House leadership meets to strategise

The top leadership of the National Assembly will this week retreat to Nakuru for a meeting to address key legislative priorities and strengthen collaboration.

The retreat, scheduled to take place from today through Wednesday, October 30 is themed, “Re-Invigorating Synergy in Leadership for Accelerated Discharge of the Mandate of the National Assembly,” and builds on last year’s September retreat theme, “Building Synergy in Leadership: Enhancing the Legislative Agenda in the National Assembly.”

A programme released by the Office of the Speaker indicates that the House leadership will convene to address key legislative priorities and strengthen synergy within the Assembly’s leadership.

Strategic direction

“The retreat provides an opportunity for the House leadership to map out a strategic direction for managing legislative business through the remainder of the Third Session and into the Fourth Session, set to run from November 5th to December 12th, 2024,” stated Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

According to Wetang’ula, the retreat is expected to yield critical outcomes, including strategies to address challenges encountered during the Third Session and to advance plans for processing bills and other legislative priorities.

“It will also enable the leadership to formulate approaches for more effective and timely oversight by the National Assembly through its committees, as well as to tackle procedural and structural issues affecting the House’s mandate,” he added.

In response to public concerns over energy issues—including high costs and frequent blackouts—Wetang’ula has invited the Energy Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Energy, and the CEO of Kenya Power to discuss improvements in the sector and address future needs that could bolster manufacturing.

“It’s time for bipartisan cooperation to prioritize essential legislation and foster partnerships that benefit the public. We aim to address challenges such as unemployment, impacts of the tax regime, and revenue-raising measures that influence the business environment,” emphasized the Speaker.

Induction

Supporting the retreat’s objectives, Leader of the Majority Party in the National Assembly. Kimani Ichung’wah, said, “Through orientation, induction, capacity-building programs, and leadership forums, the Assembly and its Members have been empowered to fulfill their constitutional duties effectively.

He added that the initial induction retreats for Members and Presiding Officers, along with specialized committee orientations, provided critical training on parliamentary procedures, law-making, and budget processes.

Under the theme “Re-invigorating Synergy in Leadership for Accelerated Discharge of the National Assembly’s Mandate,” this year’s retreat builds on last year’s emphasis on cohesion, aiming to further strengthen the Assembly’s strategic direction. The office of the National Assembly Clerk, which is coordinating the program, described the mid-term as an essential phase for self-assessment within the National Assembly.

“The trends across jurisdictions demonstrate that the mid-term of a Parliament is a ripe moment for self-assessment. While fatigue may take a toll, the maturity reached at this point can be harnessed for impactful legislative outcomes,” a concept note from the office read in part.

Adding that: “In this regard, the Second Leadership Retreat will be inspired by the theme: “Re-invigorating Synergy in Leadership for accelerated discharge of the mandate of the National Assembly”,”

This annual retreat brings together the National Assembly’s Presidium, House leadership, House Business Committee, and Committee Chairpersons, facilitating collaboration and fostering a strategic approach to legislative goals.

“There is no doubt that the orientation, induction, and inaugural leadership retreat laid a solid foundation that positioned Members on the right trajectory as they embarked on their parliamentary duties,” the concept note details.