Parliament will approve the nomination of seven MPs and senators to serve as members of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah will table the names of Nyandarua Woman MP Faith Gitau, Nyali MP Mohammed Ali, Laikipia Senator John Kinyua and Nominated Senator Joyce Korir who are members of the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Azimio La Umoja One Kenya has nominated Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko and Mavoko MP Patrick Makau to serve as PSC members.
"Pursuant to the provisions of Article 127(2) of the Constitution, the House will approve appointment of the seven members of the National Assembly and senators to the Parliamentary Service Commission under sub-section (c)(i) and under sub-section (c)(ii)," said Mr Ichungwah.
The PSC will be chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula with Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye serving as Secretary to the Commission. The commission will also have two members who are not parliamentarians but experienced in public service to represent public interest.
The PSC will have 11 members when it is fully constituted who will pick the vice chairperson when they hold their first meeting before they commence their five-year term.
The nomination of Gitau, Ali, Kinyua, Korir, Dullo, Mboko and Makau brings to an end the scramble to serve in the lucrative commission that is mandated to address the welfare of their colleagues for the next five years.
Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni had been angling to get a slot in PSC and last week protested over claims that he had been shortchanged and the position given to Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga before Azimio eventually picked Dullo who had been serving as the Minority Whip in the Senate.
"The matter is now settled since I will serve as the Minority Deputy Whip in the Senate, Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina will be the Minority Whip while Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo will serve as member of the Parliamentary Service Commission," said Mr Omogeni.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan and Sirisia MP John Waluke who were elected on the Jubilee Party ticket had been angling for PSC slots but the party settled on Dullo.
However, the situation was calm on the Kenya Kwanza side with Ichungwah presenting the names of Gitau, Ali, Kinyua and Korir for approval after they were agreed upon by the ruling alliance led by President William Ruto.
Mboko, Makau and Dullo are serving their third terms in Parliament while Gitau, Kinyua, Ali and Korir are serving their second terms which is a clear indicator that party leadership in Kenya Kwanza and Azimio went for experienced leaders.
Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni last week visited Waluke in prison and handed him a letter from the party appointing him to the powerful commission before National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi presented a letter to the Speaker with the names of Mboko, Makau and Dullo.
The PSC is mandated to provide services and facilities to ensure the efficient and effective running of Parliament, constituting offices in the parliamentary service and appointing and supervising office holders.
The commission is also tasked with preparing annual estimates of expenditure of the parliamentary service and submitting them to the National Assembly for approval and exercising budgetary control over the service.
PSC is charged with undertaking, singly or jointly with other relevant organisations, programmes to promote the ideals of parliamentary democracy; and performing functions necessary for the well-being of the members and parliamentary staff.
In the last Parliament, former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi served as PSC Chairperson, former Taveta MP Naomi Shaban the Vice Chairperson while members were former Nominated Senator Beth Mugo, Eldas MP Adan Keynan and Kericho Senator Aron Cheruiyot.
Former Borabu MP Benson Momanyi, former Vihiga Senator George Khaniri, former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, former Kakamega Woman MP Rachel Ameso, Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga also served as members while Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye the Commission Secretary.
enyarangi@standardmedia.co.ke
