Let MPs agree to share office space, parking until more is found

Devolution is not an event. Devolved governance did not just happen or drop in unexpectedly. The process was kick-started with the dawn of multipartyism and the Bomas of Kenya sittings that hammered out a New Deal for the future direction and prosperity of this country.

That is why it is surprising that there is a scramble for office and parking space for and by legislators at Parliament Buildings.

Members of the Tenth Parliament, when passing legislation to bring operations and elections in line with the new constitutional dispensation knew the exact number of members that the 11th Parliament would be.

They were alive to the fact that there was much needed expansion of the assembly building itself as well as amenities and should have planned for the eventuality.

Sadly, the Grand Coalition government expended a lot of time, energy and other resources settling scores with political foes, and ensuring a steady stream of slush funds to reward self, family and cronies. The electorate spoke loudly and only returned 76 members of the last House.

Exalted status

Today, there is insufficient office space for the expanded Parliament and Senate.

Indeed, some senators have loudly bemoaned the lowly facilities that “do not befit” their newly-acquired and exalted status. However, be that as it may, moaning won’t help. Protestations will not build or acquire more leg-room. And neither will disruption of parliamentary business.

Will it not make sense that for the time being, those with offices could share the premises until more is secured? They often share limousines to functions, share podiums during campaigns and lobby meeting rooms. Surely, some friendly MPs can afford to squeeze an extra seat and desk for a colleague so that the business of legislation can proceed unencumbered.

What about making a common meeting room for short-time face-to-face meetings so as to reduce the number of constituents and hangers-on clogging the corridors? And being representatives of very specific electal units, why not make time for such meetings to be held at constituency offices. For, was that not the reason they were erected in the first place?

It will also make sense that those MPs and senators who already have offices elsewhere give first priority to newcomers into Continental House and Harambee Sacco Plaza.

Lack of vision

Then the MPs should prioritise efforts to either acquire or build extra office space since on any one week, they have business to attend to in the precincts of Parliament.

There was an oversight and it won’t do any good to poke fingers in the lethargy or lack of vision of their predecessors. Spare them the blushes and let the current Lower and Upper House members make the most of what is available and budget for expansion of Parliamentary facilities in this and subsequent years.