The National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee has retreated to consider submissions on Revenue and Expenditure Estimates from Ministries, Departments and Agency's under its oversight purview.

The Committee Chaired by Hon. Nelson Koech oversees the Ministry of Defence, that of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has interrogated the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on recent re-advertisement of a Contract that is subject to an ongoing probe.

Under the leadership of Chairperson Hon. David Pkosing, Members asked KRA to explain why it had put out a notice calling for expression of interest on a contract which is subject of an audit query before the Committee.

Housing Principal Secretary, Charles Hinga told the Senate committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa, that the Kenyan Government is committed to build 200 housing units per constituency in the 2023/24 financial year beginning June, 2023.

The Principal Secretary said that every urban area has a slum, he further told the committee that according to 2019 census, we have 1411 informal settlements in Kenya.

The Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Technology, led by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang’, retreated to Kiambu County today to consider and adopt its report to the House on the Konza Technopolis Bill, 2023 (Senate Bills No. 2 of 2023). 

While deliberating on the report, the Members of the Committee considered the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy’s version of the Bill, the public participation combined matrix, and the committee stage amendments. 

Senate Committee on Roads and Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa is currently meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Lands and Housing, Zachariah Njeru and Principal Secretary, Charles Hinga to deliberate on affordable housing in Kenya.

The Ministry officials are expected to make presentations on the concept of Affordable Housing Programme, the role of National Government and private sector and appropriate building technologies approved for the programme. 

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Kirinyaga County Sen. James Kamau Murango receiving submissions on The Cotton Industry Development Bill in Busia County. 

The Bill, which is sponsored by Senator Beth Kalunda Syengo, seeks to promote a globally competitive cotton industry, while facilitating the production, value addition and processing of safe and healthy cotton and its products.

The Budget & Appropriations Committee (BAC) is engaged in public hearings in 16 Counties to collect the views and memoranda on the 2023/24 Budget Estimates.

Members of the Budget & Appropriations Committee have been divided into  10 teams who will cover Marsabit, Siaya, Busia, Bomet, Kisii, Kajiado, Lamu, Tana River, Bungoma, West Pokot, Garissa, Kitui, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu counties.

Trade, Industry & Cooperatives Committee engaged its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies last week on the proposed Expenditure Estimates for Financial Year 2023/24.

The Committee led by the Chairperson Hon. James Gakuyu sought information on whether the MDAs intend to complete existing projects before embarking on new ones as well as the possibility of the SAGAs under the Ministries collecting more Appropriations-in- Aid (A in A) to reduce the burden on the Exchequer.

The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, today held a meeting with the Petitioners of the above mentioned Petition who were led by Mr. Kimutai Kirui and the Commissioner of Insurance Mr. Godfrey Kiptum.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Kirinyaga County Sen. James Kamau Murango receiving submissions on The Cotton Industry Development Bill in Kitui County. 

The Committee paid a courtesy call the Deputy Governor, Kitui County H.E Augustine Kanani Wambua. Thereafter, the committee visited the Kitui Ginneries Ltd where they deliberated on issues affecting the development of the Cotton Industry kin Kitui and the country with the Managing Director, Mr. Taher Z. Zavery, then proceeded with the public participation held at KEFRI Hall. 

Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa held a meeting with Directors of Jamii Bora Trust in respect of petition concerning access to title deeds for properties bought at Jamii Bora Estate, Kisaju, Kajiado County. 

Ms. Sofia Ingrid Munro, the director of Jamii Bora Estate appeared before the Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing to explain why the residents of Jamii Bora Estate in Kisaju have not received their title deeds in spite of fully payment for the housing units. 

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation concluded its Budget deliberations with the State Department for Water and Sanitation led by Cabinet Secretary (CS), Hon. Alice Wahome and her Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh.

The Committee led by Hon. Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East) questioned the CS on the Kenya Water Institute’s (KEWI) financial discrepancies. Members noted that Kshs125 million was disbursed to the Institution but only Kshs60 million was recorded in the Budget Estimates.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Fisheries Chaired by Hon. Kangogo Bowen met officials of the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation led by the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Alice Wahome, and the Principal Secretary for Irrigation Mr. Mugambi Gitonga. The team appeared before the Committee to provide clarifications and respond to questions concerning their submissions.

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has directed the Kenya Maritime Authority KMA) to submit a copy of the contract for the construction of the Agency's Headquarters in Mombasa.

The directive by the Committee Chaired by Hon. David Pkosing (Pokot South) followed revelations by the Auditor General that there had been three additional projects issued under the contract, without documentary evidence of approval as required by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act  (2015).

Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa held a meeting with Petitioners in respect of petition concerning access to title deeds for properties bought at Jamii Bora Estate, Kisaju, Kajiado County. 

The committee heard that the petitioners own 900 homes, 500 commercial units, churches, a Mosque, public primary and secondary school, public borehole and playgrounds.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Kirinyaga County Sen. James Kamau Murango receiving submissions on The Cotton Industry Development Bill in Mwingi North, Kitui County. 

The Bill, which is sponsored by Senator Beth Kalunda Syengo, seeks to promote a globally competitive cotton industry, while facilitating the production, value addition and processing of safe and healthy cotton and its products.

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget chaired by Mandera Senator Ali Roba held a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury Prof. Njuguna Ndung`u this Wednesday to deliberate on the County Allocation Revenue Bill, 2023.

Prof. Njuguna told the committee that there is need to allocate 425 million shillings for the Library Services, a function that has now been transferred to counties.

The ministry further noted that there are only 33 counties that have Library services out of the 47 counties.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang'ula, met with officials from the Electorate Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at his office in the Parliament Buildings.