The jostling for key leadership positions in the bicameral Parliament within the Kenya Kwanza camp is set to climax this weekend.
The coalition's team led by President William Ruto will retreat on Friday afternoon to decide on who leads the troops in the National Assembly and the Senate.
The two-day meeting in Naivasha will also see the MPs agree on individuals to take up the positions as commissioners in the Parliamentary Service Commission.
PSC is established under Article 127 of the Constitution and is charged with ensuring the smooth functioning of the two Houses.
The commission is also mandated to constitute offices in the parliamentary service, appoint and supervise office holders and prepare annual estimates of expenditure of the parliamentary service.
Chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly with clerk of the Senate as the secretary, the commission has 10 members who are picked from elected senators and parliamentarians.
Elected members from a party or coalition forming the national government is entitled to four slots while the minority accounts for three positions.
Other positions up for grabs are those of the majority leader, majority whip, minority leader and committee heads of select and departmental committees in both houses.
Some legislators have confided in us that Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wa has been settled on as the majority leader as South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro takes up the majority whip.
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya is the preferred candidate for the minority leader’s seat.
Speaking to the Star, Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, however, refused to divulge about the agreement saying they are yet to approve on any names for particular positions.
Admitting that lobbying was ongoing, Wamatinga said they will be waiting for the President who is their party leader to provide directions during the meeting.
He also maintained that allocation of such key positions will be distributed equally and fairly such that every region is well represented.
“As at now we do not have any names, in fact, the names that will be given will be a shocker to many but you can be assured you are not going to find these top positions going to regions where they are already represented,” he said.
He said the distribution of the positions to various committees will depend on how the executive arm of the government has or intends to allocate positions to individuals in the government.
Osoro confirmed that Ruto is the convener of the meeting, adding that by Saturday everyone will have known the roles they are going to play in their respective houses.
“It is not that we are expecting him, he is the one to open and chair the meeting since he is our party and coalition leader,” he said.
He also confirmed that lobbying and interests were high and intense in Parliament as compared to Senate arguing some of the senators will be resigning to join cabinet.
Ruto’s meeting will be third since being elected as the President
He held an inaugural bonding meeting with the elected leaders at his Karen residence a week after the conclusion of the August 9 general election.
During the meeting which was also attended by elected governors, Ruto used it to explain his agenda before the Parliament and county assemblies.
On September 17, the President also called up another forum before the first house sittings where the deal to have Moses Wetang'ula and Amason Kingi vie for Speakers of National Assembly and Senate respectively was sealed.
Kenya Kwanza boasts of 179 MPs and 36 Senators against 170 and 30 of their Azimio counterparts.
At the National Assembly, there are 43 committees while Senate has 23. Each of the committees will have about 16 members.
-Edited by SKanyara
