The Senate of Kenya and the Civil Society Parliamentary Engagement Network have resolved to work together to ensure that the Bills that the August House passes are enriched and, in turn, are useful to Kenyans
While receiving the Parliamentary Engagement Network’s membership, led by their convener Ms Caroline Gaita, who paid the Senate a courtesy visit earlier today at Parliament Buildings, the Deputy Clerk of the Senate Ms Eunice Gichangi underscored the need for partnership between the two entities.
She subsequently added that the Senate is ready and willing to tap into the diverse membership of the network so as to enrich the legislation that the House passes.
“We, as the Senate, are constitutionally mandated to seek the views of the public in legislation that we publish through public participation. We seek your support in developing legislation because you are partners who have been in the space of devolution over the years. You can assist us by giving a useful critique of the legislation that we publish,” Ms Gichangi said.
On her part, Ms Caroline Gaita, who is also the Mzalendo Trust’s Executive Director, apprised the Senate’s leadership of the work that the Civil Society Parliamentary Engagement Network has engaged in in counties, before urging the Senate to continue partnering with them to ensure the Senate fulfils its core mandate of serving Kenyans.
“A lot of our work focuses on research, drafting legislation and analysis and review of Bills before legislatures. So, we are interested in working with the Senate to ensure the August House fulfils its core mandate to Kenyans,” Ms Gaita said.
Other areas of interest that the Senate and the Civil Society Parliamentary Engagement Network resolved to collaborate on include public participation, capacity enhancement, media partnership and service delivery.