The Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism chaired by Sen. Lenku Ole Kanar Seki of Kajiado County held a meeting today to elect the Committee’s Vice Chairperson. This position has been vacant following the resignation of Sen. Kipchumba Murkomen who was appointed the Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport and Public Works. Sen. Esther Okenyuri was elected to the position of Vice Chairperson unopposed.

In her maiden speech, the Vice Chairperson undertook to work in synergy with the Chairperson and all members of the Committee to excellently advance its mandate.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has raised alarm over high number of stalled state-initiated projects across the country.  

Chairperson Hon John Mbadi said reports tabled before the Committee indicated that most projects had stalled despite consuming millions of tax payers money.

"We have established that some of the projects have to incur additional cost due to breach of contractual agreement between the government and contractors," said the chairperson.

The government of the Arab Republic of Egypt will support Kenya’s plans in the water and irrigation sectors. 

The pledge was made by the Egyptian Minister for Irrigation and Water Resources, H.E. Dr. Hani Sawilam this morning when he visited the National Assembly. Dr. Sawilam is in the country on a 2-day visit and is expected to participate in the Regional Nile Day celebration scheduled to take place on 22nd February 2023, as well as hold bilateral meetings with officials in Nairobi. 

The Minister who was accompanied by

The Kenya Women Senators (KEWOSA) jointly with the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) will be running a week long campaign starting today, Tuesday 21st February 2023.

 The campaign will run for a week, which will entail Supporting Local Designers. The Women Members of Parliament will wear outfits made by their local designers for all Parliamentary sessions this week.

The campaign seeks to support the local industries by consuming locally produced goods and services.

The Clerk of the National Assembly Mr. Samuel Njoroge and the Director, Parliamentary and County Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Ambassador Samuel Gitonga have agreed to enhance working relations in a bid to facilitate Members of the National Assembly better.

Speaker Amason Kingi today hosted Australian Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Tim Witts who is in Kenya on official tour.

The two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest affecting the two countries, ranging from gender parity, security and education exchange programmes.

Speaker Kingi said although gender principle is enshrined in the constitution, effecting the constitutional principle of two thirds rule is not easy.

"We haven't as a country hit the constitutional threshold on gender parity," the Speaker told the Assistant Minister.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will not tolerate unpreparedness among Principal Secretaries who appear before it to answer audit queries.

Chairperson Hon. John Mbadi said the habit, has unnecessarily occasioned postponement of committee sittings and must stop.

"The Committee will no longer be lenient to Principal Secretaries (PSs) who appear before it and ask for more time to prepare their response to audit queries. We will be very strict and sanction such officers," warned Hon Mbadi.

The Rt. Hon. Speaker of the Senate, Hon. Amason Kingi, EGH, MP, visited the home of a deceased Senior Senate staffer, Mr. Wellingtone Namenge, to condole with the family and encourage them.

In attendance was the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Jeremiah Nyegenye, CBS, and members of the Funeral Planning Committee.

During his visit, the Rt. Hon. Speaker pledged to pay the remainder of Mr. Wellingtone's youngest son school fees. His name is Wesley Namenge, he is in Form 3 at Mang’u High School. 

As lawmakers resume for the second session of the 13th Parliament, the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture has this morning held a meeting to adopt a working framework on the busy schedule ahead. 

Earlier today, the Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare chaired by Sen. Julius Murgor Recha held a meeting whose main Agenda was to consider and adopt the report of the committees visit to Saudi Arabia on Labour Migration.

The delegation recommended that a fresh vetting of all private recruitment agencies to be carried out.

Review vetting and accreditation mechanisms for private agencies,

The County Assembly of Isiolo has admitted that it violated the law when it failed to constitute an audit committee as required by the law.

Speaker Mohamed Roba told the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) of the Senate that the Assembly was in breach of the law in line with the findings of the office of the Auditor General on the absence of the committee.

Kenyan and Austrian legislatures are set to establish Parliamentary collaboration geared towards enhancing the already flourishing ties between the Nairobi and Vienna. This was revealed during a meeting between the Members of the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, and a delegation from the Austrian Parliament, who are in the country on official visit.

Earlier today, the County Public Accounts Committee held a meeting with Vihiga Governor Wilbur Ottichilo to look into the County's financial accounts for the 2019/20 Financial year.

At the meeting, the governor defended his administration over questions raised by the Auditor General that it is operating too many bank accounts in which transactions were being conducted outside IFMIS.

Amason Kingi is expected to deliver a ruling on the decision by a section of political parties within Azimio Coalition to institute changes to the minority leadership.

Speaker Kingi offered to rule on the matter after he was prevailed upon by Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo.

Senator Madzayo had submitted a letter to the Speaker proposing to remove Minority Whip Fatuma Dullo, replacing her with her deputy Ledama ole Kina. 

The letter also proposes to elevate Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna to the position of deputy Minority Whip.

The National Assembly Committees are currently engaged in consultative forums with different stakeholders to deliberate on the first Supplementary Budget Estimates for the  Financial Year ending June 30, 2023. The meetings which commenced last week have seen top government officials appear before Parliamentary Committees to review the Supplementary Estimates for their Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

A Report on the proposed appointment of former Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama as a Member of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) has been tabled in the National Assembly..

The Report was tabled yesterday in accordance with the provisions of Article 127 of the Constitution and section 9 of the Parliamentary Service Act, 2019, that requires Parliament to appoint a person (male) as a Member of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).

Senate will have its second sitting of the 2nd Session of the 4th Senate at 2.30pm in Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings. #SenateLive #4thSenate #13thParliament

National Assembly Speaker the Rt. Hon. Moses Wetang'ula has called on the Members of the National Assembly to rise to the occasion and transact as much business as possible during the Second Session of the 13th Parliament in the greater interest of the Kenyan people.

The Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC) is set to conduct vetting and approval hearings for the nominee of the position of Solicitor-General, Hon. Shadrack John Mose. This follows the appointment of the former Kitutu Masaba MP by H.E. President (Dr.) William Ruto.

The National Assembly is set to resume from the long recess on Tuesday 14th February 2023, to a busy Second Session of the 13th Parliament. 

The session is set to benefit from the strengthened and enhanced knowledge on parliamentary practices and procedures imparted on the lawmakers during the recent Induction of House Committees and the Post-Election Seminar co-hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in Mombasa, Kenya two weeks ago.