The National Assembly  Committee on Blue Economy led by the Chairperson Hon. David Bowen (Marakwet East) conducted an inspection visit to Liwatoni, Shimoni, and Kibuyuni in Mombasa County.  The objective of the visit was to assess the progress of ongoing projects in the region and identify any challenges hindering their successful implementation.

The inquiry into the Telkom buyback resumed this morning with one of the key witnesses into the probe that has been running for several weeks taking the witness stand before the Joint-sitting of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, and the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.

The meeting, attended by top NIS officials led by Major Gen. Philip Kameru, sought to enhance Committee Members' understanding of the NIS mandate and to review the Service's Budget implementation status for the first three quarters of Financial Year 2022/23.

Committee Vice-Chair Hon. Bashir Abdullah, who presided over the meeting rooted for deeper engagements with the Service for proper facilitation by the Committee including adequate budgetary allocation.

The National Assembly’s Trade, Industry & Cooperatives Committee inspected the Naivasha Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as part of its routine oversight. SEZ is an agency within the State Department for Investment Promotion which is under  the Committee’s purview. 

Led by the Committee Chairperson, Hon. James Mwangi Gakuya, the Committee inspected the Industrial Park, Inland Container Depot, Standard Gauge Railway Marshalling Yard, Water Reservoir and Distribution systems, Logistics Zone, Power Substations, Dry Ports for Partnering States and different sites owned by investors.

The Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare led by the Vice Chair Sen. George Mungai Mbugua today visited to the County of Kisii. 

The Committee paid a courtesy call to the Office of the Governor, H.E. Paul Simba Arati, and later proceeded to the County Assembly where it held a consultative meeting with the Kisii County Assembly Committee on Labour and Social Services.

Members of the National Assembly have promised  to develop a bi-partisan approach to realizing the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule for elective positions which has  continued to stall in Parliament.

Leader of the Majority in the National Assembly Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu) said as a House they have embarked on the process of realizing the two-thirds gender rule, in terms of representation in this national Assembly, adding that Parliament will work with all women.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation  vetted former Rangwe Member of Parliament Hon. Martin Otieno Ogindo for the position of Chairperson the Kenya Fish Marketing Authority (KFMA).

The Committee Chaired by Hon. Kangogo Bowen, sought to assess Hon. Ogindo's knowledge of the blue economy sector and his understanding of the challenges and opportunities available to Kenyans.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has handed over the presidency of the Forum of the Parliaments of International Conference on the Great Lakes Region during a function in Juba, South Sudan.

Speaker Kingi handed over the mantle to Rt Hon Jemma Nunu Kumba, who is the Speaker of the Transitional National Legislature of the Republic of South Sudan.

The handing over ceremony took place at the end of the 13th Plenary Assembly of FP-ICGLR that was held in Juba, South Sudan. 

The Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Jeremiah Nyegenye, CBS earlier today opened an induction workshop for the new staff in the leadership offices in the Senate held at Pride Inn Plaza, Signature Mall in Athi River.

The theme of the workshop is ‘Induction as a toolkit for service delivery in a Legislature’.

In his opening remarks, the Clerk congratulated the officers for securing such a great opportunity to serve in the leadership offices of the Senate. 

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy met to examine the audited accounts of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for Financial Years 2015/2016 to 2020/2021.

The Committee chaired by Pokot South MP Hon. David Pkosing cross-examined KRA officials led by Acting Commissioner General Ms. Risper Simiyu on several audit queries raised by the Auditor-General in the years under review. 

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi on Thursday, March 31, 2023, presided over the official opening of the 13th Assembly of Speakers of the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) in Juba, South Sudan.

FP-ICGLR was formed on December 4th, 2008 in Kigali, the Republic of Rwanda and has remained focused on implementing the Great Lakes Region’s Pact on Security, Stability and Development, signed on December 15th, 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers’ Committee and the Departmental Committee on Labour this morning jointly hosted the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour of the Republic of South Africa which is in the country for a one-week study tour.

Making their opening remarks during the 2-hour engagement characterized by sharing of experiences on Labour and Employment matters, Committee Co-Chairs Hon. Eric Muchangi (Runyejes) and Hon. Lydia Haika Mizighi, lauded the lawmakers for choosing Kenya as their benchmark destination.

The Budget and Appropriations Committee chaired by Hon. Ndindi Nyoro has received proposed amendments to various Bills.

In a proposal to amend the Health Act, Hon. Njeri Maina (Kirinyaga) wants public and private hospitals to be barred from detaining  patients or bodies for non-payment of hospital bills. 

Hon. Maina is seeking a new section which prohibits detention of patients, deceased bodies and patients for failing to pay medical bills after being discharged to the Health Act (2017).

The National Assembly Regional Integration  Committee carried out inspection visits to various projects in Mombasa County and other regions in the coastal area.

The delegation led by, Hon. David Ochieng (Ugenya), visited Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in Mombasa County, Mariakani Weighbridge in Kilifi County and Holili One Stop Border Post in Taita Taveta County.

The process of recruiting a Chairperson and Six Commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is taking shape as the Selection Panel commenced the long listing process of applications.

The IEBC Selection Panel started the long listing process for applicants for the position of Chairperson and the Six Commissioners yesterday after expiry on the one month period for application for the positions. 

The Panel's Chairperson, Dr Nelson Makanda, launched the exercise that is being undertaken by members of the Secretariat.

The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education is this week holding meetings with select Universities, and Technical & Vocational Training Institutions in the Central region to deliberate on Audit Queries raised by the Reports of the Auditor General.

Nine hundred and twenty five Kenyans have applied for the position of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioners, a recruiting Panel has announced.

The IEBC Selection Panel Chairperson Dr. Nelson Makanda said the Electoral body's position of Chairperson attracted 25 applicants by close of applications deadline.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN MOURNING

The National Assembly is mourning the demise of Banissa MP Hon. Kulow Maalim Hassan.

Hon. Hasan passed on this morning at Aga Khan Hospital following a grisly road accident in Nairobi on Saturday.

The MP was serving his second term as Member for Banissa Constituency. He served in Public Accounts Committee and the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.