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Senate to hold plenary sittings in Kilifi

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The Senate has resolved to hold its plenary and committee sittings in Kilifi county from September 21 to 25, 2026, in a move aimed at strengthening public engagement and deepening devolution at the grassroots.

The motion, moved by Senator David Wakoli, received unanimous support from senators during a sitting chaired by Speaker Amason Kingi.

While tabling the motion, Wakoli said the decision aligns with earlier commitments by the House to periodically hold sittings outside Nairobi to bring Parliament closer to the people.

“Pursuant to Article 126(1) of the Constitution, the Senate resolves to hold its plenary and committee sittings in Kilifi from 21st to 25th September, 2026,” Wakoli said.

He noted that the Senate Business Committee had already approved the decision and was in line with its earlier recommendation that at least one sitting be held away from the traditional Parliament buildings in Nairobi during the term of the 13th Parliament.

Wakoli also referenced a March 2023 resolution requiring the Senate to convene plenary and committee sittings in counties for one week every September, except during election years.

“The objective of these sittings is to promote the role and work of the Senate, enhance public awareness on parliamentary business, and highlight opportunities for citizen engagement in the legislative process,” he said.

He added that the sessions will also help build partnerships with county governments while providing a platform for members and staff of county assemblies to exchange ideas and best practices with senators and parliamentary officials.

Wakoli pointed to the success of previous sittings held outside Nairobi, citing sessions in Uasin Gishu (2018), Kitui County, Turkana (2023) and Busia (2025).

Seconding the motion, nominated senator Veronica Maina said taking Senate sittings to the counties is critical in making Parliament’s work accessible and relevant to citizens.

“It is important that the work we do becomes relevant to the people. Not many Kenyans can come to Nairobi to follow live proceedings,” Maina said. She emphasised that as the guardian of devolution, the Senate must actively engage with citizens at the grassroots level.

“The best way the Senate can connect with the people of Kenya is to constantly go down to where the people are. This is also an opportunity to check the projects implemented by counties,” she added.

Maina further noted that such visits provide senators with a chance to verify development claims made by county governments.

“There have been instances where counties purport to undertake projects, but there is nothing on the ground. These sittings give us a chance to confirm what is actually happening,” she said.

She also highlighted the strategic importance of Kilifi, saying the visit would allow senators to deepen their understanding of the blue economy and its potential along the coastal region.

“If resources allow, such sittings should even be held twice a year,” she proposed. The motion was unanimously approved after Speaker Kingi put the question, paving the way for preparations for the Kilifi sittings later this year-STAR.

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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