Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has arrived in Turkana in readiness for sittings dubbed Senate Mashinani.
This is the first time the sessions have been held outside Nairobi since the outbreak of Covid-19.
The Senators who will pitch tent in the county for five days will tomorrow (Tuesday) deliberate on a motion by the Senate Majority Leader conveying a resolution by the Senate Business Committee that settled on Turkana County as the host County.
According to the Senate Business Committee, the sittings are meant to provide interlinkage between the National and County levels of government and enhance the interaction between the Senate and county governments as a means of bringing the Senate closer to the counties and the general public.
The Senators noted that there are several successes that have been realized as a result of holding the sittings outside Nairobi.
Earlier sittings were held in Uasin Gishu and Kitui Counties in September 2018 and in September 2019, respectively.
The Senate Mashinani was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The Senate Business Committee`s decision follows the subsequent resolution by the Senate made on 8th March, 2023, to hold plenary and committee sittings in the counties for a one-week period within the month of September in every Session of the 4th Senate, except during an election year.
The objectives of such sittings among others is to promote the role and work of the Senate and enhance public awareness regarding the Business of the Senate and Parliament in general, to highlight existing and new opportunities for engagement in the legislative process besides developing and strengthening partnerships at the county level of government.
In April 2023, the office of the Clerk of the Senate carried out a reconnaissance in Marsabit, Mandera, Isiolo, Turkana, Kisii, Busia, Laikipia, Nyamira and Taita Taveta Counties then submitted reports for each County to the Senate House Committee for consideration.
