The Parliament of Kenya is set to host the 3rd National Serjeant-at-Arms Conference, from 26th to 29th March 2026 in Machakos County. 

The event brings together legislative security professionals from across the country to deliberate on strengthening legislative support functions.

Anchored on the theme “Future-Proofing Legislative Support Functions in Times of Change,” the three-day conference will convene Serjeant-at-Arms officers from both Houses of Parliament and the 47 county assemblies, alongside representatives from security agencies, academia, and international legislative institutions.

The conference comes against the backdrop of Kenya’s devolved system of governance established under the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which places Parliament at the center of law-making, oversight, representation, and the protection of constitutional values such as accountability, transparency, and public participation.

Within this framework, the role of the Serjeant-at-Arms has increasingly become central to the functioning of legislative institutions.

Beyond their ceremonial duties, SAAs are responsible for maintaining order and decorum in legislative chambers, managing security within parliamentary precincts, overseeing chamber protocol, and safeguarding institutional assets.

Their work ensures that parliamentary business proceeds in an orderly, secure, and dignified environment.

As governance systems evolve and new challenges emerge, the responsibilities of the SAA cadre have expanded significantly.

The conference will serve as a strategic platform for reflection, learning, and collaboration. Participants will engage in plenary sessions, panel discussions, and thematic workshops aimed at strengthening institutional frameworks between Parliament and county assemblies, harmonizing security and protocol operations, and developing adaptive strategies to enhance resilience within legislative institutions.

Organized in collaboration with the Society of Serjeant-at-Arms Association of Kenya, the forum will also build on insights from previous conferences held in 2014 and 2019, which underscored the need for standardized operational frameworks and greater professional recognition of the Serjeant-at-Arms function.

By fostering knowledge exchange and peer learning among legislative professionals, the conference is expected to strengthen coordination across legislative institutions and support the professionalization of the Serjeant-at-Arms function.

Ultimately, the forum seeks to reinforce the stability and effectiveness of Kenya’s legislative institutions by enhancing the capacity of those entrusted with maintaining order, security, and institutional dignity within the country’s parliamentary spaces.

Through strengthened collaboration and professional development, the initiative is expected to contribute to more resilient legislative systems capable of safeguarding democratic governance in an increasingly dynamic environment.