The Chief Executive Officer of American Tower Corporation Kenya, Mr Thomas Sonesson, has today informed a Committee of the Senate that Telkom Kenya needs to pay ATC Kenya Kshs650 million so that it can be reconnected to its telecommunication infrastructure. 

This comes after Telkom Kenya defaulted on its payment worth Kshs4 billion to ATC Kenya under their Master Lease Agreement for a tower sale and leaseback transaction, forcing the telecommunications infrastructure owner and provider to finance Telkom’s operations. 

As part of their internship programme, the Senate interns and attaches had the privilege to visit the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) on Wednesday 9th August 2023. 

The visit provided an invaluable opportunity for the interns and attaches to gain insights into the complex world of revenue allocation in Kenya. They learnt about the roles and functions of CRA as entrenched in the constitution and its engagements with the Senate and other stakeholders.

The Principal Secretary for Land, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, State Department for Public Works Joel Arumonyang` has told the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget that lack of adequate funding is among the challenges that have slowed or stopped completion of construction of 5 County Headquarters in the county.

There is an urgent need to innovate and offer new products to tourists visiting Kenya to boost the sector.

Through a statement on recovery of the Tourism Sector in the country, post the COVID-19 Pandemic 2020, submitted to the Senate, the Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri called for a new approach and deeper imagination by players in the tourism sector, the Senate being one of them.

She said although there has been an improvement in the sector, measures should be put in place to make the sector vibrant.

The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, has informed the Senate that the transfer of Teachers will be guided by the Provisions of the Code of Regulations and not the Delocalization Policy. 

The Delocalization Policy required the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to transfer teachers to teach in areas outside their place of origin in an attempt to deter conflict of interest in the administration of public schools. 

The journey to create a framework for the care and protection of pregnant children and child parents has kicked off courtesy of a Bill sponsored by the Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi.

The Bill aims at protecting the rights of pregnant children and additionally ensuring that needy child parents and their caretakers receive assistance from the National and County Governments so as to enable them return to school after delivering.