Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has revealed that the government has put in place plans to recognize and remunerate Village Elders under the Nyumba Kumi Initiative.

Speaking when he appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, CS Kindiki said the Kenya Kwanza Administration recognizes that the Village elders offer essential services to the country thus there is need to support them through recognition and remuneration.

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget today held a meeting with stakeholders among them the National Treasury, ICPAK and IGTRC to deliberate on the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill, 2023 (National Assembly Bills No. 16 of 2023), the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 23 of 2023) and the County Government (Revenue Raising Process) Bill (Senate Bills No. 22 of 2023.)

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Energy chaired by Hon. Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) has disapproved of the punitive Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed by Kenya Power Company (KPC) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

During a meeting with the KPC and IPPs Hon. Musyoka said Kenyan cannot continue paying expensive power when affordable power is available "We can't get into other Take or Pay agreements. This Committee will not allow the purchase of expensive power from some IPPs when we have affordable power," said Hon. Musyoka.

The National Assembly Committee on Labour, chaired by Hon. Erick Muchangi (Runyenjes), met with Hon. Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) to discuss the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2023. 

The Bill seeks to grant employees six months' written notice before a transfer or the option of receiving one month's wage as notice pay. It also aims to provide reasons for the transfer, seek the employee's consent, and support the employee's relocation, unless the transfer was requested by the employee.

The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Hon. Florence Bore apologized to the National Assembly for failing to appear before it to answer Questions. CS Bore was appearing for the first time since the House reprimanded her for failing to show up during a previous invitation.

While explaining herself, Hon. Bore informed the House that in future she would render her apologies in good time whenever she is not able to honour an invitation. 

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning chaired by Hon. Kimani Kuria met the management of a liquor manufacturing firm  over a Kshs. 332 million tax abandonment granted by the National Treasury in 2021.

The House Business Committee (HBC) has taken steps to address the backlog of  business pending consideration before the House. 

The National Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula, who chairs the Committee, said his panel has decided to allocate time specifically for the consideration of individual members' Bills on Wednesday afternoons. 

Speaker Wetang’ula said that the HBC is willing to seek the approval of the House to hold morning sittings on Thursdays or extended sittings to create more time for business. 

The National Assembly - Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, chaired by Hon. Jack Wamboka (Bumula), convened a meeting with the Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Board of Trustees and Management to address concerns raised by the Auditor General in his report.

Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources Chaired by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, today met with the petitioners concerning the illegal demolition of houses by the Kenya power and Lighting Company in Chokaa, Mihang’o Area in Nairobi City County.

The Petitioners informed the Committee that Residences totaling to 150 occupants got their properties demolished/destroyed 2019 as they watched in disbelief disregarding all efforts of involving the KPLC, DCC and seeking a court order to stop any form of demolition.  

The construction of canals and drains in Mutithi ward under the Mwea Irrigation Development Project will come to a completion in December 2023.

Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome told Senators that the project had stalled after the contractor terminated the contract on February 6, 2020 citing delays in payment.

By the time of the termination, progress of the project was at 43 percent.

The National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, chaired by Hon. Nelson Koech (Belgut),  is considering terminating the Kenya-Italy Bilateral Agreement on the Lugi-Broglio Malindi Space Centre.

The Committee met with the Cabinet Secretary for Defence Hon. Aden Duale, who told the Members that the issues agreed on in the signed Treaty have not been implemented and Kenyans have not benefited in any way.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula, has called upon the Leader of Majority Party and the Leader of Minority Party to take immediate action against the Chairperson Public Petitions Committee, following his absenteeism during plenary sessions. 

Expressing concern over the absence of Hon. Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), Speaker Wetang’ula noted that this situation has not only failed to serve the interests of the House but also hindered the Committee's business and resulted in a backlog of unresolved petitions.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning chaired by Hon. Kuria Kimani (Molo) has resolved to invoke Article 125 of the Constitution to summon a firm contracted by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to provide excise stamps for excisable goods in Kenya for failure to hour Committee invites.

The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC), led by Senator Godfrey Osotsi, held a meeting, today with the Governor of Tana River County, Dhadho Godhana. The purpose of the meeting was to address concerns raised by the Auditor General's Report on the Financial Statements for the Financial Year 2020/21.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries chaired by Kirinyaga Senator James Kamau Murango, MP, met today to consider the response from the Cabinet Secretary Water, Sanitation

and Irrigation, Hon. Alice Wahome regarding the Petition on Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) Graft Investigation on the West Kano Irrigation Scheme. 

The Petitioners prayed that the Committee should -

a) Carry out a thorough financial inspection of the scheme between 2007 and 2021;

b) Carry out institutional audit of the scheme since inception;

QUESTION TIME: Hon. Soipan Tuya - CS, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry