The National Assembly has unanimously approved Mr.  Isaac Kipkemboi Melly for appointment as a Commissioner in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). This was after the House debated a Report by the
Committee on Labour chaired by Hon. Eric Muchangi on the vetting of the nominee.

The Report indicated that Mr. Melly was eligible for the appointment to the State Office as he is a Kenyan citizen born in Uasin Gishu County, holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor of Business Management, and a Diploma in Business Management.

The National Assembly's Sports and Culture Committee, chaired by Hon. Daniel Wanyama, convened a meeting with musicians and performers from across the country. The objective of the meeting was to receive submissions from the musicians regarding their concerns about industry regulator Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO).

The Speaker of the National Assembly the Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula yesterday ruled to retain the Hon. Sabina Chege (nominated) in her position as the Deputy Minority Whip until such a time when the Minority Party will convey the appropriate communication on her replacement.

In a Communication to the House last evening, the Speaker faulted the Minority Party for providing incomplete communication to him regarding the matter, thus contravening the provisions of Standing Order 20A of the National Assembly Standing Orders. 

Members of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) have expressed their concern with National Lands Commission (NLC) Chairperson Mr. Gershom Otachi, who they said appeared before the Committee unprepared.

The Committee Chair, Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba, termed the documents tabled before them as shallow, simplistic, and brief. The Commission was appearing before the Committee to present a detailed report on the extent of Constitutional implementation, any impediments to the process of implementing the Constitution, and the way forward.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Hon. George Gitonga Murugara (Tharaka) held public hearings on the Penal Code Amendment Bill, (2022).

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

Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Mutigo Tea Factory, Bomet County 

The Bill, which is sponsored by Bomet County Sen. Hillary K. Sigei seeks to amend certain provisions in the Tea Act, 2020, to protect the tea growers’ proceeds

from mismanagement by factories. The Bill also aims to incentivise value addition of tea by exempting value added tea from payment of the tea levy. 

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Kirinyaga County Sen. James Kamau Murango holds public participation on

Tea (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Committee is currently receiving submissions from members of the public in Mogogosiek Tea Factory. 

The Bill, which is sponsored by Bomet County Sen. Hillary K. Sigei seeks to amend certain provisions in the Tea Act, 2020, to protect the tea growers’ proceeds

The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism Chaired by Kajiado Senator Lenku Ole Kanar Seki held a meeting today to consider Statements requests committed to the Committee.

The Committee has received responses on:

1. Statement on effects of government austerity measures on the hotel industry requested by Sen. Godfrey Osotsi. The response from the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning. 

Sen. Esther Okenyuri has sought a Statement from the Senate Committee on Education regarding payment of teachers who invigilated and marked the 2022 KCPE and KCSE exams.

The Senator wants the Committee to:-

1. Explain why the Kenya National Examination Council has not paid the teachers who supervised, invigilated and marked the 2022 KCPE and KCSE exams despite concluding the exercise more than four months ago.

2. State the steps KNEC intends to take to have the teachers aid without any further delays.

The Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa met yesterday at KICC to consider several agenda.

The committee considered the petition on the construction of a foot bridge at Chiromo, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi.

The committee also had a meeting with Petitioners on the Petition concerning access to title deeds for properties bought at Jamii Bora Estate, Kisaju, Kajiado County.

Members present were:

Sen. Enoch Wambua 

Sen. Mohamed Chute 

Sen. Dr. Lelegwe Ltumbesi

The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare Committee Chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor held a meeting today

 to consider the public participation matrixes on the following Bills before the Committee. 

1. Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2023

2. Heritage and Museums Bill, 2023 

The National Assembly’s Public Petition Committee heard submissions from the National Assembly’s Leader of Majority Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah and Leader of Minority Hon. Opiyo Wandayi with regard to a petition to amend the Consitution to establish the Offices of Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Offical Leader of Opposition. 

In his submission, Hon. Ichung’wah noted that having the Office of Leader of Opposition in place would institutionalize governance, strengthen oversight and deepen democracy. 

Members of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations have said there is a need for more structured engagements on African Union Affairs.

This was one of the recommendations adopted by Members in a Report of the Committee Delegation that participated in the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in February this year.

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has raised concerns about the alleged lack of tax compliance by the Geothermal Development Agency (GDA).

Under the leadership of Committee Vice-Chairperson Hon. Lillian Gogo (Rangwe), Members Invited the GDA leadership to shed light on audit queries raised by the Auditor General in the Agency's financial books between the 2017/2018 Financial Year and the 2020/2021 Financial Year.

Hon. Oku Kaunya, MP has directed the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu to provide information on the amount of public funds channeled towards the construction of classrooms in junior secondary schools countrywide. 

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned the Solicitor General Mr. Shadrack Mose over the loss of over Sh6 million in an irregular tender to host Cloud Services by the State Law Office.

A Report by the Auditor General tabled before the Committee that was examining the audited financial reports for the State Law Office for the Financial Year ending June 2022 indicated the public funds were lost in the project the Committee termed as a scam.

A proposal for the establishment of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in every primary institution in Kenya has gained support from Members of Parliament (MPs). This was after Hon. Geoffrey Ruku, MP (Mbeere North) moved a Motion on Wednesday, calling on the Ministry of Education to develop a comprehensive policy and funding plan for JSS.

Hon. Ruku while moving the Motion expressed concern that recent Government guidelines requiring JSS to be established in select primary schools had caused confusion and rendered classrooms for classes seven and eight redundant.

The Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, Hon. Peninah Malonza, has today informed the Senate that her Ministry intends to hire local influencers to promote the tourism sector in the country. 

Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has been elected the chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee that will investigate the proliferation of religious organisations and the circumstnances leading to the deaths of 110 people in Shakahola, Kilifi County.

Nominated Senator Shakila Abdalla was picked as the vice chair of the committee during the election conducted on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

The committee was established after senators adopted the motion brought to the House by Majority Whip Boni Khalwale, who is also the Kakamega Senator.

Roads CS Kipchumba Murkomen has said the National Government has stopped the construction of new road projects across the country due to the huge pending bill it inherited from the former regime.

The CS told the Senate on Wednesday the government is talking to development partners to shoulder part of the challenge of settling the bills before it thinks of new road projects.

“Part of the problem of pending bills is inhibiting us in creating new road projects,” said CS Murkomen when he appeared in the House to respond to questions raised by senators.