Directorates of Legal Services

The Directorate of Legal Services is charged with the responsibility of handling all legal matters arising in the Senate. The Directorate comprises of the Department of Legislative Drafting and Bills Processing, the Department of Advisory and Committee Services and the Department of Legal Research, Subsidiary Legislation and Law Reform.    Specifically, the Directorate advises committees and Senators on all Bills before the Senate; analyses submissions received from members of the public and prepares public participation matrices, drafts proposed amendments to Bills before the Senate, provides legal opinions to the Speaker, the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Clerk of the Senate, the Senate Board of Management and Directorates of the Senate, drafts Rulings and Communications from the Chair for the Speaker on legal issues arising in the Senate; carry out legal research on assorted legal and procedural matters, advise on legal issues that may arise during proceedings in plenary; preparation of vella on Bills originating in the Senate before transmission to the National Assembly or the President for assent; drafting of Bills sponsored by Senators or committees and building capacity for legal counsel serving in county assemblies.

Directorates of Governance and Accountability Committees and Socio-Economic Committees

Committees of the Senate operate pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution, 2010, the Standing Orders and the enabling Acts, Resolutions of the House and established Conventions, Traditions and Practices. The provisions of Article 124 of the Constitution allow each House of Parliament to establish committees and make Standing Orders for the orderly conduct of proceedings at the sittings of both the Plenary and the Committees.   Committee Services in the Senate are divided into two Directorates that are namely; Directorate of Governance and Accountability Committees and Directorate of Socio-Economic Committees. The following Committees are domiciled under the Directorate of Governance and Accountability Committees: Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights; Standing Committee on Devolution and Inter-Governmental Relations; Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Integration; Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, Select Committee on County Public Accounts; Select Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds; Select Committee on Delegated Legislation and Select Committee on Liaison.    Specifically, the Directorates perform the following functions; review legislation, review and approve budget and expenditure for execution of governance, scrutinise governance activities, policies and programmes, conducting investigations on special issues, vetting and approving executive appointments, providing a platform for public participation, summoning persons to present oral evidence and written memoranda, carrying out inspection tours, inquiry on matters and forming sub-committees for the effective and efficient discharge of various issues within the mandate of committees

Directorate of Legislative and Procedural Services

The Directorate of Legislative and Procedural Services is responsible for advising the Speaker of the Senate, Senators, Parliamentary officers and the general public on parliamentary practice and procedure. Apart from this primary role, the Directorate also conducts a periodic audit of practices and procedures and advises the Senate Procedure and Rules Committee on the need to amend the Senate Standing Orders to address challenges relating to the operations of the Senate.   Specifically, the Directorate prepares the Senate Calendar and the Weekly Programme of Senate business; preparation and timely circulation of the Senate Order Paper, Notice Paper and Votes and Proceedings; Marshalling published Bills, Motions, Statements, Petitions, Committee Reports and Sessional Papers; Attending Chamber duties as Clerks-at-the-Table; Provision of procedural advise to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Presiding officers and all Senators; Clerking the Senate Business Committee, the Procedure and Rules Committee and the Committee on Powers and Privileges; Overseeing inter-parliamentary diplomacy and relations and facilitation of the public to participate in the legislative process.

Directorate of Speaker’s Office

The Directorate of the Office of the Speaker of the Senate is responsible for ensuring effective coordination of support services to the Rt. Hon. Speaker, the office, the Senate leadership and their officers in the Senate. In addition, the directorate houses two strategic units or divisions, namely, the Media Relations and Pubic Communications divisions, in line with the mandate of the Speaker as the spokesperson for the House. Additionally, the Directorate facilitates communication and exchange of information between the office of the Speaker, National Assembly, other Government agencies, the private sector and participating in parliamentary diplomacy.

Deputy Clerks

The Clerk is deputised by two Deputy Clerks as the second senior most officers in the Senate. The Deputy Clerks support the Clerk in the management and general administration of the affairs of Directorates in the Senate Service. The Deputy Clerks also perform the functions of the Clerk in the absence of the Clerk.

Office of the Clerk of the Senate

The Clerk of the Senate is the principal procedural and legislative advisor to the Speaker of the Senate, the Deputy Speaker and all Senators on matters relating to the Senate. The Clerk is also the administrative head and accounting officer of the Senate. As the Chairperson of the Senate Board of Management, the Clerk is the driver of policy in the Senate.    The Clerk of the Senate engages with the devolved structure and its key stakeholders. The Clerk facilitates public engagement with the Senate increasing its visibility, accessibility and as a result enhancing public understanding of the roles and work of the Senate among internal and external stakeholders.    Pursuant to Article 127 of the Constitution, the Clerk of the Senate is also the Secretary to the Parliamentary Service Commission and also serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Senior Management.

Directorate of Senate Liaison Office

Operating under the pillars of capacity development; partnerships, linkages and outreach; and, research, knowledge management and innovation the Directorate facilitates and provides a nexus between the Senate and key stakeholders especially in the devolution family among them the Council of Governors (CoG), the County Assemblies Forum (CAF), development partners, media agencies, academic institutions, amongst others

Directorate of Hansard and Audio Services

The Directorate of Hansard and Audio Services (DHAS) in the Senate derives its mandate from Senate Standing Order No.243. The Directorate facilitates the Senate Plenary and its committees through the production of accurate and timely reports in the form of the Daily Hansard, Weekly Hansard, Bound volumes and uploading on the Parliament Website. The Audio Department records digital audio records of the proceedings and also provides technical services in the Senate Chamber, committees rooms, extended chambers and virtual hybrid meetings

Directorate of Serjeant-At-Arms

The Directorate of Serjeant At Arms (DSAA) is mandated to facilitate ceremonial, custodian, administrative, service of summons, estate management, housekeeping services, events management, public education, coordination of maintenance and transport services. The Directorate enforces the Standing Orders and Speaker’s Rules to ensure order and decorum are maintained during plenary and committee sittings. The Directorate also maintains and secures the mace and provides safety and security services to Members and staff. Administratively, the Serjeant At Arms controls access to the precincts of Parliament and oversees the allocation of offices and committee rooms. The SAA also ensure occupational health compliance, disaster preparedness, mitigation and also perform ceremonial duties.

Directorate of Litigation and Compliance Services

The Directorate of Litigation & Compliance Services (Parliamentary Service Commission) is responsible for the provision of non-partisan, professional legal services to the Parliamentary Service Commission, Members and staff of Parliament (both the National Assembly and Senate). The legal services provided by the Directorate include litigation and dispute resolution, arbitration proceedings between Members and staff, contract management, Memorandum of Understanding and agreements, conveyancing, compliance, and other related services.