The National Assembly debated a Bill  that mandates property owners in low-income areas to pay land rates to their respective county governments. It aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for levying properties and land throughout the country. In addition, the National Rating Bill introduces a mechanism to accurately measure ratable properties and aims to broaden the tax base. 

Public entities will have to submit annual reports to Parliament, providing comprehensive details on their adherence to Kenya's diversity and equal opportunity standards within the public service if the Public Service (Values and Principles) (Amendment) Bill is passed by the House and assented to into law. 

The Bill aims to uphold the Constitutional provisions on  representation and equal opportunities for all citizens.

Members of the National Assembly have shown their support for the implementation of Sex Education in Kenyan schools as a measure to address the high rates of unwanted pregnancies amongst the teenagers.  

Members debated a Motion by Hon. Njeri Maina (Kirinyaga), urging the National Government, through the State Department of Basic Education, to introduce comprehensive health, wellness, and sex education as a core subject in the school curriculum.

Members of the National Assembly have raised concern that the National Government has not only caused significant delays but has also failed in its duty to compensate citizens for the lands acquired for infrastructural projects.

The legislators noted that a number of Kenyans find themselves trapped in severe destitution due to the Government's forceful acquisition of their lands without compensation. 

The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning and the Select Committees on Public Debt and Privatization and Budget and Appropriations held a joint retreat with the National Treasury and Economic Planning.

The retreat covered key issues including revenue management, fiscal risks management and county public finance management; public investment and portfolio management; and public private partnerships (PPPs).

During a two-day multi-stakeholder engagement forum held over the weekend, Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Chair of the Select Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, underscored the concerning issue of non-remittance of pension deductions by various entities across counties.

The CEO, Capital Markets Authority today appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism to respond to further questions on the Petition regarding alleged fraudulent acquisition of shareholding at the East African Breweries Ltd. 

The National Assembly’s Public Petition Committee led by Hon. Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East) met the State Department of Wildlife Principal Secretary (PS) Ms. Silvia Museiya together with the Director General Kenya Wildlife Services, Dr. Erustus Kanga to discuss a petition filed by Hon. Aramat Lemanken (Narok East).

Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries chaired by Kirinyaga County Senator, Sen.James Kamau Murango,MP, has summoned Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Mithika Linturi for failing to appear before them to answer to Statements sought by Senators.

The committee directed that the Cabinet Secretary appears before them on August 21st, 2023 and further requested him to furnish the Committee with responses on the following Statements;

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works led by Hon. Johana Ngeno (Emurua Dikirr) carried out inspection visits of several housing projects within Nairobi county. The projects which are located in Parklands, Starehe and Shauri Moyo form part of the Government plan to realize affordable housing for Kenyans of low income.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Hon.George Murugara (Tharaka) is set to consider two legislative proposals.

The Political Parties (Amendment) Bill (2022) and The County Governments (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Bills are sponsored by Hon. Wanami Wamboka (Bumula) and Hon. David Ochieng (Ugenya) respectively.

Hon. Wamboka is proposing amendments to the Political Parties Act by providing for the establishment of the offices of the Leader of Official Opposition  and the Deputy Leader of Opposition.

The National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations chaired by Hon. Nelson Koech (Belgut) has been briefed on the AU Convention on Cross Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention) by the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. 

In a meeting between the Committee and officials from the Ministry, the Committee was told that the Convention aims at fostering cross-border cooperation and assure peaceful border dispute resolution.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Kenya branch, has new office bearers after eight legislators were elected to the local Executive Committee that will represent Kenya at the regional level and internationally. This new development follows elections held today during the Association’s Annual General Meeting at the National Assembly Chambers.

The Chief Executive Officer of American Tower Corporation Kenya, Mr Thomas Sonesson, has today informed a Committee of the Senate that Telkom Kenya needs to pay ATC Kenya Kshs650 million so that it can be reconnected to its telecommunication infrastructure. 

This comes after Telkom Kenya defaulted on its payment worth Kshs4 billion to ATC Kenya under their Master Lease Agreement for a tower sale and leaseback transaction, forcing the telecommunications infrastructure owner and provider to finance Telkom’s operations. 

As part of their internship programme, the Senate interns and attaches had the privilege to visit the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) on Wednesday 9th August 2023. 

The visit provided an invaluable opportunity for the interns and attaches to gain insights into the complex world of revenue allocation in Kenya. They learnt about the roles and functions of CRA as entrenched in the constitution and its engagements with the Senate and other stakeholders.

The Principal Secretary for Land, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, State Department for Public Works Joel Arumonyang` has told the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget that lack of adequate funding is among the challenges that have slowed or stopped completion of construction of 5 County Headquarters in the county.

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has raised concerns about how a company contracted by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for Psychometric Testing ended up with one of its Directors becoming the Authority's Human Resources Manager.

During a review of the KRA's financial records the Committee chaired by Hon. David Pkosing (Pokot South), discovered that Working Smart Skills Limited had been engaged by the Authority  on four separate occasions between 2008 to 2014.

The National Assembly's Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education chaired by Hon. Jack Wamboka (Bumula) has urged the House to adopt its Report on its consideration of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of State Corporations (Regulatory and Governance Agencies) for the Financial Years 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

According to the Report, the Committee noted that due to lack of exposure to the audit process a number of Accounting Officers were non-compliant with various provisions of the law.

The Parliamentarians Against Drugs and Substance Abuse Caucus, has pledged to strengthen the fight against drugs and substance abuse through a unified approach with the partnership of National Authority for Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs).