The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Hon.George Murugara (Tharaka) is set to consider two legislative proposals.

The Political Parties (Amendment) Bill (2022) and The County Governments (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Bills are sponsored by Hon. Wanami Wamboka (Bumula) and Hon. David Ochieng (Ugenya) respectively.

Hon. Wamboka is proposing amendments to the Political Parties Act by providing for the establishment of the offices of the Leader of Official Opposition  and the Deputy Leader of Opposition.

The National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations chaired by Hon. Nelson Koech (Belgut) has been briefed on the AU Convention on Cross Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention) by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. 

In a meeting between the Committee and officials from the Ministry, the Committee was told that the Convention aims at fostering cross-border cooperation and assure peaceful border dispute resolution.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Kenya branch, has new office bearers after eight legislators were elected to the local Executive Committee that will represent Kenya at the regional level and internationally. This new development follows elections held today during the Association’s Annual General Meeting at the National Assembly Chambers.

The Chief Executive Officer of American Tower Corporation Kenya, Mr Thomas Sonesson, has today informed a Committee of the Senate that Telkom Kenya needs to pay ATC Kenya Kshs650 million so that it can be reconnected to its telecommunication infrastructure. 

This comes after Telkom Kenya defaulted on its payment worth Kshs4 billion to ATC Kenya under their Master Lease Agreement for a tower sale and leaseback transaction, forcing the telecommunications infrastructure owner and provider to finance Telkom’s operations. 

As part of their internship programme, the Senate interns and attaches had the privilege to visit the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) on Wednesday 9th August 2023. 

The visit provided an invaluable opportunity for the interns and attaches to gain insights into the complex world of revenue allocation in Kenya. They learnt about the roles and functions of CRA as entrenched in the constitution and its engagements with the Senate and other stakeholders.

The Principal Secretary for Land, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, State Department for Public Works Joel Arumonyang` has told the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget that lack of adequate funding is among the challenges that have slowed or stopped completion of construction of 5 County Headquarters in the county.

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has raised concerns about how a company contracted by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for Psychometric Testing ended up with one of its Directors becoming the Authority's Human Resources Manager.

During a review of the KRA's financial records the Committee chaired by Hon. David Pkosing (Pokot South), discovered that Working Smart Skills Limited had been engaged by the Authority  on four separate occasions between 2008 to 2014.

The National Assembly's Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education chaired by Hon. Jack Wamboka (Bumula) has urged the House to adopt its Report on its consideration of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of State Corporations (Regulatory and Governance Agencies) for the Financial Years 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

According to the Report, the Committee noted that due to lack of exposure to the audit process a number of Accounting Officers were non-compliant with various provisions of the law.

The Parliamentarians Against Drugs and Substance Abuse Caucus, has pledged to strengthen the fight against drugs and substance abuse through a unified approach with the partnership of National Authority for Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs).

The National Assembly's Sports and Culture Committee, led by the Chairperson Hon. Daniel Wanyama (Webuye West), convened a meeting with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) to discuss the strategic management of Kenya's historical, cultural, and national heritage.

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Social Services Administration and Agriculture have proposed that the Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok  ensures full operationalisation and autonomy of the Refugee Appeals Board as spelled out in the Executive Order No. 1 of 2023. 

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟗𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

There is an urgent need to innovate and offer new products to tourists visiting Kenya to boost the sector.

Through a statement on recovery of the Tourism Sector in the country, post the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020, submitted to the Senate, the Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri called for a new approach and deeper imagination by players in the tourism sector, the Senate being one of them.

She said although there has been an improvement in the sector, measures should be put in place to make the sector vibrant.

The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, has informed the Senate that the transfer of Teachers will be guided by the Provisions of the Code of Regulations and not the Delocalization Policy. 

The Delocalization Policy required the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to transfer teachers to teach in areas outside their place of origin in an attempt to deter conflict of interest in the administration of public schools. 

The journey to create a framework for the care and protection of pregnant children and child parents has kicked off courtesy of a Bill sponsored by the Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi.

The Bill aims at protecting the rights of pregnant children and additionally ensuring that needy child parents and their caretakers receive assistance from the National and County Governments so as to enable them return to school after delivering.

Counties will begin feting citizens who are considered outstanding, exceptional or illustrious in any profession or activity if the Bill sponsored by the Nominated Senator Miraji Abdillahi will be embraced by the Senate.

The Bill that is before the Senate seeks to provide a means through which exceptional individuals in each County will be recognized and honoured by their Counties.

A Parliamentary Committee was shocked to learn that the State Department on Lands and Physical Planning has historical pending bills amounting to Kshs 18.236B.

Committee on Lands chaired by Hon. Joash Nyamoko met with Hon. Nixon Korir, PS State Department on Lands and Physical Planning regarding budget implimentation and monitoring for the FY 2022/2023.

Today, under the leadership of Senator Godfrey Osotsi, the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) conducted a meeting to assess the progress made by the Garissa County government in executing resolutions outlined during a prior session held on June 13th, 2021. Additionally, it sought to thoroughly deliberate on management responses provided in relation to the Auditor-General's Reports concerning the Financial Statements of the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company Limited for the Financial Years 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, led by Senator Wamatinga Wahome, MP held a meeting to consider the matrix on submissions on the Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Senate Bills No. 1 of 2023). 

Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism held a meeting today to consider the Handing Over Report by the Commissioner of Cooperatives to Drumvale Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Machakos County.