Uhuru Gazettes First Sitting Of New Parliament
In the gazette notice dated Monday, September 5, both houses will convene on Thursday, September 8 at 9 am.
Marvin Chege 
President Uhuru Kenyatta has gazetted the first sitting of newly elected Members of Parliament and the senators.
In the gazette notice dated Monday, September 5, both houses will convene on Thursday, September 8 at 9 am.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 126 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya, I, Uhuru Kenyatta, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, appoint that the First Sitting of the National Assembly shall be held at the Main Parliament Buildings in the National Assembly Chamber, on the 8th September 2022, at 9.00 a.m," it read in part.
"The First Sitting of the National Assembly shall be held at the Main Parliament Buildings in the National Assembly Chamber, on the 8th September 2022, at 9.00 a.m."
This sitting will involve the election of both assemblies' speakers and the MPs' swearing-in.
Article 126 (2) of the Constitution requires the President to declare via a gazette notice the date for the first sitting of the new House within 30 days after elections.
The Kenya Kwanza coalition had nominated Bungoma senator-elect, Moses Wetangula, for the National Assembly Speaker position while Azimio La Umoja settled on former speaker, Kenneth Marende.
"Azimio coalition has decided to front Marende as our candidate for the National Assembly speaker. We have decided to go for someone who has been tried and tested, someone who understands the operations of Parliament.”
"We are going to formally communicate this to all our members by Monday. All the coalition partners including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka are in agreement," Junet Mohamed, Azimio Secretary-General announced.
The parliament went through an orientation session whereby MPs-elect were taken through member registration, bio-data capturing, and the issuance of parliamentary identity cards.
The sessions will also feature training on how to use the debating Chamber voting system, a tour of Parliament premises, and briefings from the Office of the Clerk on important legislative issues.
However, the incoming MPs and Members of County Assemblies (MCA) will earn less than their predecessors.
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on Thursday, July 28 abolished car grants and allowances for the MPs and MCAs.
SRC Chairperson Lyn Mengich further announced that sitting and mileage allowances were done away with, a decision that comes as a hammer blow to those elected into the National Assembly.
MPs will earn Ksh710,000, just like Senators. The MPs will have a motor vehicle reimbursement of Ksh7.5 million to facilitate the purchase of a car with not more than 3000cc engine capacity.
MPs will be paid Ksh356,525 per month car maintenance allowance as well as a reimbursement of a claimable mileage of one return journey per week at the rate of Ksh116.63 per kilometre, which will depend on the vehicle's engine capacity of not more than 3000cc.
MCAs will bag Ksh144,375 and have similar packages to the deputy speaker, who will earn Ksh216,563, a car loan of Ksh2 million and a mortgage of Ksh3 million.
The Speaker of the County Assembly will earn Ksh525,525 as well as a car loan worth Ksh4 million and a mortgage of up to Ksh20 million.
Cars parked at Parliament Buildings. /THE STAR
