The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations today held a joint induction retreat with the Ministry of Defence.

The Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation this week; in two separate delegations, continued its inspection visits of Constituency Innovation Hubs (CIHs). The two teams, one to the Coastal Region and, another to the Nyanza and Western regions, undertook the site tours of various hubs to, among others; ascertain the infrastructural status of the hubs, human resource capacities, equipment availability, and general functionalities of the Ajira project.

Farmers are expected to benefit from enhanced financing if a proposed legislation is approved by the National Assembly.

Legislators reviewed the draft Commodities Fund Bill which seeks to establish the Commodities Fund to provide better financing options for farmers and promote the development of agricultural commodities.

In a meeting chaired by Hon. Dr. John Mutunga, Members of the Committee on Agriculture and Livestock interacted with the Board of Trustees and Management of the Commodities Fund, led by Mr. Duke Mainga, to discuss the proposed Commodities Fund Bill.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has said the challenges brought about by Climate Change should influence the framing of Kenya’s next National Action Plan.

The Speaker admitted that changes in climatic conditions have gained prominence in recent years, triggering an erratic climate pattern that has devastated agriculture as it disrupted lives and livelihoods in unprecedented ways. 

These challenges, the Speaker argued, should influence the framing of the country’s next National Action Plan.

The Public Investment Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy chaired by Hon. David Pkosing has given the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) one month to prepare well and submit satisfactory responses to the queries raised in the Auditor General’s Report.

The National Assembly today adopted a Report of the Joint Committee of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining and the Senate Standing Committee on Land, Environment, and Natural Resources on approval hearings for nominees for appointment as members of the National Climate Change Council (NCCC).

The Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon.(Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula has called for a special summit for the East African Community that will be dedicated towards revamping the East African Legislative Assembly.

Speaking today during a breakfast meeting in his office with the sixth Speaker of EALA, the Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, Speaker Wetang’ula said that EALA was a great concept in the region but had not been natured to grow hence remaining static.

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has directed the Kenya Railways Corporation management to provide evidence of the ownership of several land parcels purported to have been irregularly reallocated.

The National Assembly has approved the 2023 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) paving the way for the final phase of the budget-making process for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Selection Panel has received  a total of 169 applications for the positions of chairperson and six Commissioners, Chairperson Dr. Nelson Makanda has said.

Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thangwa, today held a meeting with Petitioners on the Petition concerning eviction and demolition of Buxton Estate in Mvita Constituency, Mombasa County.

In the petition, the evictees of Buxton told the Committee there was confusion and deception by the County Government of Mombasa and the developer of the entire Urban Renewal and Regeneration Project, Buxton Points Apartments Limited on matters regarding the land ownership and tenure as well as the nature of the project. 

The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, Chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, today met with the Petitioners, Mr. James Gakonga and residents of Lamu, Baringo,Nairobi and Kiambu counties on Petition concerning Linda Soka tapping into Kshs. 302 billion football fund. 

The issues raised in the petition are that;

1. The football administration in Kenya has been marred by corruption, maladministration and lack of accountability which has negatively impacted on the industry, leaving the football players without hope in the sector

Lawmakers have launched an inquiry into the maize subsidy programme. This follows the consideration of Supplementary Estimates 1 by the National Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Livestock chaired by Hon. Dr. John Mutunga.

Members observed that Kshs 7.267B had been spent on the Maize flour subsidy programme of which 4B was paid and 3.267B not yet paid. The Committee had reservations about the Programme due to lack of sufficient information.

The Chairperson of the Public Debt and Privatization Committee Hon. Abdi Shurie yesterday moved a Motion for the House to adopt a Report on the policy and financial resolutions relating to the 2023 medium-term debt management strategy. These strategies seek to ensure that public debt remains sustainable while minimizing costs and risks of borrowing. The Report which was tabled in the House on 9^th March 2023, recommends that the National Treasury undertakes a review of all undisbursed loans amounting to Ksh.

The National Assembly of Kenya is honoring the legacy of Hon. Grace Onyango, who passed away on March 8th, 2023 at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital. Hon. Onyango, also known as Nya'Bungu, made history as the first female Member of Kisumu Constituency, paving the way for women in leadership in Kenya.

Lawmakers eulogised her, recounting her life as a trailblazer who achieved many firsts in her political career, including being the first female Mayor of Kisumu and the first woman to sit in the Speaker's Chair as Temporary Deputy Speaker.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education is set to probe allegations of cheating in the 2022 KCSE. According the Chairperson of the Committee Hon. Julius Melly the exercise will be  thorough and will involve an in-depth probe of the whole examination process.

The National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee today met to deliberate on the Defence Cooperation between Kenya and the United Kingdom (UK).This meeting, follows extensive consultations between the Committee and key stakeholders including the Ministry of Defence, the British High Commissioner to Kenya, the Director of Criminal Investigations and Laikipia County Government.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised alarm over the disappearance of 125 BVR kits belonging to IEBC before the 2022 General Elections.

Murang`a County Senator Joe Nyutu has sought for a statement from the Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on the exploitation of water resources in Murang`a County by the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company.

The Senator wants the committee in their report to give the status of the Northern Collector Tunnel project indicating the stipulated time frame for its completion, the construction status so far and the expected date of its launching.

Senator Mohammed Chute of Marsabit County is seeking a report on the status of oil exploration in Turkana.

Through a request for statement that is before the Senate, Sen. Chute wants the Energy Committee to furnish the Senate with information on the status of oil exploration and extraction in Turkana since the discovery of the oilfield in 2012.