The Senate Committee on Public Investment and Special Funds, headed by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, convened a meeting today, querying Turkana County Governor, Jeremiah Ekamais Lomorukai, regarding the Auditor General's report on the Lodwar Water and Sanitation Company Limited's (LOWASCO) financial statements for the 2018-21 fiscal years.

Kenyans among them P1 teachers have petitioned the Senate concerning salary arrears for P1 teachers with `A` level academic qualification from 1996 to 2010.

Ms. Ruth Kabui and other P1 teachers are praying that the Senate intervenes in the matter with a view to recommending to the National Treasury and Economic Planning to factor in the budget to enable payment of salary arrears to the teachers.

The Senate will have a sitting today afternoon at 2.30pm in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings. Follow the link for a detailed Order Paper #SenateLive #2ndSession #4thSenate #13thParliament http://www.parliament.go.ke/the-senate/house-business/order-paper

The National Assembly Committee on Budget & Appropriations have commenced the exercise of interrogating Departmental Committee Chairpersons on the 2023/24 Budget Estimates on Revenue & Expenditure for Ministries, Departments and Agencies under each Committee's purview.

Pension provision for Kenya's county workers hangs in the balance as many counties fail to remit pension contributions to CPF Financial Services Ltd. The shortfall, revealed by CPF/LapTrust's MD Mr. Hosea Kili during a Senate Committee on Public Investment and Special Funds meeting led by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, stands at a staggering Kshs 36,284,729,685 as of March 2023. 

The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning has commenced week-long public hearings on the Finance Bill, 2023. The Bill has a timeline of approval of 30th June to coincide with the enactment of the Appropriation Law, 2023.

The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has directed Kisii Governor Simba Arati to take urgent steps and align the county’s Human Resource function to his vision.

The Committee’s chairman Moses Kajwang’ said that there is serious misalignment between the vision of the governor and those of the directorate of human resources, which he observed has rendered the county dysfunctional in terms of personnel.

Senator Kajwang issued the directive when the governor appeared before the Committee to discuss the Human resource establishment of the county on Monday.

The National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee has retreated to consider submissions on Revenue and Expenditure Estimates from Ministries, Departments and Agency's under its oversight purview.

The Committee Chaired by Hon. Nelson Koech oversees the Ministry of Defence, that of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy has interrogated the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on recent re-advertisement of a Contract that is subject to an ongoing probe.

Under the leadership of Chairperson Hon. David Pkosing, Members asked KRA to explain why it had put out a notice calling for expression of interest on a contract which is subject of an audit query before the Committee.

Housing Principal Secretary, Charles Hinga told the Senate committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa, that the Kenyan Government is committed to build 200 housing units per constituency in the 2023/24 financial year beginning June, 2023.

The Principal Secretary said that every urban area has a slum, he further told the committee that according to 2019 census, we have 1411 informal settlements in Kenya.

The Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Technology, led by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang’, retreated to Kiambu County today to consider and adopt its report to the House on the Konza Technopolis Bill, 2023 (Senate Bills No. 2 of 2023). 

While deliberating on the report, the Members of the Committee considered the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy’s version of the Bill, the public participation combined matrix, and the committee stage amendments. 

Senate Committee on Roads and Transportation and Housing chaired by Kiambu Senator Karungo Thangwa is currently meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Lands and Housing, Zachariah Njeru and Principal Secretary, Charles Hinga to deliberate on affordable housing in Kenya.

The Ministry officials are expected to make presentations on the concept of Affordable Housing Programme, the role of National Government and private sector and appropriate building technologies approved for the programme. 

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Kirinyaga County Sen. James Kamau Murango receiving submissions on The Cotton Industry Development Bill in Busia County. 

The Bill, which is sponsored by Senator Beth Kalunda Syengo, seeks to promote a globally competitive cotton industry, while facilitating the production, value addition and processing of safe and healthy cotton and its products.

The Budget & Appropriations Committee (BAC) is engaged in public hearings in 16 Counties to collect the views and memoranda on the 2023/24 Budget Estimates.

Members of the Budget & Appropriations Committee have been divided into  10 teams who will cover Marsabit, Siaya, Busia, Bomet, Kisii, Kajiado, Lamu, Tana River, Bungoma, West Pokot, Garissa, Kitui, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu counties.