House gets Sh800m from US for Constitution work

Parliament on Wednesday got a major boost when the United States gave it about Sh800 million to support its implementation of the new Constitution.

US ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger announced the funding, which will be channelled through the State University of New York-Kenya, in Nairobi on Wednesday.

National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and Clerk Patrick Gichohi welcomed the donation.

Commending Mr Marende and the 10th Parliament for “strong and historic leadership in Kenya’s momentous governance reform process,” Mr Ranneberger said the money would go towards supporting the work of Parliament to implement the new Constitution.

“We will intensify support for parliamentary committees and research and technical assistance for parliamentarians. We will build the capacity of staff and other technical units of Parliament,” he said.

“I want to emphasise that as a partner, my government’s approach is to help Parliament to implement its plans and agenda — what Parliament has identified as its priorities,” the envoy said.

The work of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution and the growing assertiveness of oversight committees were testimony to Parliament’s leadership in improving governance, he said.

“The Kenyan Parliament has facilitated and led the reform agenda by example. We are delighted to note the very bold reforms that the Speaker and other leaders of Parliament have put in place in a very short space of time,” he added.

For the last 10 years, the US has partnered the Kenyan Parliament through the Kenya Parliamentary Strengthening Programme to support reforms.

“Today the Parliament is unquestionably more accessible, more accountable and more independent,” said Mr Ranneberger.

Mr Marende cited the Sh7 million press centre, staff capacity building and structural reforms as some of the fruits of that collaboration.

Thanking the US for its support, Mr Marende said the next area of focus would be the establishment of the senate and sustaining the reforms.