As the National Assembly prepares to enter its Fifth Session, parliamentary committees have shown active engagement, reviewing dozens of Bills, vetting officers, and holding frequent sittings throughout the Fourth Session.
Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei reported that committees handled 65 Bills out of 99 presented, processed 37 legislative proposals, and approved 16 for publication. In addition, the committees held 1,323 sittings and vetted 95 State and public officers, demonstrating a high level of legislative and oversight activity.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 2026 Legislative Retreat in Nakuru, Shollei praised Members for their hard work and commitment to parliamentary duties, noting the figures reflect meaningful engagement.
Shollei, who also chairs the Liaison Committee, said the retreat is an opportunity to reflect on progress and set priorities for the Fifth Session. The event, themed “Securing Parliamentary Legacy: Delivering the Fifth Session Agenda and Preparing for Transition,” is intended to ensure lawmakers consolidate achievements and complete unfinished work.
“Our objective this week is to establish a shared vision for the legislative and oversight priorities that will define our collective legacy. The decisions we make will shape the remainder of our term and ensure a stable and effective transition for the institution of Parliament,” she said.
She stressed the importance of safeguarding parliamentary memory and ensuring a smooth handover as the nation moves toward the 2027 General Election.
“A smooth transition is the hallmark of a mature democracy. We must ensure the parliamentary baton is passed to the next House without dropping it. We are the custodians of this institution, and we must leave it stronger than we found it,” Shollei said.
The Deputy Speaker also highlighted issues with overlapping committee mandates, which have previously caused disputes requiring the Speaker’s intervention. She suggested that reviewing the Standing Orders and possibly merging committees with unclear or similar functions could improve efficiency.
“It may be necessary to merge some of the Committees whose mandates are not distinct or may seem to overlap, to resolve this and other procedural grey areas,” she said.
Shollei urged Members to conclude their term with excellence and uphold the dignity of the House. The retreat allows MPs to align on legislative priorities, evaluate progress from the Fourth Session, and deliberate on matters affecting the country, including the Competency-Based Curriculum, health sector reforms, electoral readiness, and economic performance.
National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge told lawmakers the Fifth Session must be used to finalize all pending major business. He warned that delaying important legislation could result in spillovers into the last session, which will be shorter because of the election schedule.
“We are conscious, Honourable Speaker, that we are actually preparing for transition because we have 560 days only remaining between now and the next general elections, or precisely 80 weeks,” Njoroge said.
He added that the final session typically begins in January and ends by mid-June to allow MPs to campaign, citing lessons from the 10th Parliament, when some Members delayed campaigning to complete parliamentary work and faced difficulties in their constituencies.
“We learned from the lessons of the 10th Parliament that when we hold members back from doing parliamentary business while their competitors are active on the ground, we disadvantage them. Moving forward, we will always try to release members early for the last session, so that they can attempt to secure their positions early enough,” he said.
Njoroge urged lawmakers to prioritize essential legislation to ensure the House leaves a strong record of achievement.
