Pursuant to standing order 56(1)(b) of the Senate Standing Orders, Nyandarua Senator John Methu on behalf of the Committee has made a statement relating to the activities of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources for the period between 1st April, 2023 to 30th July, 2023.

Land’s Committee Chairperson informed the house that during the period under review, the Committee held a total of twelve (12) sittings during which it considered (1) Legislative Proposal, six (6) Petitions, twenty-eight (28) Statements and two (2) messages.

Land Committee Chair reported that, during the period under review the Committee considered one (1) legislative proposal - The Real Estate Regulation and Development Bill, 2023 sponsored by Sen. Chesang’ Allan Kiprotich, MP which was committed to the Committee on 18th April, 2023. Pursuant to Standing Order 131 (1) and 130 the Committee considered the legislative proposal on 27th April, 2023, sought the views of the sponsor, the Committee members and proposed slight variations with a view to improving the legislative proposal, giving consensus for its publishing.

‘’During the period under review, the Committee has had a total of six (6) Petitions which are currently under consideration by the Committee. The Committee has a work plan to consider these Petitions and has so far met majority of the Petitioners, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, and the Chairperson, National Land Commission on this subject of Petitions. The Committee is scheduled to meet the remainder of Petitioners within the next two (2) weeks and the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry on Thursday, 3rd August, 2023 and once the Committee meets with remaining Petitioners and the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the Committee will retreat for Report Writing and will be tabling four (4) of the reports on Petitions once the Senate resumes after the short recess period..’’ Sen. Methu Explained

Committee Chair also said that, in total since the beginning of the 13th Parliament, the Committee has received a total of sixty-three (63) Statements, concluded forty-one (41) and is remaining with twenty-two (22) a completion rate percentage of 65% demonstrating the high level of commitment my members have shown to achieve this, the highest so far, and during the period under review, thirty-one (31) Statements were considered by the Committee. The Committee considered and concluded nine (9) of them and is currently considering the remaining twenty-two (22) Statements.

‘’In considering the said Statements, the Committee considered the Statements through physical sittings with the Stakeholders and the respective Senators who made the requests, while in other instances admitted written submissions and shared the responses with the respective Senators, by the end of this week ending 3rd August, 2023, half of the pending business will be completed, should all the stakeholders scheduled to appear that is the Managing Director, Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) on Tuesday, 1st August, 2023 who is expected to respond to two (2) pending statements and the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry on Thursday, 3rd August, 2023 expected to respond to three (3) of the pending statements appear. Next week on Thursday, 10th August, 2023, the Committee will be meeting the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs on two (2) of the Pending Statements on Mining matters and once these scheduled meetings are concluded the Committee will have exhausted ninety percent (90%) of the pending statements and will begin the next round of invitations of Stakeholders on the pending matters and arising supplementary questions.’’ Senator Methu added

Nyandarua Senator affirmed to the house that, for the Message petitioning the Senate to consult with and initiate approval for construction of the Ihithe-Aberdare Forest-Kahuruko-Ndunyu Njeru Road; the Committee is considering the matter jointly with the Senate Standing Committee on Roads and Transportation and was able to meet with the County Assembly; the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage; the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry and the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Roads and Transport on Thursday, 20th April, 2023. 

Further, the joint Committee undertook an inspection visit to the Aberdare Forest on Friday, 30th June, 2023 accompanied by all the relevant stakeholders to ascertain the validity of the proposed Ihithe-Aberdare Forest-Kahuruko-Ndunyu Njeru Road. The Committee made insightful observations during the travel by road across the road in subject from Nyandarua to Nyeri through the Aberdare National Park and will be making its recommendations to this house once the Committee is seized of the contents of the Environmental Social Impact Assessment Study currently being done through the National Environment Management Authority. Thereafter both Committees will conduct a report writing retreat and table a report in the Senate.

‘’For the Message petitioning the Senate to ensure exploitation of water; forest harvest in the Aberdare Forest and allocation of funds by the National Government for the construction of dams in Nyandarua County; the Committee has had meetings with the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation; the Governor of Nyandarua County and the Governor of Nairobi County. The Committee is scheduled to meet with the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry on Thursday, 3rd August, 2023 before finalizing on the matter and prepare a Report for Tabling.’’ Sen. Methu alluded 

In conclusion, Chairman appreciated Speaker’s office and that of the Clerk of the Senate for the continuous support accorded to the Committee in undertaking its work. He also thanked the Members of the Committee for their commitment and diligence in and contributions during the Committee activities.