Senate creates its own service commission

By MOSES NJAGIH

Kenya: The Senate has moved to create its own administrative authority, delinking itself from the administration of the National Assembly by creating its own service commission.

The Senate’s Rules and Business Committee has proposed the creation of a Senate Service Commission, an independent administrative autonomy from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), to take care of the interests of House matters.

Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro, who is also the chair of the Rules and Business Committee, revealed that the sub-committee co-chaired by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and his Siaya counterpart James Orengo found it necessary to have an autonomous body to handle the affairs of Senate.

“The committee particularly noted administrative challenges arising out of a shared Parliamentary Service Commission which slow efficiency and resourcefulness and which can only be addressed through either House having administrative autonomy,” said Ethuro.

He said the administrative delinking of Senate from the National Assembly would facilitate effective and meaningful operations of both Houses.

The sub-committee chaired by Kiraitu and Orengo has also proposed key amendments to the Senate’s Standing Orders, including creating a watchdog County Public Accounts and Investment Committee.

The committee, just like the PAC and PIC of the National Assembly, will be an oversight watchdog committee examining reports of the Auditor General but only on annual accounts of county governments.

The committee will also examine reports and exercise oversight on county public investments.