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Nairobi MCA accused of pulling a ‘Melania Trump’ with plagiarized bill


Two members of Nairobi County Assembly are entangled in a tussle over the authorship of a bill that was presented for a second reading in the house on Tuesday.

Kayole South MCA Elizabeth Imanyala is demanding for the withdrawal of the Plastic Control Bill, 2016, which was sponsored by Umoja MCA Njoroge Maina, claiming that she is the original author.

Ms Imanyala told the house that she drafted the bill and that Mr Maina had copied and re-presented the bill while she was away sick.

“Plagiarism is a criminal act. I will go to court if that is what is needed for the Bill to be withdrawn. I sweated and burnt the midnight oil to come up with the bill but Mr Maina is claiming authorship,” said Ms Imanyala.

She also claims to have raised the matter with the assembly administration and wants the bill suspended until the issue has been settled.

However, in his defence, Mr Maina, claims that the bill was not authored Ms Imanyala as it had been brought by the Leader Minority in the Nairobi County Assembly, Abdi Guyo, in November 2014 but was withdrawn to pave way for more consultations.

PLAGIARISM CLAIMS

Mr Maina alleged that the plagiarism claims was a move by the representative to derail the passing of the important bill in what he termed as “mischief” for personal gains.

“I don’t want to say that the MCA has been paid to delay the passing of the bill but I have a feeling that there is an outside force, that is either the executive or the manufacturers, to withdraw the bill,” said Mr Maina.

He advised Ms Imanyala to push for amendments instead of claiming the full recognition of his bill.

The debate however took a political twist after the Jubilee MCAs supported Mr Maina while the Cord supported Ms Imanyala. Deputy Speaker Ken Ngondi overruled that the Bill be read for the second time.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker said that the bill was already a property of the house, hence Ms Imanyala should petition the assembly over the allegations.

“Proposing a bill to be suspended is not possible, the right procedures have to be followed,” said Mr Ngondi.