National Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula, SC, has urged legislators to align budgetary decisions with underlying policy priorities to ensure meaningful public impact.

Speaking when he officially opened the four-day retreat for Members of the National Assembly in Nakuru County, Speaker Wetang’ula said careful consideration of budget estimates is essential if Parliament is to meet public expectations.

The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Gladys Boss, has lauded the robust performance of National Assembly Departmental Committees during the Fourth Session of the 13th Parliament, revealing that Committees held 1,323 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 65 𝘉𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 99, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 37 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘴 (16 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯), 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 95 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘴.

The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) is exploring alternative legal measures to compel governors to appear before Parliament and account for funds allocated to their counties, in line with constitutional oversight provisions.

In recent days, the Committee has expressed frustration as several governors, allegedly with the support of the National Police Service, have failed to honour summons, undermining Parliament’s oversight role.

The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has directed Vihiga Governor Wilbur Ottichilo to surcharge accounting officers over Sh1.9 million advanced to county staff as salary loans between 2015 and 2017 but never recovered.

The directive followed a revelation in the Auditor-General’s report for the 2024/25 financial year, which shows that only Sh85,000 of the amount had been repaid.

The Mombasa County Executive led by Governor Abdulswamad Nassir faced intense scrutiny as the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, chaired by Sessional chair Senator Eddy Oketch, examined damning audit queries revealing systemic failures across healthcare facilities and the county's water company.

The National Assembly will next week hold its 2026 Legislative Retreat in Nakuru County, bringing together the leadership and Members of Parliament for a five-day forum to evaluate legislative performance and set the agenda for the Fifth Session of the 13th Parliament.

The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, chaired by Godfrey Osotsi, sat with Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo and his executive team to consider the Auditor General’s reports on county entities, including Vihiga Municipality and Amatsi Water Services Company Limited.

While municipal governance issues were noted, the Committee zeroed in on Amatsi Water, whose audit revealed deep-seated financial, governance and operational failures, particularly rising non-revenue water, unsupported expenditures and weak internal controls.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has acknowledged that Kenya and Germany share a long-standing history of cordial diplomatic engagement anchored in mutual respect and progressive development cooperation.

Speaker Wetang’ula has raised concerns on the prevailing immigration challenges being witnessed in parts of the world, including Minnesota in the United States.

Leaders from Lamu County, Members of Parliament and senators have renewed calls for the full implementation of the Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor, warning that failure to complete any component of the flagship project risks undermining its economic promise and marginalising coastal and northern communities.

The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, chaired by Godfrey Osotsi, on Tuesday met Gideon Mung'aro and his executive team to examine the Auditor General’s reports on Kilifi County entities, including Kilifi Municipality, Mariakani Municipality, Mtwapa Municipality, Malindi Municipality, Watamu Municipality, Kilifi Mariakani Water and Sewerage Company, and Malindi Water and Sewerage Company.

A watchdog Committee of the Senate has approved a request by the Office of the Auditor General for the setting up of a collaboration framework to jointly address the challenges relating to accountability ecosystem.

According to the proposal, the framework will bring together Parliament and the Office of the Auditor General.

Safaricom PLC Chief Executive Officer Dr. Peter Ndegwa has assured Members of the National Assembly that the proposed partial divestiture by the Government of Kenya will not disrupt the company’s operations or its commitment to national development.

Appearing before a joint sitting of the Parliamentary Committees on Finance & National Planning and Public Debt and Privatisation, Dr. Ndegwa addressed concerns regarding Sessional Paper No. 3 of 2025, which outlines the state's plan to reduce its shareholding in the telecommunications giant.

Stakeholders appearing before a joint sitting of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning and the Select Committee on Public Debt and Privatization are seeking government assurances regarding the safety of data held by Safaricom.

The concerns come as the House considers the proposed partial divestiture of the government’s shareholding in the telecommunications giant.

The Joint Committee of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Energy and the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, today held a public hearing on the South Lokichar Field Development Plan in Turkwel, Kapenguria Constituency, West Pokot County.

Leaders and residents used the forum to demand equitable sharing of benefits from oil production in Turkana, arguing that the project heavily depends on water resources drawn from West Pokot.

Stakeholders have called for greater local participation, safety guarantees and long-term economic planning as the government advances major transport and petroleum projects linked to the South Lokichar oil fields.

Residents of Uasin Gishu presented their concerns and views on the South Lokichar Development Plan, which is before a joint committee comprising the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Energy and the Senate Standing Committee on Energy.

The joint committee was in Uasin Gishu to conduct public participation on the plan.

The Government has defended its decision to approve the South Lokichar Field Development Plan (FDP), arguing that the project is legally sound, economically viable and critical to unlocking Kenya’s upstream petroleum potential.

Appearing before a joint sitting of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Energy and the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi outlined the rationale behind the approval of the FDP and revised Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for Blocks T6 and T7 in the South Lokichar Basin.

Thursday, December 25^th 2025

National Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula has called on Kenyans to reflect and embrace peace and love during the Christmas festivities.

Speaker Wetang’ula says this Christmas reminds him that true light does not announce itself but simply shines.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION NOTICE

The Senate Standing Committee on Health invites the public to submit memoranda on the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2022 (National Assembly Bills No. 61 of 2022).

The Bill provides a legal framework for assisted reproductive technology services, regulates surrogacy, prohibits certain practices, and protects the rights of parents, donors, surrogate mothers, and children.