Legislative Mandate

County Assembly makes new laws, changes existing laws and repeals laws that are no longer needed. Laws can be made in different ways.

A bill (draft law) is introduced in the Assembly by a County Executive Committee Member, a Deputy County Executive Committee member, an assembly committee or an individual Member of the County Assembly (MCA).
Most bills are drawn up by county government department under the direction of the relevant Minister or Deputy Minister.
A bill introduced by a member of the executive must be approved by the County Cabinet before being submitted to Parliament for processing.
Bills introduced by individual MCAs are called private members’ bills. Before it can become a law, a bill must be passed by the County Assembly.
Once it has been introduced, a bill is referred to the relevant committee, where it is debated in detail and, if necessary, amended. If there is much public interest in a bill, the committee may organize public hearings.
Once the committee has finalized its deliberations on a bill, it reports to the corresponding House.
After the House has debated the bill, it takes a decision on whether to pass the bill. A bill could be referred back to the committee for further work before the House takes a decision.
If a bill passes through both the National Assembly and the NCOP, it is sent to the President for assent.
Once the President has signed a bill passed by the Houses, it becomes an Act of Parliament – a law of the land.