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Caucuses

Caucuses in Parliament of Kenya

A legislative caucus is a group of elected legislators who organize to discuss, advocate for, or otherwise influence legislation in a way that promotes their common goals and interests. Legislative caucus are of two types: legislative party caucuses which meet to plan and discuss the party’s legislative agenda and whether to support or particular legislation. The second type of legislative caucus are bipartisan caucuses dedicated to special interests such as women’s issues, poverty, civil rights, fair taxation, and the environment.

 

The Parliament of Kenya has various caucuses and each House has its own processes on how such caucuses are established and managed. Some of the caucuses have membership from both Houses of Parliament hence are joint caucuses.

KEWOPA 2023 Induction (13th Parliament)
Continental Parliamentary Caucus Against Corruption

Caucuses in the National Assembly

Establishment of Caucuses in the National Assembly
  • In the National Assembly caucuses are recognized and established pursuant to Standing Order 259A and B of the its Standing Orders. It provides that:
Standing Order 259A (Recognition of a Parliamentary Caucus)
  1. The Speaker may, upon the written request of at least ten Members, recognize a parliamentary caucus formed for the purpose of advancing a common legislative objective.
  2. A request to the Speaker under this Standing Order shall:-
    1. indicate the name of the caucus;
    2. outline the legislative objective of the caucus;
    3. contain the names and signatures of the Members of the caucus.
  3. A parliamentary caucus shall not enjoy the powers and privileges of a Committee of the House.
Standing Order 259B (Caucus of Independent Members)
  1. The Speaker may, upon the written request of at least ten Independent Members, recognize a caucus of Independent Members for purposes of facilitating Independent Members to discharge their role in the National Assembly.
  2. A request to the Speaker under this Standing Order shall contain the names and signatures of the proposed Members of the caucus.
  • In light of the foregoing provision, upon receipt of a request from a convenor for the establishment of a parliamentary caucus, with accompanying requisite signatures, the Speaker marks the request to the Clerk of the National Assembly for advise.
  • The Clerk thereafter refers the request to the Directorate of Legislative and Procedural Services, whereupon the Department on Inter-houses and Overseas reviews the request with a view to ensure that regional and gender balance is achieved and that the provisions of the Standing Orders are adhered to.
  • It is worth noting that the Caucuses in the National Assembly are not funded by the Assembly and that the same is communicated by the Speaker when approving a request for the formation of a caucus. Ninety percent (90%) of the funding for caucuses in the National Assembly is from the European Union.
  • Further, the caucuses have an independent secretariat including a CEO and consultants who serve the caucuses fully. The National Assembly however designates an officer or more to offer support to the caucuses, and they serve for the duration of the caucus i.e. the term of Parliament, and may be re-designated where need arises.
  • In most cases, the caucuses have independent officers outside of Parliament, however, in some instances, they have been provided with office space within Parliament e.g. Continental House and KICC Building.
  • The life of a caucus in the National Assembly ends at the end of a term of Parliament and must be re-established at the start of a new term of Parliament.
In the 13th Parliament, there are a total of nineteen (19) caucuses, excluding four (4) joint caucuses, established in the National Assembly as below.
Parliamentary Caucus on Conservation (PCC-K), Climate Change & A Climate Change Desk
UDA
Hon. Charity Kathambi, MP, Chairperson
Caucus on Business and Economy
UDA
Hon. Julius Rutto, MP, Chairperson
International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace
UDA
Hon. OmbokoMilemba, MP, Chairperson
Parliamentary Caucus on Democracy and Human Right
UDA
Hon. Yusuf Hassan Abdi,MP, Chairperson
Caucus of Independent Members of National Assembly
UDA
Hon. Shakeel Shabbir, MP, Chairperson
Parliamentary Caucus on Coffee
UDA
Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba,MP, Chairperson
Caucus on Renewable Energy and Climate Change
UDA
Hon. Gideon Mulyungi,MP, Chairperson
Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA)
UDA
Hon. Millie Odhiambo, MP, Chairperson
Caucus on Children
UDA
Hon. Millie Odhiambo, MP, Chairperson
Caucus Against Drug and Substance Abuse
UDA
Hon. Abdi Ijara,MP, Chairperson
Seventh Day Adventist Parliamentary Caucus
UDA
Hon. Peter Owino, MP, Chairperson
Caucus for Muslim Members
UDA
Hon. Hussein Mohammed,MP, Chairperson
Caucus on Sugar
UDA
Hon. John Waluke, MP, Chairperson
General Legislative Caucus
UDA
Hon. Samuel Chepkonga, MP, Chairperson
The Tea Caucus
UDA
Hon. Robert Gichimu, MP, Chairperson
Nominated women caucus
UDA
Hon. Irene Mayaka, MP, Chairperson
Leading women caucus (Single member women constituency)
UDA
Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a, MP, Chairperson
Caucus 47 (county women representatives)
UDA
Hon. Jane Kagiri, MP, Chairperson
The Caucus on Parliamentary Network for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund Caucus - Kenya Chapter
UDA
Hon. Adan Daud Mohammed, MP, Chairperson

Caucuses in the Senate

In the 13th Parliament, there are a total of five (5) caucuses, excluding four (4) joint caucuses, established in the Senate during the 13th Parliament as tabulated below.
Kenya Women Senators Parliamentary Association (KEWOSA)& a women’s desk Sen. Hamida Ali Kibwana, MP, Chairperson
Climate Change Caucus Sen. Moses Kajwang’, MP, Convenor
Kenya Young Parliamentarians’ Association (KYPA)& a youth desk Hon. Gitonga Mukunji, MP, Chairperson
Persons with disabilities caucus & desk
Parliamentary Caucus on Open Government Partnership & an OGP desk Hon. Beatrice Elachi, MP, Convenor

Establishment of Caucuses in the

Senate

  1. The Senate does not have similar or any provision on recognition of caucuses in its Standing Orders neither does it have guidelines on govern the establishment and management of caucuses.
  2. Practice has been that a Member (convenor) submits a request to the Speaker for consideration. Upon receipt of the request by the Office of the Clerk, the request is thereafter discussed at the Senate Board of Management, which makes recommendations regarding its admissibility to the Speaker.
  3. In the 13th Parliament, there are a total of five (5) caucuses, excluding four (4) joint caucuses, established in the Senate during the 13th Parliament as tabulated below.

Joint (National Assembly & Senate) Caucuses

There are four (4) joint (Senate & National Assembly) caucuses as tabulated below
Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) Hon. Sankaire Leah Soipato, MP, Chairperson
Kenya Young Parliamentarians’ Association (KYPA)& a youth desk Hon. Gitonga Mukunji, MP, Chairperson
African Parliamentarians’ Network Against Corruption (APNAC) Hon. Shakeel Shabbir, MP, Chairperson
Parliamentary Caucus on Open Government Partnership& an OGP desk Sen. Samson Cherarkey, MP, Co-convenor & Hon. Beatrice Elachi, MP, Co-convenor