The storming of Parliament on 25 June, 2024 during public protests has prompted a serious reckoning within the Senate. At the Planning Workshop for the Fourth Session, themed ‘Building a Resilient and Balanced Workforce’, Senate Clerk Mr. Jeremiah Nyegenye outlined a series of reforms, for consideration, aimed at bolstering security, improving public participation and enhancing the institution’s overall resilience. 

The Senate is set to resume its sittings this Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 2:30 PM, marking the beginning of the Fourth Session of the 4th Senate. This session follows a long recess that began in early December 2024.

Today, Senate staff convened for the Fourth Reading to review its performance during the Third Session of the 13th Parliament (February to December 2024) and plan for the Fourth. While the Senate demonstrated a strong commitment to its duties – evidenced by a significant increase in sittings and active engagement in high-profile political processes – the review also highlighted areas for enhanced effectiveness. 

Delivering the Report of the Third Session, Deputy Clerk Mohamed Ali, acknowledged the increased workload the Senate had undertaken. 

The Senate has been urged to consider abolishing the distribution of bursaries by county governments due to widespread mismanagement of funds. Speaking during a Senate retreat in Naivasha, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Investments and Special Funds exposed how counties have been misusing bursary allocations.

“Bursary funds are not looking good at all; it is another conduit of corruption. In most cases, there is no documentation submitted by those counties,” said Sen. Osotsi.

The Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has urged the House to establish legislative frameworks to address the persistent issue of delayed disbursement of funds to counties.

Speaking during the Senate midterm retreat in Naivasha, Sen. Cheruiyot who made a submission on the legislative agenda and priorities for the Fourth Session emphasized the need for the Senate Devolution Committee to take the lead in ensuring that all county functions are fully devolved.