𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟖𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula, hosted a delegation of Doctoral Leadership students from USIU-Africa, led by Prof. Timothy Oketch, Dean of the Chandaria School of Business.

The meeting delved into pressing issues affecting Kenya’s education sector, the Affordable Housing agenda, and the potential risks posed by gaps in the IEBC’s structure. 

Members of Parliament have raised alarm over the increase in cases of violence and murder against vulnerable women and girls in the Country.

This came about as the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Gladys Boss gave a general Statement regarding the UN Women’s Report on statistics of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide in Kenya as the Country looks to mark the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence.

The National Assembly has passed the Coffee Bill (Senate Bill No 10 of 2023) with amendments.

The Bill seeks to establish the Coffee Board of Kenya and the Coffee Research Institute of Kenya. It also aims to promote the coffee industry, provide licensing and registration, delineate government roles, and integrate the coffee value chain.

Lawmakers have approved the appointment of Hon. Rehema Dida Jaldesa as the Chairperson and Mr. Michael Nzomo Mbithuka as a Member of the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC). Lawmakers challenged the new leadership to revitalize the Commission and deliver on its mandate of promoting gender equality and equity.

The National Assembly has passed the Community Health Workers Bill, 2022 (National Assembly Bill No. 53 of 2022).

The Bill which was endorsed by lawmakers on 20th November 2024 is sponsored by Ndhiwa MP Hon. Martin Peters Owino and seeks to establish a legal framework to acknowledge the essential role of CHWs and incorporate them into the government payroll. Currently, these workers provide crucial health services at the grassroots level, often without pay.

Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has encouraged young people to focus on their education noting that it was the best means for them to safeguard their future.

Hon Speaker noted that he was aware of a myriad of challenges young people especially from poor backgrounds, go through in their quest for education but urged them not to relent.

The Senate Finance and Budget Committee jointly with the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and Planning, today held a joint approval hearing for Central Bank of Kenya Deputy Governor Nominee Mr. Gerald Arita Nyaoma.

While introducing himself to the joint committee, the nominee said “When Safaricom Limited was introducing M-Pesa in Kenya, Michael Joseph first met me in Central Bank of Kenya and I issued Safaricom with interim license to roll out mobile banking, I take that as an achievement that helped Kenya to open up financial inclusivity.”

President William Ruto has urged Parliament to develop legislation to actualize the two-thirds gender rule.

Speaking during his third State of the Nation Address before a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly and the Senate, President Ruto called on legislators to take decisive steps toward implementing this constitutional requirement.

The Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Opiyo Wandayi, today appeared Senate Standing Committee on Energy to deliberate on the rationale behind KETRACO-Adani projects.

The committee also discussed the issue of exclusion from the National Grid of regions that are historically marginalised Counties such as Wajir, Marsabit, Mandera, and Turkana which comprise nearly 80% of Kenya’s land mass but which remain unconnected to the national grid.

The National Assembly has passed the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 67 of 2023 with far-reaching amendments to the Copyright Act, 2001 and Scrap Metal Act, 2015.  

Among the amendments to the Copyright Act, 2001 was the deletion of proposed Section 30A, which sought to regulate equitable remuneration for performers and producers of sound recordings on a 50-50 basis. Lawmakers argued that the formula excluded other contributors to the creative process, leading to its removal. 

National Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula has bid farewell to H.E. Ambassador Zhou Pingjian, the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, following a successful four-year tenure.

The farewell took place during a courtesy visit by Ambassador Zhou to Wetang’ula’s on Wednesday evening at Parliament Buildings.

Members of the National Assembly have put too task the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock over the continuous use of carcinogenic pesticides in the Country.

CS, Andrew Karanja had appeared before the National Assembly to answer to Members questions in line with the House Standing order 42(A) (6B).

The Mediation Committee on the Division of Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has unanimously agreed to allocate Ksh. 387 billion to County Governments. The decision came after extensive deliberations over three days, following earlier meetings that failed to reach a consensus.

The Committee, co-chaired by Mandera Senator Ali Roba and Kiharu MP Hon. Ndindi Nyoro, announced the agreement as a balance between the fiscal constraints of the National Government and the operational demands of the Counties.

Lawmakers have passed the Technopolis Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 6 of 2024), which proposes the establishment of a comprehensive framework to govern the development and management of Technopolis hubs across the country. 

The Bill, moved by the Chairperson of the Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, Hon. John Kiarie (Dagoretti South), seeks to create the Technopolis Development Authority, a body that will oversee the planning, development, and governance of all Technopolises in Kenya.

Sen. Karen Nyamu has raised an alarm over the rising cases of insecurity in Eastleigh, Nairobi County after the urban area registered an increase in several incidents of crimes, robberies, gang violence and gender-based domestic violence. 

The legislator reiterated the importance of security as a critical component of the national political development agenda adding that crime and violence pose a challenge in macro and microeconomic growth. 

Cabinet Secretary Murkomen has told the Senate that the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports develops, maintains and manages stadia through Sports Kenya and that currently there are two stadia that are gazetted under the management of Sports Kenya i.e. Nyayo National Stadium and Moi international Stadium, whereas the other stadia are under respective counties and are managed by the respective County Governments with some receiving the support of the National Government.