Fight to regain upper House status

By Jacob Ng’etich

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Senate has set the ball rolling to stamp their authority as the upper House by amending the Standing Orders made by the 10th Parliament. In a paid up advertisement in the local dailies the Clerk to the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye urged the public to give their views on the proposed changes to the Standing Orders of the Senate.

“The Sub-Committee on the Amendment of the Standing Orders to the Senate now invites interested members of the public to submit written memoranda on proposed amendments to the Standing orders of the Senate,” read part of the advert. Last week, the Rules and Business Committee of the Senate established a Sub-Committee on the Amendment of the Standing Orders with the mandate to propose, to the committee, amendments to the Standing Orders of the Senate.

Among those to sit on the committee are Majority Leader and Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, Leader of Minority Moses Wetangula, Chief Whips Beatrice Elachi (Majority) and Johnstone Muthama (Minority) and Senators Beth Mugo, John Lonyangapuo, Charles Keter, Kiraitu Murungi, James Orengo, Janet Ong’era and Agnes Zani. The advert advised Kenyans to propose changes at www.parliament.go.ke.

Proposed changes

Mr Nyengenye said the proposed amendments would be considered by the Rules and Business Committee in terms of Part XXIX of the Standing Orders of the Senate.

But Lamu Senator Abu Chiaba, says proposals for amendments were House business and did not warrant discussion in the media.

However, Nominated Senator Naisula Lesuuda said the move was meant to ensure the House had the powers that befits it as an upper House like in other countries.

Ms Lesuuda said most MPs in the Tenth Parliament fought to have the Senate remain as the Lower House when it was clear and historically known world over the Senate was the upper House. “The Senate in the history of the world is always the upper House and it will be awkward to have the Kenyan case looking the opposite, I hope the Standing Orders will present us with the opportunity to rectify this anomaly,” she said during the Senators’ induction programme in Naivasha.

Prof Kindiki said the Senate was unique because the National Assembly had the power to veto what the Senate passed, an issue that demeaned the House.

Nominated Senator Liz Chelule said she had proposed the amendments of number 58 of the Standing Orders to allow the nominated Senators vote on county matters like their elected counterparts.