Trade, Industry & Cooperatives Committee engaged its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies last week on the proposed Expenditure Estimates for Financial Year 2023/24.

The Committee led by the Chairperson Hon. James Gakuyu sought information on whether the MDAs intend to complete existing projects before embarking on new ones as well as the possibility of the SAGAs under the Ministries collecting more Appropriations-in- Aid (A in A) to reduce the burden on the Exchequer.

The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, today held a meeting with the Petitioners of the above mentioned Petition who were led by Mr. Kimutai Kirui and the Commissioner of Insurance Mr. Godfrey Kiptum.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Kirinyaga County Sen. James Kamau Murango receiving submissions on The Cotton Industry Development Bill in Kitui County. 

The Committee paid a courtesy call the Deputy Governor, Kitui County H.E Augustine Kanani Wambua. Thereafter, the committee visited the Kitui Ginneries Ltd where they deliberated on issues affecting the development of the Cotton Industry kin Kitui and the country with the Managing Director, Mr. Taher Z. Zavery, then proceeded with the public participation held at KEFRI Hall. 

Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa held a meeting with Directors of Jamii Bora Trust in respect of petition concerning access to title deeds for properties bought at Jamii Bora Estate, Kisaju, Kajiado County. 

Ms. Sofia Ingrid Munro, the director of Jamii Bora Estate appeared before the Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing to explain why the residents of Jamii Bora Estate in Kisaju have not received their title deeds in spite of fully payment for the housing units. 

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water, and Irrigation concluded its Budget deliberations with the State Department for Water and Sanitation led by Cabinet Secretary (CS), Hon. Alice Wahome and her Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh.

The Committee led by Hon. Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East) questioned the CS on the Kenya Water Institute’s (KEWI) financial discrepancies. Members noted that Kshs125 million was disbursed to the Institution but only Kshs60 million was recorded in the Budget Estimates.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Fisheries Chaired by Hon. Kangogo Bowen met officials of the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation led by the Cabinet Secretary Hon. Alice Wahome, and the Principal Secretary for Irrigation Mr. Mugambi Gitonga. The team appeared before the Committee to provide clarifications and respond to questions concerning their submissions.

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has directed the Kenya Maritime Authority KMA) to submit a copy of the contract for the construction of the Agency's Headquarters in Mombasa.

The directive by the Committee Chaired by Hon. David Pkosing (Pokot South) followed revelations by the Auditor General that there had been three additional projects issued under the contract, without documentary evidence of approval as required by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act  (2015).

Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa held a meeting with Petitioners in respect of petition concerning access to title deeds for properties bought at Jamii Bora Estate, Kisaju, Kajiado County. 

The committee heard that the petitioners own 900 homes, 500 commercial units, churches, a Mosque, public primary and secondary school, public borehole and playgrounds.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Kirinyaga County Sen. James Kamau Murango receiving submissions on The Cotton Industry Development Bill in Mwingi North, Kitui County. 

The Bill, which is sponsored by Senator Beth Kalunda Syengo, seeks to promote a globally competitive cotton industry, while facilitating the production, value addition and processing of safe and healthy cotton and its products.

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget chaired by Mandera Senator Ali Roba held a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury Prof. Njuguna Ndung`u this Wednesday to deliberate on the County Allocation Revenue Bill, 2023.

Prof. Njuguna told the committee that there is need to allocate 425 million shillings for the Library Services, a function that has now been transferred to counties.

The ministry further noted that there are only 33 counties that have Library services out of the 47 counties.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, the Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang'ula, met with officials from the Electorate Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at his office in the Parliament Buildings.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Regional Integration supports the Ministry of East African Community (EAC), Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and Regional Development's plans to incorporate operationalization of virtual weighbridges in order to increase transparency and accountability in weighbridges operations.

In a consultative meeting with the Principal Secretary of EAC affairs, Mr. Abdi Dubart,  Members wanted to know how the Ministry was addressing delays and corruption at weighbridges.

Parliaments of Kenya and Colombia have agreed to initiate a working engagement that will foster and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

The engagement will look into and develop areas of possible cooperation between the two legislatures.

This was the agreement reached following a meeting between Senator Kathuri Murungi, the Deputy Speaker of the Senate of Kenya and Hon Dorina Hernandez Palomino, who is the President of the Chamber for Bolivar County.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Kirinyaga County Sen. James Kamau Murango receiving submissions on

The Coffee Bill, 2023, and Tea ( Amendment) Bill, 2023, in Embu County. 

The Committee paid a courtesy call to Embu County Governor H.E Cecily Mutitu Mbarire.

A sitting of the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and Garissa County executive failed aborted on Tuesday due to the delay by the county to submit response on the audit raised by the Office of the Auditor General.

The Committee had scheduled the meeting to interrogate Governor Nathif Jama on the issues raised by the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu in the County’s book of accounts for the 2019/20 financial year.