Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka has defended the decision by the county government to open at least 352 bank accounts in several commercial banks, despite concerns raised by the Controller of Budget. Lusaka, while appearing before the Senate Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations committee, assured senators that all the commercial bank accounts were legal and had complied with all the requirements. The county boss said that this was despite the reports by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o questioning the legality of the accounts. Nyakang’o in her report named Bungoma County as one of the counties with the largest number of bank accounts…
Author: Silas Apollo
Teachers, farmers and police officers are set to be some of the biggest beneficiaries of this year’s budget after President William Ruto on Monday assented to the Supplementary Appropriations Bill. The Head of State, signed the Bill after it was passed by the National Assembly, with MPs approving the proposed increase in allocation to key areas such as agriculture, education as well as the security sector. Despite the fiscal constraints, the new law safeguards key critical expenditures, including about Sh20 billion to support farmers and enhance production and productivity. To support education reforms, the Supplementary Appropriations Act has allocated Sh120.7…
The National Assembly has approved Patrick Omwanda Amoth as the new Director-General for Health, following a recommendation from both the National Assembly and Senate Health Committees. The House approved the appointment after highlighting Amoth’s qualifications and his compliance with relevant legal provisions. National Assembly’s departmental committee of health chairman Robert Pukose said that the joint health committees approved Amoth’s appointment after considering his suitability, competence, experience and integrity. “Having taken into account its observations and findings, and pursuant to the Provisions of the Constitution, Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, (Cap. 7 F), the Health Act (Cap.241) the National Assembly Standing…
Just who is more qualified? A judge of the High Court or a council of elders? That is the question that was on the mind of many after the High Court sitting in Meru referred a dispute pitting Governor Kawira Mwangaza and members of the county assembly to the Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders. High Court judge Linus Kassan, in a decision issued on July 2024, asked the elders to use their traditional methods and wisdom to mediate in the long-standing dispute between the governor and MCAs. The judge argued that the decision was part of the Alternative Dispute Resolution…
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has directed his MPs to reject the four ODM cabinet nominees that President William Ruto picked last week. Musyoka said that the nomination of the four ODM leaders was a betrayal to Kenyans and to the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition. The Wiper leader, speaking during a church service in Mwingi North on Sunday, argued that the nomination of the four leaders was also done without consultation and the input of other Azimio leaders. “I have directed the Wiper Party MPs that those four names when they come to Parliament for vetting, Wiper members…
Kenya has officially submitted the name of Azimio leader Raila Odinga as a candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson ahead of the elections slated for February 2025. This is after the ministry of foreign affairs on Monday, July 29, 2024, presented Odinga’s credentials in Addis Ababa. Foreign affairs principal secretary Korir Sing’Oei presented the nomination of the ODM leader to the continent’s Eastern Region Dean Dharmraj Busgeeth, ambassador of Mauritius in the company of Odinga’s strategists. Kenya had settled on the former prime minister as its nominee for the seat to succeed Moussa Faki whose term is coming to…
The National Assembly has begun the process of addressing the anticipated financial deficit resulting from the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024. The House had last week approved a memorandum sent by President William Ruto calling for the deletion of all the clauses of the Finance Bill 2024, effectively rejecting the Bill whose aim was to raise additional funds for the government. And in a new communication, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula outlined what he said is a comprehensive plan to address the anticipated fiscal shortfall arising from the rejection of the Bill. In a communication to the House, Wetang’ula…
The process of vetting cabinet secretary nominees appointed by President William Ruto commenced in Parliament on Friday morning. This is after the committee on appointments chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula convened to set the ground rules for the approval hearings of the CS nominees. Wetang’ula led the team in setting the mood and preparing for the upcoming vetting of CS nominees starting on Thursday, August 1, 2024. “Members, as you are aware, the House received nomination of 20 persons for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries. As a matter of procedure that list of appointees was referred to…
The Senate has called for compensation for all victims of police brutality related to peaceful protests that occurred in various parts of the country this year as well as last year. The House, in a resolution passed by Senators on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, also asked the National Police Service (NPS) to acknowledge and apologize for all deaths resulting from peaceful demonstrations. The move, senators argue, is part of the plans to help initiate a national conversation and foster an amiable environment following protests witnessed across the country over the last five weeks. Senators argued that the steps were essential…
Members of Parliament have proposed a reduction of funds to the three arms of government in the current financial year as part of the ongoing austerity measures to reduce public spending. The National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee now wants allocations to the three arms of government, constitutional commissions and independent offices reduced by about Sh156.4 billion. The proposals, contained in the Supplementary Estimates 1 for the 2024/25 financial year, have also called for a reduction in development expenditure by about Sh122.4 billion. Committee chairman Ndindi Nyoro, in a report set to be tabled before the House for debate, argues…