Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has asked the national government to deploy helicopters to boost the rescue efforts of the victims of Paul Mackenzie cult in Shakahola village.

The Speaker hailed the decision by the ministry of interior to use drones for the exercise, describing as an important step in the exercise.

But he pointed out that choppers are best suited for the task because they can land and rescue victims once they are spotted.

"I want to ask the Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to go beyond drones and avail helicopters for the rescue mission," he said.

The National Assembly Budget & Appropriations Committee (BAC) unanimously approved legislative proposals to amend existing Bills. Led by the Committee Vice Chairperson Hon. Mary Emaase, the Committee approved; the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill (2023) by Hon. Dr. Beatrice Adagala, Pensions (Amendment) Bill, (2023) by Hon. Tandaza Sawa, Political Parties (Amendment) Bill (2022) by Hon. Wanami Wamboka, Kenya Scouts (Amendment) Bill (2022) by Hon.

Chairperson of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Hon. Nelson Koech has congratulated the newly appointed Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Lt. Gen. Francis Ogolla.

Hon. Koech described Lt. Gen. Ogolla's promotion to the helm of the Kenyan Military from his previous rank as Vice-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces as "professionally, intellectually and most solidly well deserved".

The current debt stock is projected to range above Kshs. 9.4 trillion by June this year, and cross the Kshs. 10 trillion debt ceiling by June 2024. This is according to a 2023 Public Finance Management Regulation Amendments report presented by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) to the National Assembly Public Debt and Privatisation Committee Chaired by Balambala MP Hon. Abdi Shurie.

National Assembly Committee on Regional Integration chaired by Hon. Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri) held a consultative meeting on integration process with different stakeholders.

During the meeting, the stakeholders; Ministry of East Africa Community, the Arid and Semi Arid Lands  (ASALs) and Regional Development, the State Department for Immigration & Citizen Services and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Secretariat, made presentations on the EAC strategies to support free movement of goods and people within the bloc and other regional bodies.

The Committee on Diaspora Affairs and Migrant workers this weekend retreated to enhance capacity on matters relating to diaspora remittances and migration among other issues affecting the Kenyan Diaspora. The retreat held in Mombasa County also provided the Members a platform to review the Committee’s agenda and consider its progress report.

The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for National Treasury and Economic Planning, Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u has proposed the amendment of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act 2012 and the attendant regulations to replace the current numerical debt ceiling of Ksh 10 trillion with a debt ratio of 55 percent present value of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Speaker of Senate Rt.Hon Amason Kingi,EGH has said the Senate places great premium on engagements with stakeholders because the outcome greatly shapes legislative interventions and action taken by the House in line with its constitutional mandate.

The Speaker noted that the Senate has continued to avail a critical linkage between government and the business community by providing a legislative framework to guide operations of County Governments.

Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing Chaired by Kiambu Senator Senator Karungo Thangwa, held a meeting today to consider several statements and petitions. 

The committee considered Statement by Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi regarding status of implementation of the Lamu Port South-Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) project in Samburu County,

Statement by Sen. Beatrice Ogolla regarding death of boda boda riders and their passengers by sugarcane trailers of a local sugar miller (Sukari Industry) in Ndhiwa Constituency. 

Senate Lands, Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chaired by Nyandarua Senator Sen. John Methu held a meeting today to Consider a Legislative proposal on the Real State regulation and development Bill, 2023 Sponsored by Trans Nzoia Senator Sen. Allan Chesang.

The specific mandate of the committee is set out in the fourth Schedule to the Standing Orders, which is ‘to consider all matters relating lands and settlement, environment, forestry, mining, water resource management and development’.

Following the Committee's meeting held on 14th March 2023, the Senate Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor, today met with the officials from the First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency led by the Founder and Director Judy Jepchirchir concerning alleged fraudulent activities of the agency in Uasin Gishu County. 

Isiolo County Senator Fatuma Dullo is seeking for a statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget regarding the chronic delays in disbursement of exchequer funds to counties and reports of hacking of the Integrated Financial Management and Information System (IFMIS).

In her request, the lawmaker wants the committee to state the reasons of the incessant delays in the disbursement of exchequer funds by the National Treasury, particularly to counties. 

The National Assembly  Public Petition Committee questioned the Kenya Forest Service (KFS)  Management on the atrocities caused by rangers in Uasin Gishu County.

The Committee is carrying out  hearings to enable it to address a petition on safeguarding the economic and social welfare of communities living next to forests in Uasin Gishu County.

The National Assembly’s Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee, in a Session chaired by Bobasi MP Hon. Innocent Obiri held a meeting with the Fund Account Manager from Sabatia Constituency.

The agenda of the meeting was to review the Auditor General's financial reports of the Constituency’s financial accounts for FY 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. 

The Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture Chaired by Hon. Daniel Wanyama grilled the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Edward  Sigei and Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) CEO Dr. Joseph Njagih over claims that the two were responsible for the withdrawal of a case in court that saw the parties awarded Kshs 67 million for artist royalties lose the money.

It is also alleged that the two CEOs had entered into an agreement with Royal Media Services (RMS)  without the knowledge of the boards of Directors of both organisations.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure chaired by Hon. George Kariuki has rejected an amendment that sought to assign additional roles to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).  

The Bill that was before the House for First Reading on 15th February, 2023, was subsequently Committed to the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure for Consideration and reporting to the House.

Marsabit County Sen. Chute Mohamed Said, MP, is seeking a statement from the standing committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on borehole resources in Marsabit County. 

The Senator has requested the committee to state the number and location of all boreholes in Marsabit County, providing information on whether they are public or private and whether they have a flouride filtration process and indicate the criteria used to identify boreholes for commissioning, stating the requirements, and tests conducted.

Nairobi County Sen. Edwin Sifuna, MP, is seeking a statement from the Stranding Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relationa regarding the status of 

operationalizatrion of the Nairobi County Liquor Licensing Board. 

The Senator has requested the Committee to disclose the amount that has been raised through liquor licensing since the board's creation in 2014 and state the number of youth programmes, in the form of sporting and related activities, that have been created to rehabilitate alcohol and drugs addicts.

Nairobi County Sen. Edwin Sifuna, MP, is seeking a statement from the Stranding Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relationa regarding the status of 

operationalizatrion of the Nairobi County Liquor Licensing Board. 

The Senator has requested the Committee to disclose the amount that has been raised through liquor licensing since the board's creation in 2014 and state the number of youth programmes, in the form of sporting and related activities, that have been created to rehabilitate alcohol and drugs addicts.