The Senate will hold its much-anticipated plenary and committee sittings in Busia County from October 6 to 10, 2025, as part of its continued efforts to bring legislative business closer to the people and deepen public engagement with devolution.
This follows the adoption of a motion tabled by Senate Majority Whip and Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale during a session held on July 24, 2025. Initially scheduled for September 23–27, 2024, the sittings were postponed multiple times due to logistical and financial constraints. Reports indicate that hosting the sessions required at least Sh200 million, contributing to the earlier cancellations.
Khalwale emphasized the constitutional obligation of the Senate to foster stronger ties between national and county governments while enhancing public understanding of devolved governance. He pointed to past successful sittings in Uasin Gishu (2018), Kitui (2019), and Turkana (2023), which drew widespread public participation and fostered civic awareness.
“This move is not only symbolic but practical,” Khalwale stated. “It allows the Senate to assess how devolution is taking root on the ground, to listen to citizens directly, and to collaborate with county leadership to strengthen service delivery.”
Seconding the motion, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah welcomed the Senate’s visit as a timely intervention in addressing development challenges within the county. “The county is lagging in development, and having the Senate present will allow us to interrogate what’s going wrong,” he noted.
Several Senators supported the initiative, noting that such decentralized sittings reaffirm the Senate’s oversight role and offer a platform for knowledge-sharing between Senators, county assembly members, and parliamentary staff.
The Busia sittings stem from a Senate resolution passed on March 8, 2023, mandating that at least one sitting be held in a different county each year, excluding election years. These sittings aim to enhance intergovernmental collaboration, raise awareness about the Senate’s role, and promote citizen participation in the legislative process.
Public venues across Busia will host the sessions, with local leaders, civic groups, and residents expected to actively participate in the historic event.
