Marende says move to amend Constitution okay

National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende has asked Kenyans not to “demonise” the proposal to amend the Constitution.

Mr Marende said as a “living document…enacted by Kenyans to help them regulate their affairs” and depending on the circumstances and developments, there would be nothing wrong with changing the Constitution.

“So it should not be demonised that anybody wants for example to amend the Constitution. If they make the requisite criteria, from the Speaker’s position there will be nothing wrong with it,” said Mr Marende.

“That is as far as I can go. As to whether or not it is good I can’t say,” said Mr Marende, who said he would maintain a “non-partisan, partial and disinterested” position as  Speaker.

He spoke after a meeting with Peter Milliken, former speaker of the House of Commons of Canada Thursday, who has been meeting Parliamentary staff to share and discuss best practices and lessons learned from Canada on the future bicameral Parliament.

Mr Marende said Parliament will soon be advertising vacancies for staff as it prepares for the establishment of a Senate after the next General Election.

The National Assembly currently has about 500 staff and this number will likely be doubled as the Senate, which will also be housed there, is established.

According to Mr Milliken, the role of Parliament will change significantly with the removal of Cabinet from the National Assembly, meaning it has more time to concentrate on law-making.

“I think it will be quite a costly experience because you are setting up a legislature with the two houses and all that will run it,” said Mr Milliken.

He said the transition to having two Houses of Parliament as well as county assemblies would be a huge and possibly difficult process given that they have to be in place before the elections.

“I’m going to be optimistic and say it’s going to work out well for you,” said Mr Milliken, who is the longest serving Speaker of the House of Commons in Canadian history.

Mr Marende said the renovation and modernisation of the new chamber, where the expanded National Assembly will be meeting, is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

There will also be renovations to the old chamber, which could sit up to 100 senators if the Bill to amend the Constitution is approved in Parliament in the coming days.

Mr Marende, however, said Parliament is yet to receive the published Bill, which is scheduled to be introduced soon as after sittings resume on October 11.

The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2011 also seeks to address gender provisions on elected seats in Parliament and Senate by providing for the nomination of as many members as necessary to ensure that no gender enjoys more than two-thirds majority.

It has been criticised by a section of MPs as well as the National Council of Churches of Kenya.