Popular initiative referendum drive by Thirdway Alliance party dubbed Punguza Mizigo initiative failed to impress in the Nyamira County Assembly on Tuesday.
The latest development means Nyamira has technically joined the list of counties that have rejected the Punguza Mizigo initiative, which is being agitated by Dr Ekuru Aukot.
Majority Leader Duke Masira, who also doubles as Township MCA, introduced the motion on the floor of the house for debate in compliance with the law.
However, Bomwagamo MCA Charles Barongo, a close ally of DP William Ruto, failed to second the motion technically 'killing' it for discussion on Tuesday.
And now, the motion will have to be reintroduced to the house after six months, something that makes it impossible since assemblies have until October this year to debate and pass the motion.
In an interview, Mr Masira said the ODM party, which controls the house, had agreed to reject the bill after realising several gaps among them discrimination against women.
"I introduced the motion and it wasn't seconded. As per the law, it can only be introduced again after six months. This technically means we have rejected it since they have until next month to have it passed," he said.
"As the ODM party, we went through the bill and realised many gaps among them discrimination against women. There was also lack of public participation. In simple terms, we did what Baba told us."
The vocal legislator also said it would have been betrayal to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, had the assembly passed the bill. He said the house respects Handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.
Nominated MCA Innocent Mose lauded the latest development, adding that the bill had no space in an ODM controlled zone like Nyamira.
"This is an ODM zone and we have some other good deal (BBI). We killed the motion on technicality unlike other counties because we have no time for such a bill."
Already, Siaya, Homa Bay and Murang'a Counties have debated the bill and rejected it. Only Uasin Gishu County has been able to pass it.
For the bill to proceed to the next stage, over 24 county assemblies must be able to pass it. Already, major parties among them Jubilee and ODM have rejected the bill.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga and pushing for constitutional changes through the BBI initiative. However, DP William Ruto has been reluctant to have the constitution changed.
Mr Odinga and Matiang'i have been working closely with sources indicating that the Interior CS is in the future plans of both Odinga and President Uhuru.
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