The National Assembly approved the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) yesterday.
At least 320 Members of Parliament took part in the voting while at its Second stage.
235 of them supported the Bill, 83 voted in opposition to it whereas two abstained.
During voting in the Third Reading, 224 MPs voted in favour of the Bill, 63 voted against it, while two abstained.
The voting was split across political margins with MPs allied to BBI co-principals President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM party leader Raila Odinga voting in favour of the bill.
Deputy President William Ruto associates voted against the bill, with a small section of them however supporting the Yes team.
The BBI Bill was debated in the National Assembly since last Wednesday.
In case the courts uphold the process, the IEBC would call a vote by universal ballot.
“The net effect is that the ayes have it. I therefore direct that the Bill be read a third time,” speaker Justin Muturi remarked.
The Senate and the other House of Parliament are now expected to vote on the Bill next week then pave the way for a referendum.
President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila recently urged members of the two Houses of Parliament to pass the Bill.
The duo asked the lawmakers to shelve their political pursuits and stand with the 44 County Assemblies that passed the Bill.
“We are making a joint appeal to members of the National Assembly and the Senate to join the 3,188,001 Kenyans who supported the Bill, and the 44 County Assemblies who approved it, in upholding what represents the hopes and aspirations of all those who participated in the various public forums seeking long term solutions to this country’s problems,” the statement read.
“We are asking them to stand up with their countrymen in charting a non-partisan and selfless way forward for all of us. This is not the time for political adversity nor personal aggrandizement. This is the time to listen to the people and to remember that it is their sovereignty we exercise as their servants.”
By Everlyne Bosibori
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