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Part XII-XIV: Motions & Voting (S.O. 46–76)

Overview​

This section governs motions (including special motions), voting procedures, and divisions in the National Assembly.

Part XII: Motions​

Standing Order 47 — Notices of Motions​

"Except as otherwise provided by these Standing Orders, notice shall be given by a Member of any Motion which the Member proposes to move."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 47(1)

Implementation note: The system requires Members to submit notice of motions before they can be moved, with exceptions for certain procedural motions.

Standing Order 52 — Motions Without Notice​

"The following Motions may be moved without notice— (a) Motion by way of amendment to a Motion..."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 52

Implementation note: The system allows certain procedural motions (amendments, adjournments, etc.) to be moved without prior notice.

Standing Order 54 — Amendments to Motions​

"Unless otherwise provided in these Standing Orders, any amendment to a Motion which a Member wishes to propose in accordance with this Standing Order shall be relevant to the Motion."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 54(1)

Implementation note: The system validates that amendments are relevant to the original motion and properly formatted.

Part XIII: Special Motions​

Standing Order 61 — Definition of Special Motion​

"For purposes of this Part, a Special Motion is one— (a) that seeks a resolution of the House to approve an appointment or re-appointment in accordance with Part XI (Approval of Public Appointments); or (b) moved pursuant to any of the following Articles of the Constitution..."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 61

Implementation note: The system categorizes motions as "special" when they relate to constitutional matters requiring specific procedures and timelines.

Standing Order 62 — Fixed Majority Requirements​

"In every instance where the Constitution lays down that a fixed number of Members is necessary to support the moving of, or to decide any question on a motion, any amendment motion to such motion shall not be passed unless supported by the fixed number of Members required to pass the original motion."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 62(1)

Implementation note: The system enforces that amendments to special motions require the same majority as the original motion (e.g., two-thirds).

Part XIV: Removal from State Office​

Standing Order 64 — Presidential Impeachment​

"Before giving notice of Motion under Article 145(1) of the Constitution, a Member shall deliver to the Clerk a copy of the proposed Motion in writing— (a) stating the grounds and particulars in terms of Article 145(1) of the Constitution upon which the proposed Motion is made; (b) signed by the Member; and (c) signed in support by at least a third of all the Members."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 64(1)

"When the Motion has been passed by two-thirds of all members of the National Assembly, the Speaker shall inform the Speaker of the Senate of that resolution within two days in terms of Article 145(2)(a) of the Constitution."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 64(6)

Implementation note: The system validates that impeachment motions have support from at least one-third of all Members (⌈341 × 1/3⌉ = 114) to move, and two-thirds (228) to pass.

Part XV: Voting and Divisions​

Standing Order 69 — Voting in the House​

"Unless otherwise provided under the Constitution, a question arising in the House shall be decided by a majority of the Members in the House, present and voting."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 69(1)

"On a question proposed for a decision in the House, the Speaker has no vote."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 69(3)

Implementation note: The system uses simple majority (>50% of those voting) for most questions, with the Speaker not voting unless there's a tie.

Standing Order 70 — Electronic Voting​

"Unless the Speaker, for the convenience of the House otherwise directs, voting on a division in the House shall be by electronic voting."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 70(1)

"During electronic voting, Members shall cast their votes by pressing either the 'Yes,' 'No,' or 'Abstain' button."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 70(3)

Implementation note: The system defaults to electronic voting with a 10-minute division bell period, recording Yes/No/Abstain votes.

Standing Order 72 — Roll Call Division​

"The Speaker shall direct a roll call vote to be taken if a Member claims a division and— (a) the Speaker considers that there is a reasonable doubt as to the outcome of the vote in question; or (b) if, on a question other than a question of procedure, thirty or more Members rise in their places to support the Member claiming the roll call division."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 72(1)

Implementation note: The system supports roll call voting when requested by 30+ Members or when the Speaker determines it necessary.

Standing Order 73 — Roll Call Voting Procedure​

"When the Speaker directs a roll call voting to be taken, the Division Bell shall be rung for ten minutes."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 73(1)

"When called out, each Member shall, thereupon rise in his or her place and declare assent or dissent to the question in the following manner; 'I vote Yes'; or, 'I vote No'; or, 'I Abstain,' or use appropriate Kenyan sign language."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 73(5)

Implementation note: The system records individual Member votes by name during roll call divisions, with alphabetical calling order.

Standing Order 76 — Decorum During Division​

"No Member shall be obliged to vote in a division, but those present and not voting shall either— (a) in the case of electronic voting, press the 'Abstain' button; or (b) in the case of roll call voting, record their abstention with the Clerk."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 76(1)

"A Member shall not vote on any question in which the Member has a pecuniary interest."

— The National Assembly Standing Orders (7th Edition), S.O. 76(3)

Implementation note: The system allows abstentions and enforces conflict of interest rules by preventing Members from voting on matters where they have pecuniary interest.

Implementing Endpoints​

EndpointS.O.Purpose
POST /api/v1/motions47Submit motion with notice
POST /api/v1/motions/:id/amendments54Submit amendment to motion
POST /api/v1/motions/:id/move53Move motion for debate
POST /api/v1/motions/:id/second57Second a motion
POST /api/v1/motions/:id/withdraw51Withdraw motion
POST /api/v1/motions/special61Create special motion
POST /api/v1/motions/impeachment64Create impeachment motion
POST /api/v1/voting/sessions69-70Open voting session
POST /api/v1/voting/sessions/:id/cast70(3)Cast vote (Yes/No/Abstain)
POST /api/v1/voting/sessions/:id/roll-call72-73Initiate roll call division
GET /api/v1/voting/sessions/:id/results70(4)Get voting results
POST /api/v1/voting/sessions/:id/close70(4)Close voting and announce results