Senators move to Busia for fourth Senate Mashinani sitting

Senators have moved their sittings from Nairobi to Busia County for the fourth edition of the Senate Mashinani programme, a week-long initiative aimed at bringing the work of the Senate closer to the people and strengthening public understanding of devolution.

The programme officially began on Monday at the Busia County Assembly and will run until Friday.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said the initiative is designed to close the gap between the Senate and the public by holding official sittings in different counties.

“The Senate Mashinani is a way of bridging the gap between the county and the general public whereby the Senate intends to hold its sittings in one of the 47 counties every year to enable Kenyans to better understand the role of the assembly in fostering devolution,” he said on Monday.

During the week, senators will engage in various legislative activities, including public hearings on the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The Busia County Assembly leadership and the county executive, led by Governor Paul Otuoma, will also appear before the County Public Accounts Committee to respond to queries on the 2023/2024 financial year. The committee is chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot invited residents of Busia and surrounding areas to participate fully in the activities, noting that the sessions provide a unique opportunity to address issues that have affected the region for years.

“It is a chance for the public to step into the heart of governance and for leaders to be reminded who they truly serve,” said Cheruiyot.

Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale said the week will allow senators to directly observe the challenges facing the One Stop Border Post in Busia.

Local Senator Okiya Omtatah added that holding sittings in the area will help legislators gain a deeper understanding of how political marginalisation has impacted local communities.