The Senate has invited members of the public to submit memoranda and appear before its Education Committee as it considers the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
In a notice, the Senate said the Bill, formally known as the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (National Assembly Bills No. 59 of 2023), was read a first Time on February 12, 2026 and subsequently committed to the Standing Committee on Education for scrutiny.
The proposed law seeks to amend the Basic Education Act, 2023 by deleting the provision that mandates County Education Boards to appoint Subcounty Education Boards.
In place of that arrangement, the Bill proposes the establishment of Subcounty Education Boards as distinct entities.
It further provides that the Subcounty Education Boards shall consult County Education Boards in the performance of their functions.
The legislation also outlines a framework for coordination across the different levels of education governance.
It states that, despite the new structure, the Cabinet Secretary shall, in consultation with the National Education Board and through existing intergovernmental coordination mechanisms, make regulations to prescribe how the National Education Board, County Education Boards and Sub-county Education Boards will coordinate their functions.
Under the proposed amendments, each Subcounty Education Board will comprise a chairperson and six other members appointed by the Cabinet Secretary.
The chairperson and members will serve a five-year term and will be eligible for re-appointment for one further term.
Inviting public participation in line with the constitution and the Senate Standing Orders, Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye urged Kenyans to submit their views within the stipulated timelines.
“In compliance with Article 118 of the constitution and Standing Order 145(5), the Standing Committee on Education is required to facilitate public participation on the Bill and to take into account the views and recommendations of the public when making its report to the Senate,” Nyegenye said in the notice.
He added: “Interested members of the public are invited to submit written memoranda on the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The memoranda should be received on or before Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 5pm.”
Submissions may be addressed to the Clerk of the Senate, P.O. Box 41842-00100, Nairobi or hand-delivered to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate at the Main Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.
Alternatively, submissions can be emailed to clerk.senate@parliament.go.ke and copied to educationcommittee.senate@parliament.go.ke within the stated deadline.
In addition to written submissions, the Standing Committee on Education will conduct a public hearing on March 3, 2026 at 10am at the Mini Chamber, First Floor, County Hall Building, Nairobi.
Members of the public have been encouraged to attend and present their views.
“The committee will hold a public hearing to allow stakeholders and members of the public to make oral submissions on the Bill. All interested persons are welcome to attend,” Nyegenye said.
The Bill and a digest summarising its contents and context are available on the Parliament website under the Senate’s House Business section.
The outcome of the public participation process will inform the Education Committee’s report to the Senate as lawmakers debate whether to adopt the proposed changes to the governance structure of basic education at county and subcounty levels.
