By David Ochami

Four Kenyan MPs were elected to key committees of the Pan African Parliament on Tuesday in Midrand, South Africa.

At the same time, Japan’s Parliament has undertaken to train Kenya’s House staff on research and information technology in readiness for the introduction of electronic voting in Parliament.

The Secretary General of Japan’s House of Representatives Makoto Onitsuka signed the deal with Clerk Patrick Gichohi on Tuesday.

The deal will involve training on handling of committee proceedings.

According to reports from Parliament, Mr Gichohi is in Japan to discuss possibilities of reviving the Kenya-Japan Parliamentary friendship.

Parliamentary director for Foreign Affairs division of the Japanese Parliament Nakano Masamori said his country intends to equip Kenya’s parliamentary staff with modern technological skills and capacity.

Gichohi said: "We want to get the best of all practices from parliaments that are effective so that we can make ours better."

Meanwhile, reports from Midrand say Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara was elected the rapporteur of the rules committee, the most powerful committee in Pan African Parliament.

The committee is charged with responsibility of transforming the Pan African Parliament from a consultative organ to a full legislative body by 2011.

At present, the Parliament exercises oversight and has advisory and consultative powers.

Abdul Bahari of Isiolo South was elected vice chairman of the Finance committee while Nominated MP Musa Sirma got a similar position in the Agriculture committee.

Rachel Shebesh (nominated) is the rapporteur of the Gender committee.

Only Malindi MP Gideon Mung’aro did not vie for any position in the 11 committees.

Also known as the African Parliament, the seat of the Pan African Parliament was initially in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia but it was moved to South Africa.