Senate boasts of strong blend of leaders

By Stephen Makabila          

The Senate, Kenya’s most powerful institution after the presidency under the 2010 Constitution, and which has an oversight role, has a rich blend of membership.

Membership of the House consists of the country’s immediate former Attorney General Amos Wako, senior counsel, professors, financial experts, seasoned and well horned politicians, the aged and experienced as well as young leaders bubbling with energy.

The House has equally some of the leading and richest business magnets, civil society gurus and former administrators, and all cut out as a perfect mix.

Talking of the blend and the age bracket difference to be particular, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, a lawyer, says the mix was a good one as the young and energetic will provide the necessary speed as the aged and experienced give wisdom.

President of the East African Law Society James Mwamu says the country stands to benefit from the Senate’s rich blend, especially when it comes to playing an oversight role against the 11th Parliament, which he feels was already ‘running amok’ on salaries.

Rational outcome

“With such a blend, the Senate can only be rational and not emotional. I would be glad if such a blend was reflective in our National Assembly as well, where most legislations would be made,” added Mwamu.

Moi University law lecturer Titus Bittok argues the blend is a blessing in disguise for the country, as chances are that the House would stand up against any move to water down devolution.

“It’s like a referral house dealing with national issues and the mix will always help in bringing out the diverse expertise they possess,” added Bittok.

Starting with parties, the senators are drawn from at least nine political outfits, with ODM and TNA being dominant.

Other parties represented in the Senate include URP, UDF, Wiper, Ford-Kenya, Kanu, Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) and Narc.

Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, who is the Baringo County Senator, Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula are party leaders in the House. Kiraitu is the leader of APK while Wetangula leads Ford-Kenya.

Though no woman was elected as Senator, 16 women were nominated by various parties to take care of the gender mix as a provision in the Constitution.

Women nominated senators are equally an interesting blend in their own right.

Seasoned leaders such as former Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation chairperson Zipporah Kittony will work with youthful ones such as journalist Naisula Lesuuda.

“Although the nomination slots could not take women to the constitutional gender provision, it’s a good start and we hope in coming years, gender equity will also be achieved in the Senate,” says Dr Jane Thuo, the Executive Director of the Association of Media Women in Kenya.

ODM Nominated Senator Harold Kipchumba is among those representing the physically challenged in the House. Samburu Senator Sammy Leshore also uses a wheelchair owing to a criminal attack he suffered some years back.

Being a House to legislate Bills, it has adequate members with some professional background in law. Among lawyers in the House include Wako, Murkomen, Kiraitu, Wetangula, James Orengo (Siaya), Hassan Omar (Mombasa), Otieno Kajwang’ (Homa-Bay) and Stephen Sang (Nandi).

Others are Majority Leader in the Senate Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka-Nithi) and Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi).

Talking of experience in Government, the Senate has nine ministers who served under the Grand Coalition Government.

These include Wetangula, Orengo, Kajwang’, Kiraitu and Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, John Munyes, Chris Obure and Yusuf Haji. A former minister in the Ninth Parliament, Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe, and Stephen ole Ntutu of Narok who was a minister in the Kanu regime, also falls under this group.

Academicians include John Lonyangapuo (West-Pokot County) and Bomet County’s Wilfred Lesan. While Prof Lonyangapuo taught at Moi University before becoming a PS, Prof Lesan, until his entry into politics, was a lecturer at the University of Nairobi.

Experience in the Senate comes through a seasoned politician like GG Kariuki, the Senator for Laikipia County and Kakamega County’s Boni Khalwale, an astute debater.

The Senate is also a good case study of the class divide in Kenya, or the gap between the rich and average Kenyans who stand slightly above the majority poor.

Naivasha talks

At the recent induction in Naivasha, most of the Senators came in Range Rovers, high-end Mercedes Benzes, Hummers, Volkswagen Touregs and Toyota Prados. There are those who were, however, dropped in less expensive vehicles, matching their financial standing in society.

But despite the differences, the Senators know they have a common agenda as representatives of the people.

During the recent Naivasha retreat, for example, the senators laughed heartily with each other during tea breaks, cracking jokes and exchanging ideas to move the country forward.

The Senate’s role includes representing the counties, and serving to protect the interests of the counties and their governments.

It participates in the law-making function of Parliament by considering, debating and approving Bills concerning counties, as provided in Articles 109 to 113 of the Constitution.

The Senate equally determines the allocation of national revenue among counties, as provided in Article 217, and exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to the county governments.