The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare Committee Chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor held a meeting today

 to consider the public participation matrixes on the following Bills before the Committee. 

1. Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2023

2. Heritage and Museums Bill, 2023 

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has raised concerns about the alleged lack of tax compliance by the Geothermal Development Agency (GDA).

Under the leadership of Committee Vice-Chairperson Hon. Lillian Gogo (Rangwe), Members Invited the GDA leadership to shed light on audit queries raised by the Auditor General in the Agency's financial books between the 2017/2018 Financial Year and the 2020/2021 Financial Year.

Members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations have said there is a need for more structured engagements on African Union Affairs.

This was one of the recommendations adopted by Members in a Report of the Committee Delegation that participated in the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in February this year.

The National Assembly’s Public Petition Committee heard submissions from the National Assembly’s Leader of Majority Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah and Leader of Minority Hon. Opiyo Wandayi with regard to a petition to amend the Consitution to establish the Offices of Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Offical Leader of Opposition. 

In his submission, Hon. Ichung’wah noted that having the Office of Leader of Opposition in place would institutionalize governance, strengthen oversight and deepen democracy. 

Hon. Oku Kaunya, MP has directed the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu to provide information on the amount of public funds channeled towards the construction of classrooms in junior secondary schools countrywide. 

A proposal for the establishment of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in every primary institution in Kenya has gained support from Members of Parliament (MPs). This was after Hon. Geoffrey Ruku, MP (Mbeere North) moved a Motion on Wednesday, calling on the Ministry of Education to develop a comprehensive policy and funding plan for JSS.

Hon. Ruku while moving the Motion expressed concern that recent Government guidelines requiring JSS to be established in select primary schools had caused confusion and rendered classrooms for classes seven and eight redundant.