Senators will now be entitled to parliamentary pensions after President William Ruto signed into law the Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2023, ending a legal gap that had existed since the introduction of the bicameral Parliament under the 2010 Constitution.
The new law, assented to on Monday at State House, Nairobi, extends retirement benefits to members of both the Senate and the National Assembly, bringing the country’s pension framework in line with the Constitution.
Until now, the Parliamentary Pensions Act of 1983 only expressly recognised members of the National Assembly, leaving senators outside the pension scheme despite serving in Parliament.
The amendment also restructures the Parliamentary Pensions Management Committee and the Appeals Committee to include representation from both Houses in line with constitutional provisions.
Another key provision retains gratuity payments only for legislators who serve for less than five years, preserving the existing public service pension policy.
The legislation was among two Bills signed into law by President Ruto during a ceremony at State House.
The other was the Central Bank of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which introduces sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening banking regulation, improving financial stability and enhancing the country’s preparedness to respond to financial crises.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who attended the signing ceremony, said the two laws mark another step in implementing reforms intended to strengthen public institutions and align legislation with the Constitution.
“At State House, Nairobi, as President William Ruto assented to the Central Bank of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 2023,” Kindiki said in a statement shared after the event.
The parliamentary pensions law is expected to spark political debate, particularly over the cost of extending retirement benefits to senators at a time when the government continues to push austerity measures and calls for prudent use of public resources.
Supporters of the amendment, however, argue that the law merely corrects an anomaly created after the Constitution established the Senate in 2010, ensuring all legislators serving in Parliament are treated under the same legal framework.