South Sudan Delegation Seeks Guidance from Kenya’s Parliamentary Commission

The Transitional National Legislature of South Sudan visited Kenya to study the Parliamentary Service Commission’s operations for enhancing legislative functions. Led by Chairperson Stephen Ajongo Akol, they expressed admiration for Kenya’s parliamentary structure and sought to implement similar practices. Wetangula reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to assist South Sudan, stressing regional stability and robust parliamentary systems.

The Transitional National Legislature of the Republic of South Sudan recently visited Kenya to study the operations of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). This initiative aims to enhance the newly established commission’s effectiveness in strengthening legislative and oversight functions in Parliament. The delegation, led by Chairperson Stephen Ajongo Akol, met with PSC Chairperson Moses Wetangula at the Parliament buildings on March 12.

Chairperson Akol stated, “We are here for benchmarking; our commission is new,” accompanied by Members of Parliament Mary Wani, Regina Richard Aban, Regina Joseph Kaba, John Orach Nyakera, Dominic Bandima, Henry Amoko Moini, and James Thiam Lua. He noted, “We saw that PSC (Kenya) has the best practice; we came to look at how to do it practically.”

Wetangula reflected on the historical ties between Kenya and South Sudan, mentioning his presence during South Sudan’s independence on July 9, 2011. He affirmed Kenya’s commitment to support South Sudan, saying, “Your country was midwifed in Kenya. The peace you enjoy today is, in many ways, a product of Kenya’s dedication to ensuring stability in the region.” He encouraged South Sudan’s officials to engage with the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST) to bolster their parliamentary systems.

Nyandarua MP Faith Gitau emphasized the importance of impartial treatment among commission members, remarking, “PSC serves all members irrespective of their political parties. We treat them equally, not equitably.” The South Sudanese delegation praised Kenya’s advancements in parliamentary independence, governance reforms, and legislative efficiency, expressing intentions to incorporate some of these practices into their own system.

MP Wani concluded, “If we are to undertake significant reforms, we must look to Kenya. We have learned invaluable lessons from this visit.”

The visit of the South Sudanese delegation to Kenya underscores the commitment to strengthening legislative functionality within South Sudan’s Parliament. By seeking to learn from the Kenyan model, especially in terms of parliamentary independence and governance efficiency, South Sudan aims to enhance its commission’s effectiveness. The emphasis on impartiality and mutual support highlights the ongoing dedication of both nations to regional stability and effective governance.

Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke