Photo/FILE MPs during a past session in Parliament.

The process of implementing the Constitution has highlighted the powerful role Parliament will play in the new dispensation.
Few institutions get to have as much power from the new law as the legislature.
Parliamentarians will now no longer just approve the budget prepared by the Finance secretary but will actively shape it.
The House will also have a decisive say on appointees to key public office as shown by the current vetting of candidates for the posts.
Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Implementation of Constitution Abdikadir Mohamed says the new Parliament has become truly representative of the Kenyan people.
Mr Mohamed says the National Assembly has been delinked from the Executive.
“For the first time in our history, the legislature is acting as the representative of the people and will continue to help Kenyans ensure that they check on the Executive, ” says Mr Mohamed
Political scientist Adams Oloo also says that under the new system, the Executive will not be in the House like in the past.
“Cabinet will no longer bring Bills to the House and will have to forward them through MPs or House committees. This give Parliament the muscle to competently debate the Bills without the overbearing effects of the Executive,” says Dr Oloo.
Mr Kipchumba Murkomen, a law lecturer and political analyst, says Parliament now has the power to check the appointments of State officers, commissions and other independent State offices.
“You have seen what happened in the past where parliamentary committees have thoroughly vetted State officers in a way that has never been seen before in Kenyan history,” said Mr Murkomen.
New Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko only got the job after rigorous vetting. Eleven MPs voted for his appointment and 11 against, with one abstention.
“This indicates that the House now has a much bigger say. They can kick you out if they think you are not up to the task,” says Mr Murkomen.
He says since the promulgation of the new Constitution, appointments were no longer a shoo-in.
Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny said one of the  most important roles that Parliament had been allocated is actively shaping the budget.

                             By JACOB NG’ETICH jngetich@ke.nationmedia.com