Founded 2013 | ||
 | ||
Type Upper house of the Parliament of Kenya New session started 28 March 2013 (2013-03-28) Speaker Ekwe Ethuro, Jubilee
Since 28 March 2013 Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura, Jubilee
Since 28 March 2013 Majority Leader Kindiki Kithure, Jubilee
Since 17 April 2013 | ||
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of Kenya. The Senate was first established as part of Kenya's 1963 Constitution. After being abolished in 1966, the Senate was re-established by the 2010 Constitution.
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First Senate, 1963–1966
Kenya's 1963 Constitution established a Senate that consisted of 41 senators elected for six years, with one-third of the members retiring every two years. Timothy Chokwe served as the first speaker of the Senate. The Senate was abolished in 1966, when its membership was combined with that of the House of Representatives to form a unicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
Modern Senate, 2013–present
The 2013 Kenya Senate elections took place on 4 March 2013. Under the new constitution, which was passed during the 2010 referendum, the 2013 general election was the first to include the election of Senators representing the 47 newly created counties. They were also the first general elections run by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). According to their share of elected seats, the political parties nominated an additional 16 women. Additional nominations were made for two members representing the youth and two members representing persons with disabilities.The Speaker, who is an ex officio member, was elected by the Senators sworn in on the first sitting of the Senate.
Powers
Current members of the Senate
The Senate consists of 47 members directly elected by their counties, 16 women nominated by the political parties according to their relative strength in the Senate elections, two members to represent the youth, and two members to represent persons with disabilities.
Summary by coalition and party
These summaries are based on post-election coalitions as reported by the press.