Senate of Kenya
The Senate | |
|---|---|
| 12th Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Type | |
| Type | of the Parliament of Kenya |
| History | |
| Founded | 1963 and 2013 |
New session started | 31 August 2017 |
| Leadership | |
Speaker | |
Deputy Speaker | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
Majority Whip | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 67 |
 | |
Political groups | Government (34)[4] Jubilee (34) Opposition(33)[4] National Super Alliance (28)[4] Independent (1)[4] Other Parties (4) |
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| 47 First Past the Post, 20 co-opted, 1 ex-officio | |
Last election | 8 August 2017 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Parliament Buildings,[5] Nairobi, Kenya | |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
|
|---|
 Kenya portal |
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of Kenya. The Senate was first established as part of Kenya's 1963 Constitution. After being abolished in 1966, the Senate was re-established by the 2010 Constitution.
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.[6] 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 Kenya Senate elections took place on 4 March 2013.[7] 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 with disabilities. The speaker, who is an ex officio member, was 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:[8]
- 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)[9]
Senate by-election
| County number |
County | Former incumbent | Party | Elected | Party | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Migori County | Ben Oluoch Okello | ODM | George Ochillo Ayacko | ODM | October 2017 |
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 nominated to the senate
| # | Senator | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beatrice Elachi | APK |
| 2 | Catherine Mukite Nobwola | FORD-KENYA |
| 3 | Janet Ongera | ODM |
| 4 | Elizabeth Ongoro Masha | ODM |
| 5 | Halima Abdille Mohamud | ODM |
| 6 | Agnes Nzani (Dr.) | ODM |
| 7 | Beth Wambui Mugo | TNA |
| 8 | Emma Mbura Getrude | TNA |
| 9 | Naisula Lesuuda | TNA |
| 10 | Joy Adhiambo Gwendo | TNA |
| 11 | Martha Wangari | UDF |
| 12 | Mshenga Mvita Kisasa | URP |
| 13 | Chelule Liza | URP |
| 14 | Adan Dullo Fatuma | URP |
| 15 | Judith Achieng Sijeny | WDM-K |
| 16 | Zipporah Jepchirchir Kittony | KANU |
Members nominated to senate to represent youth
| # | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kanainza Nyongesa Daisy | ODM |
| 2 | Hosea Onchwangi | 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 | |
| Amani Jubilee-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
|
References
- ^ "Former Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka elected Senate Speaker".
- ^ "Poghisio elected Senate majority leader in new changes".
- ^ "Kenya's president purges Senate of deputy's allies as rift widens".
- ^ a b c d "FACTSHEET: Kenya's new parliament by numbers".
- ^ "Senators finally occupy refurbished chambers".
- ^ The Europa World Year Book 1965, p. 638
- ^ "Kenya to hold polls in March 2013, says elections body". The Citizen. 18 March 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
- ^ "The Functions and Role of the Senate in Kenya". AfroCave. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Members of the Senate | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 25 May 2020.