Members of the National Assembly have raised concerns regarding high admission fees charged  by Kenyan public universities.

In a statement on the Floor, Hon. Jared Okello (Nyando) told the House that some public universities charge entry fees of between Kshs. 258,000 and Kshs.450,000.

Hon. Okello said the high fees were unaffordable to most students, leading to a massive upsurge in the number of families organizing fundraisers to send their children for higher education.

The National Assembly continued with debate on the Climate Change (Amendment) Bill 2023. The Bill seeks to amend the Climate Change Act of 2016 to provide for regulation of the carbon markets.

This provision will provide the legal framework for carbon trading which was lacking in the law enacted in 2016 to enhance response to climate change through mechanisms for a low carbon climate resilient environment. 

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Hon. Soipan Tuya, has apprised the National Assembly Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining on the Climate Change (Amendment) Bill 2023.

The Committee chaired by Hon. David Gikaria (Nakuru East) heard that the objective of the Bill, sponsored by the Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Kimani Ichungw’ah (Kikuyu), is to legislate on carbon, carbon rights, carbon markets and trading.

The National Assembly Committee on Regional Integration chaired by Hon. Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri0 has been told the high cost of production and manufacturing is affecting the country’s ability to attract investors. 

This is according to the Principal Secretary, State Department of Trade, Mr. Alfred K’Ombudo, who appeared before the Committee. 

However, Mr. K'ombudo told Members that the Ministry had put in place measures to address the challenge and position Kenya for investors to locate it as their destination within the East Africa Community (EAC) and globally.

Members of the National Assembly have condemned the recent attack of Hon. Njeri Maina (Kirinyaga County) in Kerugoya Town.

Hon. Maina, who was on foot on a meet the people tour in the town on Tuesday morning was attacked by people who allegedly wanted to block her from addressing residents.

The Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Kimani Ichung'wa  told the House that the Member is in a stable condition after having been taken to hospital for treatment. 

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been told that the Ministry of Defense signed contracts for amounts above the actual funds received for various projects. This has resulted in unbudgeted expenditure of Kshs 1,429,858,357.00.

The Principal Secretary for Defense Principal, Hon. Patrick Mariru, appeared before the Hon. John Mbadi-led Committee, was asked to explain why the Ministry engaged in implementation of costly projects that had not been budgeted for.