MPs asked to hand over as 10th Parliament bows out

By Peter Opiyo

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Tenth Parliament closed shop on Monday with outgoing members directed to hand over by clearing with all relevant departments.

Parliamentary authorities asked the MPs who on Tuesday officially assume the title ‘former’ in reference to the positions they held up to Monday, to also clear out of their constituency offices at Continental House.

January 14 marked the end of one of the most quarrelsome and divided parliaments Kenya has ever had, perhaps due to the complexities of the Grand Coalition Government forced on Kenyans by the circumstance of disputed 2007 presidential election, and the subsequent wave of post-election violence, followed by international mediation and finally a power-sharing deal. 

The 222 former members now join the long list of aspirants, some of whom are also former Members of Parliament (MPs), in the scramble for various seats on offer in the March 4 elections.

Several outgoing MPs have already indicated they would be defending their parliamentary seats or going for newly created positions of County Governors, Senators and Women Representatives. 

On Thursday, which was the last sitting of the Tenth Parliament, MPs milled around Parliament posing for pictures with their colleagues.

As MPs began clearing from Parliament, where some were sitting for their second or even third terms, House Speaker Kenneth Marende announced that members of the Parliamentary Service Commission will remain in office until the election of a new Speaker. 

Marende who also chairs the PSC, which is the administrative unit of the House, ruled that the operations of the House must continue. He also hinted he would seek re-election as House Speaker in the next Parliament.

A communication from the administration of the National Assembly instructed members to clear with Parliament following the expiry of its term.  This would see them vacate the offices they occupy at Continental House and hand over any property they got from Parliament.

Inventory purposes

Clerk of the National Assembly Justin Bundi wrote to all the MPs asking them to clear with the relevant departments with effect from Monday.

“The term of the 10th Parliament will expire on January 14, 2013. Equipment/items issued to your offices during the last five years require clearance and this process involves different departments for inventory purposes,” Mr Bundi said in a letter to the MPs.

The outgoing MPs have to clear with various departments such as  sports, catering, and accounts, amongst others.

“All honourable members are requested to complete the attached form and clear with various departments with effect from January 14, 2013,” directed Bundi.

Parliament has also suspended catering services to MPs until next month, ostensibly to “allow for minor repairs” to the dining unit.

“This is to inform all honourable members that Kenya National Assembly Catering Services will be suspended with effect from January 14, 2013, evening to allow for minor repairs. Services will resume on February 4, 2013,” said another letter from Bundi.

The MPs enjoy a subsidised four-course meal, of the status of a five-star hotel, at Parliament’s restaurant at Sh490 per plate instead of the market rate of around Sh2,500.

The letter is copied to Marende, PSC, Clerk of the Senate, Director General Joint Services, Senior Deputy Clerks and Directors of various departments.

At the MPs’ offices at Continental House, personal assistants were busy clearing offices of the outgoing representatives’s personal effects. The MPs have also been asked to return the log-in cards they were handed for transacting business in the ultra-modern chamber. The Chamber is fixed with electronic devices for e-voting and also has automated monitors that require a log-in card for one to contribute to debate.

Salaries

At the same time Mr Bundi has also written to Constituency Office Managers to remain responsible for Constituency Offices until after the General Election.

However, the contracts signed between MPs and the Constituency Office staff expired with the dissolution of Parliament, except for the case of the managers. They, however, will be paid three months’ salary in lieu of notice.

“The contracts signed between the current MPs and the Constituency Office Staff, except for the Constituency Office Managers, are to expire on January 14, 2013 (on Monday) and the officers concerned shall be paid three months salary in lieu of notice in accordance with Regulation 25 of the Constituency Office Regulations,” added Bundi.

But the Clerk said the salary would only be paid after confirmation from the Constituency Office Managers that the officers have cleared with the PSC, including bank account transactions.

The managers must ensure the offices are closed and secured so that they are not used by anybody before the March 4 polls. They will also prepare inventory of all the furniture and equipment and send a copy to the Clerk.

According to the letter, gratuity for Office Managers and security guards will only be processed after the incoming MPs have confirmed that the Commission’s property and bank accounts have been fully accounted for by the Office Managers.

The handing over in the Constituency Offices must take place within seven days after the gazettement of new MPs after elections. But in cases where an MP is re-elected, the office staff would be required to sign new contracts.

Constituency Office staff for nominated MPs will be paid gratuity with effect from July 1, 2010 and it is payable only to a personal assistant, driver and secretary as prescribed in