QUESTION TIME: Hon. Soipan Tuya - CS, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry 

Pursuant to standing order 56(1)(b) of the Senate Standing Orders, Nyandarua Senator John Methu on behalf of the Committee has made a statement relating to the activities of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources for the period between 1st April, 2023 to 30th July, 2023.

Land’s Committee Chairperson informed the house that during the period under review, the Committee held a total of twelve (12) sittings during which it considered (1) Legislative Proposal, six (6) Petitions, twenty-eight (28) Statements and two (2) messages.

Sen. Hamida Kibwana has sought for a Statement from Senate on the status of the rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the Country.

The Senator wants the Senate Committee on Health to state the current status of the UHC rollout in the Country, explaining progress made in terms of coverage, key achievements and any challenges encountered in rolling out the programme, further stating possible interventions that can be applied to overcome the challenges. She also seeks clarity on whether the Government has any plans to halt further rollout of the UHC or terminate it.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) led by the Chairperson Hon. George Murugara (Tharaka), held a two-day workshop organized by the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA), to deliberate on the way forward in the finalization of comprehensive electoral reforms in Kenya.
The workshop was expected to review key electoral legislations and develop a road map and timelines for completion of the electoral reforms, and explore the possibility of multi-sectoral participation in the reforms agenda to enhance inclusivity.

The Public Debt and Privatization Committee chaired by Hon. Abdi Shurie (Balambala), held meetings with officials from various Directorates in the National Treasury.

The echoes of excitement and the allure of camaraderie filled the air in bustling Kisii town over the weekend as the annual Law Society of Kenya (LSK) gathered for its 19th Justice Games. This 2023 extravaganza brought together teams from diverse corners of stakeholders involved in the administration of Justice. It was more than just a mere sporting event; it was a social interactive platform that blended the thrill of competition with the warmth of laughter and the harmony of interlinkages in the legal and justice system.

The Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has advised the Nyeri Governor and an aggrieved petitioner to resolve their matter before escalating it to the Senate.

 Nyeri Governor Hon.Mutahi Kahiga who appeared before the committee said he was unaware of the grievances facing the petitioner prompting the Committee to give them an opportunity to iron out the issue and report back to the Senate within three weeks.

The Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Committee chaired by Hon. James Gakuya (Embakasi North), conducted a visit to the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) plants in Kitale and Eldoret.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Nixon Sigei, took Members on a comprehensive tour of the upgraded facilities, where they were briefed on the positive impact of modernization measures on production and operations. 

The main focus of the visit was to assess the profitability of the modernization project and its implications for Kenya's dairy farming. 

The National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Implementation and Oversight chaired by Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba (Kiambu) met with the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO)  of the Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Mr. Abdi Mohamud, over the discharge of the Commission's Constitutional and Statutory mandate.

The Commission's mandate is to combat corruption and economic crime in Kenya through law enforcement, prevention, public education and promotion of standards and practices of integrity, ethics and anti-corruption. 

Regional Integration Committee chaired by Hon. Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri) held  stakeholders engagement with the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs  in a bid to look for ways of collaboration and coordination to advance the cause of regional integration in the East Africa Community (EAC) region.

The Cabinet Secretary (CS), Ministry of Roads and Transport Hon. Kipchumba Murkomen and the two Principal Secretaries (PSs), Eng. Joseph Mbugua and Mr. Mohamed Daghar were the first lot to appear before the Committee.

Members of the Diaspora Affairs and Migrant Workers Committee and their counterparts from the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations have called on the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr. Alfred Mutua to work closely with legislators in advancing Kenya’s national interests abroad. 

The call comes in the wake of complaints from Members that the CS had failed to honour several invitations to appear before the two Committees in the last few months.

Members Parliament drawn from five Committees of the National Assembly,  including Administration and Internal Affairs; Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations; Lands; Justice and Legal Affairs and National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity and the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), held a consultative forum with the Independent Panel of Advisors (IPA), to assess the current Peacebuilding Architecture in Kenya.

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Dr. Francis Atwoli has urged the National Assembly Committee on Energy to consider taming the Independent Power Producers (IPP’s) by revoking all the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) for the well-being of workers and the sustainable economic development of the country.

In a meeting chaired by Hon. Vincent Musyoka, the Committee engaged with representatives of employers & workers, academia & sector experts and the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya.

The National Assembly, Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Committee, led by Hon. James Gakuya (Embakasi North), held a meeting with key stakeholders to address various issues surrounding the performance of East African Portland Cement (EAPC). 

The Committee engaged with representatives from the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, as well as the National Land Commission (NLC) and EAPC to seek clarity on matters related to land ownership and compensation status.

The victims of the US Embassy terrorist attack in Nairobi have today informed a Senate Ad Hoc Committee that they have endured over 25 years of pain and sorrow after the United States Government failed to compensate them.

The terror attack, which claimed the lives of 213 Kenyans and injured over 5000 people, happened on 07th August 1998 when Al Qaeda detonated two suicide trucks in the Kenyan Capital bombing the US Embassy and the adjacent buildings.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Hon. George Murugara(Tharaka), received submissions from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the Department of Justice, in regards to the Conflict of Interest Bill (2023); a Bill for an Act of Parliament to provide for the management and regulation of conflict of interest in the discharge of official duties and connected purposes.

The National Assembly  Departmental Committee on Education  chaired by Hon. Julius Melly (Tinderet) met the Judiciary in the ongoing investigations into allegations of cheating in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination in 2022.

The Judiciary proposed  the enactment of Legislation to provide guidelines for investigation, prosecution, hearing and judgement on examination cheating cases, by putting timelines within which the cases must be concluded. 

Kitui County Governor H.E Julius Malombe, Machakos Governor H.E Wavinya Ndeti and Director Genera Mr. Mamo Boru Mamo appeared before Land, Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chaired by Nyandarua Senator John Methu, to deliberate on Statement Sought by Senator Tabitha Mutinda, on the regulation of sand harvesting in Kitui and Machakos Counties.