The Senate is today set to debate on a motion seeking to, yet again, postpone the planned Mashinani Sitting that was scheduled to be held in Busia county next month.
The motion which had been slotted in the order paper for September 25 is set to come up for debate today.
In the motion to be moved by Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot, the House wants to have the plenary sittings which also include committee meetings outside Nairobi deferred to 2025.
The decision, according to the order paper, is informed by the recommendation of the House Business Committee.
"Acknowledging the recommendation of the Senate Business Committee to defer the holding of the sittings in Busia County; now therefore, the Senate resolves to defer its plenary and committee sittings (Senate Mashinani) in the counties until the Fourth Session in 2025," it reads.
The sittings at the county were to be initially held on September 23-27.
This followed a resolution made on July 11 pursuant to Article 126 (1) of the constitution.
On September 18, however, the House rescheduled it to October 28 to November 1.
The Star has established that at least Sh200 million was required to host the sitting at the Busia County Assembly.
Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki told the Star that House committees were struggling to even raise quorum as members avoid them due to non-payment of sitting allowances.
“Most of the committees are experiencing a lot of quorum issues. Members appear to be a bit disenchanted,” he said.
The sittings are held at the counties as a way of enhancing the interaction between the Senate and County Governments and as a means of bringing the Senate closer to the Counties and the general public.
Senators have previously held the sessions in Uasin Gishu, Kitui and Turkana Counties in September 2018, 2019, and 2023 respectively.
The objectives of these sittings outside Nairobi include promoting the Senate's role and work, increasing public awareness about the Business of the Senate and Parliament, and highlighting opportunities for public engagement in the legislative process.
The sessions also aim to develop and strengthen partnerships at the county level of government and provide an opportunity for members and staff of county assemblies to learn and share best practices with Senators and parliamentary officers.