Senate gears up for fourth session with strategic planning retreat

The Senate is set to convene a high-level planning retreat from Wednesday to Friday this week to strategize for the upcoming fourth session, which officially begins on February 11, 2025.

Themed “Shaping the Senate’s Legacy: Reflections, Strategies, and the Path Forward,” the retreat will provide Senators and key stakeholders with an opportunity to assess the Senate’s performance over the past three sessions and outline strategies for the future.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi will officially open the retreat, which will bring together key governance and legislative bodies, including the National Government, the County Assemblies Forum, the Council of Governors, and the Commission on Revenue Allocation.

The discussions will focus on strengthening the Senate’s role in governance, addressing legislative challenges, and enhancing its oversight mandate.

A key agenda item will be evaluating the effectiveness of Senate Committees, highlighting their successes, identifying challenges, and proposing solutions to enhance their impact.

Senators will also deliberate on the implementation of the Senate’s oversight role, with a focus on proposed Constitutional amendments to entrench oversight funds into the Constitution.

Additionally, Cabinet Secretary for Health Deborah Barasa is scheduled to brief lawmakers on the state of the health sector.

The session will provide an opportunity for Senators to engage in discussions on necessary reforms aimed at improving healthcare service delivery across the country.

As the Senate prepares for the fourth session, the retreat is expected to play a critical role in shaping its legislative agenda and reinforcing its commitment to effective governance and oversight.