Members of the National Assembly on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, began a five-day legislative retreat in Nakuru County to plan priorities for the Fifth Session of the 13th Parliament.
The retreat brings together all MPs and House leadership as Parliament prepares to begin its final full session ahead of the 2027 General Election. It aims to review progress made so far and agree on key laws and reforms to be completed before the end of the term.
Holding a Members’ retreat before the start of a new session is a long-standing parliamentary tradition meant to help lawmakers reflect, align priorities and plan their legislative work.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, who is presiding over the retreat, said Parliament has entered a critical phase.
“We are entering the ‘Golden Hour’ of the 13th Parliament. This retreat gives us a chance to refine our priorities and fast-track legislation that directly affects the lives of Kenyans,” he said.
The retreat is themed “Securing Parliamentary Legacy: Delivering the Fifth Session’s Agenda and Preparing for Transition”, reflecting the approaching end of the current Parliament and the upcoming elections.
MPs are expected to review the performance of the National Assembly over the past four sessions, discuss challenges faced, and agree on the way forward. They will also consider key Bills and business lined up for the Fifth Session.
Electoral preparedness is expected to feature prominently. Speaker Wetang’ula said lawmakers will engage the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson, Erastus Edung Ethekon, and the Registrar of Political Parties, John Lorionokou.
Issues such as boundary delimitation, political party financing and electoral reforms will be discussed as Parliament seeks to strengthen the legal framework ahead of the 2027 polls.
“We must ensure the transition to the next electoral cycle is anchored in laws that inspire public confidence,” the Speaker said.
The retreat will also review the performance of key social sectors, including health and education.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale is expected to brief MPs on the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), amid concerns from the public over access to healthcare services.
Education reforms will also come under scrutiny, particularly the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system. MPs are expected to address challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and teacher shortages, nearly a decade after the system was introduced.
“The House will assess the status of CBE implementation and consider legislative measures to strengthen delivery of the curriculum,” Speaker Wetang’ula said.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is scheduled to brief lawmakers on the country’s economic outlook as Parliament prepares to handle the 2025/2026 supplementary budget and plan for the 2026/2027 budget cycle.
MPs will also discuss the privatization of State-Owned Enterprises following the enactment of the Government-Owned Enterprises Act, 2025, with a focus on protecting public interest during the divestiture process.
In addition, the retreat will address data protection and cybersecurity as Parliament moves towards full digitization amid rising cyber threats and the rapid growth of artificial intelligence.
The future of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) will also be discussed following recent court rulings on their constitutionality.
“The House will deliberate on ways to safeguard these funds while aligning them with constitutional principles,” Speaker Wetang’ula said.
He added that the outcome of the retreat will shape the final legislative agenda of the 13th Parliament.
“The Fifth Session is the final stretch of this Parliament. Our duty is to complete priority legislation and strengthen Parliament’s role as the people’s main institution of accountability,” he said.
The retreat is attended by House leadership, members of the Parliamentary Service Commission, Majority and Minority party leaders and whips, all MPs, and senior parliamentary staff.
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