Africa-Press – Kenya. The National Assembly on Thursday preceded on recess until July 25 after a busy week for House committees.
The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee held a meeting with Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) over proposals to amend several laws to abolish the death penalty.
Wandayi’s proposals include the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to amend the Penal Code, Cap 63; Sections 40 (3), 60, 204, 296 and 297 by deleting the word “death” and substituting with “life imprisonment.
“Abolishing the death penalty will help to preserve the fundamental right to life under Article 26 of the Constitution and put an end to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment of condemned persons, occasioned by the enforcement of the death penalty,” Wandayi told the George Murugara-led committee.
Another proposal is the Prisons (Amendment) Bill, 2023 whose principal object is to amend the Prisons Act, Cap 90.
It seeks to abolish the death penalty and how the death penalty is executed.
The Bill cites Section 69 of Cap 90 of the Laws of Kenya, which states that when a person is sentenced to death, he shall be hanged by the neck until he is dead.
Wandayi has also sponsored the Legal Aid (Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeking to amend the Legal Aid Act, No. 6 of 2016.
The Bill proposes to amend Section 43 by deleting subsection 4 of the Legal Aid Act, which provides for the provision of legal representation for accused persons charged with offences punishable by death.
During the week, the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds held a meeting with the Governors of Makueni (Mutula Kilonzo), Homa Bay (Gladys Wanga) and Marsabit (Mohamud Mohamed Ali).
The discussions revolved around the affairs of water and sanitation companies, including the review of the Auditor General’s Reports on Financial Statements for the years 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21.
The Committee identified crosscutting issues including unclear ownership of the companies, zero revenue from water and negative working capital.
At the same time, it emerged that security agencies could have ignored the activities of Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s Goodnews International Church in Shakahola.
Senate Adhoc Committee on the Proliferation of Religious Organisations, which is investigating the Shakahola deaths, was told information on the activities of the church was available to security agencies.
“The state knew all about it because there was information but they either opted for silence or ignored the information altogether,” the chair of Nyumba Kumi committee Salim Ndemo said.
Meanwhile, Kenya Disability Parliamentary Association (KEDIPA) expressed concerns over the slow issuance of visas to deaf sports persons seeking to represent Kenya in the World Deaf Handball Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Chairperson of the Association, Tim Wanyonyi said the Deaf Sports Federation has also expressed concerns over the slow issuance of visas to its sports persons and officials.
The World Deaf Handball Championships will be held from July 1-15.
The Westlands MP regretted that several talented deaf sportspersons may miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime sporting event.
The association requested the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairobi to fast-track the issuance of visas to the sports persons.
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