kenya Medical Training College Act Cap. 261 and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority Act, 2013.
On social media, Duale dismissed Murkomen’s argument that the Bill should have passed through Senate before being signed into law. He also said that Senate should only focus on laws affecting the county.
“To my utter shock the Leader of Majority Party of the Senate, Senator Murkomen has been reported arguing that the Act was passed unprocedurally as it was never considered by the Senate as required by the Constitution. Never mind yesterday media was awash with pictures of Senator Murkomen standing next to the President assenting to the same Bill which he is now challenging how it was processed by the National Assembly.
“This is pure hypocrisy and one which requires to be treated with contempt!It is also worrying that such comments are coming from Senator Murkomen who is an advocate of the High Court,” argued Duale.
To my utter shock the Leader of Majority Party of the Senate, Senator @Murkomen has been reported arguing that the Act was passed unprocedurally as it was never considered by the Senate as required by the Constitution.
— Hon. Aden Duale (@HonAdenDuale) May 14, 2019
Never mind yesterday media was awash with pictures of Senator @kipmurkomen standing next to the President assenting to the same Bill which he is now challenging how it was processed by the @NAssemblyKE. This is pure hypocrisy and one which requires to be treated with contempt! pic.twitter.com/5aKfe3btxX
— Hon. Aden Duale (@HonAdenDuale) May 14, 2019
It is even sad that Senator @Murkomen does not seem to remember or rather is faking amnesia on the requirements of Article 110(3) of the Constitution which provides that it is only the two Speakers of Parliament that can resolve the question of what is the nature of a Bill.
— Hon. Aden Duale (@HonAdenDuale) May 14, 2019
Why did Senator @kipmurkomen wait until the Bill is assented to raise concerns on the nature of the Bill? Did he ever raise his concerns with his Speaker?
— Hon. Aden Duale (@HonAdenDuale) May 14, 2019
