Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa has withdrawn The Public Holidays Bill, which was scheduled for the Second Reading, from Senate consideration.
In a letter addressed to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi on Wednesday, February 12, Thang'wa cited the need to prioritize more urgent legislative initiatives that hold national significance.
"I write to formally notify you of my decision to withdraw The Public Holidays Bill, which I am sponsoring, from further consideration in the Senate. I note that the Bill is scheduled for the Second Reading in today’s Order Paper.
"However, after careful deliberation, I have decided to prioritize other legislative proposals that I am sponsoring, which I believe are of urgent and immediate national significance," he said.
Among Thang'wa's priorities is the consolidation of all bursaries to make secondary education free to ensure eligible students benefit without bureaucratic hurdles.
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Additionally, he is championing equitable development of wards by governors through a legislative intervention that compels county governments to ensure a balanced and fair distribution of resources across all wards.
Another key focus is curbing unrealistic own-source revenue projections by county governments.
Thang'wa explained that this proposal seems to address the persistent issue of counties overestimating their revenue collection targets.
He argued that overestimation has oftentimes led to unsustainable budgets and the accumulation of pending bills.
Thang'wa is also introducing the County State Officers Impeachment Bill, which seeks to establish a comprehensive procedure for the removal of governors and deputy governors among other county officers.
He explained that the bill is aimed at standardizing the impeachment process, ensuring fairness and adherence to due process, and preventing impeachments based on flimsy, emotional, or purely political grounds.
"Given the critical nature of these legislative initiatives and the need for urgent intervention in these areas, I believe that focusing on them will better serve the interests of the people.
"I, therefore, notify you that I will be invoking Standing Order 159 to formally request the withdrawal of The Public Holidays Bill from the Senate's agenda. I appreciate the support and guidance of your office in this matter," he concluded.
The Public Holidays Bill sought to amend the Public Holidays Act to provide for the extension of public holidays to either the preceding day, where the holiday falls on a Tuesday, and the succeeding day, where the holiday falls on a Thursday.
