Wamuzi News Ke
A dramatic political showdown is brewing in Kenya’s Parliament as Senators unveil a rival Constitutional Amendment Bill that could upend the current power structure — and ignite an all-out turf war with the National Assembly.
In what insiders are calling a bold power grab, the Senate’s top leadership is pushing for sweeping reforms that would radically expand its authority, especially over national budget matters and legislative oversight.
The controversial Bill, backed by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo, was introduced on Thursday during a closed-door session chaired by Speaker Amason Kingi. Though not yet published officially, the move sends a loud and clear message: The Senate is no longer willing to play second fiddle.
“We are done being spectators in lawmaking. It’s time the Senate held real power,” declared a senior senator involved in drafting the Bill.
Crafted by a legal task force led by Hillary Sigei (Bomet), chair of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, the Bill includes contributions from prominent lawmakers including Tom Ojienda (Kisumu), Okong’o Omogeni (Nyamira), Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), and Catherine Mumma.
The proposed legislation seeks to grant the Senate veto powers over the national budget, the authority to review Cabinet Secretaries, and full involvement in fiscal legislation—areas the Constitution currently bars them from touching. Under current law, the Senate is locked out of handling money bills, effectively sidelining it from taxation, borrowing, and spending decisions.
Senators are fuming over what they call systemic exclusion, with one lawmaker revealing, “They kill our Bills only to recycle them under different names.”
The Senate now wants its role to mirror that of the powerful U.S. Senate, with meaningful oversight and legislative clout. And it has the backing of ODM leader Raila Odinga, who recently met with Senators to endorse their push.
“Let’s empower the Senate. Let it work like America’s — with teeth, not just titles,” Raila said during the meeting.
The timing is explosive. This move pits the Senate directly against the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), which is championing its own set of constitutional amendments, including the creation of a Prime Minister, two Deputy Prime Ministers, and a formal Leader of Opposition. NADCO’s proposals also seek to enshrine key funds—like the Senate Oversight Fund—into the Constitution, creating even more tension between the two Houses.
With two competing Bills now on a collision course, Kenya could be facing one of the most consequential constitutional battles since 2010.
The question now: Will this trigger a new era of balanced governance, or plunge the country into a bitter institutional conflict?
