The Senate on Tuesday, November 8, approved a list of five lawmakers nominated to represent Kenya at the Midrand, South Africa-based Pan Africa Parliament.
Among those cleared include Senators Magaret Kamar, Danson Mungatana and MPs Rahab Mukami, Kalasinga Majimbo and Esther Passaris.
The Pan-African Parliament was established in 2004 to ensure the full participation of African peoples in the economic development and integration of the continent.
Members to the legislative assembly are designated by the legislatures of their Member State and members of their domestic legislatures.
Within the Kenyan setup, members to the Pan Africa Parliament are approved by the Senate.
The Parliament is composed of five members per Member State that has ratified the Protocol establishing it.
Among the roles and responsibilities of the parliament include facilitating and overseeing implementation of AU policies, objectives and programmes; and making recommendations on the AU budget.
The list of nominees approved by the Senate replaced the outgoing representatives including Beatrice Kones; Janet Ongera; Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali; Jude Njomo and Stewart Madzayo.
The five represented Kenya since 2017 as a parliamentarian’s term at the legislative assembly usually corresponds to his or her country’s parliament term.
While rallying senators to approve the list, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi noted that the Pan Africa Parliament is a place to ensure full participation of the people of Africa in the development of economic integration.
He also explained that the Pan African Parliament is one of the organs of the African Union, that is consultative and advisory.
Among the notable members of the Pan Africa Parliament that the new nominees will be rubbing shoulders with is South Africa’s firebrand opposition leader Julius Malema.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE