Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism held a hybrid meeting today to consider a Petition and statements before the Committee.

Mr. Nicholas Rono, the Petitioner on a Petition concerning fraudulent shareholding activities and illegal acquisition of East African Breweries Limited (EABL) appeared before Committee to provide additional information on the issues he had raised and to get an update on the current status of his petition.

The Committee also deliberated on statements sought by Sen. Tabitha Mutinda concerning the rise in the number of road-side hardware suppliers in residential areas in Nairobi City County; and Sen. James Murango on the measures taken to market Kenya Produce in external markets.

In her statement, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda had requested to know the reason for the rapid increase of road-side selling of sand, ballast and other hardware supplies along streets of residential areas in Nairobi City County; the measures the Nairobi City County has taken to address this matter following numerous complaints by residents of the affected areas; identities of the owners of the road-side hardware businesses and the legal process followed in issuing of licenses for the operation of such businesses; and she requested the Committee to undertake a visit to South B and C and other affected areas with a view to gaining a deeper understanding of the matter and recommending measures to curb proliferation of these businesses.  

Sen. James Murango in his statement had requested the Committee to state the measures that the government has put in place to ensure marketing of Kenyan produce by Kenyans Missions; and to control imports of good produced locally and to increase demand for local produce as well as measures put in place to market Kenyan goods like tea, coffee and horticultural produce to increase the volume of exports.

Responses to the two statements were received by the Committee from the Nairobi City County and the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry respectively. The same were discussed and the Committee resolved to invite the Nairobi City County CECM’s in charge of Business and Hustler Opportunities, and Roads to shed light on the statement requested by Sen. Tabitha Mutinda above since the response received was insufficient.

Sen. Lenku Ole Kanar Seki the Committee Chairperson and Sen. Esther Okenyuri the Vice- Chairperson were physically present in today’s meeting while Sen. Dr. Lelengwe Ltumbesi, Sen. Crystal Asige and Sen. Betty Montet joined the meeting online.