Senators are now demanding equal representation at the Parliamentary Service Commission.
Moreover, the Senators are also looking to reintroduce the elusive oversight fund once the House reconvenes.
According to the legislators, the fund would help them play their roles effectively.
While making her presentation in Naivasha during the opening of the Senate induction retreat on Tuesday, September 20, Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dulo said they have for long been disadvantaged, especially when voting on welfare.
“This time round we must have equal numbers, they have four commissioners, and we have three. There are two from outside and from my experience they are also from the National Assembly,” she stated.
Furthermore, the PSC is chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly and has its commissioners selected from senators and parliamentarians.
Moreover, MPs voted out Sh500 million which had been allocated to the senators for monitoring and evaluation.
“As the second and third Senate we have really fought for this fund, there was no political will or our brothers in the National Assembly then didn’t see the need. I believe they have now seen it, so let us help each other,” she said.
In addition, Dulo noted that the promises made to them and even interventions through various institutions including Treasury, Auditor General and Attorney General, among others, have not succeeded.
“We had legislation, but it was thrown out. We were told since this is not a development fund we must have a regulation and so we came up with it but again we did not get the money,” she added.
Present during the meeting were Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, National Assembly Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye and Governors Susan Kihika (Nakuru) and Stephen Sang (Nandi).
Furthermore, in his address, Kingi said he is fully aware of the constitutional obligations that the senators are bestowed with of closely monitoring, supervising, and legislating on all aspects of devolution collectively and individually.
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“This is a weighty constitutional mandate that comes with huge expectations and requires that you be accorded the necessary financial support and material facilitation,” he said.
“This will enable you to successfully execute the onerous task that also entails traversing your counties to regularly to evaluate the impact of devolution and identify areas that may require legislative intervention.” He added