The Tea (Amendment) Bill, (Senate Bill No 1 of 2023) has been undergone its first reading in the National Assembly.

The principal objective of the Bill is to amend certain provisions in the Tea Act, 2020 to protect the tea growers’ proceeds from mismanagement by factories.

The Bill also aims to incentivize value addition of tea by exempting value added tea from payment of the tea levy.

Members of the National Assembly Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee visited the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang'ata Constituency as part of their mandate of budget implementation oversight of agencies under the Committee's purview.

The Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Bill, 2023, has been introduced in the National Assembly.

The Bill sponsored by Sen. Beatrice Ogolla in the Senate and co-sponsored by the Committee of Health in the National Assembly seeks to enhance the health rights and quality of care for mothers, newborns, and children across Kenya.

If enacted a coordinated healthcare system focusing on reducing maternal and child mortality and addressing health disparities among women and children nationwide would be established.

𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢 _𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚

𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

The exact number of refugees in Kenya remains unknown, a situation revealed during a high-level forum on refugee affairs organized by the National Assembly's Regional Development Committee in Mombasa.

During the forum, the Commissioner for Refugee Affairs, Mr. John Burugu, disclosed that the country's current refugee database is managed solely by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with data stored in Hungary.

The Mediation Committee on the Division of Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2024, convened on Thursday, November 7, 2024, to address the funding dispute between the National Assembly and the Senate.

The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has outlined diplomatic and security measures to protect fishermen from harassment and detainment of by Ugandan authorities at the Kenya-Uganda border areas of Lake Victoria.

Refugee Host Communities of Kakuma (Turkana Cunty) and Dadaab (Garissa County) Refugee Camps have decried ‘unfair’ treatment due to scarcity of resources.

Regional Development Committee has heard that host communities for refugees living in the country are deprived off basic needs.

The National Assembly has given its nod to the Kenya Drugs Authority Bill (2022), which establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation of health products and technologies in Kenya.

The Bill establishes the Kenya Health Products and Technologies Regulatory Authority (KHPTA). The authority will replace the Kenya Drugs Authority and will have a broader mandate, overseeing a wider range of health products including medical devices, radiopharmaceuticals, herbal medicines, cosmetics, clinical trials, and digital health technologies.

The National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations has expressed support for the Kenya Foreign Policy 2024, urging the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to prioritize diaspora engagement and align foreign policy strategies with national interests.

𝐒𝐲𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

Members of the National Assembly have paid tribute to former Alego Usoga MP, Hon. Peter Oloo Aringo who passed away on Friday the 1st of November, 2024 while undergoing treatment at a Hospital in Nairobi. 

This follows a general statement made by the current Alego Usoga MP, Hon. Samuel Atandi commemorating the achievements of the late legislator who served for 25 years as a Member of Parliament for two stints between 1974–1988 and 1997–2002.  

A watchdog Committee of the Senate has faulted Governor Fatuma Achani of making adjustments to the approved budget of Kwale County Executive without seeking the authority of the people as required by the law.

The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) also raised concern over a litany of gaps in the county’s budgeting process adding that the Governor has done little to raise the county’s own source revenue since she seized power in 2022.

The National Assembly is set to resume sittings tomorrow, Tuesday, November 5, 2024 for the Third Part of the Third Session following a two week working recess.

Top on the agenda are several Bills including the Land Control Bill, 2023 sponsored by Hon. (Dr.) Wilberforce Oundo, which seeks to regulate land use.

Also to be considered is the Kenya Roads Board (Amendment) Bill, 2024 which proposes amendments to the Kenya Roads Board Act, to enhance the Board’s capacity to manage and maintain road infrastructure.

The National Assembly Plenary has a full in-tray as sittings resume. 

To catch up on this and more from last week’s events, check out the 77th Edition of our 𝑩𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝑾𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒍𝒚 publication through the link;

https://online.pubhtml5.com/spbae/ubbe/

H.E. Dr. William Ruto, has assented to the Sugar Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 34 of 2022) which seeks to revitalize the sector, enhancing growth, regulation, and support for cane farmers nationwide.

Sponsored by Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe and co-sponsored by Sen. David Wakoli, the Bill was considered by both Houses and approved by the National Assembly on Friday, 18th October 2024, and by the Senate on 29th October, 2024.

The Bill now enacted into law seeks to provide a framework for the regulation, development, and promotion of the sugar industry.

In a decisive blow to proposed constitutional reforms, the Senate Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights has recommended the rejection of a controversial bill that sought to extend the terms of elected officials from five to seven years.

The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, sponsored by Senator Samson Cherarkey, faced public opposition during the consultation phase, with 99.99% of submissions expressing strong disapproval.

In a spirited exchange during a public participation forum on the Sports Amendment Bill, 2024, the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare pushed back against a proposal by Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, suggesting that counties independently manage the establishment of sports academies without a statutory framework. Sponsored by Senators Prof. Tom Ojienda (Kisumu) and Raphael Chimera, the Bill seeks to establish county sports academies nationwide and includes protections against abuse and exploitation of minors in sports.