An overview of elective seats and their roles

Member of Parliament in the National Assembly

• Represents the people of the constituencies and special interests in the National Assembly;
• Deliberates on and resolves issues of concern to the people;
• Enacts legislation;
• Determines the allocation of national revenue between the levels of government;
• Appropriates funds for expenditure by the national government and other national State organs;
• Exercises oversight over national revenue and its expenditure;
• Reviews the conduct in office of the President, the Deputy
• President and other State officers and initiates the process of removing them from office;
• Exercises oversight of State organs.

The Senate

• The Senate represents the counties, and serves to protect the interests of the counties and their governments;
• The Senate participates in the law-making function of Parliament by considering, debating and approving Bills concerning counties;
• The Senate determines the allocation of national revenue among counties and exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to the county governments;
• The Senate participates in the oversight of State officers by considering and determining any resolution to remove the President or Deputy President from office.

Member of the County Assembly

• The County Assembly makes any laws that are necessary for the effective performance of the functions and exercise of the powers of the County Government;
• Exercises oversight over the County Executive Committee and other county executive organ
• Receives and approve plans and policies;
• Approves the budget and expenditure of the County Government
• Approving borrowing by the County Government;
• Vets and approves nominees for appointment to county public office
• Should conduct its business in an open manner, and hold its sittings and those of its committees in public.
• Should facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of the assembly and its committee
• Maintain close contact with the electorate and consult them on issues before or under discussion in the County Assembly;
• Present views, opinions and proposals of the electorate to the County Assembly;
• Attend sessions of the County Assembly and its committees;
• Provide a linkage between the county assembly and the electorate on public service delivery;
• Extend professional knowledge, experience or specialised knowledge to any issue for discussion in the County Assembly;
• Should not directly or indirectly be involved in the executive functions of the County Government and its administration; or in the delivery of services as if the member were an officer or employee of the County Government.

Governor

• Diligently execute the functions and exercise the authority provided for in the Constitution and legislation;
• Perform such State functions within the county as the President may from time to time assign on the basis of mutual consultations;
• Represent the county in national and international fora and events;
• Appoint, with the approval of the county assembly, the county executive committee in accordance with Article 179(2)(b) of the Constitution;
• Constitute the county executive committee portfolio structure to respond to the functions and competencies assigned to and transferred to each county;
• Submit the county plans and policies to the county assembly for approval;
• Consider, approve and assent to bills passed by the county assembly;
• Chair meetings of the county executive committee;
• By a decision notified in the county Gazette, assign to every member of the county executive committee, responsibility to ensure the discharge of any function within the county and the provision of related services to the people;
• Submit to the county assembly an annual report on the implementation status of the county policies and plans;
• Deliver annual state of the county address containing such matters as may be specified in county legislation;
• Sign and cause to be published in the county Gazette, notice of all important formal decisions made by the governor or by the county executive committee.
• Provide leadership in the county’s governance and development;
• Provide leadership to the county executive committee and administration based on the county policies and plans;
• Promote democracy, good governance, unity and cohesion within the county
• Promote peace and order within the county;
• Promote the competitiveness of the county;
• Be accountable for the management and use of the county resources; and
• Promote and facilitate citizen participation in the development of policies and plans, and delivery of services in the county.

Women Representative

• Promote the interests of women and girls within their counties.
• Sponsor and engage in bills, motions, resolutions, and/or notices that aim to redress any disadvantage suffered by women and girls because of past or present discrimination.
• Receive and act on petitions from the public on matters that relate to (discrimination of) women and girls.
• Mobilizing residents in their counties to identify projects that women and girls can benefit from.
• Influence the national government to include or adopt these projects in the budget.
• Advocate and work for long-term policy interventions to find solutions to challenges facing women and girls.
• Through the recently allocated Affirmative Action Social Development Fund, similar to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) they should assist the women to implement projects in their counties that are in line with their mandate of female gender empowerment.