OPINION: This Is How North Eastern Senators Raised Issues in the Senate (2022–2025)

After a meticulous review of 195 pages from the Senate’s 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳 for the 13th Parliament.

This column on Kulan Post presents a clear and comprehensive picture of parliamentary engagement by Senators, specifically, the number and nature of statements sought on the Senate floor from September 2022 to June 12, 2025.

The Senate of Kenya represents counties and safeguards devolution.

It legislates on county matters, allocates revenue to counties, and oversees the use of those funds.

Senators also hold governors accountable and promote equity, development, and good governance across all 47 counties.

𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬

During this period, Kenyan Senators collectively sought 1,347 statements.

Notably, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei led with a remarkable 105 statements, setting a high benchmark for individual parliamentary activity.

𝙉𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙀𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝘼 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙩

Mr. Abass Sheikh Mohamed (Wajir Senator)

Mr. Abdulkadir Haji (Garissa Senator)

Mr. Ali Ibrahim Roba (Mandera Senator)

Mrs. Mariam Omar (Nominated Senator)

In sharp contrast, Senators from the entire North Eastern counties: Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, and the Nominated Senator sought only 28 statements, accounting for just 2% of the national total.

𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧

Mr. Abass Sheikh Mohamed (Wajir): 11

Mrs. Mariam Omar (Nominated): 8

Mr. Abdulkadir Haji (Garissa): 5

Mr. Ali Ibrahim Roba (Mandera): 4

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩: 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣

𝙒𝘼𝙅𝙄𝙍 𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏𝙔: 𝘼𝘽𝘼𝙎𝙎 𝙎𝙃𝙀𝙄𝙆𝙃 𝙈𝙊𝙃𝘼𝙈𝙀𝘿

17.11.2022 – State of power supply in Wajir County.

19.10.2023 – Non-implementation of presidential livestock directive.

19.10.2023 – State of livestock sector in Kenya.

30.03.2023 – Pending bills in Wajir County Government.

09.09.2024 – Status of pending bills in Wajir.

19.09.2024 – Unpaid allowances to county tribunal and municipality board members.

08.04.2025 – Alarming rise in cancer cases and nuclear waste dumping claims.

16.04.2025 – Commercialization and accessibility of Wajir Airport.

22.05.2025 – Toxic waste dumping and public health risks in Wajir.

17.04.2025 – Exclusion of qualified students from medical diploma programs.

29.05.2025 – Deteriorating state of ECDE centres in Wajir County.

𝙉𝙊𝙈𝙄𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙀𝘿 𝙎𝙀𝙉𝘼𝙏𝙊𝙍: 𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙄𝘼𝙈 𝙊𝙈𝘼𝙍 𝙎𝙃𝙀𝙄𝙆𝙃

15.02.2022 – Banning of hijab in public secondary schools.

15.11.2022 – Birth registration challenges in Mandera.

16.11.2022 – NHIF enrolment and hospital capitation in Mandera.

16.11.2023 – Relocation of Mandera Airstrip over safety concerns.

07.12.2023 – Escalation in air ticket prices to and from Mandera.

05.03.2024 – Delays in passport processing in Kenya.

28.05.2024 – Threats posed by marauding lions in Mandera.

20.03.2025 – Abduction of chiefs and civilians in Mandera.

𝙂𝘼𝙍𝙄𝙎𝙎𝘼 𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏𝙔: . ABDULKADIR 𝙃𝘼𝙅𝙄

18.10.2022 – Plan by Safaricom PLC to block unregistered SIM cards.

25.04.2024 – State of healthcare services at Garissa County Referral Hospital.

25.04.2024 – State of governance in the County Government of Garissa.

30.04.2024 – Flood disaster management in Garissa and Tana River Counties.

09.10.2024 – Financial operations of County Public Service Boards (CPSBs).

𝙈𝘼𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍𝘼 𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏𝙔: 𝘼𝙇𝙄 𝙄𝘽𝙍𝘼𝙃𝙄𝙈 𝙍𝙊𝘽𝘼

23.05.2024 – Devastation caused by floods in FP-ICGLR member states.

28.03.2024 – Frequent power outages in Mandera County.

05.03.2024 – Status of Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HOAGDP).

27.05.2025 – Deteriorating security in Mandera and wider North Eastern region.

Note: The FP-ICGLR includes 12 member states such as Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Sudan, and others.

BILLS SPONSORED BY NORTH EASTERN SENATORS

Mr. Abass Sheikh Mohamed – 1.
Mrs. Mariam Omar Sheikh – 1.

BILLS BREAKDOWN

08/12/2023 – Mrs. Mariam Omar Sheikh:

The County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Bill, 2022 (Senate Bill No. 9 of 2022 | Gazette Notice No. 96).

08/12/2023 – Mr. Abass Sheikh Mohamed:

The Fire and Rescue Services Professionals Bill, 2023 (Senate Bill No. 55 of 2023 | Gazette Notice No. 239).

𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙚 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙍𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙨

This analysis focuses on statements sought or bills sponsored by Senators in their personal capacity.

Statements made or bills sponsored as Committee Chairpersons, often on behalf of the entire committee are not included, as they reflect committee mandates rather than individual initiative.

The numbers speak for themselves: out of 1,347 total statements in this Parliament, only 28 originated from Senators representing North Eastern Kenya—a region facing some of the country’s most acute challenges with corruption rife in three counties.

This level of engagement calls for both public scrutiny and self-reflection among our elected representatives.

We owe it to our people, and to history, to do better.

Mr. Ali AwDoll is an author, community activist, and a practitioner in communication and public relations. Email: ali_awdoll@yahoo.com