MPs to be inducted at Mombasa retreat

The National Assembly will hold a retreat from Monday and members are expected to discuss reconciliation and proper execution of their mandate.

The three-day post-election seminar for the 349 members will be opened by House Speaker Justin Muturi at Pride Inn Hotel, Mombasa.

POLITICS

The MPs are expected to assess the political situation in the country after a divisive 2017 election that saw Nasa leader Raila Odinga boycott the repeat presidential election.

National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai said that unlike previous meetings where the president would be invited to make remarks, this one is specifically for members.

“The president and his deputy were not invited because the leadership wanted to have its own meeting first.

“In fact, we wanted to have a joint meeting of the two Houses but we could not manage,” Mr Sialai said.

INDUCTION

The seminar, sponsored by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), will also be an induction for members.

The CPA usually comes in after a general election to discuss experiences and best practices from other countries with the aim of promoting a cohesive and assertive legislature.

The meeting will be addressed by speakers from the US, United Kingdom, Zambia and Australia.

ELECTION

The October 26, 2017 fresh presidential election was necessitated following the nullification of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory in the August 8, 2017 election.

Though President Kenyatta was declared winner in the repeat poll, the election was largely boycotted in Nasa areas of Nyanza, Western, parts of the Coast and Lower Eastern region. 

Mr Odinga said he would not recognise President Kenyatta as validly elected and has also led Nasa MPs in keeping off the recent vetting of Cabinet secretaries, Principal secretaries, envoys and solicitor-general.

The National Assembly is also expected to vet the nominee for attorney-general and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Court of Appeal President Kihara Kariuki was nominated by President Kenyatta to succeed outgoing Attorney-General Githu Muigai, while Mr Keriako Tobiko, the former DPP, was appointed Environment and Forestry Cabinet secretary.

The House is also expected to approve the nomination of Mr Kennedy Ogeto for solicitor-general following his vetting of Friday last week.

TALKS

Majority Leader Aden Duale said the retreat comes at an opportune moment for members so they can share ideas on how to effectively execute their mandate.

“The mandate of MPs entails working hard to ensure that Kenyans get value for the money they have invested in our salaries, security, good offices and the cars we use,” he said.  

Currently, the MPs are in the budget-making process, whose hallmark will be the June presentation of the country’s estimates to be spent in the 2018/19 financial year.