The National Assembly has approved the appointment of Mr. Noordin Haji as the next National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General.

Through a Special Motion moved by Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations the House voted to approve the appointment of Mr. Haji as the next spymaster general. Mr. Haji takes over from the outgoing NIS boss Major General Phillip Kameru who is headed for retirement.

The National Assembly is currently in the midst of considering Budget Estimates for various State Departments and Agencies in the Committee of Supply for the period 2023/24 Budget, a crucial phase during which supply measures for funding various government programs and undertakings are considered. This period, which began with the examination of the Estimates, will conclude with the enactment of an Appropriation Act.

The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, today, under the stewardship of Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, deliberated on the Auditor General's report on the financial affairs of the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company Limited for the years 2018 to 2021. Nathif Adan Jama, the Governor of Garissa County, was invited to provide explanations.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries led by Embu Senator Alexander Munyi Mundigi, MP, held a meeting today to consider and adopt the matrix on submissions by the Council of Governors on the Prevention of Livestock and Produce Theft Bill, 2023.

The Bill, which is sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey seeks to provide a framework for the establishment of mechanisms for preventing, combating and eventually eradicating livestock and produce theft.

The Public Debt and Privatization Committee led by the Vice-Chairperson Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu held a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kenya Airways Mr. Allan Kilavuka, to discuss the financial status of the Airline. Of great concern to the Committee is the Airline's plan to get out of debt and become competitive.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Energy chaired by Hon. (Eng). Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) held a meeting with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum officials to address concerns about the rising cost of petroleum products in the country. 

The meeting sought to scrutinize internally generated revenue and explore viable measures aimed at curbing the escalating prices that have burdened consumers across the country.

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) has said there should be an entity in the Office of Registrar of Societies that will strictly deal with matters faith in term of registration and regulation of religious organisation.

The Council said the office as currently constituted by law is saddled with registration and regulation of many other entities, ranging from sports and welfare associations, making it impossible to monitor and mete out punishment where there is violation.

Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, led by Senator Godfrey Osotsi, met with the Nairobi City County Governor, Johnson Sakaja. They discussed several audit queries raised by the Auditor General regarding the Nairobi County Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) during the fiscal years 2018 to 2021.

The National Assembly Broadcasting and Library Committee led by Vice-Chairperson Hon. (Eng) John Kiragu concluded a two-day Western region installation inspection  tour with a visit to the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) in Kisumu. 

In Kisumu, the delegation visited the Kisumu office, where Members were hosted at the Mashinani Studio. This studio is an undertaking by KBC for free music recording for aspiring artists in the region.

The National Assembly Select Committee on Implementation chaired by Hon. Raphael Wanjala (Budalangi) met with officials of the Northern Water Works Development Agency (NWWDA) and the Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA). The agenda of the meetings was to find out the extent to which NWWDA and TARDA have implemented the recommendations of the Public Investments Committee (PIC) in the 12th Parliament.

The Public Debt and Privatisation Committee chaired by Hon. Abdi Shurie (Balambala) was briefed by the Principal Secretary of National Treasury  Dr. Chris K. Kiptoo on the Consolidated Fund Service Expenditures for Financial Year 2023/24.

The National Assembly Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Committee led by the Vice-Chairperson (Eng.) Hon. John Kiragu (Limuru) undertook an inspection visit of broadcast installations of National Broadcaster Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) in Kisii County.

The Committee was out to assess the capacity of KBC to broadcast Parliamentary proceedings in the regions. In addition, Members wanted to find out the status of the technical equipment at the installations and get to know any upgrade needs to enhance transmission quality in the region. 

Christian religious groups have distanced themselves from the deaths in Shakahola Forest saying they are isolated cases warning the state against using the killings to regulate or clamp down on religious dominations in the country.

In fact, the groups maintained that Pastor Paul Mackenzie activities within the Shakahola Forest, in which nearly 265 bodies have been discovered, were criminal acts which are punishable by the law.

The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism after paying a Courtesy call to the Office of the Governor Machakos County and the County Assembly earlier today proceeded to Kamulu Shopping Centre where the newly constructed office of the Drumvale Farmers Cooperative Society Limited is situated.

The National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives chaired by Hon. James Gakuya (Embakasi North) met officials from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) led by the Acting Managing Director and Council Secretary Mrs. Esther Ngari to discuss the disappearance of condemned sugar earlier this year. 

The Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Hon. Zachariah Njeru and the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Hon. Florence Bore are expected to appear before the National Assembly on Wednesday, 14th June 2023 in the afternoon. 

This is according to the statement made by the Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Kimani Ichung'wah in the House.

The Senate Speaker Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffah Kingi, EGH, Mp today officially opened an Induction and Retreat for the Senate leadership and the Kenya Parliamentary Journalists Association (KPJA) in Mombasa County.

Speaking during the opening session, Speaker Kingi said there is need for the Senate to work closely with various stakeholders key among them Media for it to discharge its mandate effectively.

The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare led by the Vice Chairperson, Sen. George Mbugua held a meeting today with the Inspector General of Police,CS Ministry of Health, Management of First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency Limited; and the Petitioners of the alleged fraud committed by the aforementioned Agency to deliberate further on the investigations being carried out by the Senate on the Agency's fraudulent activities. 

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries held a meeting today to consider and adopt a Legislative proposal on the Nuts and Oil Crops Development Bill, 2023.

The Bill, which is sponsored by Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana, MP, seeks to make provision for the production, processing, marketing and distribution of Kenyan nuts and oil crops and their products. 

The Senate Committee for County Public Investments and Special Funds, chaired by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, convened today with the intention of engaging with Paul Otuoma, the Governor of Busia County to review the Auditor General's Reports on the Financial Statements of the Busia Water and Sewerage Services Company Limited for the fiscal years 2018-2021.

However, the Committee received official communication from the Governor, requesting the postponement of today's scheduled meeting. The Governor cited medical circumstances as the reason for his unavailability.