Debate on the Finance Bill (2023) commenced this morning as the Bill entered the Second Reading Stage in the House. 

Moving debate on the Bill, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning Hon. Kuria Kimani (Molo) told the House that the Committee had carried out comprehensive public participation and stakeholder engagement, adding that the Committee would be introducing some amendments derived from the submission received.

Meru County Senator Kathuri Murungi is seeking for a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on the alarming closure and threatened closure of the county assemblies across the country.

In his request, the lawmaker wants the committee to give measures being taken to curb the alarming adjournment of County assemblies across the country, with so far Narok, Mandera, Kericho, Embu, Tana River, Kisii, Marsabit, Makueni, Wajir, Garissa, Mombasa, Kwale, Nakuru, Kajiado, Nyamira, Laikipia, West Pokot and Samburu shutting down.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has defended the operations of the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority telling a committee of the Senate that it operated within the law.

In the report of the revenue and expenditure account for the county, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu had raised queries over misrepresentation of bank details and in some cases some of the signastories were not employees of the county government.

The name of the authority is defined in the enabling law as Makueni County Fruit Development Authority. 

The Principal Secretary State Department of Lands and Physical Planning Hon. Nixon Korir, today appeared before the Senate Land, Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chaired by Nyandarua Senator John Methu to give response to the Ten Statements pending before the Committee and on a Petition by Mbogo’s Family concerning historical injustices and illegal alienation of L.R NO. 7153/1,7153/2,7153/R also known as L.R 12825.

The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism Chaired by Kajiado Senator, Lenku Ole Kanar Seki held a meeting today to consider response from the Ministry of Road, Transport and Public Works on a Statement requested by Sen. Samson Cherarkey on Operations and Financial Status of Kenya Airways. 

Sen. Cherarkey wanted the Committee to 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. 38.26 billion by December, 2022.

The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has directed the Governor of Laikipia County Joshua Irungu to act tough against officers in his administration who enabled fake claims pushing the pending Bills by over Sh1 billion.

The Committee further advised the governor to improve its own source revenue by going on owners of expansive ranches in the county if his administration has to meet its revenue targets.

At a meeting on Tuesday, the governor revealed that he had inherited a Sh2.2 billion pending bill when he took over following the August 2022 general election.