Top Senate posts up for grabs after swearing in

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By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU ashiundu@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, March 18  2013 at  19:37

IN SUMMARY

• The Senate rules seen by the Nation prescribe seven standing committees, three sessional committees, and one Rules and Business Committee and a powers and privileges committee.

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There are 20 plum positions up for grabs for the 67 senators.

The posts include the Speaker and a deputy, Senate Majority Leader and a deputy, Senate Minority Leader and a deputy; two senators to sit in the Rules and Business Committee, two party whips for the majority party and minority party, plus their deputies.

The office holders will each get a fully-equipped office—apart from the office they’re entitled to by virtue of being representatives of counties—higher perks and a car paid for by the State.

The Senate rules seen by the Nation prescribe seven standing committees, three sessional committees, and one Rules and Business Committee and a powers and privileges committee.

The chairpersons of these committees will have the crucial job of updating the Senate on the goings-on in their committees. They will respond, in the Senate, to specific queries referred to the respective committees by specific senators.

Though they may not have the clout of the party whips or that of the majority and minority leaders, they will have extra time when addressing the Senate and will also be entitled to higher perks.

The party or coalition of parties with a majority of senators—in this case—the Jubilee Coalition will pick the Senate Majority Leader and a deputy.

The party or coalition with the second largest number of senators –the Cord Coalition –will pick the Senate Minority Leader and a deputy.

These positions are crucial because the appointees will sit in the Rules and Business Committee to decide what the Senate will discuss.

There are also two other senators to be picked to act as part of the Chairpersons Panel.

These two senators will be the equivalent of the Leader of Government Business and the deputy. They cannot be removed, unless they resign, without the whole House agreeing to vote them out.

The flip side of the Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Minority Leader plus their deputies is that they will be at the mercy of their parties.

The parties can decide to kick them out. All they will need to do is to notify Parliament about the change of guard.

“The Whip of the Majority Party shall forthwith, upon a decision made by the party communicate to the Speaker, in writing, the decision made together with the minutes of the meeting at which the decision was made,” the Standing Orders direct.

For the Speaker’s post, a person qualified to be a Member of Parliament (either a member of the National Assembly or Senate) will need to pick nomination forms from the office of the Clerk of the Senate, and seek the support of two Senators-elect, for them to qualify to get their names on the ballot papers.

Senate Standing Orders give Clerk of the Senate, Jeremiah Nyegenye, the power to preside over the House sitting until after election of the Speaker. There are 47 elected senators, 20 will be nominated-18 women, one youth and one with a disability.