Kilifi is set to host the Senate next week as lawmakers take their legislative work outside Nairobi, with a packed five-day programme bringing plenary debates, committee work and public engagement activities to the Coast.
The Senators will conduct their business in Kilifi from Monday, September 21, to Friday, September 25, 2026, following a resolution adopted by the Senate in May.
For the duration of the programme, parliamentary activities will be conducted away from the main Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, allowing Kilifi residents to observe Senate proceedings and engage with lawmakers and parliamentary officials.
The Senate has said the move is part of efforts to take its work closer to citizens while building stronger ties with county governments and the public.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, in a communication to Senators on Tuesday, September 8, said preparations for the programme were well advanced.
He said the Kilifi sittings would allow the Senate to carry out its constitutional duties while creating room for closer engagement with the people and institutions of the county.
“Preparations are now at an advanced stage to ensure the success of these sittings,” the Speaker said.
A tentative schedule prepared by the Senate Business Committee provides for plenary and committee sessions throughout the week. Some committees will also leave the sitting venues to inspect selected county and national government projects in Kilifi.
Taking Senate business closer to counties
The decision to hold the sittings in Kilifi is provided for under Article 126(1) of the Constitution, which permits either House of Parliament to conduct its sittings at any location within Kenya.
The move is also linked to the Senate’s mandate under Article 96 to represent, serve and protect the interests of counties and their governments.
Kilifi will be the latest county to host the Senate outside Nairobi. The Upper House previously held similar sittings in Uasin Gishu in 2018, Kitui in 2019, Turkana in 2023 and Busia in 2025.
The programme is intended to give the public a better understanding of the Senate’s work while creating opportunities for citizens to take part in legislative processes.
It will also bring Senators, county assembly members and parliamentary staff together to exchange experiences on legislation and oversight.
Senators will continue handling legislative and oversight matters during the five-day programme despite operating outside Nairobi.
Committee activities will form a key part of the programme, with some teams expected to visit selected county and national government projects across Kilifi.
The visits will allow committees to assess projects on the ground and engage county officials, national government representatives and other stakeholders directly.
The Kilifi County Assembly has also made changes to its calendar to support the Senate’s Mashinani programme.
According to parliamentary records, the county assembly will not hold its plenary and committee sittings between September 21 and 25. Its regular business is expected to resume on September 28.
The programme will extend beyond formal parliamentary sittings, with Senate leaders expected to hold talks with officials of the Kilifi County Assembly.
The meeting is part of efforts to strengthen working relations between the Senate and county legislators and promote cooperation between the two levels of government.
The Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA) will also participate in activities lined up during the Senate’s stay in the county.
Among the planned engagements is a visit to Mtangani Women’s Prison in Malindi.
The women Senators are also scheduled to undertake school outreach activities at Gede Primary School and Gede Special School.
The programme will also take Senators and Kilifi MCAs away from parliamentary proceedings for a football match at Town Secondary School in Malindi.
The game forms part of the activities planned during the Senate’s stay and will provide an informal setting for interaction between national and county legislators.
The week-long programme will therefore combine Senate proceedings with committee inspections, engagements with county leaders and community activities, giving Kilifi a wider role in hosting the Upper House beyond the formal sittings.