A note of optimism coloured Thursday’s meeting of the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare as senators, pensioners and Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) officials closed ranks around a rescue plan to end years of delayed payments to Kenya Railways retirees.

Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, Hon. Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku, appeared before the Senate to respond to questions raised by Senator Karen Nyamu (Nominated) on the Government’s plan to commercialize the National Youth Service (NYS). The session focused on youth employment creation, skills development, and governance reforms within the Service.

The Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture and Children Services, Hanna Wendot Cheptumo appeared before the Senate plenary this Wednesday to answer questions concerning persistent underfunding and operational inefficiencies within her ministry, particularly in the newly established State Department for Children Services. The session, which was prompted by a set of questions from the Nominated Senator Miraj Abdilahi, drew considerable attention from lawmakers keen to understand how the government intends to improve the welfare and protection of Kenya’s children.

The Senate Standing Committee on Energy, chaired by Senator William Kisang (Elgeyo Marakwet), today held a consultative meeting with the management of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) at the Authority’s headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi.

The debate over the scope of national parastatals in the devolved era came to a head today as the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations. 

REREC, currently ranked as the top national body performing functions deemed devolved by the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), faced intense scrutiny regarding its continued involvement in last-mile power connection across counties.