MPs to resume sittings with key Bills on the docket

By Peter Ochieng

Members of Parliament (MPs) wil resume sittings on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 after a two week working recess.

The legislatures will resume sittings with a busy schedule all laid out for them, key being consideration of various Bills.

The pieces of legislation include the Land Control Bill, 2023 sponsored by Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo Mudenyo, which seeks to regulate land use.

Also to be considered is the Kenya Roads Board (Amendment) Bill, 2024 which proposes amendments to the Kenya Roads Board Act, meant to enhance the Board’s capacity to manage and maintain road infrastructure.

According to a despact from Parliament, the other one is the Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023. It proposes amendments to the Universities Act to improve governance and administration within universities and the Higher Education Loans Board (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which seeks to amend the Higher Education Loans Board Act to improve access to higher education financing will be debated at the second reading stage.

“The Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2022, that seeks to strengthen the regulatory framework for political parties in Kenya and the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill, 2022, are scheduled for debate in the Second Reading,” reads the dispatch.

Additionally, the House is also expected to consider two Senate Bills. They are the Equalisation Fund (Administration) Bill (Senate Bill No. 14 of 2023), and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No. 37 of 2023).

The House is also set to undertake a clause by clause consideration of the Kenya Drugs Authority Bill, 2022 sponsored by Endebess MP Robert Pukose and the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2022 by Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo in Committee of the Whole House.

Also up, upon resumption of sittings is debate on a Motion by Dagoretti South MP, Hon John Kiarie on the establishment of a Science Museums.

Other Motions that will be discussed in the House include a Motion by Githunguri lawmaker Gathoni Wamuchomba, seeking for the establishment of a national policy to combat disrespectful childbirth practices in Kenya, a Motion on the need for comprehensive reform of education bursary schemes to ensure there is free basic education sponsored by Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris.

The other is a Motion on the Formulation of a Regulatory Framework on Artificial Intelligence by Aldai MP, Marianne Kitany.