The Senate of the Republic of Kenya (swahili: Seneti ya Jamhuri ya Kenya) is one of the two Houses of the Parliament of Kenya, along with the National Assembly. The Senate was first established as part of Kenya’s 1963 Constitution.
After being abolished in 1966, the Senate was re-established by Article 93 of the new 2010 Constitution to represent counties‘ interests as well as pass legislation concerning counties.
First Senate, 1963–1966
Kenya’s 1963 Constitution established a Senate that consisted of 41 senators elected for six years, with one-third of the members retiring every two years. Timothy Chokwe served as the first speaker of the Senate.[4] The Senate was abolished in 1966, when its membership was combined with that of the House of Representatives to form a unicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
Members of the first Senate (1963–1966)
Modern Senate, 2013–present
The 2013 General Election took place on 4 March 2013.[5] Under the new Constitution, which was passed during the 2010 Referendum, the 2013 general election was the first to include the election of Senators representing the 47 newly created counties. They were also the first general elections run by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
According to their share of elected seats, the political parties nominated an additional 16 women. Additional nominations were made for two members representing the youth and two members representing Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD). The Speaker of the Senate, who is an ex officio member, is elected by the Senators sworn in on the first Sitting of the Senate.
Powers
The powers and role of the Senate in Kenya are as follows:[6]
- Empowered to represent the interests of the counties and their governments
- Participates in law-making by considering, debating and approving bills concerning counties
- Determines allocation of national revenue among counties.
- Has powers of impeachment over the president, deputy president, county governor, and deputy governors
Members of the Senate from 2017 to 2022
Elected senators
Source: Kenyan Parliament (2020)[7]
Members of the Senate from 2022 to 2027
Elected senators
Members of the senate between 2013 and 2017
The Senate consists of 47 members directly elected by their counties, 16 women nominated by the political parties according to their relative strength in the Senate elections, two members to represent the youth, and two members to represent persons with disabilities.
Elected senators
Women senators
Women Nominated to the senate 2022-2027
| Name | Political Party | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Abdalla Shakilla Mohamed | WDM |
| 2. | Beatrice Akinyi Ogolla | ODM |
| 3. | Beth Kalunda Syengo | ODM |
| 4. | Betty Batuli Montet | ODM |
| 5. | Catherine Muyeka Mumma | ODM |
| 6. | Crystal Kegehi Asige | ODM |
| 7. | Esther Anyieni Okenyuri | UDA |
| 8. | Hamida Ali Kibwana | ODM |
| 9. | Hezena M. Lemaletian | ODM |
| 10. | Joyce Chepkoech Korir | UDA |
| 11. | Miraj Abdillahi Abdulrahman | UDA |
| 12. | Tabitha Maureen Mutinda | UDA |
| 13. | Karen Nyamu | UDA |
| 14. | Omar Mariam Sheikh | UDM |
| 15. | Pesi Peris Tobiko | UDA |
| 16. | Prof. Margaret Jepkoech Kamar | JP |
| 17. | Veronica Waheti Nduati | UDA |
Women nominated to the senate between 2013-2017
Members nominated to senate to represent youth
| # | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kanainza Nyongesa Daisy | ODM |
| 2 | AMOS OLWAL | TNA |
Members nominated to senate to represent people with disabilities
| # | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Njoroge | TNA |
| 2 | Godliver Nanjira Omondi | ODM |
Summary by coalition and party between 2013 and 2017
These summaries are based on post-election coalitions as reported by the press.
| Coalition | Party | Elected senators | Nominated senators | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jubilee | TNA | 11 | 6 | 17 |
| URP | 9 | 3 | 12 | |
| NARC | 1 | – | 1 | |
| Total | 21 | 9 | 30 | |
| AmaniJubilee-affiliated | KANU | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| UDF | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Total | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| Jubilee-affiliated | APK | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| CORD | ODM | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| FORD-KENYA | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| WDM-K | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| FPK | 1 | – | 1 | |
| Total | 19 | 8 | 27 | |
| Vacant | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 47 | 20 | 67 | |
Committees
Committees 2022–
- Senate committee on Health
- Chairperson: Jackson Mandago
- Vice Chair:Mariam Omar Sheikh
- Senate Budget and Finance committee
- Chairperson: Ali Roba
- Vice Chair: Tabitha Mutinda
- Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Technology
- Chairperson: Allan Chesang
- Vice Chair: Gloria Orwoba
- Senate Committee on Justice, Legal And Human Rights
- Chairperson: Hillary Sigei
- Vice Chair: Raphael Chimera
- Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare Committee
- Chairperson: Julius Murgor
- Vice Chair: John Mbugua
- Senate Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries
- Chairperson: James Murango
- Vice Chair: Alexander Mundigi
- Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations
- Chairperson: Sheikh Mohamed Abass
- Vice Chair: Rosalinda Tuya
- Senate Committee on Education
- Chairperson: Joseph Nyutu
- Vice Chair:Peris Tobiko
- Senate Committee on Energy
- Chairperson: Wahome Wamatinga
- Vice Chair:Veronicah Nduati[8]
Committees 2013–2022
- Senate Rules and Business Committee
- Chair: Ekwee Ethuro
- Senate Committee on Education, Information and Technology
- Chair: Mutahi Kagwe (NARC)
- Vice Chair: Mohamud Halima Abdille (ODM)
- Senate Committee on Energy, Roads and Transportation
- Senate Committee on Finance, Commerce and Economic Affairs
- Chair: Billow Kerrow (URP)
- Vice Chair: Peter Mositet (TNA)
- Senate Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare
- Chair: Mohammed Kuti (URP)
- Vice Chair: Kittony Zipporah (KANU)
- Senate Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
- Senate Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations
- Chair: Yusuf Haji (TNA)
- Vice Chair: Dullo Fatuma (URP)
- Senate Committee on Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources
- Chair: Kivuti Lenny (APK)
- Vice Chair: George Khaniri (UDF)
- Senate Delegated Legislation Committee
- Senate Implementation Committee
- Chair: James Orengo (ODM)
- Vice Chair: Kanainza Nyongesa Daisy (ODM)
- Senate Devolved Government Committee
