By Mumo Judah | Thursday, 28 May 2026 | Nairobi
Pressure is mounting on both Parliament and the Executive to improve the speed, coordination and efficiency of parliamentary business as the Thirteenth Parliament enters its final phase, prompting Senate staff and Parliamentary Liaison Officers from Ministries and State Departments to convene for a high-level retreat focused on tightening institutional response mechanisms.
The retreat, themed “Strengthening Cross-Institutional Synergy in the Processing of Parliamentary Business,” has brought together Senate officials, Parliamentary Liaison Officers and representatives from the State Department for Parliamentary Affairs to review coordination structures and address persistent delays affecting the handling of parliamentary work.
At the centre of the discussions are concerns over response timelines to Senate Questions, appearances by Cabinet Secretaries before committees and the overall processing of Bills, Motions, Petitions, Statements and Statutory Instruments.
Speaking during the opening session, Deputy Clerk of the Senate Mohamed Ali said the forum comes at a critical moment when institutions are under increasing pressure to deliver timely and effective parliamentary services.
“We occupy unique positions of public trust. It is our solemn duty to honour that trust with diligence and integrity,” said Ali.
He noted that with nearly 14 months remaining before the end of the current Parliament, the retreat offers an opportunity to evaluate progress achieved so far while identifying areas that require urgent improvement.
The meeting follows earlier engagements held in Naivasha in 2023 and 2025, which largely focused on the framework governing appearances of Cabinet Secretaries before the Senate to answer Questions raised by Senators. This year’s discussions have widened to cover broader coordination systems surrounding legislative and oversight processes.
Officials from both Parliament and the Executive emphasized the need for stronger institutional collaboration to ensure the Senate effectively discharges its constitutional mandate of legislation, oversight and representation.
Secretary for Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Nick Biketi, said the Parliamentary Liaison Framework is intended to streamline communication between ministries and Parliament while creating clearer coordination procedures in the management of parliamentary business.
According to Biketi, timely responses to Senate matters remain essential in strengthening accountability and improving the working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.
Data presented during the retreat showed that between February and May 2026, the Senate issued 29 invitations to Cabinet Secretaries, with 18 appearances successfully recorded. During the same period, 41 Questions were scheduled for response, with 36 receiving answers.
Deputy Clerk Mohamed Ali said the figures demonstrate encouraging progress while also revealing gaps that still exist in responsiveness, coordination and adherence to timelines.
Director of Legislative and Procedural Services at the Senate, Njenga Ruge, stressed the need for officers serving across both institutions to develop a shared understanding of Senate Standing Orders and constitutional responsibilities.
He said the retreat seeks to evaluate existing procedures governing appearances of Cabinet Secretaries before the Senate while identifying practical solutions that can improve efficiency and institutional coordination.
Throughout the sessions, participants discussed measures aimed at reducing delays in parliamentary business, including establishing clearer communication channels, predictable response timelines, stronger institutional networks and improved internal coordination within ministries and parliamentary offices.
The retreat programme also includes discussions on the management of Questions and Statements, processing of Bills and legislative proposals, handling of Statutory Instruments, processing of Petitions and follow-up mechanisms on Senate resolutions.
The forum is expected to strengthen collaboration between the Senate and State Departments, improve responsiveness to Senate invitations and enhance efficiency in the discharge of parliamentary duties.
