Parliamentary Service Commission on study visit to Belgium  06/07/2012

The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), led by Hon. Walter Nyambati MP, visited Brussels from 24 to 28 June 2012 on a study tour of the Belgian parliamentary systems.  While in Belgium, the delegates held meetings with senior officials from the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Flemish Parliament and the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs. 

The visit was necessitated by the fact that Kenya’s next parliament will be bicameral.  Kenya is aware that the two countries have different political dispensations, but was keen to learn some lessons from the parliament of Belgium, with particular interest in the following areas: operations of the Belgian parliaments, operations of the federal states, relationship between the Belgian parliaments and the federal states, conditions of service and facilities of the Members of Parliament, and staffing of the parliaments. 

The PSC is the topmost organ of the National Assembly of Kenya, and is responsible for, among other things, the management and provision of facilities to Members and staff of Parliament.

The delegation was composed of Hon. Walter Nyambati MP, Hon. Peter Mwathi MP, Hon. Zakayo Cheruiyot MGH MP, Hon. Joseph Lekuton OGW MP, Hon. Olago Aluoch MP, Hon. Wilson Litole OGW MP, and H.E. Amb. Kembi-Gitura and other officers from the PCS and the Embassy.

Amb. Kembi-Gitura hosted a reception in honour of the delegation, which was also attended by a group of young Kenyans who participated in a summit organized by the British Council and the EU, and by representatives of the Kenyan Diaspora Association.