Standoff in Parliament over clerk recruitment

Members of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) are divided over whether the National Assembly Clerk can be picked from the Senate.

The interviews that were to kick off on April 11 were called off to allow the commission to consult further on the matter.

There is a push to have the holder of the office come from the Senate, a move opposed by some commissioners, who feel it will be unfair to bypass those who have worked in the National Assembly for years.

Speaker Justin Muturi, who chairs the commission, yesterday told People Daily that the process has been postponed to give the commissioners time to explore the suitable method to appoint the new clerk.

“We want to be as fair as possible to everyone. That is  why we have stayed the interviews to allow our officers to explore how the process works in other jurisdictions,” Muturi said.

 He added that the commission will be seeking professional advice from other bodies like universities, Judicial Service Commission among others on how the appointments are done.

“We are preparing a paper that will guide on the process. We want to be as fair as possible to all the candidates,” Muturi added.

PSC consists of Muturi as the chair, Taveta MP Naomi Shaban, (vice-chair) while members include, Adan Keynan (Eldas), Beth Mugo (Nominated), Benson Momanyi (Borabu), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho Senator), George Khaniri (Vihiga Senator) and former MPs Rachel Ameso and Samuel Chepkong’a.

A source privy to the going-ons said PSC is seeking to imitate other jurisdictions namely the House of Commons and House of Lords while picking the next Clerk to replace Michael Sialai, whose contract expires in July.  National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya is said to be of the view that the holder of the office cannot be picked from the Upper House.