Marende defends House on reforms

Speaker Kenneth Marende has defended Parliament against accusations of being anti-reformist by some speakers at the Annual Jurists Conference in Mombasa. He dismissed insinuations that the Legislature and the Executive are trailing the Judiciary in reforms. “It is the 10th Parliament that set the pace for the reforms that are currently being witnessed in the country,” said Marende.

Speaking while closing the conference yesterday, the Speaker said the Legislature in December 2008 reviewed the Standing Orders, making Parliament "more vibrant", a move that cause anxiety in the Executive. He said the review of the Standing Orders, the Executive, including Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has been complaining that Parliament is pushing them too hard.