AfriPulse
Members of Parliament are gathering in Naivasha from today(Monday, January 26, 2026), for a five-day retreat aimed at reviewing the state of the economy, assessing progress on key reforms, and preparing for the 2027 General Election.
The retreat will also give legislators a platform to evaluate developments in education, health, and political governance ahead of the National Assembly’s reopening on February 10, 2026. All National Assembly members, alongside the Parliamentary Service Commission Praesidium, House leadership, and committee chairpersons, will use the forum to review achievements from the past four sessions and align legislative priorities for the remainder of the parliamentary term.
“As we enter the homestretch of the 13th Parliament, our focus must remain steadfast on the promise of servant leadership,” Speaker Moses Wetangula said, describing the retreat as a constitutional imperative.
Electoral Preparedness in Focus
Electoral readiness will take centre stage, with Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon expected to brief MPs on the commission’s preparations for the 2027 polls.
Parliament noted that the session will allow members to “interrogate the readiness of the IEBC and other responsible institutions, with particular emphasis on the status of boundary delimitation, voter registration and education, electoral technology, and the sufficiency of the legal and policy framework.”
Political Party Regulation and Financing
The retreat will also examine political party regulation and campaign financing. Registrar of Political Parties John Lorionokou will meet MPs to discuss the implementation of the Political Parties Act, including administration of the Political Parties Fund.
Parliament stated that legislators will “interrogate emerging challenges in political party regulation and financing, including disclosure and oversight of campaign funding, and enforcement of compliance requirements,” while assessing whether laws adequately promote internal party democracy, transparency, and accountability.
Education Reforms Under the Microscope
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba will brief MPs on the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system, covering the transition from Junior to Senior Secondary, financing, school infrastructure, and teacher preparedness. Parliament said the session will give members an opportunity to assess implementation and institutional readiness, while identifying policy and legislative interventions to strengthen sustainable delivery of the curriculum.
Health Sector Oversight
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale will update MPs on reforms under the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Parliament noted that discussions will aim to “identify critical service delivery gaps, institutional and financing constraints, and capacity challenges within the Ministry of Health, with a view to proposing targeted legislative and policy interventions to strengthen oversight, accountability, and system performance.”
Duale is expected to report on progress, challenges, and strategies to enhance access, quality, affordability, and equity in healthcare services.
Economic Review and Budget Planning
Economic issues will also feature prominently. National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi will brief MPs on prevailing economic conditions, budgetary pressures, and public service delivery.
The engagement will “inform the development of budgetary and fiscal reforms aimed at addressing implementation challenges and strengthening outcomes in the 2026/2027 fiscal period,” Parliament noted. MPs will review the 2025/2026 Budget, identify lessons learned, and outline priorities for the 2026/2027 Budget.
Constituency Development Fund Discussions
The future of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) will also be reviewed, pending a Court of Appeal ruling on its legality. Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo will guide discussions on “possible next steps, including legislative, policy, and administrative options to safeguard development gains, ensure constitutional compliance, strengthen accountability, and provide clarity on the future framework for constituency-based development initiatives.”
Scheduled to run until January 30, the retreat will bring all MPs together to reflect on progress, scrutinize emerging challenges, and chart policy and legislative interventions across electoral, education, health, economic, and governance sectors.
Source: NairobiWire.com | Read the Full Story…
