The County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, chaired by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, convened today to discuss the Auditor General's reports on the financial statements of Mombasa Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited for the fiscal years 2018/19, 2019/20, and 2020/21 with Mombasa County Governor Abdullswamad Nassir.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) chaired by Hon. George Murugara (Tharaka) met with Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East) who appeared before it to present proposals on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill (2023).

The National Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Livestock chaired by Hon. (Dr.)  John Mutunga (Tigania East) began hearings into the Maize Flour Subsidy Programme for the fiscal year 2022/23.

The Committee met with the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Hon. Mithika Linturi. Mr. Linturi told the Committee that a total of 118 millers have been listed as participants in the subsidized maize flour distribution programme across the country.  

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning undertook an approval hearing for the nominee for the position of Chairperson, the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) ,CPA Mary Wanyonyi.

During the hearing, Members pointed out that given the shrinking revenues collected by the National Government for sharing between the two levels of government, counties need to intensify their efforts for their own revenue collection to support their programmes. 

The Speaker of the National Assembly the Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula has advised the House against introducing amendments to Bills which commit the Executive without taking cognizance of the fiscal policy and considerations of the National Government. 

Kirinyaga County Senator James Murango is seeking a Statement from the Standing Commmittee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the expansion and improvement of irrigation infrastructure at Kibirigwi Irrigation Farmers' Cooperative Society LImited (KIFCO) Project in Kirinyaga County.

In his Statement, the Senator wants the Committee to;

The Siaya County Deputy Governor William Oduol has defended himself against allegations of contravening the procurement requirements by forcing unbudgeted expenditure, an action that resulted in expenses of approximately Ksh 18 million for renovating his office, purchase of furniture and office equipment.

The Deputy Governor while appearing before the Senate Special Committee investigating his proposed removal from office chaired by Sen. William Kisang said he was not involved in any way in the procurement of the chair worth 1.12 million shillings as alleged.

Kisumu County Senator prof. Tom Ojienda is seeking a Statement from the Standing Commmittee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the ownership and registration of land occupied by the irrigation schemes in Kisumu County.

Nandi County Senator Samson Cherarkey is seeking a Statement from the Standing Commmittee on Roads and Transport on the state of roads in Nandi County.

In his Statement, the Senator wants the Committee to indicate the total budget allocation on roads in Nandi County from 2017/2018 to 2022/2023, stating the distance, in kilometres, of murram roads constructed in the same period.

Kingdom Bank CEO, Mr. Anthony Mburu appeared before Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing to deliberate on the petition regarding title deeds for properties bought in Jamii Bora Estate, Kisaju in Kajiado County. 

“The Co-operative Bank of Kenya Limited acquired majority shareholding of 90% in the Jamii Bora Bank in August 2020, and subsequently changed its name to Kingdom Bank Limited. With this acquisition, the Co-operative appointed new directors “said Mr. Mburu. 

Senate Committee Land, Environment and Natural Resources Chaired by Nyandarua Senator John Methu today met with International Development Law Organization (IDLO) to deliberate on best practices relating to public policy and Legislation on resources and the application of the same in mitigation measures including climate Change.

The meeting was opened by Senate Majority Leader, Senator Aaron Cheruiyot who assured the participants that Senate is ready to collaborate with all Non-Profit Organizations that are involved in financing locally- led Climate Action. 

The National Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang'ula has commended Members for the decorum and dedication witnessed in the House during debate and passage of the Finance Bill (2023) with amendments.

Speaking minutes to midnight, after conclusion of Business related to the Bill, Speaker Wetangula said the camaraderie witnessed during the Committee of the whole House was clear evidence of the maturity of our Country's democracy, and dedication of Members to the their core mandate of legislation. 

The National Assembly Public Petitions Committee chaired by Hon. Nimrod Mbai met with the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Interior and Administration Prof. Kithuri Kindiki to seek  information on the Government’s approach to dealing with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Nyanza-Western region.

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. (Dr.)  Moses Wetang'ula met with the Multi-Party Chief Whips' Forum from the National Assembly of South Africa who paid him a courtesy call in his office at the Main Parliament Building. The delegation was led by Hon. Pemmy Majodina, MP, Chief Whip of the Majority Party (ANC).

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Hon. George Murugara held approval hearings for the nominee for appointment as the Principal Secretary (PS) State Department of Correctional Services Ms. Salome Wairimu Muhia.

 Members wanted to know what interventions Ms. Muhia will institute in correctional institutions and how she intends to improve the living conditions of prisoners, if appointed.

The Siaya Deputy Governor William Oduol has denied all the charges laid against him by the County Assembly before the Senate Special Committee investigating his proposed removal from office by impeachment.

Oduol told the Special Committee chaired by the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator William Kisang` that he was only a whistleblower who came out publicly to talk about the suspicious and huge withdrawal of money from the Siaya County coffers rubbishing the criteria used to impeach him.

The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Hon. Mithika Linturi appeared before the Senate today to answer to questions concerning duty free importation of food commodities. Below is an excerpt of the proceedings.

𝐒𝐞𝐧. 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐞: Could the Cabinet Secretary disclose the food commodities being imported duty-free, stating the approved packaging and container sizes?

The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Zachariah M. Njeru has appeared in Senate today to respond to the following lawmakers’ questions:

𝐒𝐄𝐍. (𝐃𝐫.) 𝐋𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐰𝐞 𝐋𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐢: What measures is the Government taking to ensure full operationalization of the Samburu Land Registry that was opened in 2021 to enable residents of Samburu County have access to land registration services and issuance of title deeds?

The membership of Rotary Club of Nairobi, led by their President Amb. Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, paid the Senate of Kenya a courtesy visit today to learn about the workings of the Senate and common areas of possible interaction.  

In hand to receive the team was the Clerk of the Senate who is also the Secretary to the Parliamentary Service Commission Mr. Jeremiah M. Nyegenye, who apprised the members of the rotary club about the history, structure and role of Parliament as well as an overview of the place of devolution in the governance structure. 

The Public Debt and Privatization Committee received submissions from different stakeholders in regards to the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, (2023).

 The PFM Amendment Bill seeks to amend PFM Act (No. 18 of 2012), by adjusting the framework for monitoring public debt and borrowing, and to align the Act with the provisions of the Constitution relating to definition of public debt, financial obligations and amend the debt limit.