The Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers’ Committee and the Departmental Committee on Labour this morning jointly hosted the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour of the Republic of South Africa which is in the country for a one-week study tour.

Making their opening remarks during the 2-hour engagement characterized by sharing of experiences on Labour and Employment matters, Committee Co-Chairs Hon. Eric Muchangi (Runyejes) and Hon. Lydia Haika Mizighi, lauded the lawmakers for choosing Kenya as their benchmark destination.

The Budget and Appropriations Committee chaired by Hon. Ndindi Nyoro has received proposed amendments to various Bills.

In a proposal to amend the Health Act, Hon. Njeri Maina (Kirinyaga) wants public and private hospitals to be barred from detaining  patients or bodies for non-payment of hospital bills. 

Hon. Maina is seeking a new section which prohibits detention of patients, deceased bodies and patients for failing to pay medical bills after being discharged to the Health Act (2017).

The National Assembly Regional Integration  Committee carried out inspection visits to various projects in Mombasa County and other regions in the coastal area.

The delegation led by, Hon. David Ochieng (Ugenya), visited Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in Mombasa County, Mariakani Weighbridge in Kilifi County and Holili One Stop Border Post in Taita Taveta County.

The process of recruiting a Chairperson and Six Commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is taking shape as the Selection Panel commenced the long listing process of applications.

The IEBC Selection Panel started the long listing process for applicants for the position of Chairperson and the Six Commissioners yesterday after expiry on the one month period for application for the positions. 

The Panel's Chairperson, Dr Nelson Makanda, launched the exercise that is being undertaken by members of the Secretariat.

The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education is this week holding meetings with select Universities, and Technical & Vocational Training Institutions in the Central region to deliberate on Audit Queries raised by the Reports of the Auditor General.

Nine hundred and twenty five Kenyans have applied for the position of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioners, a recruiting Panel has announced.

The IEBC Selection Panel Chairperson Dr. Nelson Makanda said the Electoral body's position of Chairperson attracted 25 applicants by close of applications deadline.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN MOURNING

The National Assembly is mourning the demise of Banissa MP Hon. Kulow Maalim Hassan.

Hon. Hasan passed on this morning at Aga Khan Hospital following a grisly road accident in Nairobi on Saturday.

The MP was serving his second term as Member for Banissa Constituency. He served in Public Accounts Committee and the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

HOUSE EXTENDS PERIOD FOR CONSIDERING PROPOSED CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT

The National Assembly has extended by 90 days the period for consideration of proposed amendments that will entrench three funds in the Constitution.

The Co-Chairperson, Joint Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on proposal to amend the Constitution to entrench certain specialized funds Hon. Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi) said the move had been necessitated by the complexity of the legislative proposals, which has occasioned the need for more deliberations among Members and key stakeholders.

The 26th Ordinary Session of the Executive Committee of the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR).

Mandera senator Ali Roba presided over the meeting on behalf of the Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

Speaker Kingi is the current president of the FP-ICGLR.

The meeting of the executive Committee centred on security and the political situation in the Great Lakes Region.

The Senate Standing Committee on Energy led by the Vice Chairperson, Sen. William Kipsang' Kipkemoi held a meeting today to consider pre-publication scrutiny of The Local Content Bill, 2023.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee  on Tourism and Wildlife chaired by Hon. Kareke Mbiuki has directed  the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to stop the construction of the multi-billion Ronald Ngala Utalii College until a probe the Committee has initiated is concluded.

Further, the Committee wants the National Treasury to provide a clear roadmap on how it will finance the project and clear the pending bills which include penalties arising from delayed payment and lack of funding on time.

The 26th Ordinary Session of the Executive Committee of the Forum of Parliaments of Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) opened its sittings in Juba South Sudan.

The Session will run between March 28 to 29, 2023.

Mandera Senator Ali Roba presided over the meeting of the Committee.

Senator Roba leads the Kenyan delegation on behalf of Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who is the President of the Forum.

The theme of this year’s Conference is “Parliamentary Diplomacy for Conflict Resolution in the Great Lakes”.

The National Assembly Committee on Public Petition led by it's Chair  Hon.Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East) carried out an inspection visit of the Level 6 Forces Research Referral Hospital (FRRH) in Kabete.

The Committee is undertaking an investigation regarding a petition by Mr. Mutoro  on funds spent by the National Government contrary to provisions of the Constitution. The Ministry of Defence received Kshs.2.9B for this project.

The Senate will deepen its interactions with all the stakeholders in order to strengthen and protect devolution.

Speaking when he officially closed the Senate Retreat with the Constitutional oversight institutions and independent offices in Mombasa County, Senate Speaker Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffa Kingi, EGH, MP said there is need for the House to continue engaging stakeholders who will help it discharge its mandate appropriately to ensure devolution yields the intended goals.

The Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security Friday evening conducted an inspection tour of State House Mombasa to ascertain the status of the building which was built in 1897.

During the visit which was conducted on the sidelines of the Committee’s retreat with agencies under the purview of the Executive Office of the President (OP), the Committee pledged to support the ongoing restoration efforts through an enhanced budget to the OP, so as to safeguard the all-important historical building.

The Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security has decried the current state of the Office of the Government Press and pledged support for the printer’s modernization and automation of services.

Speaking when they met the Government Printer during the Committee’s retreat with agencies, the legislators wondered why the Office has been underfunded the last few years, despite its wide mandate.

Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing Chaired by Kiambu Sen. Karungo Thangwa yesterday met with Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir of Mombasa and the Management and Developer of Buxton Point Apartments led by its chairman Hon. Suleiman Shahbal at Serena Hotel.