The Senate of the Republic of Kenya is one of the two Houses of the
Parliament of Kenya
The Parliament of Kenya is the bicameral legislature of Kenya. It is based at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi and consists of two houses:
* Senate (upper house)
* The National Assembly ( lower house)
See also
*Politics of Kenya
* List of legisl ...
, along with the
National Assembly
In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the rep ...
. The Senate was first established as part of Kenya's
1963 Constitution.
After being abolished in 1966, the Senate was re-established by Article 93 of the new
2010 Constitution to represent
counties
A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
' interests as well as pass legislation concerning counties.
First Senate, 1963–1966
Kenya's
1963 Constitution established a Senate that consisted of 41 senators elected for six years, with one-third of the members retiring every two years.
Timothy Chokwe served as the first
speaker of the Senate. The Senate was abolished in 1966, when its membership was combined with that of the
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
to form a unicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
Members of the first Senate (1963 - 1966)
Modern Senate, 2013–present
The
2013 General Election took place on 4 March 2013. Under the new
Constitution
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.
When these princ ...
, which was passed during the
2010 Referendum, the 2013 general election was the first to include the election of Senators representing the 47 newly created counties. They were also the first general elections run by the
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in the year 2011 through the making of the Constitution of Kenya. The Commission is responsible for conducting or supervising refere ...
.
According to their share of elected seats, the political parties nominated an additional 16 women. Additional nominations were made for two members representing the youth and two members representing Persons Living with
Disabilities (PLWD). The Speaker of the Senate, who is an
''ex officio'' member, is elected by the Senators sworn in on the first Sitting of the Senate.
Powers
The powers and role of the Senate in Kenya are as follows:
* Empowered to represent the interests of the counties and their governments
* Participates in law-making by considering, debating and approving bills concerning counties
* Determines allocation of national revenue among counties.
* Has powers of impeachment over the president, deputy president, county governor, and deputy governors
Members of the Senate from 2017 to 2022
Elected senators
''Source:'' Kenyan Parliament (2020)
Members of the Senate from 2022 to 2027
Elected senators
Members of the senate between 2013 and 2017
The Senate consists of 47 members directly elected by their counties, 16 women nominated by the political parties according to their relative strength in the Senate elections, two members to represent the youth, and two members to represent persons with disabilities.
Elected senators
Women Nominated to the senate 2022-2027
Women nominated to the senate between 2013-2017
Members nominated to senate to represent youth
Members nominated to senate to represent people with disabilities
Summary by coalition and party between 2013 and 2017
These summaries are based on post-election coalitions as reported by the press.
Committees
Committees 2022 -
* Senate committee on Health
**''Chairperson'':
Jackson Mandago
Jackson Kiplagat Arap Mandago is a Kenyan politician who currently serves as the senator of Uasin Gishu County. He served as the first Governor of Uasin Gishu County from 2013 to 2022. He was first elected Governor in 2013 and re-elected in 2017 ...
**''Vice Chair'':Mariam Omar Sheikh
* Senate Budget and Finance committee
**''Chairperson'':
Ali Roba
**''Vice Chair'': Tabitha Mutinda
* Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Technology
**''Chairperson'': Allan Chesang
**''Vice Chair'': Gloria Orwoba
* Senate Committee on Justice, Legal And Human Rights
**''Chairperson'': Hillary Sigei
**''Vice Chair'': Raphael Chimera
* Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare Committee
**''Chairperson'':
Julius Murgor
**''Vice Chair'': John Mbugua
* Senate Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
**''Chairperson'': James Murango
**''Vice Chair'': Alexander Mundigi
* Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations
**''Chairperson'': Sheikh Mohamed Abass
**''Vice Chair'': Rosalinda Tuya
* Senate Committee on Education
**''Chairperson'': Joseph Nyutu
**''Vice Chair'':Peris Tobiko
* Senate Committee on Energy
**''Chairperson'': Wahome Wamatinga
**''Vice Chair'':Veronicah Nduati
[https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-10-18-rutos-kenya-kwanza-sweeps-senate-committee-leadership-posts/ ]
Committees 2013- 2022
* Senate Rules and Business Committee
**''Chair'':
Ekwee Ethuro
Ekwee David Ethuro (born 31 December 1963) is a Kenyan politician. He was elected as the first Speaker of the modern Kenyan Senate on 28 March 2013. From 1998 to 2013 he served as a Member of Parliament representing Turkana Central. He also se ...
* Senate Committee on Education, Information and Technology
**''Chair'':
Mutahi Kagwe (
NARC)
**''Vice Chair'': Mohamud Halima Abdille (
ODM)
* Senate Committee on Energy, Roads and Transportation
**''Chair'': Gideon Moi (
KANU)
**''Vice Chair'': Mwakulegwa Danson Mwazo (
ODM)
* Senate Committee on Finance, Commerce and Economic Affairs
**''Chair'':
Billow Kerrow (
URP)
**''Vice Chair'': Peter Mositet (
TNA)
* Senate Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare
**''Chair'':
Mohammed Kuti (
URP)
**''Vice Chair'': Kittony Zipporah (
KANU)
* Senate Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
**''Chair'':
Amos Wako
Amos Wako (born 31 July 1945) is a former Attorney General of Kenya and the first senator for Busia County from 2013 to 2017. Wako won the senatorial seat after defeating former minister of finance Chris Okemo. He won the senator seat on an Or ...
(
ODM)
**''Vice Chair'': Sang Stephen (
URP)
* Senate Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations
**''Chair'':
Yusuf Haji
Mohamed Yusuf Haji ( so, Maxamed Yuusuf Xaaji) (23 December 1940 – 15 February 2021) was a Kenyan politician. He was the Minister of Defence of Kenya from 2008 to 2013, and briefly served as its acting Minister of Internal Security and Provinc ...
(
TNA)
**''Vice Chair'': Dullo Fatuma (
URP)
* Senate Committee on Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources
**''Chair'': Kivuti Lenny (
APK)
**''Vice Chair'':
George Khaniri
George Khaniri is a Kenyan politician. He belongs to the Amani National Congress (ANC) and was first elected to represent the Hamisi Constituency in the National Assembly of Kenya
The National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya is one of ...
(
UDF)
* Senate Delegated Legislation Committee
**''Chair'': Kisasa Mshenga Mvita (
URP)
**''Vice Chair'': Sijeny Judith Achieng (
WDM-K)
* Senate Implementation Committee
**''Chair'':
James Orengo
James Aggrey Bob Orengo is a Kenyan lawyer, a well known human rights activist and politician who is the current governor for Siaya County. He is also one of the few Kenyan lawyers who have attained the professional grade of Senior counsel in t ...
(
ODM)
**''Vice Chair'': Kanainza Nyongesa Daisy (
ODM)
* Senate Devolved Government Committee
**''Chair'': Murkomen Kipchumba (
URP)
**''Vice Chair'': Wangari Martha (
UDF)
References
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K
1963 establishments in Kenya
1966 disestablishments in Kenya
2013 establishments in Kenya