Members of the National Assembly have called for urgent intervention to revive the ailing sugar industry, highlighting its potential to create jobs and boost the economy. The legislators on Wednesday expressed concern over the decline of sugarcane farming in Western Kenya, leading to a surge in sugar imports. During debate on a motion sponsored by Matungu MP, Peter Nabulindo a number of lawmakers highlighted the historical significance of sugarcane farming in Kenya. While moving the motion, Nabulindo noted that sugarcane farming once played a pivotal role in this country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment. Nabulindo expressed concern over the…
Author: Silas Apollo
Government ministries and departments will now be required to submit necessary documents to the pension department within 30 days of an employee’s retirement to speed up the release of their pension funds. This is after the National Assembly passed the Pension (Amendment) Bill 2022 which if approved by President William Ruto, will fast-track the handling of pensions for those retiring from the civil service. The Bill, which was approved by MPs after extensive debate on the floor of the House, seeks to among other things, amend the Pensions Act to establish a clear timeline for pension disbursement. As a result…
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…
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…
