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It was a busy week for lawmakers as the National Assembly’s Appointments Committee completed its review of Cabinet Secretary nominees and sent its report to the House for approval.
On Thursday, MPs debated and approved the report of the committee chaired by Speaker Moses Wetangula.
The committee approved 19 of the 20 candidates nominated by the president.
In the report, Stella Soi Lang’at, the nominee for cabinet secretary general of the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage, was not approved for appointment.
The appointments committee said it rejected Langer’s appointment because she failed to demonstrate a “sufficient understanding” of gender issues.
During the meeting, lawmakers bid farewell to two lawmakers, Opiyo Wandayi and John Mbadi, who were appointed as the national minister of finance and energy respectively.
Wetangula urged the duo to open their doors to the councillors as they commenced their work.
The Speaker said both MPs had served as MPs and knew what MPs went through when dealing with Cabinet Ministers.
“I will be the saddest speaker in Kenya’s history when I hear MPs complaining that you cannot open the door for them, cannot answer their calls, cannot even deal with the issues they raise with you,” he said.
The MPs also approved Kindiki Kithure as Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Deborah Barasa as Minister of Health, Alice Wahome as Minister of Lands, Julius Migosi Ogamba as Minister of Education, Soipan Tuya as Minister of Defence, Andrew Muhia as Minister of Agriculture, Aden Duale as Minister of Environment, Eric Mureithi Muga as Minister of Water, Davis Chirchir as Minister of Roads, Margaret Nyambura as Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Salim Mvurya as Minister of Trade, Rebecca Miano as Minister of Tourism, Kipchumba Murkomen as Minister of Youth Affairs, Hassan Joho as Minister of Mining, Alfred Mutua as Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Wycliffe Oparanya as Minister of Cooperatives and Justin Muturi as Minister of Public Service.
This week, the National Assembly passed the Pensions (Amendment) Bill (Act 44 of 2022).
The bill, passed on Wednesday, is aimed at speeding up pension payments to retirees.
The bill amends the Pensions Act to set out a clear timetable for pension payments.
Government ministries will now have to submit necessary documents to the pension department within 30 days of an employee’s retirement.
The pension department will then have 60 days to process pension payments to retirees.
The ministry’s tourism and wildlife committee met with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) director general Kungu Ndung’u to discuss the issue of outstanding compensation to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
The outstanding Sh2.4 billion is part of Sh3.7 billion in compensation for land used for the construction of the Nairobi Southern Bypass Road.
Lawmakers questioned the initial payment process and the subsequent delays in settling the remaining sum.
In a letter to the National Assembly, KWS said they signed the easement agreement for the construction of the Southern Bypass Road in September 2015 and the agreed compensation was Sh3.7 billion.
While KeNHA has paid Sh1.2 billion, KWS has failed to recover the unpaid Sh2.4 billion.
The letter states that the state infrastructure ministry has pledged to pay the amount and asks the Kenya Water Authority to allow the contractor access to the park.
KWS stressed that despite their continuous efforts, attempts to follow up on payments have been ignored and their letters have not been acknowledged or responded to.
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