- The Senate has taken its sittings to Kilifi County under the Senate Mashinani programme.
- The five-day programme combines plenary sessions, public engagements and oversight visits to projects and institutions.
- Jeff Kirui reports that residents have been urged to present petitions and concerns directly to senators.
The Senate on Tuesday held its inaugural sitting in Kilifi County, taking parliamentary business outside Nairobi under the Senate Mashinani programme aimed at bringing the House closer to the people.
The sitting at the Kilifi County Assembly brought together senators, county leaders and residents, with several lawmakers turning up in traditional Mijikenda attire to mark the historic occasion.
Among those dressed in the cultural attire were Kilifi Senator and Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo, Mombasa Senator Faki Mohamed and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Kilifi becomes the fifth county to host Senate sittings outside Nairobi since the programme was introduced. It follows Uasin Gishu in 2018, Kitui in 2019, Turkana in 2023 and Busia in 2025.
Opening the five-day programme, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said holding Senate proceedings in counties was part of efforts to deepen devolution and enhance interaction between Parliament and citizens.
Kingi, a former governor of Kilifi, urged residents to use the opportunity to present petitions and concerns affecting them.
“I call upon residents of Kilifi County to turn out at the County Assembly and present any petitions to the Senate. We are here to address issues raised by citizens, as required by the Constitution,” he said.
He also challenged county governments to openly raise challenges affecting service delivery, assuring them of the Senate’s support.
“I appeal to counties, please do not hide your challenges. In the Senate, you have a true friend,” Kingi said.
Focus on Coast issues
The sitting comes as the Senate considers legislation and policy matters of significance to the Coast region, including the Fisheries Management and Development Bill, 2024, which seeks to provide a framework for the management, development and conservation of fisheries resources.
Fisheries are a major source of livelihoods along the Coast, with thousands of residents depending on fishing, fish trading and other marine activities.
Senate committees have already begun oversight activities in the county, visiting health facilities in Malindi and Marafa and inspecting projects in Ganze funded through the Equalisation Fund.
Other sites visited include the proposed Kilifi County headquarters, the proposed outpatient block at Kilifi County Referral Hospital and the County Aggregation and Industrial Park.
The committees are also expected to engage fishermen, traders, women’s groups and beach management units to assess challenges facing the fisheries sector and the wider blue economy.
Women senators, under the Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA), began their engagements in Kilifi on Sunday with visits to Malindi Women’s Prison, Gede Comprehensive Hospital and Malindi Hospital.
Residents urged to participate
Senator Madzayo welcomed the Senate to Kilifi and urged residents to make use of the opportunity to raise issues affecting them.
“This is a lifetime experience for Kilifi people,” he said, encouraging residents to present their petitions and concerns to the Senate.
The five-day programme will feature plenary and committee sittings, public engagements and inspections of development projects and institutions across the county. The sittings run from September 21 to 25, 2026.
The Senate Mashinani programme is intended to enhance public awareness of the work of the Senate, provide residents with opportunities to participate in the legislative process and strengthen cooperation between Parliament and county governments.
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For Kilifi residents, the sitting provides a rare opportunity to engage directly with senators on fisheries, healthcare, infrastructure, development projects and the delivery of devolved services.
By Jeff Kirui
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