Honourable Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased, on behalf of the Government and the people of Kenya, to welcome you all to our country for the 18th Commonwealth Speakers' and Presiding Officers' Conference.

It is an honour for Kenya to host Honourable Speakers from sister Commonwealth countries. This is especially the case, since Kenya was also privileged to host the Commonwealth Conference on the Principles of Accountability and the Relationship between the Three Branches of Government in April last year. As you are aware, Parliaments are elected to represent the people and have constitutional responsibilities to legislate and oversee the Government.

As the supreme organ in any democracy, Parliament plays the pre-eminent role in the overall direction and management of a country's affairs in accordance with its established constitution, its institutions and its established procedures and practices. In this respect, you, as the officers that oversee and manage Parliamentary business, play an immensely crucial role in the management of public affairs.

As Speakers, for example, you discharge the important responsibility of ensuring that the rules of parliamentary procedure as embodied in the standing orders and practice are accurately and correctly interpreted and applied. It is your responsibility to interpret the standing orders, deal with points of order when they are raised, maintain order in the House and give rulings when called upon to do so.

Clearly, your responsibilities are critical to the effective performance of Parliament, and by extension, the effective management of public affairs by the people's representatives. The office of the Speaker, therefore, occupies a pivotal role in Parliamentary democracy. Indeed, as the guardian of the rights and privileges of the House, its Committees and Members, the Speaker symbolizes the dignity and honour of the House.

I am therefore encouraged, ladies and gentlemen, to note that this conference, which brings together Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth Parliaments, will enable you to share experiences on your cardinal responsibility of guiding parliamentarians as they articulate the aspirations of the people they represent.

This conference also provides an opportunity for you to discuss relevant contemporary challenges that we face as the Commonwealth family of nations. I am confident that the deliberations and exchange of views will serve to enrich Parliamentary practice, which we in the Commonwealth share and cherish.

Honourable Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Given the pivotal role of parliaments in strengthening democracy, particularly in the developing nations of Africa, I am pleased to note that some of the topics you will be deliberating upon, include Integrity and Security of Parliament as an institution, the relationship between Parliament and the Executive as well as capacity building in Parliaments. These are indeed very crucial areas that you need to examine closely and in detail as you promote reforms to improve governance through Parliamentary practices and institutions.

Indeed, based on the growing recognition within Africa that better governance will improve the prospects of fulfilling the political, economic and social aspirations of the people, we should not spare any effort in enhancing the capacity of our Parliaments. Efforts to build and strengthen decision-making at Parliamentary and other levels of government are essential and should be supported through capacity building and the sharing of information and experience.

Due emphasis should also be placed on the roles and responsibilities of public office holders, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and, in particular, the delicate balance of power required by democratic governance.

Equally important, emphasis should be placed on the capacity of Parliaments to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of public affairs. The capacity of Parliaments to make use of the constitutional and other legal mechanisms available to ensure full accountability and transparency in government should be enhanced.

For Parliaments to fulfil this function efficiently, Parliamentarians themselves should promote and foster integrity, confidence and legitimacy. In this regard, parliamentarians should take the lead in designing and implementing for themselves integrity instruments such as codes of conduct, which include provisions for declaration of income and assets, as well as legislation against conflict of interest.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
This conference comes at an opportune time, when many countries in Africa are in the process of strengthening democratic institutions. Indeed, the vibrant debates witnessed in national and regional Parliaments are positive indications of the prospects for democracy in Africa. The East African Legislative Assembly, the Pan-African Parliament and other regional bodies are living democratic pillars that the African continent has established to strengthen the representative will of the people.

Here in Kenya, we uphold the universal democratic principles including respect for human rights, representation through free and fair elections and sovereignty of Parliament. Indeed, the just concluded Referendum on the National Constitution was clear evidence of the widening democratic space in the country. My government continues to be at the forefront in widening of the country's democratic space, as we empower our parliamentarians to better serve their constituents.

It is for this reason that my government is giving full support to the Constituency Development Fund, through which we are channelling a certain percentage of the revenues collected by the Government directly to the people. This Fund has proved to be an effective tool in enabling honourable members and their constituents to finance and promptly implement development projects which they deem to be a priority in their areas.

In concluding my remarks, I would like to emphasize that the evolution of parliamentary democracies is not without some challenges. This Forum and other similar meetings will help to augment efforts towards strengthening the role of parliaments in the development and strengthening of democratic governance.

It is also important for the international community to extend support to parliaments, particularly in emerging democracies, to help them strengthen their capacity to combat corruption and establish effective parliamentary structures and processes.

Furthermore, in order to serve effectively as the representatives of the people, parliamentarians must be conversant with the current issues that are of concern to their people, and internationally. We should therefore endeavour to promote greater access of parliamentarians to information on public affairs and also ensure greater interaction between parliament and the civil society.

International co-operation among parliamentarians is also necessary in order to foster the exchange of best practices and coordinate parliamentary contribution to the fight against corruption and other urgent challenges, particularly poverty.

Indeed, this conference provides the honourable delegates with the opportunity to share experiences and best practices from your different backgrounds. It is my sincere hope that you will utilize this opportunity to share best experiences on the various topics lined up for discussion.

I am confident that your exchange of views will be of benefit not only to the Commonwealth member countries, but also to those other nations that uphold democratic principles, but are not represented in this conference.

Lastly, Honorable delegates, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by this meeting to visit other parts of our country to sample our rich and diverse natural heritage.

I am gratified to note that you will be visiting some of our tourist attraction sights in the National Parks and the Coastal Region. I am certain that during these tours, you will be able to see for yourself the beauty of our country, and experience the traditional warmth and hospitality of the Kenyan people.

With these remarks, it is now my greatest pleasure to declare the 18th Commonwealth Speakers' and Presiding Officers' Conference officially open, and to wish you all fruitful deliberations and success in the New Year.

KARIBUNI AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.