Narok Senator, Ledama Olekina has sought a statement from the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing on the proposed 3% monthly contribution towards the Government’s Affordable Housing Fund as per the Presidential directive issued n 23rd April 2023.

The Senator wants the Committee to;

1. Outline the Legislative framework put in place to support the deduction of 3% from the salaries of government employees to support the government affordable homes program.

The Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah has urged the Chairpersons of the Departmental Committees to be available during the long recess to scrutinize this year's Annual Estimates. 

Hon. Ichung’wah (Kikuyu) emphasized that the Annual Estimates tabled in the House recently  are the most crucial task ahead for Members. He further highlighted the importance of this task in the House's calendar and requested the Chairpersons to lead from the front and make themselves available. 

Senate Committee on Energy chaired by Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga met today to consider the progress of inquiry on high cost of electricity in Kenya. 

The committee has so far held meetings with seven Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and it is yet to meet Kenya Power. 

Kenya Power had excused itself due to the ongoing recruitment process of substantial CEO and Managing Director. 

Kenya Power has today announced the appointment of Dr. Joseph Sirior as substantive CEO to take over from the acting MD Eng. Muli.

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy (PIC CA&E) has invited the Office of the Solicitor General to a meeting to shed light on the delayed winding up of the Kenya Schools of Monetary Studies.

The Committee Chair Hon. David Pkosing (Pokot South) issued the directive when Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Dr. Patrick Njoroge appeared before Members to respond to queries raised by the Auditor General on CBK's audited accounts for 2018/2019 to 2020/2021 Financial Years.

The National Assembly has given its support to a Bill aimed at regulating overseas medical referrals to prevent the abuse and exploitation of patients.

The Health (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend current health laws and obligate the Ministry of Health to develop policies that guide the referral of patients from one facility to another.

The National Assembly  Deputy Speaker, Hon. Gladys Boss, attended the  International Parliamentarians Panel for Freedom of Religion, or Belief (IPPFoRB) Conference in Nairobi.

The Conference whose overarching theme is “Leave No One Behind” is used to promote freedom of religion or belief in the advancement of human flourishing and just societies and is the central transformative promise of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). 

Members of the National Assembly have asked the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to develop and legislate laws that will facilitate the Africa Free Trade Zone to enable the African continent to trade internally without going out of Africa.

According to the lawmakers, a Free Trade Zone is one of the many tools that African countries could use to spur growth. 

Embu County Senator, Alexander Mundigi has requested for a statement in Senate on the destruction of crops by Wildlife in Embu County.

The Senator wants the Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources to:-

1. Explain the measures being taken to contain elephants that have been roaming within the farmlands of Machang'a village near Kamburu Dam in Mavuria Ward, Mbeere South Constituency, Embu County.

Nandi County Senator, Samson Cherarkey has requested for a statement in Senate on the operations and financial status of Kenya Airways. 

The Senator requested the Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism to:-

1. Apprise the Senate on the current operational and financial status of Kenya Airways, stating measures if any, to address significant losses by the airline which stand at Kshs. 38.26billion by December, 2022.

The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism Chaired by Kajiado Senator Lenku Ole Kanar Seki held a meeting today to consider pre-publication scrutiny of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood) Bill, 2023. 

Sponsored by Sen. Esther Okenyuri, the Bill seeks to achieve the following objectives by providing a standard framework for-

1. Entrenching the right to informal trading;regulation of informal trading including areas for the conduct of such trade and licensing by counties. 

The Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare led by Sen. Miraj Abdullahi held a meeting 

today with the Governor of Vihiga County to receive his response on a Statement sought by Vihiga County Senator Godfrey Osotsi on Human Resource Audit Process in Vihiga County.

Senate had requested the Governor to;

1. Provide reasons for the inordinate delay in finalizing an Audit process on Salaries for both employees on manual and Integrated Payroll and Personnel Database (IPPD) payrolls particularly for the month of September 2021

Sen. Hamida Kibwana has requested for a statement in Senate on Shortage of Oxygen in Kenya's emergency care facilities.

The Senator requests the Senate Committee on Health to:-

Shed light on reports that over 30% of emergency care centre's in the country have no regular supply of oxygen, that close to 90% of those with oxygen did not have piped oxygen in the emergency department or that which is delivered directly from the tanks to the patient and the estimated cost of providing adequate oxygen supply to all public hospitals and emergency care facilities in the country. 

Five Cabinet Secretaries are slated to appear before the Senate this Wednesday to respond to questions from Senators.

Cabinet Secretaries for Roads and Transport, Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage,Education,Lands ,Public Works, Housing and Urban Development and Interior and National Administration will appear before Senate pursuant Standing Orders 51A (5) at 9.30am.

Two Cabinet Secretaries set to appear before the National Assembly on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

Hon. Ezekiel Machogu,  the Cabinet Secretary for Education is expected to respond to questions regarding the funds channeled towards the construction of Junior Secondary Schools across the country, the introduction of a school feeding program, plans for the smooth transition of learners from Grade 7 to Junior Secondary School, and the plight of Government-sponsored students undertaking their studies in Cuba.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has asked the national government to deploy helicopters to boost the rescue efforts of the victims of Paul Mackenzie cult in Shakahola village.

The Speaker hailed the decision by the ministry of interior to use drones for the exercise, describing as an important step in the exercise.

But he pointed out that choppers are best suited for the task because they can land and rescue victims once they are spotted.

"I want to ask the Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to go beyond drones and avail helicopters for the rescue mission," he said.

The National Assembly Budget & Appropriations Committee (BAC) unanimously approved legislative proposals to amend existing Bills. Led by the Committee Vice Chairperson Hon. Mary Emaase, the Committee approved; the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill (2023) by Hon. Dr. Beatrice Adagala, Pensions (Amendment) Bill, (2023) by Hon. Tandaza Sawa, Political Parties (Amendment) Bill (2022) by Hon. Wanami Wamboka, Kenya Scouts (Amendment) Bill (2022) by Hon.

Chairperson of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Hon. Nelson Koech has congratulated the newly appointed Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Lt. Gen. Francis Ogolla.

Hon. Koech described Lt. Gen. Ogolla's promotion to the helm of the Kenyan Military from his previous rank as Vice-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces as "professionally, intellectually and most solidly well deserved".

The current debt stock is projected to range above Kshs. 9.4 trillion by June this year, and cross the Kshs. 10 trillion debt ceiling by June 2024. This is according to a 2023 Public Finance Management Regulation Amendments report presented by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to the National Assembly Public Debt and Privatisation Committee Chaired by Balambala MP Hon. Abdi Shurie.