Senate approves 12 members of House Business Committee

Senate speaker Amason Kingi during the Senate plenary at the Senate Chambers, Parliament buildings, Nairobi.  [Elvis Ogina,Standard]

The Senate has approved 12 members of the crucial Senate Business Committee to serve during the third session of the 13th Parliament to be chaired by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

The role of committee includes adjusting the Parliamentary calendar with approval of the House, monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the House business programmes.

The Senate Business Committee is tasked with ensuring adherence to the standing orders concerning the scheduling and programming of House Business and Committee functions.

Seven Senators will join Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo, Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale and Senate Minority Whip Ledama ole Kina in the apex committee of the House that is tasked to carry out crucial decisions.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi presented the list of Senators Ali Roba (Mandera), Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Veronica Maina (Nominated), Hillary Sigei (Bomet), Tabitha Mutinda (Nominated), Kavindu Muthama (Machakos) and Mwinyihaji Faki (Mombasa) to the plenary which was unanimously approved.

“I present the names of the seven Senators to the House plenary for approval by members pursuant to Standing Orders 190 and 199(3) to serve in the Senate Business Committee in addition to the Speaker of the Senate, the Senate Majority Leader, the Senate Minority Leader, the Senate Majority Whip and the Senate Minority Whip,” said Kingi.

Cheruiyot said that the Senate House Business Committee has got a crucial role of setting the agenda for the House and lauded the seven senators for getting another chance to serve saying in the last one year they worked in the best interests of the country.

Dr Khalwale said that the seven senators got another chance to serve in the key committee since they had performed well in the last one year and he hoped that they will perform better since Kenyans have a lot of expectations from them.

"I urge my fellow Senators as we start the third session of the 13th Parliament to desist from making comments outside the House which will create an impression that crucial decisions which should be made by the Senate Business Committee have been made elsewhere,” said Sifuna.