KENYAN POLITICS

 Speaker Moses Wetang'ula Pushs for Accountability among committee leaders, Threatens Loss of Positions Over Absences.

The latter has set a firm tone for accountability in parliament, issuing a warning to committee chairpersons and their deputies about the risks of missing house sessions .

During a recent leadership retreat in Naivasha, Moses Wetangu'la emphasized the critical role of committee leaders as the bridge between the executive and legislative arms of government.He underscored the importance of their consistent presence, noting that committee chairpersons who benefit from additional privileges, entertainment and travel allowances, should be actively involved in all Parliamentary activities.

The speaker highlighted reports indicating that some chairpersons have been shirking their duties, relying on deputies to manage committee work while they make brief appearances in the parliament to sign the attendance register. Moses Wetang'ula affirmed that this pattern should come to an end, stressing that committee chairpersons should take full advantage of Parliamentary flexibility on debate sessions to prevent unprecedented delays.

He clarified that legislative process's quality depends not just on House debates but on deligent committee work, stakeholder consultations, and rigorous bill review.By the third reading, bills should have been meticulously refined, ensuring that committee chairs have thoroughly examined necessary amendments and consulted relevant parties to produce high-quality legislation.

Wetang'ula warned that any bill, motion or petition will be set aside if it's sponsor is absent without a valid reason.He expressed frustrations over delays caused by absences, noting that some public issues are shelved repeatedly due to unavailability of their sponsors, hindering legislative efficiency.

Moving forward, private bills, motion and petitions will be dismissed if their sponsors fail to attend the sessions.The speaker called on leaders to address backlog by attending the committee meetings, particularly between 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM-prime hours for discussing bills, presenting committee reports, and engaging in substantial legislative business.