Senator

Represents the county and its interests in the Senate, participates in making national legislation that concerns counties, and oversees how national revenue is shared with counties.

• Debates and votes on Bills concerning county governments
• Considers and determines the allocation of national revenue among counties
• Exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to county governments
• Participates in the impeachment process for Governors and the President

Term

5 years

Term limit

No constitutional limit on number of terms

Elected by

Direct election by registered voters in the county; one Senator per county. The Senate also includes additional nominated members.

Accountable to voters in the county and to the leadership of the Senate; required to maintain a constituency office and engage with the County Assembly on shared concerns.

• Voter recall on grounds set out in the Elections Act
• Loss of seat for ceasing to be qualified, breaching the leadership code, or sustained absenteeism

• Unlike a Member of Parliament (National Assembly), a Senator focuses on county-level issues and revenue sharing rather than national constituency representation.
• Unlike a Governor, a Senator does not run the county government — the Senator represents the county at the Senate.

• A Senator does not manage county budgets or services — that is the Governor and County Assembly.
• A Senator does not vote on every Bill — only on Bills that concern counties unless the matter is shared between the two Houses.