Kenyans asked to share views on Bill seeking to bar ex-governors from senate race
By Kenneth Mwenda, April 28, 2026The Senate has invited Kenyans to give their views on a proposed constitutional amendment Bill that seeks to stop former county governors from contesting Senate or county assembly seats for five years after leaving office.
In a public notice on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Senate said the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 9.00 am at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) Amphitheatre in Nairobi.
Members of the public, civil society groups, professionals and other stakeholders can attend the session, make oral presentations or submit written memoranda on the Bill.
The proposal is contained in the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2026, also known as Senate Bill No. 7 of 2026. The Bill was read for the first time in the Senate on Thursday, March 26, 2026, before it was sent to the committee for review.
The committee is now required to collect public views before presenting its report to the Senate.
What the Bill proposes
The Bill seeks to amend Articles 99(2) and 193(2) of the Constitution. It also proposes related changes to Sections 24(2) and 25(2) of the Elections Act.
If passed, the law would bar people who have served as governors from vying for election as senators or members of county assemblies during the first five years after leaving office.
Supporters of the proposal argue that governors should not move directly into institutions that may later examine decisions they made while in office.
Governors remain answerable to county assemblies and the Senate on issues such as spending, procurement and audit queries. In many cases, those reviews continue long after a governor leaves office.
Backers of the Bill say a five-year break would allow oversight bodies to complete investigations without political pressure or conflict of interest.
The Senate said Kenyans can still send written submissions to the Clerk of the Senate before Friday, May 8, 2026, at 5.00 pm.
Submissions can be delivered by hand to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate at Main Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.
They can also be sent by post to P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi, or by email to clerk.senate@parliament.go.ke.
The Senate said copies of the Bill and a summary explaining its contents are available on the Parliament website.
Public participation is required under Articles 118(1)(b) and 256(2) of the Constitution, which require Parliament to involve citizens in law-making, especially where constitutional amendments are concerned.
Political interest around proposal
The Bill has already attracted attention because it comes at a time of rising tension between senators and governors.
In recent months, governors and senators have clashed over summonses, audit queries and the conduct of Senate oversight committees.
Some critics believe the proposal could affect second-term governors who may be planning to seek Senate seats in the 2027 General Election after completing their county terms.
Others argue the Bill is about strengthening accountability and preventing former governors from influencing institutions tasked with examining their records.
That debate is expected to feature strongly during the public hearing.
Because the proposal seeks to amend the Constitution, public opinion may shape whether lawmakers keep, change or reject the plan.
The committee will review all submissions before preparing its report for debate in the Senate.