Rep
Representation
The Senate represents counties and protects the interests of counties and their governments.
Senate role
WHAT DOES A SENATOR ACTUALLY DO?
A Senator is not a county executive and should not pretend to be one. The Constitution gives the Senate a specific responsibility in protecting the interests of counties and their governments.
Leg
Legislation
The Senate participates in law-making by considering, debating and approving Bills concerning counties.
Rev
Revenue
The Senate determines the allocation of national revenue among counties through the constitutional framework on revenue sharing.
Ove
Oversight
The Senate exercises oversight over revenue allocated to county governments and keeps attention on how those resources are used.
Acc
Accountability
A Senator should help the public understand what has been proposed, what has been done and whether public institutions are answerable.
The office of Senator matters because county interests need a voice in law-making, revenue allocation and oversight.
Constitutional role
Role comparison
WHAT A SENATOR CAN DO
The distinction matters. A campaign becomes more credible when it explains the office honestly instead of making promises that belong to other institutions of government.
What a Senator can do
- Representation — represents the county and protects the interests of the county and its government
- Legislation — participates in law-making on matters concerning counties
- Revenue — determines allocation of national revenue among counties
- Oversight — exercises oversight over revenue allocated to county governments
- Accountability — keeps public attention on whether county resources are being used responsibly
What belongs to other government institutions
- Does not replace the Governor, county departments or the county executive
- Does not personally build roads, hospitals, schools or water projects
- Does not manage procurement, contractors or day-to-day project implementation
- Does not administer county ministries or run local service delivery as an executive office
- Should not make promises that fall outside the constitutional role of a Senator
The discipline of the office
Honesty about the role
A Senator’s power lies in representation, legislation, revenue and oversight. Treating those responsibilities with seriousness, and being honest about what lies beyond them, is how trust is earned.
Step 1
REPRESENT
Step 2
LEGISLATE
Step 3
REVENUE
Step 4
OVERSEE