The Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula has officially declared the vacancy for the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the 13th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Kenyan Chapter membership.

Speaker Wetang'ula is co-president of the Association with the Senate Speaker Rt. Hon. Amason Kingi, announced that the election of the EXCO is scheduled to take place on Thursday, August 10, 2023.  The decision to hold the election is in accordance with the rules of the CPA Kenya Branch, which mandates an annual General Meeting for the purpose of electing members to the Executive Committee.

“For this purpose, the joint presidents who are the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament, have convened a meeting on Thursday 10th August 2023 at 10;00 am in the National Assembly Chamber,” the Speaker said in his Communication to the House on Thursday.

He added that, “only duly registered members of the association will be eligible to participate in the elections. Executive Committee members will be elected based on their expertise and dedication to the principles of the Association,” 

To become a member of the CPA, Members of Parliament are required to pay a subscription fee of Kshs.4,000 for life membership or  Kshs.1,000  for annual membership to the branch, payable before January of each year. This fee is deducted from the Members' emoluments upon acceptance. Those interested in the positions are required to fill a membership form, which can be obtained from the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly and returned by or before 7;00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8th, 2023.

“Those interested in vying for the available slots on the Executive Committee are requested to submit their applications in writing to the Office of the Clerk by or before Tuesday, 8th August 2023,” he said.

The Speaker informed the House that there are 12 slots available, which will be distributed in the ratio of three to five between the Senate and the National Assembly. The Senate will produce five Members, while the National Assembly will produce seven Members to the Executive Committee.

Hon.  Speaker noted  that the elected Members of the Executive Committee will have the responsibility of steering the branch towards achieving the objectives of the association. He emphasized the importance of electing individuals who can effectively represent the interests of Kenya and contribute to the CPA's collective efforts, especially in matters concerning good governance and respect for human rights.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) objectives include to promote Parliamentary democracy, providing a platform for Parliamentarians and staff to exchange ideas and best practices, as well as foster cooperation among member countries. The Association staunchly upholds the core values of the Commonwealth, which include democratic governance, respect for human rights, equality, and the rule of law.