The Speaker of the Senate Rt. Hon. Amason Kingi, EGH has challenged the newly elected and nominated Senators to positively build up on the gains made by their predecessors.

The Speaker reminded the Senators that their main mandate is to shape and positively influence and improve operations and effective functioning of the 4th Senate.

The Speaker made the remarks during his official opening of the induction retreat for Senators in Sawela Lodge,Nakuru County. The theme of the retreat is "Understanding the mandate of the Senate:-Strenghthening Devolution through legislative effectiveness ".

The main purpose of the retreat is to equip Senators with basic understanding the workings and key legislative processes within Bi-cameral set up. The Speaker implored members to fully engage  with facilitators in order to understand their mandate. 

"My key expectation is that we share other useful views and perspectives on how to discharge our Constitutional and leadership roles in and out of the house effectively," Sen. Kingi added.

The Speaker further noted that Senators have an uphill task in conducting their mandate hence the  need to be adequately facilitated.

 "I undertake to engage with all relevant stakeholders including government agencies concerned with a view to putting in place a system that ensures members are sufficiently facilated”.

The Senate Deputy Speaker Sen. Kathuri Murungi in his speech, made a commitment to work closely with the Speaker, to strengthen devolution through the Senate.

The Senator who is also a two time former Imenti South MP, pledged to ensure a robust Senate and devolution through enhancing oversight and  accountability over resources allocated to the counties.

"It is my hope that this induction will set the pace for Senators to understand their mandate, inspire us to take up the mantle and strengthen Devolution for better service delivery for the people of Kenya," Sen Murungi said during the induction retreat.