National Assembly leadership heads on three-day retreat to Naivasha

The top leadership of the National Assembly on Sunday headed to Naivasha, Nakuru County, for the 2024 National Assembly Leadership Retreat scheduled from Monday through Wednesday.

The retreat themed “Re-invigorating Synergy in Leadership for Accelerated Discharge of the Mandate of the National Assembly,” builds on last year’s theme, “Building Synergy in Leadership: Enhancing the Legislative Agenda in the National Assembly.”

According to the program released by the Office of the National Assembly Speaker, the House leadership will convene to address key legislative priorities and strengthen synergy within the Assembly's leadership.

“The retreat provides an opportunity for the House leadership to map out a strategic direction for managing legislative business through the remainder of the Third Session and into the Fourth Session, set to run from November 5 to December 12, 2024,” stated National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

Wetang’ula noted that the retreat is expected to yield critical outcomes, including strategies to address challenges encountered during the Third Session and to advance plans for processing bills and other legislative priorities.

“It will also enable the leadership to formulate approaches for more effective and timely oversight by the National Assembly through its committees, as well as to tackle procedural and structural issues affecting the House’s mandate,” he added.

In response to public concerns over energy issues, including high costs and frequent blackouts, Speaker Wetang’ula has invited the Energy Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Energy, and the CEO of Kenya Power to discuss improvements in the sector and address future needs that could bolster manufacturing.

“It’s time for bipartisan cooperation to prioritize essential legislation and foster partnerships that benefit the public. We aim to address challenges such as unemployment, impacts of the tax regime, and revenue-raising measures that influence the business environment,” said the Speaker.

This year’s retreat will also include a session with the Ministry of Energy to discuss critical topics on energy security and infrastructure, and Wetang’ula will also host a National Assembly Speaker’s Round Table with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) on “Drivers of Competitiveness.”

The main objective of the retreat is to accord the leadership of the House an opportunity to re-evaluate their roles concerning the performance of the House, bond and share experiences with colleagues, identify upcoming priority business for the House, and candidly discuss critical matters.