Walukhe, Keynan battle for Parliamentary Service Commission slot

Sirisia MP John Walukhe and Eldas MP Adan Keynan. [File, Standard]

Two Jubilee MPs are embroiled in a battle over the lucrative position of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).

Four PSC slots are reserved for the parliamentary parties in government while leading opposition parties have three slots.

Long-serving Eldas MP Adan Keynan now in his fifth term and who served in PSC in the last Parliament is battling for the Jubilee Party slot with Sirisia MP John Walukhe.

Keynan has been at the commission four times and this will be his fifth attempt to retain the position.

Walukhe, is said to enjoy the backing of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga and ODM camp due to its strategic Western turf while Keynan's Northern Kenya block is seeking his retention in the commission as a reward for the region's overwhelming support for Raila's candidature in the August 9 General Election.

"We met with Raila at Safari Park last Thursday and he instructed Azimio secretary General and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed to write to the PSC giving my name as the nominee for the coalition, I also have the backing of my party," said the Sirisia MP.

Walukhe has promised that if elected to PSC he will champion the interests of MPs, especially for the resumption of the sitting allowances and all the perks they were initially entitled to.

"I also want to ensure that those staff who have stayed on contract for a long time are employed on a permanent basis and ensure career progression and promotion system is effective," he said.

Other parties that have picked nominees to PSC are Wiper which has settled on Mavoko MP Patrick Makau while ODM has fronted Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga.

"Makau is our nominee he has a lot of experience to serve in that position having been an MP for the last 10 years," said Wiper Secretary General Shakila Abdalla.

The PSC consists of the Speaker of the National Assembly as the Chairman, seven members appointed by Parliament and one woman and one man appointed by Parliament from people who are experienced in public affairs but are not Members of Parliament with the Clerk of the Senate serving as the Secretary to the Commission.

The Commission's roles include providing services and facilities to ensure the efficient and effective running of Parliament, constituting offices in the parliamentary service, and appointing and supervising office holders.

PSC is also mandated to prepare annual estimates of expenditure of the parliamentary service and submitting them to the National Assembly for approval and exercising budgetary control over the service.

The Commission is tasked with undertaking, singly or jointly with other relevant organisations, programmes to promote the ideals of parliamentary democracy; and performing functions necessary for the well-being of the members and staff of Parliament.