Members of Parliament converge in Mombasa this week for a workshop to sharpen their legislative skills.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula said the conference is aimed at building the capacity of members of the 13th Parliament in aspects of good parliamentary practice and national values.

The event’s theme is: Equipping the 21st century legislator for effective service delivery. It will be opened today  by President William Ruto at Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort’s Convention Centre.

Jointly co-hosted by the National Assembly and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), the event takes place at the start of the term of every parliamentary term, as is the practice within the Commonwealth.

The forum comes hot on the heels of a week-long House Committees’ Induction that ended on Saturday.

Wetangula said:  “We have invited our partners, the United States of America’s National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI), with a view to benefiting from best practices in the US congress, particularly on matters touching on bicameralism and multiparty democracy”. 

During the four-day event, members of the National Assembly will interact with speakers of parliaments in the East African Community and the continent at large. 

“Members will also be able to engage players from the other arms of government and experts on democratic governance,” he held.

 The Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, said some post-election realities are challenging to first-time members and require timely interventions. 

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will give a presentation on the role of the Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary. His office chairs and co-ordinates National Government legislative agenda across all ministries and State departments, in consultation with coalition leaders in Parliament.

 Stephen Twigg, Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), will give a presentation on the legislature in the 21st century.

 Other contributors include Kevin Andrews (a former MP, Australia) and Sylvia Lucas, deputy chairperson at National Council of Provinces, South Africa.

Yet other presenters include Chief Justice Martha Koome, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir, former Director of Parliamentary Budget Office Phyllis Makau, Media Council CEO David Omwoyo, National Security Advisor Monica Juma and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire.