The National Assembly's Sports and Culture Committee, led by the Chairperson Hon. Daniel Wanyama (Webuye West), convened a meeting with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) to discuss the strategic management of Kenya's historical, cultural, and national heritage.

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Social Services Administration and Agriculture have proposed that the Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Amb. Prof. Julius Bitok  ensures full operationalisation and autonomy of the Refugee Appeals Board as spelled out in the Executive Order No. 1 of 2023. 

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟗𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

There is an urgent need to innovate and offer new products to tourists visiting Kenya to boost the sector.

Through a statement on recovery of the Tourism Sector in the country, post the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020, submitted to the Senate, the Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri called for a new approach and deeper imagination by players in the tourism sector, the Senate being one of them.

She said although there has been an improvement in the sector, measures should be put in place to make the sector vibrant.

The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, has informed the Senate that the transfer of Teachers will be guided by the Provisions of the Code of Regulations and not the Delocalization Policy. 

The Delocalization Policy required the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to transfer teachers to teach in areas outside their place of origin in an attempt to deter conflict of interest in the administration of public schools. 

The journey to create a framework for the care and protection of pregnant children and child parents has kicked off courtesy of a Bill sponsored by the Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi.

The Bill aims at protecting the rights of pregnant children and additionally ensuring that needy child parents and their caretakers receive assistance from the National and County Governments so as to enable them return to school after delivering.

Counties will begin feting citizens who are considered outstanding, exceptional or illustrious in any profession or activity if the Bill sponsored by the Nominated Senator Miraji Abdillahi will be embraced by the Senate.

The Bill that is before the Senate seeks to provide a means through which exceptional individuals in each County will be recognized and honoured by their Counties.

A Parliamentary Committee was shocked to learn that the State Department on Lands and Physical Planning has historical pending bills amounting to Kshs 18.236B.

Committee on Lands chaired by Hon. Joash Nyamoko met with Hon. Nixon Korir, PS State Department on Lands and Physical Planning regarding budget implimentation and monitoring for the FY 2022/2023.

Today, under the leadership of Senator Godfrey Osotsi, the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) conducted a meeting to assess the progress made by the Garissa County government in executing resolutions outlined during a prior session held on June 13th, 2021. Additionally, it sought to thoroughly deliberate on management responses provided in relation to the Auditor-General's Reports concerning the Financial Statements of the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company Limited for the Financial Years 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, led by Senator Wamatinga Wahome, MP held a meeting to consider the matrix on submissions on the Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Senate Bills No. 1 of 2023). 

Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism held a meeting today to consider the Handing Over Report by the Commissioner of Cooperatives to Drumvale Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Machakos County.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee led by the Vice-Chairperson Hon. Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West) received more submissions on the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023. 

The Bill sponsored by the Leader of Majority Party Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), seeks to provide for the management and regulation of conflict of interest in the discharge of official duties and connected purposes.

The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee has been told by the National Lands Commission (NLC) that  Regional Offices based in the counties are facing an acute shortage of staff.

The Committee chaired by Hon John Mbadi (Nominated) was told that despite the Commission decentralizing its services to counties as a way of bringing services closer to the people, however, this goal has not been achieved due to staff shortage.

The Commission on Administrative Justice wants an audit to be carried out on the alleged injustice in the issuance of passports by the Department of Immigration.

The Commission submitted a report to the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations detailing complaints made by citizens on social media against the Department of Immigration.

The Commission undertook an in depth investigation on the matter following reports by Kenyans of being overcharged for passports by the Department.

Kisii County Governor Simba Arati has until October 30, 2023 to submit a comprehensive report on the question of pending bills in the County.

Governor Arati who appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget told the committee that his government inherited pending bills documented for the financial year 2021/2022 as at June 30, 2022 amounting to Ksh. 1,393,854,414.

A committee of the Senate has given the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) a month ultimatum to conclude investigations into the outstanding imprest for Bungoma County which has dragged on since 2019.

The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) gave the directive after it was told concerned employees have failed to surrender the imprest amounting to Sh67 million as at June 2020 because the Commission had carted away documents related to the issuance of the imprests.

Today, the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC) convened under the leadership of Senator Godfrey Osotsi to deliberate on the Auditor-General's Reports on the financial statements of eight water companies in Kiambu County, spanning the fiscal years 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21.

The Public Debt and Privatization Committee led by Hon. Abdi Shurie (Balambala) met with the Controller of Budget (CoB) CPA Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o. 

Dr. Nyakang'o briefed the Committee on the disbursement rate of foreign loans and commitment fees incurred over the past five financial years. A commitment fee is the amount a lender charges to keep a specific loan amount available to a borrower, and this fee may also be charged for the unused portion of a line of credit.

The Chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security Hon. Gabriel Togoyo (Narok West) has assured residents of Laikipia North Constituency that the Government is committed to flushing out cattle rustlers hiding in Mokogodu Forest.