The structure of the County Assembly in Kenya is defined by the Constitution of Kenya (2010) and the County Governments Act (2012).
Each County Assembly represents the legislative arm of the county government and is tasked with making laws, approving budgets, and overseeing the executive branch at the county level.
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Structure of the County Assembly in Kenya
Below is an overview of the structure of the County Assembly in Kenya
The County Assembly Speaker
The County Assembly Speaker heads the County Assembly. Article 178 of the Kenyan Constitution (2010) provides for the position of the Speaker of the County Assembly.
The County Assembly Speaker presides over the assembly’s sittings. The speaker is an ex officio member with no voting rights.
Read more about the County Assembly Speaker.
Deputy County Assembly Speaker
The Deputy County Assembly Speaker is an elected Member of the County Assembly elected by the other members to be a Deputy Speaker of the County Assembly.
In the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker presides over the Sittings of the County Assembly.
In the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, members of the County Assembly shall elect, from among themselves, a person to preside at the sitting of the County Assembly.
Members of the County Assembly (MCAs)
A member of the County Assembly (MCA) is–
- an elected representative in charge of an electoral unit known as a Ward.
- a nominee to the County Assembly who occupies any special seats allocated to women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The major role of the Members of the County Assembly in Kenya is legislation, representation, and oversight.
Read more about the Members of the County Assemblies.
County Assembly Party Leaders
The Majority Leader
The leader of the majority party is the leader of the largest party or coalition of parties in the County Assembly.
The Majority Party Leader spearheads the legislative agenda of the largest party or coalition of parties in the Assembly.
The Deputy Majority Leader performs the functions of the Majority Leader in their absence.
The Minority Leader
The leader of the minority party leads the second-largest party or coalition of parties in the County Assembly.
The Minority Party Leader spearheads the legislative agenda of the second-largest party or coalition of parties in the Assembly.
The Deputy Minority Leader performs the functions of the Minority Leader in their absence.
The Majority Chief Whip
The Majority Chief Whip perform the functions of the office of the Leader of the Majority Party in the absence of both the Leader of the Majority Party and the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.
The Deputy Majority Chief Whip performs the functions of the Majority Chief Whip in their absence.
Read more about the County Assembly party leaders.
The Clerk of the County Assembly
The County Assembly Clerk is the assembly’s chief administrative officer and is responsible for the day-to-day management and functioning of the County Assembly.
The County Assembly Clerk is also the Secretary to the County Assembly Service Board according to its conduct and business affairs.
Read more about the County Assembly Clerk.
The County Assembly Committees
County Assemblies establish committees to enable them to perform their functions. A committee is a small group of Members of the County Assembly appointed and empowered by the Assembly to perform one or more specific tasks.
Its membership typically includes all parliamentary political parties.
A committee examines issues in more detail than is possible if the matter were to be considered in the Assembly.
Key committees in a County Assembly include the Public Accounts Committee and the County Budget and Appropriations Committee.
The County Assembly Service Board
The County Assembly Service Board provides services and facilities to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the County Assembly.
The County Assembly Service Board also constitutes offices in the County Assembly service and appoints and supervises office holders.
Read more about the County Assembly Service Board.
