Roads CS Kipchumba Murkomen has said the National Government has stopped the construction of new road projects across the country due to the huge pending bill it inherited from the former regime.

The CS told the Senate on Wednesday the government is talking to development partners to shoulder part of the challenge of settling the bills before it thinks of new road projects.

“Part of the problem of pending bills is inhibiting us in creating new road projects,” said CS Murkomen when he appeared in the House to respond to questions raised by senators.

Narok Senator, Ledama Olekina has sought a statement from the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing on the proposed 3% monthly contribution towards the Government’s Affordable Housing Fund as per the Presidential directive issued n 23rd April 2023.

The Senator wants the Committee to;

1. Outline the Legislative framework put in place to support the deduction of 3% from the salaries of government employees to support the government affordable homes program.

Senate Committee on Energy chaired by Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga met today to consider the progress of inquiry on high cost of electricity in Kenya. 

The committee has so far held meetings with seven Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and it is yet to meet Kenya Power. 

Kenya Power had excused itself due to the ongoing recruitment process of substantial CEO and Managing Director. 

Kenya Power has today announced the appointment of Dr. Joseph Sirior as substantive CEO to take over from the acting MD Eng. Muli.

Embu County Senator, Alexander Mundigi has requested for a statement in Senate on the destruction of crops by Wildlife in Embu County.

The Senator wants the Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources to:-

1. Explain the measures being taken to contain elephants that have been roaming within the farmlands of Machang'a village near Kamburu Dam in Mavuria Ward, Mbeere South Constituency, Embu County.

Nandi County Senator, Samson Cherarkey has requested for a statement in Senate on the operations and financial status of Kenya Airways. 

The Senator requested the Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism to:-

1. Apprise the Senate on the current operational and financial status of Kenya Airways, stating measures if any, to address significant losses by the airline which stand at Kshs. 38.26billion by December, 2022.

The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism Chaired by Kajiado Senator Lenku Ole Kanar Seki held a meeting today to consider pre-publication scrutiny of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood) Bill, 2023. 

Sponsored by Sen. Esther Okenyuri, the Bill seeks to achieve the following objectives by providing a standard framework for-

1. Entrenching the right to informal trading;regulation of informal trading including areas for the conduct of such trade and licensing by counties.