The National Assembly on Wednesday, January 5 resumed the debate on the Political Parties Amendment Bill 2021.
In an earlier gazette by Speaker Justin Muturi, he issued new directives to be followed by members of parliament during the special sitting to avoid a repeat of the chaos witnessed in the house on December 29.
Kenyans.co.ke takes a look at the men and women who are tasked with maintaining order in the house of honorables.
The Sergeant-at-Arms (SAA) is a Parliamentary officer stationed in parliament. They are the men and women dawned in green uniform, stationed in parliament to quell any pandemonium in the house.
Staffing at the upper echelons was done by the President, who appoints the Chief Serjeant-at-Arms and other Senior Serjeant-at-Arms attached from intelligence services.
The rest of the staff are recruited through the Public Service Commission (PSC) or transfers by the Directorate of Personnel Management (DPM) in OP.
The Origin
Inherited from the colonial government, the office of the SAA was reserved for intelligence officers. Its clerks and Hansard reporters were regarded as the only officers of the August House.
The officer was charged with the internal and external security of Parliament, including aiding in averting terror attacks. They were further mandated to enforce orders of the speaker.
As parliamentary debates became more explosive during President Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi's regime, more skilled officers were required to process members accessing the parliament buildings.
However, the 1998 bombing of the American Embassy necessitated for a review of security at parliament buildings.
Consequently, all the Intelligence Officers were removed and their place taken over by newly recruited officers from the military and an Integrated Security Surveillance System installed with very scanty preparedness.
Qualifications
Today, the SAA is reserved to individuals who have retired from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), police service or any other officials with experience in security.
Applicants of the job, must have served in the grade of Senior Sergeant at Arms for at least three years or in the disciplined forces for a period of not less than five years in a commensurate position.
They must be holders of a Bachelor's degree in Security Management or Investigations, Criminology or Forensic studies from a recognized institution.
In addition, they are required to have certificates in Management, fire fighting, first aid and one on exemplary service.
Sergeant At Arms roles in parliament span across ceremonial and custodial duties. These include carrying the mace from the house, ensuring suspended members are ejected from the house, and house keeping functions.
