The Parliamentary Service Commission Committee on Information and Public Communication and the National Assembly Committee on Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library on Thursday, September 26, 2024 met to explore strategies for increasing public engagement in parliamentary proceedings through broadcasting.

The Nyamira County Government, led by Governor Amos Nyaribo, faced intense scrutiny from the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare following reports of irregular employment and inflated wage bill ratios far exceeding statutory limits.

The probe was triggered by Sen. Okongo Mogeni’s (Nyamira) remarks on the floor of the Senate, where he highlighted the County Government’s overspending on personnel emoluments. The Controller of Budget’s (CoB) report for the 2023/24 Financial Year indicated that the county’s wage bill stood at 55.2% of total revenue.

Members of the National Assembly on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 started debate on  a Motion seeking to reform the country’s education bursary schemes to ensure free and compulsory basic education for all. 

Lawmakers have deliberated on the Technopolis Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 6 of 2024), which proposes the establishment of a comprehensive framework to govern the development and management of Technopolis hubs across the country. 

The Bill, which was moved  by Chairperson of the Committee on Communication, In Information and Innovation, Hon. John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), seeks to create the Technopolis Development Authority, a body that will oversee the planning, development, and governance of all Technopolises in Kenya.

The Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, chaired by Wajir Senator Sheikh Mohamed Abass, had a busy agenda, handling multiple inquiries, processing several statements, and reviewing various Bills.

The Committee held 32 sittings, between April and August 2024, in which it addressed various activities related to its mandate.

The 12th Annual Conference of Speakers of African National and Regional Parliaments is underway in Midrand Johannesburg. 

Kenyan Delegation was led by Hon. Amason Kingi EGH, Speaker of the Senate of the Republic of Kenya. 

In his speech, Hon Speaker regretted the fact that the facility set up for making the platform for trade between African States was mainly funded from sources outside Africa. He called upon Africa to commit financially to making the AFCFTA work.