Article 97. Membership of the National Assembly
Official Constitutional Text
97. (1) The National Assembly consists of—
(a) two hundred and ninety members, each elected by the registered voters of single member constituencies;
(b) forty-seven women, each elected by the registered voters of the counties, each county constituting a single member constituency;
(c) twelve members nominated by parliamentary political parties according to their proportion of members of the National Assembly in accordance with Article 90, to represent special interests including the youth, persons with disabilities and workers; and
(d) the Speaker, who is an ex officio member.
(2) Nothing in this Article shall be construed as excluding any person from contesting an election under clause (1) (a).
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 97 of the Kenyan Constitution defines the exact composition of the National Assembly, which totals 349 members. It structures the house to include 290 members elected directly by voters in single-member constituencies and 47 women representatives elected directly by voters in each of the 47 counties. Additionally, political parties nominate 12 special interest members based on their proportion of seats in the house to ensure representation for the youth, workers, and persons with disabilities. Finally, the Speaker serves as an ex officio member, meaning they hold office by virtue of their position but do not have a vote.