House approves team to pick Eala representatives
What you need to know:
- In the 11th parliament, Jubilee had five slots while the opposition had four.
- Adan Duale however said that the numbers for Jubilee has increased and therefore they will take six slots and not five.
- The move was rejected by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed who said nothing has changed much in terms of numbers hence the opposition will still have its four slots.
The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) will have to wait longer before it starts transacting any business as the process of nominating Kenya’s representatives to the regional assembly is set to start a fresh after the process failed in the 11th parliament.
The National Assembly Wednesday approved five nominees to the joint parliamentary select committee that will be responsible for advertising of the positions afresh and also vet the nominees.
The five members from the National Assembly include Katoo Ole Metito (Kajiado South), Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa), Dan Maanzo (Makueni) and Florence Mutua (Busia).
The five members will now be joined by other five from the senate.
MORE SLOTS
Kenya has nine slots in the regional assembly with Jubilee saying that it has to be given six slots this time because their numbers have increased after the August poll compared to the 11th parliament.
In the 11th parliament, Jubilee had five slots while the opposition had four.
Leader of majority in the National Assembly Adan Duale however said that the numbers for Jubilee has increased and therefore they will take six slots and not five.
The move was rejected by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed who said nothing has changed much in terms of numbers hence the opposition will still have its four slots.
“The dynamics have not changed much for jubilee to demand for six slots, actually more members made it to parliament as independent candidates,” Junet said.
Mr Junet hinted that the opposition will once again nominate Kennedy Musyoka the son of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Dr Oburu Oginga who is the elder brother of opposition leader Raila Odinga.
“Mr Speaker the name of Kennedy Musyoka and Dr Oburu Odinga must be in that list, so this house should support them” Junet said.
ROW
Mr Duale said it’s a shame that Kenya is holding the regional assembly at ransom. The Assembly currently cannot transact any business including election of their speaker, form committees or transact any other business without representatives from Kenya.
Jubilee and the opposition failed to agree over the list of nominees in June just before the 11th parliament adjourned sine die to give MPs time to campaign for the August 8 poll.
Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria said it will be unfortunate for the Kenya to participate in the coming Eala games in Tanzania yet it has not submitted its nominees to the regional assembly.
Nominees for other member states had been sworn in Arusha Tanzania, the Assembly cannot elect a speaker, form committees or conduct any other business unless members from all five states are present.
“Eala is stuck. They cannot even choose a new speaker and Kenya is taking the blame. We want to move fast and present our names by end of November,” Mr Duale said.
