Role of Parliamentary Institutions in International Relations: the Case of Parliament of Kenya

Abstract

Parliamentary diplomacy is an emerging concept in the international arena. Legislators and delegations of parliament are involved in different activities aimed at enhancing international relations among countries or entities. This study examines the Kenya parliament engagement in international relations and role in international parliamentary institutions. The study is an exploratory qualitative design that relies on reports from the various international parliamentary institutions, protocols, and resolutions. The theoretical framework relied on is international relations theory. The exploratory qualitative design has been used. The Kenya’s parliament has been chosen because of the engagement with Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Pan African Parliamentary (PAP), East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and other international parliamentary institution activities such Canadian African Parliamentary Association (CAPA) and the Conferences of Speakers of Parliament. Secondary data derived from reports and journals of identified international parliamentary organization has been used. Qualitative content analysis guided the analysis and reporting of findings. The three international parliamentary institutions were found to have different institutional structures and mode of operations. The CPA and PAP have members derived from member country seating parliamentarians while EALA is unique as the assembly members are nominated based on strengths of political parties in respective countries. The parliamentarians meet at stipulated times in different member countries to discuss ranging topical issues such as gender inclusion, climate change, peace, terrorism, and security, and African economic issues. Each of the parliamentary institutions was formed after the parent organizations created a resolutions to have legislative functions embedded in the operations. EALA has a parent in East African Community; PAP is a product of deliberations of African Union and the African Commission; and CPA has its original in Commonwealth that brings together former British colonies and protectorates. The Kenyan parliament has actively been engaged in peace and security promotion and restoration in Somalia, Southern Sudan, and the Burundi Crises. The PAP has been involved in arbitration in the conflicts of Chad, Libya, and the transition in Egypt following the challenges of Arab Spring. The study identifies challenges in Kenyan parliamentary engagement internationally. One is the seasonality of seating parliamentarians who are elected every five years and therefore every time the members have to be reoriented into the international parliamentary functions. The interparliamentary engagements are autonomous in nature and their ratification of the laws, statutes, and resolutions is not guaranteed in member states. This puts a case for parliamentary diplomacy. There should be away to have the laws, statutes and resolutions to be made bidding to the member countries. The study recommends further studies be focused on specific case studies such direct contribution to peace and security, development and environmental sustainability, territorial disputes, ethnic instigated violence, and election rigging and instability. Key words: Parliamentary Institutions, Parliamentary diplomacy, International Relations