Kingi warns senators against absenteeism, says it's derailing House business

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has cautioned lawmakers against skipping House and committee sittings, warning that rising absenteeism is derailing Senate business as the country edges closer to the 2027 General Election.

He said the House had recorded 48 adjourned committee meetings due to lack of quorum, terming the trend troubling and a threat to the Senate’s constitutional mandate.

“The Senate cannot afford to become collateral damage of political campaigns. Our legislative, oversight and representative roles must not be suspended or diluted by political ambition,” he said.

Kingi spoke during the opening of the Fifth Session Planning Retreat in Naivasha.

The Speaker noted that delayed chamber sittings and absence of movers of motions had slowed legislative work at the start of the new session, urging members to prioritise parliamentary duties despite heightened political activity in their counties.

He said committees remain the “laboratories of the Senate” and warned that failure to attend meetings weakens oversight of county governments and delays consideration of key Bills and audit reports.

Kingi also called for decorum in the House, saying political rivalries should not spill into plenary and committee proceedings.

“Disagreement is the lifeblood of democracy, but disorder is not. In plenary and committee engagements, we are not rivals but custodians of the constitution and defenders of devolution,” he said.

At the same time, the Speaker defended the Senate’s oversight role in the face of a standoff with the Council of Governors over the appearance of county bosses before accountability committees.

He revealed that governors had written to the Senate seeking the removal of four senators from key watchdog committees and had threatened to boycott summons.

Kingi dismissed the move as unconstitutional, insisting that governors must continue to honour invitations by the County Public Accounts Committee and the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.

“It is inconsistent to seek Senate support for increased revenue while resisting oversight on expenditure. Accountability is not optional,” he said.

He maintained that the Senate remains open to dialogue with devolution stakeholders but would resist attempts to undermine its constitutional role.

The Speaker also outlined the Senate’s priorities for the Fifth Session, including faster processing of Bills, stronger scrutiny of county spending, follow-up on audit queries, and enhanced public participation through petitions.

On climate change, Kingi urged senators to take a keen interest in oversight of the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action programme, noting that counties play a central role in implementing adaptation measures.

He said the House would also focus on universal health coverage, food security, education, and intergovernmental relations during the retreat.

Kingi praised senators for their performance in the Fourth Session, during which the House held 127 plenary sittings and committees conducted 864 meetings, including 77 county oversight visits.

He said the Senate had also handled three impeachment proceedings and launched an impeachment manual to guide county assemblies and ensure due process.

As the Fourth Senate enters its final stretch, the Speaker urged members to finish strong and build a legacy of protecting devolution.

“In athletics, it is not the runner who starts fastest who wins, but the one who finishes strongest. This final lap demands renewed energy and discipline,” he said.

The retreat, held at Sawela Lodge in Naivasha, brings together senators, parliamentary officials and development partners to review the House’s performance and set the legislative and oversight agenda for the new session.