President Uhuru Kenyatta has issued an order giving notice of the first sitting of the 12th parliament, two weeks after the August 8 elections.
In a special gazette issue dated August 23, Kenyatta gave notice for the first sitting of both the National Assembly and Senate at the main Parliament Buildings on Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 2:30pm.
The Constitution gives the president powers to decide when the bicameral House can hold its inaugural sitting after the general election.
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As per the house standing orders, the newly elected MPs and Senators will be sworn in and there after proceed for an induction process.
After the swearing in, the main order of business on the day will be to elect the National Assembly speaker and his/her deputy; the same process will be replicated at the Senate.
Following the August 8 election, Jubilee has a total of 164 out of the 349 seats in the National Assembly.
Parties that supported the re-election of President Kenyatta which include Kanu, Economic Freedom Party and Maendeleo Chap Chap, garnered 19 seats, bringing the total to 183 legislators that the Jubilee administration can bank on.
The Jubilee Party’s numerical strength is expected to ensure they maintain the powerful position of Speaker which was held by Justin Muturi and the deputy speaker’s position which was previously occupied by Joyce Laboso who is now Governor of Bomet County.
Other key powerful positions Jubilee is likely to get include powerful standing committees with the exception of the Public Accounts Committee and Public Investments Committees, which are reserved for the Opposition.