Kisumu Senator Professor Tom Ojienda has today sought a statement from the Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the water and sanitation situation in Katito Town and its environs in Kisumu County.

While requesting the Statement on the Floor of the House, Senator Ojienda asked the Committee to provide an update on the status of water sanitation in Katito Town located in Nyakach Sub-County in Kisumu County, and state measures taken by Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company (KIWASCO) to effectively resolve the water shortage experienced in the area.

Senator Beatrice Ogola has today sought a statement from the Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the measures taken by the Lake Victoria South Water Services Board to restore water supply in the Ndhiwa borehole.

While requesting the statement on the Floor of the House, the nominated Senator asked the Committee to state when the broken-down system will be repaired and state when the supply of water from the Ndhiwa Borehole will resume.

Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has today sought a statement from the Senate Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the delay in compensation to the residents of Ndeiya, Limuru Constituency in Kiambu County due to the Government’s compulsory acquisition of private land.

The National Government will continue supporting Kenyans affected by the long drought until there will be a significant improvement. Answering questions in Senate this Wednesday, the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community (EAC), the ASALs and Regional Development Mrs. Rebecca Miano told Senators that despite rain being experienced in a section of the areas affected, the effects of the long drought are still being felt necessitating support from Government.

Below is the excerpt of the session.

Debate on the Finance Bill (2023) commenced this morning as the Bill entered the Second Reading Stage in the House. 

Moving debate on the Bill, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning Hon. Kuria Kimani (Molo) told the House that the Committee had carried out comprehensive public participation and stakeholder engagement, adding that the Committee would be introducing some amendments derived from the submission received.

Meru County Senator Kathuri Murungi is seeking for a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on the alarming closure and threatened closure of the county assemblies across the country.

In his request, the lawmaker wants the committee to give measures being taken to curb the alarming adjournment of County assemblies across the country, with so far Narok, Mandera, Kericho, Embu, Tana River, Kisii, Marsabit, Makueni, Wajir, Garissa, Mombasa, Kwale, Nakuru, Kajiado, Nyamira, Laikipia, West Pokot and Samburu shutting down.

The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) has directed the Governor of Laikipia County Joshua Irungu to act tough against officers in his administration who enabled fake claims pushing the pending Bills by over Sh1 billion.

The Committee further advised the governor to improve its own source revenue by going on owners of expansive ranches in the county if his administration has to meet its revenue targets.

At a meeting on Tuesday, the governor revealed that he had inherited a Sh2.2 billion pending bill when he took over following the August 2022 general election.

The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism Chaired by Kajiado Senator, Lenku Ole Kanar Seki held a meeting today to consider response from the Ministry of Road, Transport and Public Works on a Statement requested by Sen. Samson Cherarkey on Operations and Financial Status of Kenya Airways. 

Sen. Cherarkey wanted the Committee to apprise the Senate on the current operational and financial status of Kenya Airways, stating measures if any, to address significant losses by the airline which stand at Kshs. 38.26 billion by December, 2022.

The Principal Secretary State Department of Lands and Physical Planning Hon. Nixon Korir, today appeared before the Senate Land, Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chaired by Nyandarua Senator John Methu to give response to the Ten Statements pending before the Committee and on a Petition by Mbogo’s Family concerning historical injustices and illegal alienation of L.R NO. 7153/1,7153/2,7153/R also known as L.R 12825.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has defended the operations of the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority telling a committee of the Senate that it operated within the law.

In the report of the revenue and expenditure account for the county, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu had raised queries over misrepresentation of bank details and in some cases some of the signastories were not employees of the county government.

The name of the authority is defined in the enabling law as Makueni County Fruit Development Authority. 

The National Assembly Audit Committees yesterday hosted a delegation of Members of Parliament from the Republic of Zambia. The Decentralized Funds Accounts Committee (DFAC), the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Special Funds Accounts Committee (SFAC), and the Public Investment Committee on Governance and Education (PIC G&E) collectively hosted the Zambian delegation in the Main Chambers of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly Select Committee on Delegated Legislation chaired by Hon. Samwel Chekponga (Ainabkoi) held meetings with the Cabinet Secretary for Defence Hon. Aden Duale and Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon. Mithika Linturi over the Public Finance Management (National Peace Support Operations Fund) Regulations, (2023), and the National Cereals and Produce Board (National Strategic Reserve) Regulations, (2023), respectively.

The National Assembly has approved the appointment of Mr. Noordin Haji as the next National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General.

Through a Special Motion moved by Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations the House voted to approve the appointment of Mr. Haji as the next spymaster general. Mr. Haji takes over from the outgoing NIS boss Major General Phillip Kameru who is headed for retirement.

The National Assembly is currently in the midst of considering Budget Estimates for various State Departments and Agencies in the Committee of Supply for the period 2023/24 Budget, a crucial phase during which supply measures for funding various government programs and undertakings are considered. This period, which began with the examination of the Estimates, will conclude with the enactment of an Appropriation Act.

The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, today, under the stewardship of Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, deliberated on the Auditor General's report on the financial affairs of the Garissa Water and Sewerage Company Limited for the years 2018 to 2021. Nathif Adan Jama, the Governor of Garissa County, was invited to provide explanations.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries led by Embu Senator Alexander Munyi Mundigi, MP, held a meeting today to consider and adopt the matrix on submissions by the Council of Governors on the Prevention of Livestock and Produce Theft Bill, 2023.

The Bill, which is sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey seeks to provide a framework for the establishment of mechanisms for preventing, combating and eventually eradicating livestock and produce theft.

The Public Debt and Privatization Committee led by the Vice-Chairperson Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu held a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kenya Airways Mr. Allan Kilavuka, to discuss the financial status of the Airline. Of great concern to the Committee is the Airline's plan to get out of debt and become competitive.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Energy chaired by Hon. (Eng). Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) held a meeting with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum officials to address concerns about the rising cost of petroleum products in the country. 

The meeting sought to scrutinize internally generated revenue and explore viable measures aimed at curbing the escalating prices that have burdened consumers across the country.

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) has said there should be an entity in the Office of Registrar of Societies that will strictly deal with matters faith in term of registration and regulation of religious organisation.

The Council said the office as currently constituted by law is saddled with registration and regulation of many other entities, ranging from sports and welfare associations, making it impossible to monitor and mete out punishment where there is violation.

Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds, led by Senator Godfrey Osotsi, met with the Nairobi City County Governor, Johnson Sakaja. They discussed several audit queries raised by the Auditor General regarding the Nairobi County Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC) during the fiscal years 2018 to 2021.