PART 3

Summoning, Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliament

Summoning of Parliament.

54.         (1)  Subject to this section, each of Parliament shall be held at such place within Kenya and shall commence at such time as the President may appoint.

(2)   there shall be a session of Parliament at least once in every year, so that a period of twelve months shall not intervene between the last sitting of the National Assembly in one session and the first sitting thereof in the next session.

(3)   Whenever Parliament is dissolved, a general election of members of the National Assembly shall be held, and the first session of the new Parliament shall commence within three months after that dissolution.

(4)   Subject to this section, the sittings of the National Assembly in a session of Parliament shall be held as such time and on such days as may be determined in accordance with the standing orders of the Assembly.

Prorogation and dissolution of Parliament.

55.         (1)  The President may at any time prorogue Parliament.

(2)   The President may at any time dissolve Parliament.

(3)   If the National Assembly passes a resolution which is supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of the Assembly (excluding the ex officio members), and of which not less than seven days’ notice has been given in accordance with the standing orders of the Assembly, declaring that it has no confidence in the Government of Kenya, and the President does not within three days of the passing of that resolution either resign from his office or dissolve Parliament, Parliament shall stand dissolved on the fourth day following the day on which that resolution was passed.

(4)   Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date when the National Assembly first meets after dissolution and shall then stand dissolved.

(5)   At any time when Kenya is at war, Parliament may from time to time provide for the extension of the period of five years specified in subsection (4) for not more than twelve months at a time:

Provided that the life of Parliament shall not be extended under this subsection by more than five years.