Article 124. Committees and Standing Orders
Official Constitutional Text
124. (1) Each House of Parliament may establish committees, and shall make Standing Orders for the orderly conduct of its proceedings, including the proceedings of its committees.
(2) Parliament may establish joint committees consisting of members of both Houses and may jointly regulate the procedure of those committees.
(3) The proceedings of either House are not invalid just because of—
(a) a vacancy in its membership; or
(b) the presence or participation of any person not entitled to be present at, or to participate in, the proceedings of the House.
(4) When a House of Parliament considers any appointment for which its approval is required under this Constitution or an Act of Parliament—
(a) the appointment shall be considered by a committee of the relevant House;
(b) the committee’s recommendation shall be tabled in the House for approval; and
(c) the proceedings of the committee and the House shall be open to the public.
Plain English Explanation
This is a simplified summary to explain this article in clear language. It is not the legal text of the Constitution.
Article 124 of the Kenyan Constitution allows the National Assembly and the Senate to create internal committees and write their own Standing Orders to manage everyday parliamentary business. It permits both houses to form joint committees and create shared procedural rules to handle matters that cross over between the two chambers. The article protects the legality of legislative work by stating that parliamentary decisions remain valid even if there are unfilled seats or if an unauthorized person mistakenly takes part in a session. Finally, it sets strict rules for government appointments, requiring that any public job candidate needing parliamentary clearance must first be vetted by a committee, followed by a full vote in the house, with all vetting and final voting sessions completely open to the public.