Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Maasai Mara, the Senate Futures Caucus convened its inaugural Strategic Foresight Retreat, bringing together Senators, development partners, and foresight experts for a two-day dialogue on embedding future-oriented thinking into Kenya’s legislative processes.

The retreat, themed “Charting a Future-Oriented Course for Kenya”, aimed to equip lawmakers with the tools and perspectives necessary to anticipate long-term challenges and craft responsive, evidence-based legislation.

Narok Senator and Chairperson of the Senate Futures Caucus, Senator Ledama Olekina, emphasized the urgency of rethinking governance through a generational lens. “We are here not just to legislate for the now, but to shape the kind of Kenya we want for our children and their children,” he said. “Our role must evolve to reflect the rapid technological, environmental, and social changes affecting our future.”

The Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Jeremiah Nyegenye, whose remarks were delivered by Deputy Clerk Mohamed Ali, underscored the constitutional duty of legislators to adopt anticipatory governance. “This retreat is not about predicting the future, but preparing for it,” he stated. “We are initiating a structured approach to embed foresight in lawmaking, fiscal planning, and devolution—ensuring that policy is resilient, equitable, and sustainable.”

The retreat also featured global perspectives, with Ms. Catarina Zuzarte Tully, Managing Director of the School of International Futures (SOIF), praising Kenya’s leadership. “Kenya’s Senate is setting an African precedent in seeking to institutionalise futures thinking,” she noted. “By engaging in this kind of strategic visioning, you are laying the groundwork for a more inclusive, future-ready nation.”

The retreat is part of a broader process to operationalise the Senate Futures Caucus Strategic Plan 2025–2028, which will guide efforts to institutionalise foresight, secure resources, and create long-term legislative impact.