South C MCA Abass Khalif and his Ngara counterpart Chege Mwaura are among nine MCAs whose names have been proposed to seat at the Nairobi county assembly House Business Committee (HBC).
The names were tabled on Tuesday by Majority leader Peter Imwatok as the legislators resumed plenary sittings.
Others are Mabitini MCA Wilfred Odalo, Upper Savannah Stazo Omung’alla ( Majority Deputy Whip ), Anthony Kimemia ( Harambee ) Moses Kitema ( Kware), Hashim Kamau ( California), Sospeter Mumbi ( Roysambu) and Rose Masitsa ( Makina).
Nominated MCAs include Emily Oduor, Joyce Muthoni, Doreen Mugambi and Diana Katile.
The 13 will join Speaker Ken Ng’ondi, Imwatok, Minority leader Antony Kirangu, chief whip Moses Ogeto, and his minority counterpart Mark Mugambi, who are automatic members due to their positions.
Speaking to the Star, Imwatok said the third county assembly was ready to begin its work following the formation of HBC.
“The committee is key to forming the agenda of the house. The assembly has no time to waste therefore we will move swiftly into the formation of other committees so that MCAs can start their mandate,” he said.
Imwatok said the committee will then proceed to form the Select Committee which is mandated to form the rest of the committees.
The House Business Committee is appointed within seven days after the new House is fully constituted.
During the absence of the Speaker, the deputy speaker chairs the committee.
It is mandated to prepare and, if necessary, from time to time adjust the Parliamentary calendar with the approval of the House.
The committee also monitors and oversees the implementation of the House business and programmes.
It implements the Standing Orders respecting the scheduling or programming of the business of the House and the functioning of the House committees.
It also determines the order in which the reports of committees shall be debated in the House.
The chairperson and at least one-third of the other members of the House Business Committee shall form a quorum.
Nairobi county assembly has around 23 committees inclusive of the HBC which is chaired by the speaker.
This means Azimio who are the majority will chair all committees except Public Accounts Committee and Public Investment Committee, which will be left to Kenya Kwanza.
PAC oversights the expenditure of public funds by Nairobi city county entities, to ensure value for money and adherence to government financial regulations and procedures.
The committee derives its mandate from Standing Order 197 (2) of the Nairobi City County Assembly.
It provides that the Public Accounts Committee shall be responsible for the examination of the accounts showing the appropriations of the sum voted by the county assembly to meet the public expenditure and of such other accounts laid before the county assembly as the committee may think fit.
The select committee on County Public Investments was established on October 5, 2017, under the provisions of Standing Order 198 (1).
Its functions include examining the reports and accounts of the county and examining the reports, if any, of the Auditor General on the County's Public Investments.
PAC and PIC are given to the opposition side of the house which is expected to keep the executive in check.
If Kenya Kwanza will be allocated these two committees, the deputy chairpersons might be forced to come from the Azimio side as they enjoy a plus one in all the committees.
A large part of the assembly’s role in the law-making process happens in committees and much of its oversight over the executive is also done through committees, particularly the portfolio (sectoral) committees.
By the powers given to its Standing Orders, the assembly establishes a range of committees with assigned powers and functions.
The committees are required to report regularly on their activities and to make recommendations to the House for debate and decision.
There is a sectoral committee for each corresponding County Executive Department headed by County Executive Committee members.
The composition of committees reflects the numerical strength of parties represented in the assembly.
That committee will deliberate on bills covering that department’s area of jurisdiction and scrutinise and report on its annual budget and strategic plan.
As the people's representatives, members of the committee determine whether county executive departments are delivering on what they promised and whether they are spending the public money responsibly.
As part of their oversight work, committees may do site visits where they find out directly from the people at ground level whether the government is delivering on its promises.
If a committee reports on a matter and makes certain recommendations, that report will be debated in a full sitting or plenary to allow other members of the house to engage with the content of the report.
Once the report has been debated, the assembly decides whether to adopt the committee’s recommendations or reject them.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris