What to expect in Parliament in 2026

As Kenyans usher in the New Year, hopes and anxieties converge around Parliament and the roles of elected representatives in both the Senate and the National Assembly.

The stakes are high, and the public mood is one of anticipation, with citizens keenly watching how legislators will steer the country through a complex legislative agenda and the implementation of one of the most consequential budgets in Kenya’s history.

As one parliamentary observer noted, “This will be a defining year for Parliament because the decisions made now will shape Kenya’s financial, political, and social future for a long time.”

Perhaps the most closely watched task is the oversight of the National Budget for the 2025/26 financial year—a record-setting Sh4.2 trillion spending plan that will test the institutional capacity, political will, and accountability structures within Parliament.

The budget represents a major expansion in government expenditure, rising substantially from the previous year’s allocation of approximately Sh3.9 trillion.

Given its unprecedented size, the decisions made in the coming months will be critical in determining whether the budget fulfils its objectives or faces challenges in execution.

The allocations within the budget reflect both ambition and necessity. Of the Sh4.2 trillion total, Sh3.09 trillion is dedicated to recurrent expenditure, covering essential obligations such as public salaries, operations, and maintenance across government ministries and agencies.

A further Sh725.1 billion is earmarked for development projects, including infrastructure, social amenities, and industrial development.

Another Sh436.7 billion is set aside for county transfers, reinforcing devolved governance, while Sh5 billion has been reserved for the Contingency Fund to cushion the country against unforeseen emergencies.

Yet, as analysts have repeatedly noted, the numbers alone do not guarantee delivery. The challenge lies in implementation.

Strong parliamentary oversight is therefore central to ensuring that the budget’s ambitious goals translate into tangible outcomes.

Without comprehensive in-year monitoring, Parliament risks allowing funds to be under-absorbed, misallocated, or diverted from priority areas.

One senior economist explained, “A budget of this magnitude can either transform Kenya or deepen existing inefficiencies. What Parliament does in its oversight role will determine which path the country takes.”

Oversight of the budget begins with the institutional pillars established by the Constitution. Under Kenya’s public finance framework, Parliament carries the ultimate responsibility of supervising national expenditure.

The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) plays a crucial supporting role, furnishing legislators with independent analysis, fiscal projections, and technical insights that help them scrutinise budget proposals and monitor implementation. Its nonpartisan nature is designed to ensure that decision-making is evidence-driven.

Complementing the PBO is the Office of the Controller of Budget (CoB), a constitutionally independent entity mandated to authorise withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund and monitor expenditure across national and county governments.

The CoB provides quarterly reports to Parliament, offering a detailed breakdown of how public funds have been utilised. These reports often form the basis for committee hearings, summonses to accounting officers, and policy recommendations that aim to address shortcomings observed during execution.

As one MP remarked during the past year’s budget deliberations, “The Controller of Budget’s reports are our mirror—they show us, with great clarity, where the money is going and where it is not.”

The 2025/26 budget also signals a significant shift in public finance management. The government intends to introduce a zero-based budgeting approach that requires every expenditure item to be justified anew each financial year, a departure from the incremental budgeting used historically.

Additionally, the shift to accrual-based accounting and the establishment of a Treasury Single Account (TSA) are expected to improve financial transparency, enhance tracking of public funds, and reduce idle balances in scattered government accounts. These reforms, if effectively implemented, could curb wastage, streamline expenditure, and strengthen accountability.

To support its revenue needs, the government will rely on measures outlined in the Medium-Term Revenue Strategy, which emphasises expanding the tax base, sealing leakages, improving compliance, and increasing non-tax revenues.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are also expected to feature in financing infrastructure and service delivery, easing pressure on public resources. However, these measures will require oversight to ensure they are implemented transparently and equitably, given past challenges with PPPs in Kenya.

Yet oversight is not confined to institutional frameworks alone. Members of Parliament also serve as the voice of their constituents, raising concerns about stalled projects, mismanaged funds, and regional disparities.

Many Kenyans view their MPs as the link between local priorities and national decision-making. How effectively legislators respond to these expectations will be closely monitored in the coming year.

Beyond the budget, attention also shifts to critical Bills before the two Houses, many of which touch directly on governance, public administration, economic reform, and citizen rights.

One of the most consequential is the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2025. This Bill seeks to clarify the mandates of constitutional organs, particularly the National Assembly and the Senate.

For years, ambiguity between the roles of the two Houses has resulted in legislative delays and duplication. The Bill seeks to address these concerns by streamlining the legislative process and enhancing harmony within bicameral Parliament.

A major highlight is the proposal to expand the Senate’s legislative authority, allowing it to participate in all national laws rather than being confined to county-related Bills. This change aims to strengthen bicameralism, ensure better scrutiny of national legislation, and create a more balanced distribution of power.

The Bill also reinforces the Senate’s mandate in representing special interest groups—including women, youth, minorities, and persons with disabilities—and expands its role in processes relating to the removal of state officers and approval of high-ranking appointments.

Also returning to the centre of legislative debate is the National Land Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which was referred back to the Departmental Committee on Lands after the President recommended reconsideration.

The decision underscores concerns regarding provisions that could alter the balance of power between the National Land Commission (NLC) and the Ministry of Lands. Land remains a sensitive issue in Kenya, affecting identity, livelihoods, and historical grievances. Legislative changes affecting land management attract intense public scrutiny.

The Bill initially aimed to refine the NLC’s functions to improve efficiency in managing public land and resolving disputes. However, questions emerged over whether some clauses might dilute the NLC’s oversight authority or create administrative overlaps.

The Lands Committee must reassess these areas, consult stakeholders, and propose amendments that preserve constitutional safeguards while enhancing institutional synergy. Lawmakers have acknowledged the Bill’s significance, noting that Kenya’s land governance system requires clarity, transparency, and firmness to prevent conflict and promote development.

Another high-impact piece of legislation is the Nuts and Oil Crops Development Bill, at the Second Reading stage in the National Assembly. The Bill seeks to reorganise and regulate the nuts and oil crops sector, covering macadamia, cashew nuts, coconuts, sunflower, sesame, soybeans, and groundnuts.

These sectors hold potential for export earnings, job creation, and rural industrialisation, yet they have long faced challenges from inconsistent regulation, fluctuating market prices, and middlemen.

Under the proposed law, a specialised authority would oversee value chain governance, licensing, quality standards, research coordination, farmer support, and market development.

Advocates argue that it will promote local processing, enhance farmer incomes, and improve Kenya’s competitiveness in global markets. The sector is significant for arid and semi-arid regions, where these crops thrive and provide critical livelihoods.

The Street Naming and Property Addressing System Bill, also at the Second Reading stage, aims to establish a national framework for naming streets and identifying properties. While technical, the Bill has major implications for public service delivery, urban planning, postal operations, e-commerce, and emergency response.

By mandating standardised signage, uniform numbering, and digital mapping, the Bill seeks to eliminate inconsistencies caused by fragmented addressing systems across counties. Legislators say a modern addressing framework will support economic activity, enhance planning, and improve tax and property administration.

The Cancer Prevention and Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill has been referred back to the Departmental Committee on Health after the President raised reservations about certain clauses.

The Bill aims to strengthen Kenya’s legal framework for combating cancer, a disease that continues to affect families and the healthcare system. It proposes enhancements to research coordination, cancer surveillance, early detection programs, and public awareness campaigns.

The President’s concerns centre on institutional mandates and potential overlaps with existing law, prompting Parliament to reassess the Bill to ensure coherence and effective implementation.

As the New Year unfolds, the weight of expectation rests heavily on Parliament. The agendas before both Houses—budget oversight, constitutional reforms, land governance, agricultural development, urban planning, and public health—reflect the breadth of Kenya’s national priorities and the complexity of its development challenges. Yet amid the legislative bustle, the underlying question remains whether Parliament will rise to the occasion.