The Committee on Delegated Legislation approved a number of regulations aimed at guiding the shipping and maritime sector.

The regulations were approved during a meeting with the Principal Secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Kaituko.

Among the regulations scrutinized and approved by the Lawmakers were; the Merchant Shipping (Collision Prevention and Distress Signals) Regulations, 2024; the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage Measurement) Regulations, 2024; and the Merchant Shipping (Recognized Organizations) Regulations, 2024.

Also approved were; the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Transport Operators) Regulations, 2024; the Merchant Shipping (Load Lines) Regulations, 2024; and the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour) Regulations, 2024.

Vice Chairperson, Hon. Robert Gichimu (Gichugu) who chaired the meeting said the Committee had reviewed the draft regulations and was satisfied they conform to the law.

“We have reviewed the Regulations and are satisfied that they conform to the law. The regulations also conform to the international conventions relating to the maritime and shipping sector,” he said.

The Committee initially conducted a pre-publication scrutiny of the draft regulations on March 1, 2024. The State Department incorporated the Committee’s suggestions in the Regulations, ahead of the approval by the Committee.

The state department falls under the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs. Apart from the Maritime draft laws Committee scrutinized several draft regulations that seek to streamline the Mining sector.

The draft regulations that have been reviewed by the House Committee include; Mining (Gemstone Identification and Value Addition) (Fees) Regulations, 2023; Mining (Royalty Sharing) Regulations, 2023; and the Mining (Royalty Collection and Management) Regulations, 2023.

Other draft regulations that have been subjected to pre-publication scrutiny are; the Mining (Licences and Permits) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023; Mining (Dealings in Minerals) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023; and the Mining (Mine Support Services) Regulations, 2023