Cabinet Secretary of Roads and Transport Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Soipan Tuya and Cabinet Secretary of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Peninah Malonza appeared today before joint Senate Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Chaired by Nyandarua Senator Sen. John Methu and Committee on Roads, Transport and Housing Chaired by Kiambu Senator Sen.

The  National Assembly Public Petitions Committee Chaired by Hon. Nimrod Mbai has considered two petitions; one on ward-based perennial water shortage solutions and the other proposing enactment of legislation on enforced disappearances.

Appearing before the Committee Kituo cha Sheria Director, Dr. Annette Mbogoh, proposed the enactment of legislation on enforced disappearances.

National Assembly Committee on Members Services and Facilities chaired by Hon. (Dr.) Wachira Karani last week undertook a tour of selected constituencies and county MPs' offices. During the tour  staff working for Members in constituency offices asked the Committee to recommend for their training on Parliamentary duties, to enable them discharge their duties effectively.

The staff told Members that since they were employed they have not been inducted on parliamentary work and that, to understand their roles better training is key. 

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) wants the Auditor General to audit the Sh15 billion allocated to the Agriculture Ministry for the fertilizer subsidy programme.

Addressing the press at the Parliament Building Chairperson Hon John Mbadi asked the Auditor General Ms. Nancy Gathungu to conduct a forensic audit of the funds following claims of misappropriation of the money.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations has toured Uhuru Gardens to inspect ongoing works undertaken by the Kenya Defence Forces to establish a National Monument and Museum at the historical site.

The facility sits on a 68-acre parcel of land; a hallowed ground where the Union Jack (British flag) was first lowered and the Kenyan flag hoisted, with the  National Anthem being sung for the first time on December 12, 1963.

Senate Committee on Energy chaired by Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga today held a meeting with Triumph Power Generating Company Limited to review power purchase agreement with Kenya Power Limited Company.

Triumph Power CEO Mr. Siva Shankar Kota said that Kenya Power utilizes only 85 percent of the power they generate every month and that the Triumph Power Plant is fired by Heavy Fuel Oil which means it is a thermal oil plant.

Nandi County Sen. Cherarkey Samson Kiprotich, MP, is seeking a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism on the closure and re-opening of China Square. 

The Senator wants the committee to;

1. Cause an investigation into the closure and later re-opening of China Square along the Thika Superhighway. 

2. Table the report by Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Authority on the alleged counterfeit goods that were reportedly being sold by China Square;

Two Cabinet Secretaries are set to appear in the National Assembly on April 19, 2023, to respond to Members' Questions. The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Hon. Sopian Tuya, and the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen,EGH, will be addressing related to their respective fields.

The National Assembly Agriculture and Livestock Committee of Kenya has begun reviewing the Sugar Bill, 2022. In this regard, the Committee met with sugar millers and farmers to collect their views on the proposed legislation.

The National Assembly Select Committee on Public Petitions met today to consider a petition by Hon. Tom Odege (Nyatike).

During the session chaired by Hon. Ernest Kagesi (Vihiga), the petitioners presented their concerns regarding the delayed adjudication and settlement of squatters following the expiration of the lease of Macalder Mines Ltd. land in Nyatike.

Members inquired why the squatters should receive the land, considering they are not the rightful owners of the property.

Members of the National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy have raised concerns about the future of local fuel prices, ahead of the monthly review of the prices by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on March 14.

The concerns were raised by the Hon. David Pkosing -led Committee during a meeting convened to examine the Authority's audited accounts between FY 2016/17 to 2020/2021. 

Senator George Mbugua seeks a statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on the legal structure and operations of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK).

The Senator wants the Committee to;

1. State the respective roles of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) and the National Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities.

2. Clarify the legal basis for the establishment of the National Fund for the Disabled of Kenya (NFDK) and consequent formulation of its Regulations.

The Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Technology has today made a statement on the Floor of the House regarding its activities for the period commencing 4th October 2022 to date. 

In a statement read by the Chairperson and Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang on the Floor of the House, the Committee informed the Senate that it held a total of twenty-seven sittings during the period under review, during which it considered one Legislative Proposal, two Bills, six Statements and one inquiry. 

Kitui county Senator Sen. Enoch Wambua has requested a Statement pursuant to Standing Order 53(1), to seek a statement from the standing Committee on Finance and Budget regarding the status of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) collections over the last six months.

Kitui Senator in his statement request the Committee to state the amount of revenue collected by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for the period October, 2022 to March, 2023; Outline how much of this revenue the Government has paid out in terms of debt (both internal and external) during the said period.

The Kenya Seed Company through its Managing Director, Mr. Fred Oloibe has requested for an additional 8000 hectares of land to enhance seed production.

This follows an inspection visit by the National Assembly Committee on Agriculture & Livestock chaired by Dr. John Mutunga.

The legislators accompanied by the Kenya Seed Company Limited MD, Mr. Fred Oloibe toured the facilities and farms in Trans-Nzoia County as part of the Committee's mandate in budget implementation oversight.

A Parliamentary Committee has inspected the Agriculture Development Corporation Livestock Genetics Centre in Endebess Constituency.

Lawmakers toured the Semen Processing Laboratory, various pedigree breeds of bulls and the liquid nitrogen production plant.

West Pokot Senator, Julius Murgor Recha, the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare has today made a Statement in Senate on the Committees activities for the period commencing 8th September 2022 to 11th April 2023.

The chairperson while tabling the statement reported that during the period under review, the Committee held a total of fifty (50) sittings, considered three (3) Bills, three (3) Petitions and twenty-two (22) Statements. The Committee also considered two (2) legislative proposals.  

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has said that democracy cannot thrive in the absence of the rule of law.

The Speaker said the entrenchment of the rule of law in politics and systems of governance is a key element in cushioning democracy on the continent.

“If the rule of law reigns, democracy thrives,” Speaker Kingi said, adding failure to respect the rule of law undermines democracy.

The Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has considered various statements sought by the Senators for the period commencing from 29th September 2022 to 31st March 2023.