The National Assembly is set to hold public hearings in 30 counties beginning 3rd February through 14th February 2026 to gather views on Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2025, which focuses on the Government of Kenya’s planned partial divestiture in Safaricom PLC. The exercise is aimed at giving citizens a direct role in shaping Parliament’s position on the proposal.
The hearings will be conducted jointly by the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning and the Select Committee on Public Debt and Privatization. Through these sessions, the committees will engage members of the public, civil society groups, industry players, and experts to examine the contents of the Sessional Paper and its wider implications.
In a statement issued on 21st January 2026, the Clerk of the National Assembly, S. Njoroge, CBS, underscored the importance of public involvement in the process. He cited Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution, which “requires Parliament to facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of Parliament.”
He said the committees “shall discuss the contents of the Sessional Paper and its implications during the Public hearings,” and invited Kenyans to attend the sessions and present their views.
The public hearings will be held in major towns and county headquarters across the country. The first sessions will take place on 3rd February in Nairobi, Mandera, Machakos, and Nyandarua. On 4th February, hearings will move to Nakuru, Wajir, Kitui, and Nyeri.
Between 5th and 7th February, the committees will visit Kericho, Kirinyaga, Baringo, Kisumu, Embu, Murang’a, and Kakamega. The remaining counties will host hearings from 9th to 14th February 2026. These include West Pokot, Tharaka Nithi, Kiambu, Vihiga, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Meru, Kisii, Taita Taveta, Kajiado, Samburu, Homabay, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwale. All sessions will start at 10.00 am.
According to the notice issued by the National Assembly, “in addition to the receipt of written memoranda, engaging relevant stakeholders and consulting experts, the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning and the Select Committee on Public Debt and Privatization have resolved to hold Public Hearings on the Sessional Paper in the Counties.”
Members of the public who wish to review the document can access copies of the Sessional Paper at the National Assembly Table Office in the Main Parliament Buildings or online through parliament.go.ke.
The hearings are intended to allow ordinary citizens, civil society organizations, and sector stakeholders to share their views on the proposed partial divestiture. The process is meant to ensure Parliament meets its constitutional duty to make decisions through inclusive and open consultation for the benefit of society.
The move follows calls from Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who urged the National Assembly to conduct public participation before proceeding with the planned sale of the government’s 15 percent stake in Safaricom.
In a detailed memorandum submitted to Parliament, Nyoro questioned the valuation approach, the speed of the proposed transaction, and the process used to reach the decision. He called for public participation, competitive bidding, and a review of other options to ensure Kenyans receive full value from the sale.
“The Proposed sale of 15% stake of the Government of Kenya-owned Safaricom stake is a transaction that should be subjected to thorough public participation and debate, given that it is the largest in both size and quantum that our country has handled since independence, ”Nyoro said in the memorandum.
