National Assembly Leaders Meet to Asses Parliaments Legislative Agenda

Top leadership of the National Assembly will begin arriving in Naivasha this afternoon for the 2024 National Assembly Leadership Retreat, scheduled to take place from Monday, October 28, through Wednesday, October 30.

The retreat will be held at in Nakuru County.

This year’s theme, “Re-invigorating Synergy in Leadership for Accelerated Discharge of the Mandate of the National Assembly,” builds on last year’s September retreat theme, “Building Synergy in Leadership: Enhancing the Legislative Agenda in the National Assembly.”

According to the program released by the Office of the National Assembly Speaker, the House leadership will convene to address key legislative priorities and strengthen synergy within the Assembly’s leadership.

“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 National Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula.

Speaker Wetang’ula noted that 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—Speaker 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.

Supporting the retreat’s objectives, Leader of the Majority Party in the National Assembly, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah, highlighted the Thirteenth Parliament’s progress since its inauguration on September 8, 2022.

“Through orientation, induction, capacity-building programs, and leadership forums, the Assembly and its Members have been empowered to fulfill their constitutional duties effectively,” Hon. Ichung’wah noted.

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.

This year’s retreat will also include a session with the Ministry of Energy to discuss critical topics on energy security and infrastructure, aligning with Kenya’s industrialization objectives.

Additionally, Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula, will host a National Assembly Speaker’s Round Table with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) on “Drivers of Competitiveness.”

This engagement aims to align legislative efforts with the private sector’s initiatives to enhance Kenya’s economic performance.

The main objective of the Retreat is to accord the Leadership of the House an opportunity to re-evaluate their roles with regard to the performance of the House, bond and share experiences with colleagues, identify upcoming priority business for the House, and candidly discuss critical matters.

It will also present an opportunity for the House Business Committee (HBC) and Leadership to take stock of the progress made and challenges faced by the National Assembly during the First, Second, and part of the Third Session and chart the way forward.

As well as provide the Assembly’s leadership with the opportunity to prioritize upcoming legislative business for the House, Enhance collaboration and synergy within the House leadership and Strengthen strategic alliances with key stakeholders to promote nation-building.

“The gathering will enable the House leadership to consider the legislative agenda of the House, key Bills, and business to be considered during the remainder of the Third and anticipated business for the fourth Session and explore strategies on how to marshal the legislative agenda,” the program read in part.

The retreat will also serve as a platform for the House Business Committee to evaluate its legislative agenda, formulate strategies to enhance oversight through its committees, and address procedural challenges.

It is expected that the Retreat will help in formulation of plans and strategies on processing Bills and other legislative business of the National Assembly as well as providing a way forward on addressing various legal procedural and structural issues affecting the discharge of the mandate of the House.

Over the past two sessions, the House has faced significant developments, including court rulings on legislative decisions and, notably, the June 25, 2024, protests against the Finance Bill, which temporarily disrupted legislative activities.

Speaker Wetangula noted that these events underscore the need for the second Leadership Retreat before the end of the Third Session, with a focus on evaluating the current state of parliamentary business and building resilience within the leadership.

Hon. Wetang’ula noted, “Such experiences require a reassessment of our approach to parliamentary conduct, both in committees and plenary.

The program will feature sessions led by notable figures, including Speaker Wetang’ula; Deputy Speaker Hon. Gladys J. Boss; Majority Leader Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah; and Minority Leader Hon. Junet Mohamed. Energy sector discussions will be guided by Hon. Opiyo Wandayi, Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, alongside Principal Secretary Mr. Alex Kamau Wachira.

The retreat is expected to yield actionable strategies for processing legislative business, enhancing committee oversight, and developing solutions to procedural challenges.

Structured over three days, the event will include plenary sessions, panel discussions, and interactive dialogues led by experienced resource persons.

Speaker Wetang’ula will officially open the retreat on Monday, with key presentations including: “Securing the Energy Sector for Sustainable Development,” led by Mr. Alex Kamau Wachira, followed by a discussion on parliamentary support for energy and infrastructure.

“Effectively Marshaling and Supporting House Business,” featuring insights from Hon. Moses Cheboi, Chair of the Advocates Complaints Commission and Deputy Speaker Emeritus.

The retreat will conclude with a session chaired by Deputy Speaker Hon. Gladys Boss on KEPSA’s collaboration with Parliament, with Speaker Wetang’ula set to close the three-day event.