Our Legislative Agenda for the coming week

As you will be aware, the Political Council of UDF and NEC of UDF Party have been meeting here in Mombasa for the past two days. Inspired by challenges facing the coast region and reflected across the nation, we have drawn up a legislative agenda for the coming week which we consider critical to the coast region and our collective national interest.

Whereas everybody has been saying that the challenge of MRC needs attention, no body has broken the impasse between national leaders and the leaders of this group. Accordingly, we have decided to sponsor a motion when the House meets on Tuesday, setting up a parliamentary select committee to meet all key players and find a lasting solution that seeks to offer justice to the disaffected and nurtures the integrity of our great country as a united nation.

In the recent past, we have received representations from sitting councillors and members of parliament anxious about the application of electoral and political parties’ laws disqualifying candidates of elective office because of new academic qualification. It is our considered view that these leaders have a valid point. We also believe holding the office of councillor, in particular, avails one an experience comparable to post secondary training as required by the new law. Consequently UDF has initiated changes to the Miscellaneous Amendment Bill currently before the House to exempt sitting councillors and MPs from the new requirements.

One of the sources of tension in our country is the lack of a clear and fair legislation and guidelines on resource sharing between the counties where the resources are found and national government. As our country discovers the resource endowment God has bestowed upon us, we need urgently to develop clear and equitable methods of sharing to avoid conflict and abuse. The discovery of Titanium in Kwale and Kilifi counties, the recent discovery of oil in Turkana, the exciting news that substantive quantities of Rare Earth mineral have been found in Kwale(a mineral in very limited supply and growing world demand) call for urgent policy. Members of parliament who are friends of the UDF Party will accelerate the development of appropriate legislation including the strengthening of the Minerals Bill currently before The House.