Otiende Amollo Slams ODM Chairman Mbadi During BBI Debate

ODM Leader's recent public disparity in opinion was on live display on the floor of the National Assembly on April 29, 2021.

This is after Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo slammed ODM chairperson John Mbadi as the house debated the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) bill.

Mbadi had argued before the house that parliament could amend the BBI document even after members of the public had appended their signatures, stating that it should align with the constitution.

ODM Chairman John Mbadi. |Photo| Courtesy|

Amollo ridiculed Mbadi's understanding of the law arguing that a constitutional amendment bill could be valid even if unconstitutional.

"Mr. Speaker as a matter of law, and this is where I disagree with my chairman, a constitutional amendment can be unconstitutional.

"Now what we have done, and professors of law like John Mbadi saying is not true but that is your view. I am talking about the law. John Mbadi you've not stepped in Law school so just allow me," Amollo stated as his colleagues cheered on.

The ODM chairman had argued yesterday, April 28, that amending the bill could not be unconstitutional especially when it's coming from a popular initiative.

Senior Counsel Amollo stated that the ultimate recommendation of the report was for the bill to be passed by both Houses without any amendments.

"It is true that there are members who may have spoken prematurely on this not knowing the conclusion of this report," Amollo noted in reference to the ODM chairman.

He added that the report presented to the Senate by Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) highlighted typographical errors within the BBI, which he dismissed as minor.

He urged his colleagues to refrain from attempts to change a document that came to the house through the popular initiative.