Kitui Governor Julius Malombe faced a gruelling session before the Senate County Public Investment and Special Funds Committee as lawmakers demanded answers for systemic audit failures across major county hospitals.

The inquiry, centred on the Auditor General’s 2024/2025 reports for Kitui Referral, Mwingi Level 4, and the Tseikuru, Mutomo, and Ikanga hospitals, turned tense over the irregular engagement of casual workers. 

Lawmakers have thrown their weight behind the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to introduce nationwide public education on sexual crimes and safeguard the right to education for victims, including teenage mothers.

The Controller of Budget, Dr. Margaret Nyakango, has reaffirmed that Office of the Controller of Budget’s mandate to safeguard transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, as Parliament considers the Field Development Plan (FDP) and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for oil blocks in the South Lokichar Basin.

The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry led by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Mulongo , in partnership with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring sustainable development and environmental protection in the South Lokichar Basin, Turkana County, as oil production plans advance.

The Executive has assured Parliament that transport infrastructure will not hinder crude oil production from the South Lokichar Basin in Turkana County, as it defended the Field Development Plan (FDP) and associated Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) for Blocks T6 and T7.

Appearing before the Joint Parliamentary Committees on Energy, Roads and Transport, Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said Kenya is adequately prepared to evacuate oil once production begins, insisting that the country is “not starting from zero.”

The Senate has approved a list of Senators to serve on the Senate Business Committee during the Fifth Session, with lawmakers vowing to continue holding Governors across the country to account.

The Motion, tabled by Majority Leader Senator Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) and seconded by Minority Leader Senator Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), was supported by Members who urged the Committee to prioritise issues affecting the welfare of ordinary Kenyans, particularly devolution.