| 1963 SENATE | NEW SENATE |
NUMBER OF SENATORS | 41 | 67 |
COMPOSITION | 41 Senators | 47 elected Senators; 16 nominated women; 2 youth, 2 people representing people with disabilities; the Speaker as an Ex-officio member |
REPRESENTATION | 40 districts and Nairobi Area | 47 Counties |
LENGTH OF TERM | 6 years | 5 years |
ELECTION PROCESS | Elected by adult suffrage | 47 elected by adult suffrage and 20 nominated on the basis of proportional representation by party lists |
ROLES AND FUNCTIONS | - Safeguard the autonomy of the regional governments (Majimbo) and protect the interests of the various regions.
- Oversight of the Government
- Safeguard the 1962 Lancaster Constitution as some amendments to it required approval of up to 90% and others 75% of Senators
- Imposition of a State of emergency which required approval of 65% of Senators
| - Represents the Counties and protects the interests of the County
- Considers, debates and approves Bills concerning Counties
- Determines allocation of revenue among Counties
- Exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to Counties
- Oversight of State officers by determining a resolution to impeach the President or Deputy President
- Passes resolutions to alter the boundaries of a County
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LEGISLATIVE ROLE | - Legislate- originate Bills except for money Bills.
- Scrutinize Bills that originated from the House of Representatives.
| - Legislate- originates a Bill concerning County Governments (Bill containing provisions affecting the functions and powers of the county governments, relating to elections of members of a county assembly/executive, affecting the finances of county governments)
- Originate special and ordinary Bills concerning county governments
- Scrutinize Bills from the National Assembly concerning county governments
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