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The Senate has approved a list of five lawmakers to represent Kenya in the Pan-African Parliament.
In his motion, Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale who doubles up as the Chief whip said parties and coalitions had settled on Margaret Kamar (Jubilee), Danson Mungatana (UDA), Rahab Mukami (UDA), Joseph Majimbo (Ford Kenya) and Esther Passaris (ODM).
“Pursuant to Article 5 of the protocol of the Treaty establishing the African economic community relating to the Pan African members, the Senate approves the appointment of the MPs to the parliament,” read the motion.
“Parties had consulted, coalitions agreed and finally recommended the five members for appointment.”
Kamar lauded political parties over how they handled the nomination by allocating more seats to women.
“Out of the five members, the majority membership is female and this means there is a very strong recognition that we can all operate equally as a house,” she said.
The list was forwarded from the National Assembly to the House for approval.
Pan-African Parliament also known as Africa Parliament exercises oversight and has advisory and consultative powers.
It held its inaugural session in 2004.
Each of the member states that ratified the protocol establishing is entitled to five slots in the parliament which sits in Midrand, South Africa.
Initially, the seat of the Pan-African Parliament was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The aim of establishing it was to create a space where people from all states of Africa could meet, deliberate and pass some policy on issues that affect the entire continent.
Members meet at least twice in an ordinary session within one year.