Nairobi — Delegates from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association start arriving Wednesday for a nine-day conference.

The meeting will bring together at least 1,000 delegates, among them MPs, House Speakers, Cabinet ministers, Clerks and parliamentary officials, from 54 Commonwealth countries.

On Tuesday, Parliament was a hive of activity as staff and members of the organising committee chaired by Mwingi South MP David Musila moved base to KICC on the day that the association's secretary-general, Dr William Shija, arrived from London.

Members of the committee, House Speaker Kenneth Marende, and Clerk Patrick Gichohi held a last minute planning meeting with parliamentary staff, police and officers from the tourism sector at KICC.

The September 10-19 meeting will be opened by President Kibaki at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) on September 14.

The Commonwealth comprises countries which were colonised by Britain, but Rwanda and Mozambique, although not former British colonies, have been allowed to join. The delegates will be escorted by police riders or a police car wherever they choose to go.

The team has also organised special days for excursions to Mombasa, Maasai Mara, Mt Kenya, Naivasha and Nakuru, which are expected to boost tourism.

The main conference will be preceded by a meeting of all the women MPs attending the event, slated for September 13.