The Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, Hon. Justin Muturi has rooted for strict adherence to the rules of procedure when presiding over the House so as to safeguard the sanctity of legislatures and the sacred business they have called to undertake.
He made the remarks today while attending the ongoing Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers (CSPOC) Africa Region in Kigali Rwanda.
In a session Chaired by Hon. Pono Pearson Moatlhodi, Deputy Speaker, National Assembly of Botswana Speakers and Presiding Officers discussed strategies of floor management by presiding offers under the topic: The Presiding Officer under a changing society: Strategies of floor management of radical dissent and minority Government.
Speakers and Presiding Officers were in agreement that consultations with Members and consensus building is key in floor management.
“Democracy needs consultations”, noted Hon. Moatlhodi.While making his contribution on the topic, Speaker Muturi took the participants through floor management in the National Assembly of Kenya.
He noted that, “as much as caucusing can be used in floor management, the Speaker does not attend Caucases”.
He added that Powers and Privileges law and Speakers Rules apply when a Member is accused of misconduct within or without the House.
“To ensure orderly conduct of debate, Member queue electronically to catch the Speaker’s eye”, he said
The motion was moved by Speaker Sierra Leone, Rt. Hon. Abbas Bundu and seconded by Hon. Amos Masondo, the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces of South Africa.Today marked the second day of the conference.
