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Senators will this week pitch tent in Turkana to discuss insecurity and strengthen the County Assembly.
The week-long engagement dubbed Senate Mashinani will be the third sitting outside Nairobi since its inception in 2018.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) said the plenary and committee sessions will provide an opportunity for the Executive, Assembly and ordinary people to experience the legislative processes the lawmakers undertake.

“The sessions will provide an opportunity for members and staff of county Assemblies to learn and share best practices with senators and parliamentary officers,” said Cheruiyot.

The first Senate Mashinani was held in Uasin Gishu in September 2018 with the second in Kitui in 2019.
However, they were suspended in 2020 and 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic while in 2022 the sittings were affected by the prolonged electioneering period.

According to Cheruiyot, the sittings in Turkana will highlight existing and new opportunities for engagement in the legislative process, adding that the sittings are intended to enhance interaction between the Senate and county governments as a means of bringing the Senate closer to the public.

Besides holding their normal legislative business, the lawmakers will be seeking to resolve the many challenges facing the residents of Turkana, especially insecurity.

“I do not expect the Senate to go and discuss about traffic jams in Turkana. We should discuss issues like accessibility to water and other challenges. We should biasedly talk about issues affecting the blue economy among others,” said Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.

According to the programme seen by People Daily, the legislators will also train Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) through their various committees as well as staff of the county Assembly.

Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni said the session will give them an opportunity to access the success or otherwise of devolution in Turkana that receives more than Sh12 billion in equitable share every year.

“Let us tour hospitals in Turkana because health is a devolved function. Let us go and see what devolution has done in terms of giving the people of Turkana access to healthcare,” he said.

Rich culture

On his part, Oburu Oginga (Siaya) said: “We also need to bring up the people up to speed and learn about their rich culture which should not be left to die. We must encourage the Turkana people to continue on the trajectory of development.”

The senators, through National Security, Defense and Foreign Relations Committee, will hold a meeting with the commander, Rural Border Patrol Unit to discuss security challenges along the border.

Committee, which is chaired by William Cheptumo (Baringo), will also discuss status of security, incessant cattle rustling and banditry.

They will also discuss the role of the National Police Reservists in complementing security apparatus in the county.

Turkana has been one of most hit counties by bandits and other armed groups.
The lawmakers will also meet the management of Lake Turkana Wind Power and local leaders to discuss how the project can develop the residents.

“God was not a fool to make the people of Turkana live for so many years under so much suffering, but still be there and then subsequently, open our eyes that ‘wait a minute, there is some gold here called oil,” Majority whip Boni Khalwale said.

According the programme, the week-long sitting will end on Friday. Women senators will meet female legislators from Turkana, West Pokot and Trans Nzoia to build their capacity.

Various Senate committees will also meet their counterparts in the County Assembly to share experiences.
Senate’s Land, Environment and Natural Resources Committee will also meet the leadership of the county government to discuss challenges experienced by the local communities regarding community land.

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago whose county hosted pioneer Senate Mashinani said the sessions have built capacity in counties, particularly on devolved functions.

“I would wish many counties get an opportunity to host the Senate Mashinani and benefit from the experience,” he said.