{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Chaos at Parliament during Security Law debate was "loud consultations", High Court rules | The Star
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Chaos at Parliament during Security Law debate was "loud consultations", High Court rules
High court judges have ruled that the chaos witnessed during the Security Laws Amendment act on December 18 were "loud consultation" between Members of Parliament.
Cord members filed a case against the act on grounds that it was passed without consultations and thus the law was invalid.
However, the High Court said that there was no indication that parliamentary standing orders were violated as alleged by some members.
They added that public participation was evident and was "constitutionally sufficient".
The judges made the ruling on the Security law at Milimani law courts on Monday after Cord challenged the law saying that it was unconstitutional.
Justice Isaac Lenaola said that the clip showed did not demonstrate that the chaotic scenes were during riot and debate.
"Though there was disorder in the parliament, the bill was assented to. There was reasonable public participation," he said.
Chaos marred a special Parliamentary sitting on the contentious Security Bill in December 18, forcing National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi to call for a 30-minute adjournment.
The session had been convened to vote on the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 introduced in Parliament by the Executive, but turned chaotic when opposition MPs started chanting in the plenary rendering the process impossible.
The MPs tore up order papers on the amendments and littered the floor while chanting "bado Mapambano" as Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso tried in vain to direct the vote.
Muturi was forced to return to the plenary from the Speaker's chambers and ordered the eviction of Cord senators from the Speaker's Gallery.
The judges however nullified seven sections of Security Law. The 5-judge bench annulled 12, 16, 20, 26, 34, 48 and 95 of the law.
Sections violating the freedom of the media and the freedom of expression are among those that were nullified. The judges also upheld an accused person's right to be informed of evidence against him, and the right to be released on bond or bail given reasonable conditions.
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