Kenya: House Speaker defends MPs role on reforms

Mr Marende told Dr Kofi Annan “Parliament had played its part and that the rest were the roles of the other arms of Government”.

He told the former UN Secretary-General political parties must build consensus to speedily implement reforms.

The Executive has blamed Parliament, which shot down a Bill on Special Tribunal in February, for blocking efforts to try suspects locally.

However, Marende said Parliament had adopted the report on the Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence chaired by Justice Philip Waki, but disagreements on how to try the perpetrators had blocked further progress.

“Efforts for consensus building among different parliamentary parties on the enactment of the relevant statutes as required in the report are ongoing,” said Marende in a statement released by his office yesterday.

Annan had paid the Speaker a courtesy call at his office in Parliament Buildings, Nairobi. Journalists were barred from the meeting that lasted for about half an hour.

“The Speaker advised that for purposes of cohesion and quick movement on the reform front, political parties required regular Parliamentary Group meetings, to help expedite building of consensus that will lead to the realisation of requisite legislative framework,” read the statement.

Enacted bills

Marende defended the performance of Parliament and listed key reform Bills the House had enacted.

He cited the enactment of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Act 2008 that provides a roadmap for constitutional review and a referendum.

The amendment, he told Annan, also created the Interim Independent Electoral Commission and the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission.

These were part of proposals by the Independent Review Commission chaired by Justice Johann Kriegler.

Annan, according to the statement, praised the Speaker for making “Solomonic and judicious” decisions. He commended the Speaker and Parliament for pushing the reform agenda.

The Standard