The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is keen to support the growth of Parliamentary Democracy in Kenya.
Speaking when he called on the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi, the Global President of the Institute Kenneth Wollack lauded the steps that Parliament has taken towards the implementation of the constitution of Kenya 2010, and its increased vigour in the discharge of its now expanded mandate in over-sighting the Executive.
He pronounced the Institute’s interest in offering capacity support towards this end, adding that “there is need to strengthen the National Assembly to execute its most fundamental powers; the Power of the Purse and the Subpoena Powers.”
On his part, Speaker Muturi lauded the role that the NDI has played in developing capacity for Parliamentarians across the world.
Muturi recalled that the organisation had in the past worked with the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) and the Kenya young Parliamentary Association (KYPA) and recently, the NDI Director of Government Relations and Communication, Mr. Jerry Hartz was a key resource person during the Post-Election Seminar for Members of the National Assembly held in Mombasa.
He noted that in modern democracy, and with an insatiable expectation from the citizenry for good governance and democracy, the National Assembly has to rise to the occasion and develop capacity for its members especially in regards to the operations of the Parliamentary Committee System so as to effectively oversight the executive and play its role of representation with efficacy.
“As the Speaker of the Congress once remarked, Parliament in Committees is Parliament at work. Parliament in the Plenary is Parliament in display. However, in these forums, Members are in actual sense enforcing their mandate in regards to oversight and representation,” Speaker Muturi said on Friday.
Wollack also hailed the current political situation in the country heralded by the “historical handshake” between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the NASA leader Raila Odinga.
He added that the tempo set after the handshake had created the necessary political environment for meaningful political engagements.Wollack on Thursday met Odinga at his office.
Wollack was accompanied by Richard Klein, the Regional Director, NDI and the local Chapter Director, Mr. Dickson Omondi.
The Delegation also met the Leader of the Majority Party Aden Duale and the Leader of the Minority John Mbadi.
The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.