How the Kenyan Parliament works

By Mark Mutahi

The Kenyan parliament is unicameral. This means that only one video camera is used during the recording of the live parliamentary proceedings. Though anyone can be elected or nominated regardless of religion or tribe, being a Roman Catholic helps because there is a lot of bowing before the Speaker.

At the beginning of a new term before taking their seats in the National Assembly, every MP-elect takes the Oath of office where they swear to preserve, protect and delay the constitutional review process to the best of their ability.

Sittings

Parliamentary sittings are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. There are no sittings on Mondays to give members time to cure their weekend hangovers. On Fridays the legislators cannot hold sittings since they have to start their weekend early to give them enough time to spent their untaxed income.

Code of Conduct

MPs are not allowed to carry mobile phones into parliament, since the ringing of mobile phones in the chamber was found to disturb sleeping legislators.

Honourable members are allowed to chat inside the chamber even when proceedings are on but the conversations must be kept very low from the ears of rival political camps.

No physical weapons of any kind are allowed into the chambers but the MPs still manage to stab each in the backs.

Besides the Chambers where parliamentary business takes place there are other facilities within the precincts of the august House and they include:

1. Parliamentary Library — Contrary to popular opinion the National Assembly of Kenya has a library with over 6,000 volumes. A common rule in Kenya says we only use libraries when sitting exams and there are no exams in parliament.

2. Members Lounge — MPs use the lounge to enjoy drinks as they watch Channel O and MTV. So when one does not see his MP during the live broadcasts, chances are high he is watching his fellow parliamentarians from the lounge. Though smoking is not allowed in the lounge or in the chambers, the law is silent on smoking in toilets.

3. Public Gallery — The public gallery is where members of public can sit and follow parliamentary proceedings. However, they have to be checked for rotten eggs, tomatoes or anything they might be tempted to throw at the MPs. Kids under 12 are not allowed into the public gallery to reduce incidences of chewing gum under the seats.

Internship

The Parliamentary Service Commission offers internship to students of Kenyan universities who have recently completed their undergraduate courses. Past beneficiaries of the program have complained that it is difficult to obtain jobs once they have passed through the program because employers fear the interns will start raising their salaries at will and without consultation. The internship programme lasts nine months like a pregnancy but it’s not clear whether it’s mere coincidence.

Contacts

Members of the public can get in touch with the National Assembly by telegram. The telegram is addressed to bunge. For those without access to telegram services in the 21st century, email and telephone technologies are also available. However, Facebookers are not allowed to poke a Member of Parliament. It is not only out of order but the language itself is un-parliamentary.

Frequently asked questions:

Difference between a legislator and an MP — When you introduce yourself as a legislator people think you have been to Oxford or Harvard for something bigger than a seminar or a certificate course and when you say you are an MP you sound, well, like everyone else.

Number of MPs it takes to change a light bulb — Five from one side to form a procurement committee, and five from the side that has been left out to call a press conference and politicise the exercise! By the time the light bulb gets to be changed, we have moved on to new lighting technology.

A Hansard — Is a report of the proceedings of debate in parliament and not a fancy alcoholic drink.

Naming of constituencies —It is not scientific and is laden with confusion and inconsistencies. For example there is a Kitutu Chache and Nyaribari Chache but no Kitutu Mingi or Nyaribari Mingi. There is also Kwanza constituency but not a Mwisho constituency. And there are no gemstones in Gem. Neither is Starehe constituency a place of relaxation and resting easy.