The National Assembly on Wednesday, October 12, approved the names of six members who will serve in the speaker's panel- which supports the speaker in the administration of the house.
The panel will comprise Gilgil Member of Parliament (MP) Martha Wangari ( first chairperson), Ugenya MP David Ochieng, Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, Daadab MP Farah Maalim, Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma and Kitui Soth MP Rachel Nyamai.
The six will serve as members of the Chairperson’s panel in the tenure of the 13th parliament. The panel is chaired by the Speaker and deputized by the Deputy Speaker.
Key among the functions of the panel members include assisting the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker in presiding over house sittings.
In addition, the panel meets on a weekly basis to consider arising issues and the challenges of presiding in the House.
In the absence of both the speaker and the deputy speaker, a member of this panel is assigned the role of presiding over a plenary session or chairing the committee of the whole house.
They are tasked with ensuring decorum and moderating house sittings just like the speaker.
Members of this panel are nominated by the speaker in consultation with the parliamentary parties. They can, however, be replaced prematurely through the orders of the speaker.
They are entitled to exercise all powers exercisable by the Deputy Speaker, according to the standing orders that govern the operation of parliament.
In the Senate, Speaker Amason Kingi nominated four senators to serve in the speaker's panel.
The four are Garissa Senator Abdul Haji, Bomet Senator Hilary Sigei and nominated senators Veronica Maina and Catherine Mumma.
The approval of the members was part of a busy day that saw the house approve several committees including the committee on appointments that is expected to commence vetting of the persons nominated to the cabinet.
