HOUSE EXTENDS PERIOD FOR CONSIDERING PROPOSED CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT

The National Assembly has extended by 90 days the period for consideration of proposed amendments that will entrench three funds in the Constitution.

The Co-Chairperson, Joint Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on proposal to amend the Constitution to entrench certain specialized funds Hon. Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi) said the move had been necessitated by the complexity of the legislative proposals, which has occasioned the need for more deliberations among Members and key stakeholders.

The 26th Ordinary Session of the Executive Committee of the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR).

Mandera senator Ali Roba presided over the meeting on behalf of the Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

Speaker Kingi is the current president of the FP-ICGLR.

The meeting of the executive Committee centred on security and the political situation in the Great Lakes Region.

The Senate Standing Committee on Energy led by the Vice Chairperson, Sen. William Kipsang' Kipkemoi held a meeting today to consider pre-publication scrutiny of The Local Content Bill, 2023.

The National Assembly Departmental Committee  on Tourism and Wildlife chaired by Hon. Kareke Mbiuki has directed  the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to stop the construction of the multi-billion Ronald Ngala Utalii College until a probe the Committee has initiated is concluded.

Further, the Committee wants the National Treasury to provide a clear roadmap on how it will finance the project and clear the pending bills which include penalties arising from delayed payment and lack of funding on time.

The 26th Ordinary Session of the Executive Committee of the Forum of Parliaments of Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) opened its sittings in Juba South Sudan.

The Session will run between March 28 to 29, 2023.

Mandera Senator Ali Roba presided over the meeting of the Committee.

Senator Roba leads the Kenyan delegation on behalf of Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who is the President of the Forum.

The theme of this year’s Conference is “Parliamentary Diplomacy for Conflict Resolution in the Great Lakes”.

The National Assembly Committee on Public Petition led by it's Chair  Hon.Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East) carried out an inspection visit of the Level 6 Forces Research Referral Hospital (FRRH) in Kabete.

The Committee is undertaking an investigation regarding a petition by Mr. Mutoro  on funds spent by the National Government contrary to provisions of the Constitution. The Ministry of Defence received Kshs.2.9B for this project.

The Senate will deepen its interactions with all the stakeholders in order to strengthen and protect devolution.

Speaking when he officially closed the Senate Retreat with the Constitutional oversight institutions and independent offices in Mombasa County, Senate Speaker Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffa Kingi, EGH, MP said there is need for the House to continue engaging stakeholders who will help it discharge its mandate appropriately to ensure devolution yields the intended goals.

The Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security Friday evening conducted an inspection tour of State House Mombasa to ascertain the status of the building which was built in 1897.

During the visit which was conducted on the sidelines of the Committee’s retreat with agencies under the purview of the Executive Office of the President (OP), the Committee pledged to support the ongoing restoration efforts through an enhanced budget to the OP, so as to safeguard the all-important historical building.

The Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security has decried the current state of the Office of the Government Press and pledged support for the printer’s modernization and automation of services.

Speaking when they met the Government Printer during the Committee’s retreat with agencies, the legislators wondered why the Office has been underfunded the last few years, despite its wide mandate.

Senate Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing Chaired by Kiambu Sen. Karungo Thangwa yesterday met with Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir of Mombasa and the Management and Developer of Buxton Point Apartments led by its chairman Hon. Suleiman Shahbal at Serena Hotel.

Senate Speaker Rt. Hon.. Amason Jeffah Kingi,EGH says the Senate will collaborate with constitutional bodies and all stakeholders to help in promoting and protecting devolution for the benefit of Kenyans.

Speaking when he officially opened the Senate Retreat with Constitutional and other relevant oversight institutions in Mombasa County, Speaker Kingi noted the importance of the constitutional institutions and independent offices for the full realization of devolution.

In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability, Cabinet Secretaries will now be required to appear before the National Assembly every Wednesday afternoon for a maximum of three hours. This comes after the approval of amendments to the Standing Orders by Parliament on March 9th, 2023, which take effect from March 23rd, 2023.

The Constitutional Implementation and Oversight Committee (CIOC)  on Thursday met the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chairperson of  the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) over the recent protests in the country.

In a meeting chaired by Mwingi West MP Hon. Nguna Ngusya, the Committee asked the Commision to clarify whether only the police were to  blame for the outcome of  the protests.

In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability, Cabinet Secretaries will now be required to appear before the National Assembly every Wednesday afternoon for a maximum of three hours. This comes after the approval of amendments to the Standing Orders by Parliament on March 9th, 2023, which take effect from March 23rd, 2023.

The  National Assembly played host to the East Africa Women’s League during today’s afternoon session. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Moses Wetang’ula welcomed the Women’s League and lauded them for their continued effort in advocating for women’s rights.

The East Africa Women's League was founded in 1917 with a primary goal of advocating for women’s right to vote and their involvement in creating laws that impact women and girls. The league has grown to include over 1000 women from diverse races, cultures and religions who are organized into branches throughout Kenya.

The Public Debt and Privatization Committee chaired by Hon. Abdi Shurie on Thursday met members of staff from the  Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO). The PBO appeared before the Committee to take the Members through a Report on the analysis of loans contracted by the National Government during  the period between 1st May 2022 and 31st August 2022.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) on behalf of the duly registered Health Sector Unions, Associations and Societies has petitioned Senate through Sen. Samson Cherarkey concerning unfair terms and conditions of service and delay in internship posting for staff under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).