OFFICIALS from Kenya have described their week-long visit to the Island to study the Manx parliamentary system as very valuable.
Delegation leader Clement Nyandiere, director - information and research and his fellow officers Paul Onyango, principal finance officer, Samwel Njuguna, principal research officer and delegation secretary, Harun Okal, Serjeant at Arms and John Mutega, clerk assistant were in the Island at the invitation of the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald on a visit funded by the Parliament of Kenya to study the operation and structure of Tynwald.
The programme, arranged by the Clerk of Tynwald's office, provided opportunities for the delegation to observe Tynwald's tri-cameral parliamentary system.
The ways in which the House of Keys and the Legislative Council work together were of particular interest because the Kenyan parliament is set to become bi-cameral in 2012 after 47 years of uni-cameralism.
Mr Nyandiere said: "The visit gave us an opportunity to observe what we see as a unique parliamentary system.
"What we found particularly interesting was the way protocol is observed, the high degree of collaboration between the two branches of Tynwald, how Members clearly know each other well and their obvious enthusiasm for lively debate on grass-roots issues.
"In addition, we had been considering parallel administrative functions to accommodate our proposed bi-cameral system, but this visit has prompted us to reconsider that approach.
"We were also impressed by the voice recognition technology Tynwald employs but above all our lasting impression is of an island of welcoming and very friendly people."
In addition to attending a Tynwald sitting the officers met President of Tynwald Noel Cringle, Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan, MHKs, MLCs, senior officers of Tynwald, government officials and the Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood.
There was also a brief tour of the Island with a visit to Castle Rushen and the Old House of Keys and the Sandygate home of Pamela Shimwell-Mayo and her husband Colonel John Mayo.
Mr Cringle said: "I was delighted we could offer Mr Nyandiere and his colleagues an insight into the Manx parliamentary system.
"The week-long visit was a valuable opportunity to share experiences and for Tynwald to be able to offer support to the Parliament of Kenya at a time when it is undergoing major reform."
The officials visited from April 10 to 17.
The Kenyan parliamentary delegation of, left to right, John Mutega, Harun Okal, Samwel Njuguna, Clement Nyandiere and Paul Onyangoh with Clerk of Tynwald Roger Phillips in the foreground and Deputy Clerk of Tynwald Jonathan King to the right (Photo: Paul Dougherty, Seneschal)
