It was a busy week for MPs as the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments concluded the vetting of Cabinet Secretary nominees and tabled its report to the House for approval.
On Thursday, the MPs debated and approved the report by the committee, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
The committee endorsed 19 of the 20 nominees put forward by the President.
In the report one nominee, Stella Soi Lang'at, Cabinet Secretary nominee for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage was not approved for appointment.
The Committee on Appointments said it rejected Langat after she failed to demonstrate an "adequate understanding" of the Gender docket.
During the session, MPs bid farewell to two legislators Opiyo Wandayi and John Mbadi who were appointed to serve as Cabinet Secretaries for the National Treasury and Energy, respectively.
Wetang’ula urged the two to open their doors to MPs when they start work.
The Speaker said the two, having served as MPs, know what lawmakers go through when they are dealing with Cabinet Secretaries.
“I will be the saddest Speaker in the history of Kenya to hear from MPs, coming to complain that you cannot open the doors for them, you cannot take their calls and can’t even attend to the issues they bring to you,” he said.
MPs also approved Kindiki Kithure to head the Ministry of Interior, Dr Deborah Barasa (Health), Alice Wahome (Lands) Julius Migosi Ogamba (Education), Soipan Tuya (Defence), Andrew Muhia (Agriculture), Aden Duale (Environment), Eric Mureithi Muga (Water), Davis Chirchir (Roads) Margaret Nyambura (ICT), Salim Mvurya (Trade), Rebecca Miano (Tourism), Kipchumba Murkomen (Youth Affairs), Hassan Joho (Mining), Alfred Mutua (Labour and Social Protection), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), and Justin Muturi (Public Service).
During the week, the National Assembly passed the Pensions (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 44 of 2022).
The Bill, which was passed on Wednesday, seeks to expedite payment of pension to retirees.
The Bill amends the Pensions Act to establish a clear timeline for pension disbursement.
Government Ministries and departments will now be required to submit necessary documents to the Pensions Department within 30 days of an employee's retirement.
Subsequently, the Pensions Department will have a 60-day window to process pension payments for retirees.
The Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife met with the Director General of Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), Kungu Ndung’u over an outstanding compensation to the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS).
The outstanding amount of Sh2.4 billion is part of Sh3.7 billion compensation for land used in the construction of the Southern Bypass Road in Nairobi.
MPs questioned the initial payment process and the subsequent delay in settling the remaining balance.
In a letter to the National Assembly, KWS stated that they signed an easement agreement in September 2015 for the construction of the Southern Bypass Road, agreeing on a compensation amount of Sh3.7 billion.
While KeNHA has paid Sh1.2 billion, KWS has been unsuccessful in securing the outstanding Sh2.4 billion.
The letter pointed out that the State Department for Infrastructure had committed to settling the amount and requested KWS to allow the contractor to access the park.
KWS emphasized that their attempts to follow up on the payment have been ignored, with their letters unacknowledged and unanswered, despite continuous efforts.