Turkana County Senatorial Election Results 2022. The Senate plays a crucial role in Kenya’s bicameral parliament system, consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly.
Registered Voters: 238,528
Turnout: 60%
| Candidate | % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Ekomwa | 40.03% | 58,334 | |
| Benedict Lokomar | 23.45% | 34,168 | |
| Joseph Ekalale | 20.23% | 29,488 | |
| Malachy Ekal Imana | 9.34% | 13,613 | |
| Others | 6.95% | 10,125 |
The Functions and Role of the Senate in Kenya
The Senate plays a crucial role in Kenya’s bicameral parliament system, consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly. The Senate’s responsibilities are mainly focused on the counties and their governments, while the National Assembly has broader functions that include making laws pertaining to both national and county governments. Although the Constitution does not explicitly state which house is superior, the National Assembly performs more functions and is considered de facto superior to the Senate.
Membership and Composition of the Senate in Kenya
The Senate’s composition includes:
- 47 elected Senators, one from each county.
- 16 Senators representing special seats for women, nominated by political parties based on their representation in the Senate.
- Four seats reserved for youth and persons with disabilities, with both genders represented.
- The Speaker, who serves as an ex officio member.
Functions of the Senate
The Senate’s primary roles involve:
- Reviewing and approving bills concerning counties.
- Overseeing the distribution and use of national revenue allocated to counties.
- Exercising oversight over state officers and can impeach the President or Deputy President.
Revenue Sharing
One of the Senate’s key functions is managing the sharing of national revenue, which involves both vertical and horizontal distribution. This includes determining the allocation of funds to counties and approving changes to the revenue-sharing formula with the National Assembly’s approval.
Oversight of Revenue Expenditure by Counties
The Senate monitors county expenditures through reports from the Controller of Budget and the Auditor General. It ensures fiscal discipline and transparency in the spending of national revenue allocated to counties, although it does not oversee other sources of county revenue.
Legislative Role
The Senate plays a significant role in legislation concerning counties. It deals with bills that impact county governments’ functions and powers, elections, and finances. There are distinctions between ordinary and special bills, with different procedures for each in how they are passed and how disputes are resolved between the two houses.
Ensuring the Integrity of Public Office
The Senate also has a role in upholding the integrity of public office through its power to impeach the President, Deputy President, Governors, and even its own Speaker or Deputy Speaker.
In summary, the Senate of Kenya is integral to representing the interests of counties, legislating on relevant issues, and ensuring proper governance and accountability within county and national governments.
