The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Hon. George Murugara held approval hearings for the nominee for appointment as the Principal Secretary (PS) State Department of Correctional Services Ms. Salome Wairimu Muhia.

 Members wanted to know what interventions Ms. Muhia will institute in correctional institutions and how she intends to improve the living conditions of prisoners, if appointed.

The Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol has denied all the charges laid against him by the County Assembly before the Senate Special Committee investigating his proposed removal from office by impeachment.

Oduol told the Special Committee chaired by the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang` that he was only a whistleblower who came out publicly to talk about the suspicious and huge withdrawal of money from the Siaya County coffers rubbishing the criteria used to impeach him.

The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Hon. Mithika Linturi appeared before the Senate today to answer to questions concerning duty free importation of food commodities. Below is an excerpt of the proceedings.

𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐞: Could the Cabinet Secretary disclose the food commodities being imported duty-free, stating the approved packaging and container sizes?

The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Zachariah M. Njeru has appeared in Senate today to respond to the following lawmakers’ questions:

𝐒𝐄𝐍. (𝐃𝐫.) 𝐋𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐰𝐞 𝐋𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢: What measures is the Government taking to ensure full operationalization of the Samburu Land Registry that was opened in 2021 to enable residents of Samburu County have access to land registration services and issuance of title deeds?

The membership of Rotary Club of Nairobi, led by their President Amb. Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, paid the Senate of Kenya a courtesy visit today to learn about the workings of the Senate and common areas of possible interaction.  

In hand to receive the team was the Clerk of the Senate who is also the Secretary to the Parliamentary Service Commission Mr. Jeremiah M. Nyegenye, who apprised the members of the rotary club about the history, structure and role of Parliament as well as an overview of the place of devolution in the governance structure. 

The Public Debt and Privatization Committee received submissions from different stakeholders in regards to the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, (2023).

 The PFM Amendment Bill seeks to amend PFM Act (No. 18 of 2012), by adjusting the framework for monitoring public debt and borrowing, and to align the Act with the provisions of the Constitution relating to definition of public debt, financial obligations and amend the debt limit.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health chaired by Hon. (Dr.) Robert Pukose (Endebess) heard that a letter authored by the Head of malaria unit at the Ministry of Health allegedly raising an alarm about an error in the Global Fund advertising tender may have led to the botched procurement of Kshs.3.7 billion worth of anti-malaria nets. 

The National Assembly Public Debt and Privatization Committee led by the Vice Chairperson Hon. (Dr.) Makali Mulu met with officials from the National Treasury led by the  Principal Secretary (PS), National Treasury and Economic Planning Dr. Chris  Kiptoo who made submissions on the Public Finance Management (Amendment) BIll (2023).

The National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee chaired by Hon. Nelson Koech adopted a proposal to launch an inquiry into activities of the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki, Laikipia County.

Members  proposed the inquiry following complaints raised by residents and key stakeholders on past conduct of the British soldiers in the County, during the Committee's recent consideration of the Kenya-UK Defence Cooperation Agreement.

Members of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security expressed concern over the recent conflict over mandates between the Inspector-General (IG) of the National Police Service and the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

Members were speaking when they held a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Prof. Kithure Kindiki in Parliament.

Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing under the leadership of the Committee's Vice Chairperson, Sen. Peris Tobiko met today to consider several agenda.

The committee first held a meeting with Sen. (Dr.) Boni Khalwale, CBS, MP on the legislative proposal on Motorcycle Public Transport Service Bill, 2023.

The Committee observed that the installation cost of the security devices on motorcycles should be borne by the owner and not the operator or rather the rider of the bodaboda.

Senate Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism met earlier today to consider the report on the inspection visit to Drumvale Farmers Cooperative Society in Machakos County on 9th June 2023. 

Chaired by Kajiado County Senator, Lenku Ole Kanar Seki, the Committee resolved to invite the Society's Executive Members who were holding office during the time of liquidation for further clarity of what transpired during and after the liquidation before making final recommendations on the matter. 

The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare chaired by Sen. Julius Murgor, today met with petitioners and stakeholders regarding the unfair terms and conditions for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff and delay in internship posting.

Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries led by Vice Chairperson, Embu County Senator, Sen.Alexander Munyi Mundigi has summoned the Minister of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Hon. Alice Wahome and Kisumu County Governor Hon. Anyang' Nyongo, for failing to appear before the Committee to formally respond to the Petition regarding the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) Graft Investigation of West Kano Irrigation Scheme.

Earlier today, Senate committee on energy held a meeting with to consider the pre-publication scrutiny on the Local Content Bill, 2023. (Committee Paper No. 38) and review the progress on the inquiry into the high cost of electricity in Kenya. 

The committee heard that the Senate Committee on Energy is established under standing order 228 (3) of the Senate Standing Orders and is mandated to consider all matters related to fossil fuels exploration, development, production, maintenance and regulation of energy.

Today, the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, chaired by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, held a meeting scheduled with George Natembeya and Kenneth Lusaka, the Governors of Trans Nzoia and Bungoma Counties respectively. The meeting aimed to address concerns arising from the Auditor General's Report, scrutinising the financial statements of the Nzoia Water Services Company Limited, spanning from 2018 to 2021.

𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

The Senate Special Committee on the proposed removal from office by impeachment of the Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol held a meeting today ahead of the hearings that begin this Wednesday morning.

Members adopted the programme that will be followed during the hearings scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health chaired by Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose will this morning engage with officials of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to address alleged irregularities in the procurement process and the cancellation of long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets at KEMSA.

In addition the Committee will hold a second meeting with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to discuss various concerns including the non-remittance of NHIF capitations to hospitals providing services to cardholders. 

The National Assembly Select Committee on Budget & Appropriations chaired by Hon. Ndindi Nyoro engaged with chairpersons of Departmental Committees  on the Supplementary Estimates II for Financial Year  2022/2023.

The second Supplementary Estimates for the current fiscal year proposes to reduce the National Government Expenditure estimates by Kshs 6.4 billion. This comprises a reduction of Capital Expenditure by Kshs39 billion, an increase in recurrent expenditure by Kshs.7.6 billion and an increase in Consolidated Funds Services (CFS) by Kshs.24.8 billion.