National Assembly Speaker the Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang'ula has called on the Members of the National Assembly to rise to the occasion and transact as much business as possible during the Second Session of the 13th Parliament in the greater interest of the Kenyan people.

In his welcoming remarks to the House after long Christmas recess, Speaker Wetang’ula observed that although first session was short, he was impressed that the House jelled, put in place structures, and laid the foundation necessary for seamless discharge of its constitutional mandate.

“Indeed, over that brief period, the House transacted various business, among them the consideration of various appointments to state offices, introduction and processing of Bills, Petitions and individual Members' Motions among other key business,” said Speaker Wetang’ula.

Notably, the Speaker reckoned that the House had passed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2022 on 1st December 2022, of which during the recess, the Senate considered and passed in the form passed by the House. The law will guide the recruitment of the new Commissioners after the term of the previous commission lapsed last month.

“The law was subsequently assented to by His Excellency the President on 23rd January 2023 and is now in operation,” he said.

In light of the priority business already before the House- citing  the Supplementary Estimates for the Financial Year 2022/2023, the upcoming 2023 Budget Policy Statement and the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy, including  other budget-related matters, the Speaker observed that such business will remain at the top of the House  agenda between now and June 2023.

Moreover, as the House commenced the Second Session, he pointed out that  going by the Standing Orders and practices of the House, certain business that was not dispensed with at the end of the last Session had now lapsed.

For greater clarity, the Speaker stated that the business that lapsed includes all Motions, Requests for Statements and Questions.

“To this end, any Committee or individual Member wishing to re-introduce lapsed business is advised to do so using the usual procedure,” he said noting that members who may not be clear on the procedure are advised to visit the Table Office for assistance.

“I hasten to clarify that the lapsing of business does not apply to Public Petitions and Bills, the consideration of which shall resume from the point at which they had reached at the end of the First Session” the speaker held.

The Speaker also drew the attention of the House to the fact that the term of certain sessional committees had come to an end and therefore, they ought to be reconstituted.

These include the Committee of Parliamentary Powers and Privileges, and the Select Committee on Members' Services and Facilities.

“The Committee on Selection is therefore urged to expedite the process of nominating Members to serve in the said Committees, for approval by the House,” he said wishing MPs success as they embark on the legislative agenda for the Second Session, individually as Members and collectively as a House.