Rampant absenteeism rocks Parliament teams

MPs skipping committee sittings will soon have themselves to blame after the House threatened to crack the whip on those whose performance will be found wanting.

Committee chairmen have been instructed to compile lists of lawmakers who skip sittings for action by the Committee on Selection.

National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah on Tuesday fired a warning shot at MPs who have neglected their committee duties and only appear to sign for allowances.

MPs are entitled to between Sh7,500 per committee sitting, capped at Sh120,000 per month.

Chairpersons of committees, however, have enhanced allowances of Sh15,000 per sitting to a maximum of Sh240,000 per month.

Ichung’wah said lawmakers who are fond of pocketing committee sitting allowances without attending meetings will soon face serious sanctions.

Parliament mostly transacts its business in committees that play a critical role in legislating and monitoring of government spending.

“We have indicated that immediately after the short recess, the selection committee shall be sitting to reevaluate the performance of members in committees,” Ichung’wah said.

“I say reevaluate because reevaluation process will mean not just attendance but how actively you participate in committee sittings. There are members who appear in the committees, sign and exit. That is not participation, that is attendance.”

The Committee on Selection is tasked with nominating members to serve in teams, save for the membership of the House Business Committee and Committee on Appointments.

It is chaired by the Leader of the Majority.

“This is just to give notice to members it will not be business as usual, chairs will share with their Whips particular members they have problems with,” Ichung’wah said.

The audit of committee meeting is expected to unearth details of how MPs pocket illegal allowances without attending meetings or sitting through sessions.

MPs found culpable could find themselves removed and placed in less demanding committees by their respective parties.

According to the Standing Orders, if a member fails to attend four consecutive sittings of a committee without the written permission of the chairperson or the permission of the Speaker, the MP shall be replaced with the approval of the House.

The evaluation, Ichung’wah said, will also extend to the plenary sittings where at times the Speaker is forced to wait for minutes to attain a quorum.

“We will also look at members attendance in the chambers, because we have a challenge, many times, the Speaker has to wait for members to come in after 2.30pm.”

The National Assembly requires at least 50 members to transact business.

The warning came on the day the House reconstituted a number of key committees.

In the changes announced by Ichung'wah, Rongo MP Paul Abuor was moved from Members Service Committee to replace Mumias East counterpart Peter Salasya in the Regional Development Committee.

Abuor praised the Minority leadership for considering him for the new committee after one year at the Members Service Committee.

"I thank Wandayi and Junet Mohamed, ODM Minority leader and Whip, respectively, for appointing me to the Regional Development Committee at this crucial moment when we intend to strengthen the regional authorities and make them more efficient in their operations through a Bill currently in Parliament," Aburo said.

"I also thank my brother Ichung’wah for the timely confirmation of the same. I undertake to carry out my mandate diligently."