Taita Taveta County Senator Johnes Mwaruma has sought a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on the status of mineral royalty accounts in light of a court ruling that struck down part of the mining royalties distribution law.

Sen. Mwaruma wants the committee to state the number of companies undertaking mining activities in Taita Taveta County and actual location of the mining activities.

Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hon. Salim Mvurya has defended the Bandari Maritime Academy's (BMA) role in the Senate. The discussions revolved around the Academy's transformative impact on maritime training, its success in placing graduates in global job markets, and its part in the government's commitment to train a significant number of seafarers annually. The session reaffirmed BMA's crucial role in advancing Kenya's Blue Economy and driving national economic growth.

The National Assembly's Select Committee on National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) chaired by Hon. Musa Sirma visited Awendo Constituency to inspect NG-CDF-funded projects in the area. 

The first project to be inspected was the Awendo Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC). The project which began in 2018 has been completed and is operational. 

Making his remarks, the area Member of Parliament Mr. Walter Owino, who is also a Member of the Committee, thanked the country government for seconding staff to the KMTC to provide services. 

The past week has been a busy one for the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning which Monday, wound up phase one of public hearings on the Finance Bill, 2023. After receiving submissions and memoranda for eight-straight days from organised groups and individuals on various proposals contained on the Bill, the Committee which took a brief hiatus to conduct approval hearings and vetting for the nominee to the position of Central Bank Governor, is now scheduled to hold a Mwananchi forum on the Bill in Parliament. 

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations chaired by Hon. Nelson Koech has seven days within which to table a report detailing the suitability of Mr. Noordin Haji for appointment to the position of  Director General, National Intelligence Service (NIS). 

During the approval hearing, Members interrogated the nominee on his academic and professional competence for the job, and also delved into questions regarding his previous performance record in Public Service.

The National Assembly Committee on Budget & Appropriations chaired by Hon. Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu)  has focused on the misappropriation of funds by State Agencies during the 2023/24 Budget Estimate scrutiny meeting with Departmental Committees on Finance and National Planning and Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation chairpersons, and the Office of the Auditor General (OAG).

In his remarks, Hon. Nyoro said that the Budget and Appropriations Committee’s role in the Budget making process is well enshrined in Section 43 of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, (2012).