Strangers no more – the new constitution and citizen access to Parliament

Our Mzalendo contributor attended the swearing in ceremony this past Friday, these are her observations.

What do you call a Kenyan citizen visiting Parliament?

On August 26, 2010, you would call such a person a Stranger, a person whose access was permitted only at the discretion of the House Speaker, according to the current Parliament’s Standing Orders. Strangers could visit occasionally, and remain still and silent, with no information in their hands: no Standing Order paper to follow the proceedings as they went on, no pen or paper to take notes, and no handbags or purses to clutter their laps.

On August 27, 2010, I walked into Parliament as a Participant: a Citizen empowered by the Constitution to access and be involved in the workings of Parliament. The Standing Orders are still the same, but the doors of Parliament have been thrown open: Parliament is to “facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of Parliament and its committees,” while the Parliamentary Service commission is responsible for “undertaking, singly or jointly with other relevant organizations and programmes, to promote the ideals of parliamentary democracy.” [Secs. 118(1)(b) and 127(6)(d)]

The car park was full of glistening new cars. The police and security guards manning the gate were cheerfully professional, discouraging the small group of people outside from obstructing the entrance while engaging them in small talk. As I entered the building, the public gallery was empty. The Speaker’s gallery (so named because those who sit in it sit at the pleasure of the speaker, and face the front of the house) was occupied by a dozen people, mostly invitees of Members of Parliament. The mood was festive but focused. The staff of the Parliamentary Service Commission were moving through the chambers briskly, in green and gold uniforms, efficiently managing the challenge of starting the individual oath-taking of 224 members, many of whom were not yet assembled. Once assembled, the swearing in went smoothly. Members read the oath in English or in Kiswahili. Applause greeted various members who had campaigned against the Constitution as they pledged to uphold it. Hearing the members take their oath, I was struck by the diversity of communities represented in Parliament, by the young and old members representing the face of Kenya, and by the thought that the sea of men in dark suits would soon be irreversibly dotted with women in many colors.

People are saying that as Citizens we have a major responsibility to hold our leaders accountable. Nobody is answering the question: ‘How?’ We need to keep our representatives accountable to the oath they made: to “obey, respect, uphold, preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution, and to “faithfully and conscientiously discharge the duties of a member of Parliament.” Protecting and defending the Constitution ahead of the 2012 elections must include rejecting ethnically based political campaign propaganda. It must include choosing and joining political parties based on their policies and programs. It must include standing up for positions of leadership and adding your voice to the process of change. More importantly, it must also now include becoming relevant to the workings of our government.

We need to take an interest in how the institutions of our government work. The new Constitution marks a major shift, from being a part of a crowd to be talked at from a dais, to being individuals who can engage our institutions by showing up in the course of their functions. I took a small step in the search for such answers by going to Parliament to witness members of the National Assembly swear their commitment to uphold the new Constitution, and I left convinced that I must refuse the word ‘Stranger’ and embrace the word ‘Citizen’ whenever I walk through its doors.

Posted by Mzalendo Editor on Aug. 30, 2010

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