Home » Media Centre » Blogs » Let us engage Parliament more in 2015
Recent misbehavior by Parliamentarians within the precincts of Parliament and in public have brought to the fore questions about their actual roles and responsibilities. As representatives of the people in Parliament, Parliamentarians activity in many ways should reflect the pulse of the nation.
Parliament - Senate and National Assembly - performs representative, oversight and legislative functions which define and distribute the national cake to all. These functions being pivotal, mandate the people to engage more with the representatives they elected to ensure that these roles are skillfully and diligently executed.
The legislative role is about passing laws and amending existing laws to ensure they conform to today’s challenges and opportunities and are also progressive. 2015 marks the fifth year of the implementation of the Constitution and the period until August 27th, 2015 will mark a heavy legislative calendar in passing laws to implement it. In 2014, the National Assembly extended the period of passing some Bills meaning that they will be lumped together with those due this year, Bills to be passed.
There is a limit to postponing these Bills. For instance, the two thirds gender principle in Article 81 (b) of the Constitution must be implemented by August 27th as the Supreme Court Ruled in December 2012. Another critical Bill to be passed will be on public audit which will empower the Auditor General. In addition, the access to information law is crucial.
The representative role of Parliament means that they need to highlight and defend their employers; the people. Through question time, statements and motion, Parliamentarians put the interests of the people to the Executive arm of government. It is also supposed to challenge Executive that do not conform to the Constitution and the people’s reality.
In their oversight role, Parliamentarians check national budgetary allocations, the financial probity and general compliance of laws in all government departments. Oversight also includes submitting memoranda on Public appointments and petitions on issues and individuals, people have concerns about. The nomination of Joseph Boinett as the Inspector General of Police will be the first when it re-opens.
In addition, Kenyan Parliamentarians, also oversee special funds like the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) and the Uwezo Fund. A third Fund is set to be introduced this year – the Affirmative Action Social Development Fund.
Consequently, the electorate should take a pro-active role in trying to influence what Parliamentarians prioritize this year. This is key to promoting a people-centered Parliamentary agenda. Parliament re-opens in mid-February; Senate – February 10th and National Assembly, February 14th.
Over the next the two weeks, Mzalendo gives you an opportunity to present views on what Parliament should discuss when they re-open. The views will then be collated and presented to Parliament just before it re-opens. Feel free to post your comment on our blog, Facebook page or Twitter using the hashtag #BungeKE2015. Over to you!
Categories: No tags
You must login to comment
There are no comments.