Serah Kioko will go down in history as one of Kenya's first woman to sit in the chambers of parliament and administer the oath of office to elected Members of Parliament.
The Acting Clerk of the National Assembly was thrust into the limelight when she took over from Micheal Sialai who was appointed as Kenya's High Commissioner to Namibia.
On Thursday, September 8, Ms. Kioko administered oath of office to the 349 elected MPs, as the 13 Parliament held its first sitting.
However, an acting clerk can only hold office for a period not exceeding five years, although the term can be extended if the Public Service Commission decides otherwise.
In the event that the Parliamentary Service Commission confirms her as a substantive clerk, she will serve as the seventh clerk of the National Assembly.
The clerk is in charge of administrative procedures of the National Assembly according to the Standing Orders and oversees the day-to-day activities of the House.
Ms. Kioko has over 28 years of experience working on parliament premises. She has served in various capacities in three regimes and held positions including the pioneer Director for Legislative and Procedural Services in the Senate when Ekwe Ethuro was the speaker.
She was also nominated to receive the Elder of the Order of Burning Spear (EBS) award during last year's Mashujaa day celebrations together with her Senate counterpart Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly Jeremiah Ndombi.
Serah revealed how the first time in 1999 she entered the Ninth Parliament, where she sat with other women at the Clerks’ table inside the chamber.
“Although there were a few senior female officers, it wasn’t easy for us. However, duty called us to the chamber and we had to go,” she added.
She also became the first woman to serve in the position, setting up and coordinating Senate operations during the first year of devolution, as the head of the core directorate.
Kioko was also the first woman deputy clerk in the National Assembly, a job she says she was reluctant in fear that most officers in charge were men.
“We were a bit hesitant to go to the chamber, we didn't know how to do it, the chamber was predominantly men, strong men,”
She says being a clerk of the National Assembly is not a walk in the park, as one needs to have the experience and necessary qualifications as well as to master the standing orders of the House.
The National Assembly clerk ensures that the National Assembly's calendar is prepared on time, conducting House Business weekly and being in charge of proceedings as well as conducting parliamentary elections.
