A parliamentary committee is seeking the amendment of the House Standing Orders to grant it powers to oversight the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
The National Assembly committee on members’ services and facilities, in its proposal to review the House rules, wants powers in order to examine reports and accounts of the commission.
In a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, the committee chaired by Laikipia West MP Stephen Wachira is seeking the amendment of section 212B of the House Standing Orders in order to give it powers to oversee the commission.
“Section 212B of the Standing Orders is amended in section 2 by inserting a paragraph of examining reports and accounts of the Parliamentary Service Commission relating to members’ services and facilities,” reads the committee’s proposal.
According to the committee, the powers to oversight the commission will ensure efficiency and effective functioning of Parliament.
“The Parliamentary Service Commission being a constitutional commission established under Article 127 of the constitution to perform functions necessary for the wellbeing of MPs is subject to the oversight of the National Assembly as it falls under the definition of a state organ provided for under Article 260,” argues the committee in its letter.
The Parliamentary Service Commission, which is established under Article 127 of the Constitution of Kenya, is the MPs' employer and, among others, provides services and facilities to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of Parliament.
Article 127 of the Constitution provides that the Parliamentary Service Commission shall consist of, among others, one man and one woman appointed by Parliament from among persons who are experienced in public affairs, but are not members of Parliament.
Members of the National Assembly follow proceedings during a past session.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The National Assembly Standing Orders No. 212B, on the other hand, establishes the Select Committee on Members' Services and facilities.
The Committee is charged with the mandate of receiving and considering views of members of the National Assembly on the Services and facilities provided to them by the Parliamentary Service Commission for their benefit and well-being, advising and reporting on all matters connected to these services and facilities.
The Committee is therefore the forum through which the members of the National Assembly channel their views on their welfare to the Commission.
In undertaking its duties, the Committee also receives and reviews the concerns of members about the services and facilities availed by the Parliamentary Service Commission for their well-being and benefit.
The committee also oversees the facilities available to members, including the health club at parliament, parliament buildings, county and constituency offices of members of the National Assembly, the quality of catering services in parliament, and whether the upcoming buildings have met the members' needs and expectations.
In its proposal, the committee also wants the election of its leaders conducted after three years and not annually as it is currently.
“The committee on members’ services and facilities should be constituted immediately following a General Election and shall serve for a period of three years, and the committee constituted thereafter shall serve for the remainder of the parliamentary term.
According to the committee chairman, conducting elections every session of the House brings unnecessary anxiety to members.
“It’s cumbersome for the committee to conduct elections in every session. The changes will remove anxiety and provide stability in its leadership. The current practice of having the committee as a sessional committee of the House is not justified,” reads the committee’s letter.
The proposals on the change of the Standing Orders will be consolidated and considered by the House before the 13th parliament adjourns sine die next year.
The adopted changes by the House will apply in the 14th parliament that will be sworn in after the 2027 General Elections.
