In a significant move to decentralize power and enhance public participation, the Senate is relocating its operations from the capital to Busia County for a full week of legislative activities, a flagship initiative known as “Senate Mashinani.”
From Monday to Friday, the Senate will hold its plenary sessions and committee meetings in Busia, marking a departure from its usual base at the Parliament Buildings in Nairobi. The program, officially labelled ‘Senate Mashinani’, is designed to bridge the gap between the national and county governments and bring Senators closer to the citizens they serve.
“This is a means of bringing the Senate closer to the counties and the general public,” explained Senate Speaker Amason Kingi. “The house intends to have its sittings in one county per year so that Kenyans can better understand its role in supporting devolution.”
The decision to hold the sittings in Busia follows a resolution passed by the Senate on March 8, 2023, which mandates that the Senate holds plenary and committee sittings in a selected county for one week every September during the current parliamentary session, barring election years. This year’s sitting was initially scheduled for October last year but was deferred due to a lack of funds.
A Packed Agenda of Legislation and Oversight
The week will be packed with activities beyond the main chamber debates. Several key Senate committees will be active across the county.
The Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee will conduct public participation on the significant Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a piece of legislation that seeks to enhance the Senate’s own legislative and oversight powers. Meanwhile, the Committee on Education will investigate the status of Early Childhood Development Education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the region.
In a crucial oversight function, the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, has scheduled sessions with Busia Governor Paul Otuoma and the County Assembly leadership to scrutinize the county’s financial statements for the 2023/24 financial year.
Residents will have the opportunity to actively engage with Senators through oversight visits to local development projects, inspections of government programmes, and public forums. According to Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye, the initiative aims to “promote the role of the Senate, highlight opportunities for engagement in the legislative process, and strengthen partnerships at the county level.”
Addressing Local Challenges and Showcasing Potential
Senators highlighted the unique opportunity to witness first-hand the opportunities and challenges facing Busia, a border county.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot stated that the greatest legacy of the initiative would be “resolving long-standing issues affecting residents and ensuring solutions are permanent.” He invited all residents to actively participate, calling it “a chance for ordinary people to step into the heart of governance.”
Senator Boni Khalwale, a senior leader from the Luhya community, assured his colleagues that Busia was ready to host them. He pointed to specific issues for the Senators to witness, including the negative impact of the One Stop Border Post on local businesses and the strain on the Busia County Hospital, where almost 45% of patients are from neighbouring Uganda.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah said the visit would allow the Senate to “sample what this country has in that part of the world,” helping them understand the impact of marginalization. He also pointed to unique local assets, such as the prehistoric cave paintings in Kakapel.
Adding a historical perspective, Senate Minority Whip Ledama ole Kina noted that Busia is home to Lake Victoria and has been a long-time advocate for the actualization of the East African Community (EAC). He, however, clarified that the primary purpose of the relocation is to conduct official business from the Order Paper, not solely for public engagement.
This is the fourth such “Senate Mashinani” initiative, with previous sittings held in Uasin Gishu (2018), Kitui (2019), and Turkana (2023). The program was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
