US’s hand in assertive Kenya Parliament

The new rules also ushered in the House the Broadcasting Committee that introduced the live radio and televised proceedings of parliamentary proceedings. Also included in the standing orders is the power by MPs to summon the House while it is on recess, and seek expertise from outside Parliament. It also expanded the departmental committees to 27. They are also open to the public.

But it is the influence from the US legislative system that informs most of the key elements of the new standing orders. The Budget Committee is tailored along the US Budget Office which analyses each vote item by item. It is this standing order that resulted in the rejection of Sh31 million included in this year’s budget for the renovation of the private residence of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Mr Gichohi notes that 65 per cent of Parliament’s work is financial, hence the need to come up with the office. The scrutiny of all the 40 votes by the Budget Committee is only comparable to the United Kingdom’s House of Commons, he said. The clerk praises the new standing orders saying they put Kenya at par with other parliaments in the Commonwealth.

The live transmission of parliamentary business is also borrowed from the US. Under the project, USAid is also modernising the Hansard section under the Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit (PBU). Through the House Live Broadcasting project, there will be a seamless interface between the Hansard and related audio-visual content.

The PBU is expected to become a fully-fledged parliamentary media service complete with newsroom staff and infrastructure. Apart from undertaking live and recorded radio programmes and television broadcasts of parliamentary business, PBU will also cover parliamentary committee meetings and manage pre- and post-production processes.

Just like in British and American jurisdictions, Kenyans will now have first-hand access to parliamentary proceedings produced fully from media facilities situated at Parliament Buildings. There are experts from America stationed at Parliament implementing this project. The intent of Parliament is to have its own television and radio channels. The next level is to put media and related content online.