NAIROBI, Kenya – In a major shift aimed at enhancing citizen involvement in legislative processes, the National Assembly has announced that constituency offices across the country will now serve as official venues for public participation exercises.
This decision, aimed at increasing accessibility and efficiency, was unveiled by National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge during a Members of Parliament (MPs) retreat in Naivasha.
The Clerk highlighted that this initiative is part of broader efforts to meet regulatory standards and ensure that public participation is thorough and impactful.
“In an effort to ensure that public participation is effective and complies with existing regulations, the National Assembly will begin using constituency offices for these exercises,” said Njoroge.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who chaired the Naivasha retreat, emphasized the importance of the proposed Public Participation Bill, now with the Attorney General.
He urged MPs to expedite the bill’s enactment to address issues surrounding public engagement and to prevent legal ambiguities that have often ended up in court disputes.
“This legislation will close loopholes that have caused confusion in the Judiciary whenever public participation is challenged,” Wetang’ula noted, calling for swift action from lawmakers to ensure clarity and uniformity in the process.
MPs widely supported the initiative, citing not only the advantages of more inclusive civic engagement but also the potential for local job creation.
Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, a member of the Speaker’s panel, noted that the new approach would create employment opportunities, as personnel will be required to manage and facilitate these sessions.
“We support this decision because it will create job opportunities for our voters. The only thing we need to do is streamline the process through legislation,” said Milemba.
Additionally, Clerk Njoroge advised MPs to secure insurance coverage for equipment at constituency offices to safeguard against losses due to potential unrest or accidental damage.
Citing past incidents, he reminded legislators that insurance has spared the Parliamentary Service Commission substantial repair costs.
“Members are aware that the Parliamentary Service Commission has not had to fund repairs for damages worth millions due to recent incidents. The same should be done for constituency office equipment,” Njoroge stated.
In an update on legislative progress, Njoroge reported that Parliament has passed 17 bills this session, with eight already receiving presidential assent, while others are under Senate review or in mediation stages.
He urged MPs to expedite the remaining bills, ensuring that critical policies reach the implementation phase swiftly.
The announcement follows a recent public participation session held at Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), where Nairobi residents voiced opinions on the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
This decision, aimed at increasing accessibility and efficiency, was unveiled by National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge during a Members of Parliament (MPs) retreat in Naivasha.
The Clerk highlighted that this initiative is part of broader efforts to meet regulatory standards and ensure that public participation is thorough and impactful.
“In an effort to ensure that public participation is effective and complies with existing regulations, the National Assembly will begin using constituency offices for these exercises,” said Njoroge.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who chaired the Naivasha retreat, emphasized the importance of the proposed Public Participation Bill, now with the Attorney General.
He urged MPs to expedite the bill’s enactment to address issues surrounding public engagement and to prevent legal ambiguities that have often ended up in court disputes.
“This legislation will close loopholes that have caused confusion in the Judiciary whenever public participation is challenged,” Wetang’ula noted, calling for swift action from lawmakers to ensure clarity and uniformity in the process.
MPs widely supported the initiative, citing not only the advantages of more inclusive civic engagement but also the potential for local job creation.
Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, a member of the Speaker’s panel, noted that the new approach would create employment opportunities, as personnel will be required to manage and facilitate these sessions.
“We support this decision because it will create job opportunities for our voters. The only thing we need to do is streamline the process through legislation,” said Milemba.
Additionally, Clerk Njoroge advised MPs to secure insurance coverage for equipment at constituency offices to safeguard against losses due to potential unrest or accidental damage.
Citing past incidents, he reminded legislators that insurance has spared the Parliamentary Service Commission substantial repair costs.
“Members are aware that the Parliamentary Service Commission has not had to fund repairs for damages worth millions due to recent incidents. The same should be done for constituency office equipment,” Njoroge stated.
In an update on legislative progress, Njoroge reported that Parliament has passed 17 bills this session, with eight already receiving presidential assent, while others are under Senate review or in mediation stages.
He urged MPs to expedite the remaining bills, ensuring that critical policies reach the implementation phase swiftly.
The announcement follows a recent public participation session held at Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), where Nairobi residents voiced opinions on the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
