Article 113. Mediation committees
Official Constitutional Text
113. (1) If a Bill is referred to a mediation committee under Article 112, the Speakers of both Houses shall appoint a mediation committee consisting of equal numbers of members of each House to attempt to develop a version of the Bill that both Houses will pass.
(2) If the mediation committee agrees on a version of the Bill, each House shall vote to approve or reject that version of the Bill.
(3) If both Houses approve the version of the Bill proposed by the mediation committee, the Speaker of the National Assembly shall refer the Bill to the President within seven days for assent.
(4) If the mediation committee fails to agree on a version of the Bill within thirty days, or if a version proposed by the committee is rejected by either House, the Bill is defeated.
Plain English Explanation
This is a simplified summary to explain this article in clear language. It is not the legal text of the Constitution.
Article 113 of the Kenyan Constitution defines how a joint mediation committee must operate to rescue a disputed county bill when the two houses disagree. It dictates that the Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate must appoint an equal number of members from each chamber to form the committee and negotiate a compromise. If the committee successfully drafts an agreed version of the bill, both houses must vote to either accept or reject that specific text. If both chambers vote to approve the committee's compromise, the Speaker of the National Assembly has seven days to send the bill to the President to be signed into law. However, if the mediation committee fails to agree on a combined version within a strict 30-day deadline, or if either house votes down the version the committee proposes, the bill is completely defeated and dies.