The Senate Board of Management, led by The Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Jeremiah Nyegenye, visited the Turkana County Assembly in a bid to inspect the level of preparedness and plans on the ground in readiness to hold the Senate Plenary and Committee sittings dubbed Senate Mashinani, scheduled from the 25th to 29th September, 2023.

It was a solemn but hopeful day at the August 7th Memorial Park in Nairobi when the Senate Ad Hoc Committee that is Pushing for Compensation to the Kenyan Victims of the 1998 US Embassy Bombing attended the Victims Prayer Day. 

The Ad Hoc Committee attended the event to meet with all the Victims of the terrorist attack and listen to their side of the story, before embarking on a visit to the United States of America to meet with the Members of the US Congress and the Senate to lobby for their compensation. 

The Senate Committee on Information, Communication and Technology, led by the Chairperson Senator Allan Chesang, has resolved to conduct an inquiry into the operations of World Coin’s cryptocurrency project in Kenya. 

This comes following a public outcry on the blockchain company’s operations in the country and the contradicting statements given by the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy and the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government about the same. 

Marsabit County Senator Mohamed Chute sought a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Energy on the status of electricity connections in various parts of Marsabit County.

Today, the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds (CPISFC), chaired by Senator Godfrey Osotsi, convened to address concerns outlined in the Auditor General's Report regarding Nzoia Water and Sewerage Company Limited's Financial Statements for the financial years 2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021. In attendance was Bungoma County Governor Kenneth Lusaka, who responded to the raised questions.

The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism has promised to engage the leadership of the the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) on ways they can improve trade and investments in the counties.

At a meeting between the two, the Committee, which is chaired by Sen. Lenku ole Kanar Seki, promised to involve KNCCI in deliberations concerning the National and County business and economic outlook.

Hon. Mithika Linturi, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development has informed Lawmakers that 500,436 farmers in 40 counties have accessed 3,302,683 bags of subsidised fertiliser.

In an appearance before the Members of the National Assembly to respond to Questions, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Mithika Linturi was put to task by Legislators. 

Keiyo South MP, Hon. Gideon Kimaiyo raised concerns regarding the cost of top-dressing CAN fertilizer and its distribution, prompting insightful responses from government officials.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula has officially declared the vacancy for the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the 13th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Kenyan Chapter membership.

The Public Debt and Privatization Committee led by Hon. Abdi Shurie (Balambala) has met with officials from the Office of the Auditor-General, who briefed the Committee on the loans that have acquired but have not been disbursed, as at 30th June 2022.

In their submission, the Auditor General's team told Members  that the Government has entered into loans and grants agreements with various Development Partners, to fund development projects.

The National Assembly Select Committee on Implementation chaired  by Hon. Raphael Wanjala (Budalangi) engaged the Ministry of Lands and the National Land Commission on failure to implement Parliament’s recommendations. 

The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Lands Hon. Nixon Korir appeared before the Committee, alongside the Chairperson of the National Lands Commision Mr. Gershom Ottachi. 

Taita Taveta County Senator Johnes Mwaruma, is seeking a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources concerning Mining in the Kishushe area of Taita Taveta County.

Senator Mwaruma in his Statement wants the Committee to provide a list of Companies conducting mining in the Kishushe area and details of artisanal miners in the said area; Committee to specify the type of minerals each company and group of artisanal miners are excavating, with evidence of licenses in accordance with section 32(3) of the Mining Act.

Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources Chaired by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, has today turned away Principal Secretary Ministry of Environment and Forestry Mr. Gitonga Mugambi who had stepped in to represent Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Hon. Soipan Tuya.

Legislators felt that it’s only the Cabinet Secretary who could give a sufficient response to the Petition, Messages and Statements sought by Members. Committee resolved to re-invite Cabinet Secretary Soon. 

Following the resolutions of the Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare to conclude the Petition on Unfair Terms and Conditions for Universal Health Coverage ( UHC) Staff and Delay in Internship Posting on its sitting held on 11th July 2023, the Committee today held a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Susan Nakhumicha, Council of Governors Chairperson for Health Committee, H.E. Johnson Sakaja and the Petitioners of the said Petition to chart a way forward on the issues of concern.

The Cabinet Secretary for EAC, the ASALs and Regional Development, Hon. Rebecca Miano, has today informed Senators that Igamba-Ng’ombe Sub-County in Tharaka Nithi County hasn’t been declassified as an ASAL area. 

While appearing before the Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration led by Marsabit Senator Mohamed Chute, the Cabinet Secretary told the Members of the Committee that the Ministry isn’t aware of any declassification of the sub-county. 

Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki has revealed that the government has put in place plans to recognize and remunerate Village Elders under the Nyumba Kumi Initiative.

Speaking when he appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, CS Kindiki said the Kenya Kwanza Administration recognizes that the Village elders offer essential services to the country thus there is need to support them through recognition and remuneration.

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget today held a meeting with stakeholders among them the National Treasury, ICPAK and IGTRC to deliberate on the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill, 2023 (National Assembly Bills No. 16 of 2023), the County Governments Additional Allocation Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 23 of 2023) and the County Government (Revenue Raising Process) Bill (Senate Bills No. 22 of 2023.)

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Energy chaired by Hon. Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) has disapproved of the punitive Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed by Kenya Power Company (KPC) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

During a meeting with the KPC and IPPs Hon. Musyoka said Kenyan cannot continue paying expensive power when affordable power is available "We can't get into other Take or Pay agreements. This Committee will not allow the purchase of expensive power from some IPPs when we have affordable power," said Hon. Musyoka.

The National Assembly Committee on Labour, chaired by Hon. Erick Muchangi (Runyenjes), met with Hon. Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) to discuss the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2023. 

The Bill seeks to grant employees six months' written notice before a transfer or the option of receiving one month's wage as notice pay. It also aims to provide reasons for the transfer, seek the employee's consent, and support the employee's relocation, unless the transfer was requested by the employee.

The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Hon. Florence Bore apologized to the National Assembly for failing to appear before it to answer Questions. CS Bore was appearing for the first time since the House reprimanded her for failing to show up during a previous invitation.

While explaining herself, Hon. Bore informed the House that in future she would render her apologies in good time whenever she is not able to honour an invitation. 

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning chaired by Hon. Kimani Kuria met the management of a liquor manufacturing firm  over a Kshs. 332 million tax abandonment granted by the National Treasury in 2021.