The National Assembly Committee on Diaspora and Migrant Affairs chaired by Hon. Lydia Haika (Taveta County) met representatives from the Association of Skilled Migrant Agencies of Kenya (ASMAK) and the Kenya Private Employment Agencies (KAPEA) to discuss the growing concerns surrounding migrant worker issues and the unethical conduct of private recruitment agencies in the recruitment of labor migrants and the placement of students abroad. 

Naivasha, Nakuru County 

Friday, May 26, 2023

The role of public participation in enhancing democracy has come into sharp focus, at the Parliamentary Service Commission-organized  Third Annual Parliamentary Symposium in Nakuru County. 

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee led by the Chairperson Hon. George Murugara (Tharaka) vetted Ms. Caroline Nzilani and Hon. Isaac Rutto for appointment as members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Hon. Rutto told the Committee that if he gets successful in being appointed, he will ensure that there is fairness in the administration of justice. "My job is basically to represent the public, and to bring their concerns to the Commission not to the Magistrates", said Hon. Rutto.

Machakos County

Friday, May 26, 2024

The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning chaired by Hon. Kuria Kimani (Molo) has today continued receiving submissions, five days into the week-long public hearings on the Finance Bill, 2023.

Nominated Senator Beatrice Akinyi has sought a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on the proposed relocation of Homabay GOK Prisons to Ndhiwa Sub County instead of a proposed University on the same parcel.

In her request, Sen. Akinyi wants the committee to state when the decision to relocate the Homabay GOK Prisons to Ndhiwa Sub County was arrived at, disclosing the parties involved in the decision and when the public participation with the residents of Ndhiwa community was conducted.

Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana has tabled a request for a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Health regarding claims of mishandling of a Ksh 3.7 billion tender by the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) for the supply of treated mosquito nets.

Lamu County Senator Joseph Githuku Kamau, MP, is seeking a statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment, and Natural Resources pertaining to the status of land discharge in Lamu County. 

In his statement, the Senator requests the committee to Elucidate on the state of the Settlement Fund Trustee, which was tasked with settling people either on un-alienated Government land or on land purchased from private owners.

Nominated Senator Hamida Kibwana, MP, is seeking a statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the closure of Kabarnet School for the Deaf. 

In her statement, the Senator requests the committee to state plans, if any, by the Ministry of Education to reopen Kabarnet School for the Deaf that was closed allegedly due to underfunding, leaving many students without access to special education.  

Kirinyaga County Senator James Kamau Murango, has sought a statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the amputation of baby Ridhwan Yasir Noor fingers at Kerugoya County Referral Hospital in a suspected case of medical negligence. 

The Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation was forced to adjourn its meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Alice Wahome.

The committee had invited the Cabinet Secretary to respond to issues raised in the petition by a lobby group on the implementation of the Water Resources Regulations, 2021.

The Regulations developed by Water Resources Authority (WRA) and the State Department of Water were gazetted as legal Notice number 170 of 20211.

Sen. Joyce Korir has sought a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism on non-compliance with standard weights and measures in tea marketing affecting smallholder farmers.

Murang`a County Senator Joe Nyutu is seeking a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Health on the circumstances that led to the death of Wakili Wachira J.M at Murang`a Level 4 Hospital.

Sen. Nyutu wants the committee to explain the circumstances leading to the death of Wakili Wachira J.M on Wednesday, 17th May 2023 while undergoing treatment at Murang`a Level 4 Hospital disclosing the state of health facilities including availability of medical oxygen and ambulance services at the hospital during the time of his demise.

The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare Committee led by Sen. (Rtd) Justice Stewart Madzayo held a meeting today with the Executive of County Football Associations led by their Chairperson Mr. Charles Njoroge. 

The Associations' Executive discussed various matters regarding gross irregularities in the Football Kenya Federation. 

The Committee's Chairperson advised the delegation to prepare a Petition at the earliest and submit it to the Senate for further execution following the due process. 

Live Coverage of Parliamentary Business in both Houses is set for a major upgrade, following a consensus between two key stakeholders on the urgency of the revamp.

The Parliamentary Service Commission Committee on Information and Public Communications and the Hon. David Nanok-chaired Committee on Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library deliberated on a short-term and long-term plan for the roll-out of the revamp.

Members of the National Assembly have intensified their calls to have National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) and National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) entrenched in the Constitution.

Led by  Hon. Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri) the lawmakers said the two funds have elevated children from disadvantaged backgrounds to get education.

“Through the NG-CDF, we have created doctors, engineers, pilots, administrators, and good citizens. If the NG-CDF was not there, we would not have created these people in our midst,” said Hon. Rindikiri.

The National Assembly Budget & Appropriations Committee (BAC) Chaired by Hon. Ndindi Nyoro has urged the Departmental Committee chairpersons tabling their reports to ensure that Departments within their Committees' purview invest in production rather than consumption as a long-term measure of reviving the country’s economy.

 Members of BAC said priority will be given to overlapping agenda for instance resettlement of the landless & processing of title deeds, and employment of Junior Secondary School (JSS)   teachers amongst others.

The Council of Governors (COG) wants the Government and Parliament to allocate Kshs 20billion to support urbanization and urban development from the exchequer.

The COG noted that there was huge financing gap for urban infrastructure and service provision adding that there was need for County Governments and the National Government to explore the other financing options envisaged in the PFM Act.

The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning has challenged the stakeholders appearing before the Committee to make submissions during the week-long public hearings on the Finance Bill, to provide alternative solutions even as they lament over the provisions that do not sit well with them.

The National Assembly Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs(JLAC)  met with the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr. Alfred Mutua to discuss the guidelines on the agreement on Double Taxation.
The CS, having been invited on short notice, requested the Vice-Chairperson Hon. Mwengi Mutuse (Kibwezi West) who was chairing the session to give him time to consult with the Attorney General and the CS for National Treasury and Economic Planning in order to develop an in-depth report on the issue. 

The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chaired by Hon. John Mbadi has heard how the State Department for Petroleum lost over Kshs.125 million through payment for defective gas cylinders.

A report by the Audit General tabled before the Committee indicated that the Department lost the money through making dubious payments to three firms for the supply of gas cylinders.