The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Gladys Boss, has lauded the robust performance of National Assembly Departmental Committees during the Fourth Session of the 13th Parliament, revealing that Committees held 1,323 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 65 𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 99, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 37 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘴 (16 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯), 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 95 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴.

Speaking during the official opening of the 2026 National Assembly Retreat in Naivasha Constituency, Hon. Boss, who also chairs the Liaison Committee, commended Members for their commitment to legislative and oversight duties.

Under the theme “𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺: 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘩 𝘚𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,” she noted that as the House embarks on its Fifth Session, the focus should be on consolidating legislative achievements, addressing pending matters, and ensuring a smooth transition at the end of the 13th Parliament.

“Our objective this week is to establish a shared vision for the legislative and oversight priorities that will define our collective legacy,” said Hon. Boss. “The decisions we make will shape the remainder of our term and ensure a stable and effective transition for the institution of Parliament.”

The Deputy Speaker underscored the importance of institutional continuity, urging Members to safeguard institutional memory as Parliament nears the 2027 General Election.

“A smooth transition is the hallmark of a mature democracy. We must ensure the parliamentary baton is passed to the next House without dropping it. We are the custodians of this institution, and we must leave it stronger than we found it,” she said.

Hon. Boss also called for a review of the Standing Orders to address the overlapping mandates of Committees, an issue that has in the past led to jurisdictional disputes requiring the Speaker’s intervention. She hinted that merging some Committees with similar or indistinct functions could enhance efficiency and clarity in the House’s operations.

“It may be necessary to merge some of the Committees whose mandates are not distinct or may seem to overlap, in order to resolve this and other procedural grey areas,” she said.

The Deputy Speaker urged legislators to ensure that Parliament finishes its term “with the dignity and excellence that the people deserve.”

Quoting from Ecclesiastes 7:8 , she reminded Members, “Finishing a task is better than merely starting it… let us finish strong.”

The retreat, attended by Members of the National Assembly aims to review progress from the Fourth Session, align on key legislative priorities for the Fifth, and deliberate on national issues including the status of CBC, health sector reforms, electoral preparedness and the state of the economy.