NAIROBI, Kenya- National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has issued a stern reminder to committee leaders: consistent attendance is no longer optional.
Speaking at the National Assembly leadership retreat in Naivasha, Wetang’ula made it clear that committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons who fail to attend sessions risk losing their positions.
His message underscored the importance of active participation, a commitment he views as essential for maintaining legislative accountability and ensuring efficient House proceedings.
Wetang’ula emphasized that committee chairs and their deputies serve as vital links between Kenya’s legislative and executive branches.
Their roles go beyond routine discussions; they engage directly with Cabinet members and have the responsibility to relay members’ concerns and oversee government accountability.
“You are the primary point of contact for Cabinet interactions,” Wetang’ula stated, highlighting that regular attendance is crucial. The Speaker was blunt, urging leaders to move past token appearances and uphold their roles by actively contributing to parliamentary debates.
The Speaker’s remarks also included a reference to the parliamentary Standing Orders, reminding members that while debate durations are flexible, they must stay engaged to optimize this latitude effectively.
If they’re not present, Wetang’ula asserted, they’re simply letting their vice-chairpersons take the reins without fully committing to their leadership roles.
Beyond committee attendance, Wetang’ula addressed an ongoing issue: the backlog of bills and motions stalled by the absence of sponsoring members.
He stated that members who repeatedly fail to show up for their own items on the Order Paper risk seeing them removed altogether.
Citing feedback from parliamentary Whips, Wetang’ula shared frustrations about members who fail to inform the chair or make provisions for their absence, resulting in unnecessary delays.
“To avoid piling up work for those who don’t show up to advance their agendas, we’ll consider dropping items that appear two or three times if the responsible member is uninterested,” he said.
This approach, the Speaker explained, is meant to hold members accountable and ensure that parliamentary time is used efficiently.
Wetang’ula urged members to take responsibility for their House attendance, especially as they represent constituents whose concerns are often at stake. If a petition, bill, or motion is dropped due to nonattendance, it will be up to the absent member to explain this lapse to their electorate.
In a bid to maximize productivity, Leader of the Majority Party Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah echoed Wetang’ula’s sentiments, urging members to prioritize attending sessions between 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
“This is when the Speaker or presiding chair will allow you to speak at length,” Ichung’wah noted, pointing out that this window offers members a chance to advance crucial House business.
During this period, chairs can present committee reports, discuss bills, and push forward important documents, with the Clerk and House Business Committee often scheduling committee reports within this time.
This renewed emphasis on parliamentary attendance, Ichung’wah and Wetang’ula believe, will elevate the quality of debates, improve legislative outcomes, and foster public trust in Kenya’s parliamentary processes.
