A committee of the Senate has promised to support investigations into allegations of corruption in the Department of Immigration involving issuance of passports. The Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations gave the undertaking after it received a report from the ombudsman detailing corruption at the department. The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) conducted investigations into corruption in the issuance of passports and submitted a report to the Committee detailing complaints made by the public against Immigration officials. CAJ was forced to intervene after Kenyans on social media complained of being overcharged in the payments of passports. Members…
Author: Silas Apollo
A showdown is looming between governors and senators after a Senate watchdog committee warned counties against delaying the remittance of pension funds. The Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee (CPISFC) accused the devolved units of failing to remit the funds on time, leaving many retirees to suffer. The committee has warned the county bosses and other county entities responsible for submitting the funds of dire consequences should the matter not be resolved in time. Committee chairman Godfrey Osotsi says that the delays have negatively affected the lives of retired public servants, adding that plans are underway to create…
Proposed legislation seeks to create a framework through which each county can recognise and honour their outstanding residents Governors could soon have the power to honour individuals hailed as outstanding, exceptional or illustrious in any profession or activity, if a Bill before the Senate is passed into law. The County Hall of Fame Bill, 2023 wants governors to be given the authority to induct into the county Hall of fame, any person who shows exemplary qualities, actions or achievements. This may be in the form of heroic acts, acts of sacrifice and bravery, patriotism or exemplary leadership aimed at improving…
Lawyers representing Kenyan survivors in the 1998 United States Embassy bombing have asked the Senate to push the US Congress to review a legislation on compensations of victims to allow those in Kenya to benefit as well. The lawyers who spoke during a session with the Adhoc committee of the Senate set up to push for the compensation of Kenyan victims, said the current legislation did not favour victims in Kenya. They want senators in Kenya to initiate talks with their counterparts in the US to enact a budget-neutral legislation that will see the Kenyan victims become eligible for compensation.…
The cost of the functions still at the national government is estimated at Sh272 billion The Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGTRC) has appealed to the Senate to intervene and push for complete transfer of devolved functions and resources to counties. IGTRC, a state agency mandated to establish a framework of consultation and cooperation between the two levels of governments, says significant elements of devolved functions remain at the national government 10 years since devolution was first implemented. IGRTC chairperson, Kithinji Kiragu, told the Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations Committee that there is need for consensus on quantum and timeframe for transfer…
The newly appointed Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner-General Humphrey Wattanga Mulongo comes to office with an already full in-tray as the taxman moves in to actualise revenue collection targets set out by the government this financial year.
With Kenya and the Horn of Africa coming out of the worst drought in the last 40 years, cases of human-wildlife conflicts have been on the rise.
The National Assembly has formally approved a motion to provide for the legal recognition of the National Dialogue Committee that will spearhead talks between the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition. The motion was moved by the Leader of the Majority Party in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah. The purpose of the committee is to foster productive dialogues and consensus-building, and also recommend suitable constitutional, legal, and policy reforms concerning matters of significance to the people of Kenya. Ichung’wah while presenting the motion on the floor of the House, said that the structure of the National…
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has directed a Joint Ad Hoc committee to investigate the activities of the cryptocurrency company Worldcoin and report back to the House within 42 days. The joint committee led by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, is expected to investigate the operations of Worldcoin in Kenya as well as the agencies that gave it the license to operate in the country. The team is expected to meet with various authorities, ministries, departments and government agencies to help it investigate the matter. Speaker Wetang’ula said that the Joint Ad hoc committee’s mandate will also extend to addressing…
The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure has reported that the Kenya Railways Corporation lost about Sh91.3 million in the leasing of ten parcels of land. According to a report by the office of the Auditor-General over Sh21 million collected from land rates were also never banked. “The Special audit noted that Sh253.8 million was the total amount recorded and invoiced in the availed customer ledger accounts and cash books for the 10 leased parcels of land. “Out of this, Sh125,965,000 was the amount traceable to the availed bank statement extracts for revenue, Sh24,000,000 being an amount waived…