February 11, 2025: Top news events to look out for today
By Mustafa Juma, February 11, 2025Here is what you need to know to keep up to speed with today’s happenings.
Parliament resumes
The National Assembly is set to reconvene today, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, for the fourth session of the Thirteenth (13th) Parliament.
This follows the end of the long recess, which saw the House take a break after an arduous Third session that was characterized by a rejection of the Finance Bill 2024, passage of six tax related laws and an amended Division of Revenue Act.
Top on the agenda is the reconstitution and approval of the Membership of eighteen (18) Committees of the House for the remainder of the 13th Parliament, including the House Business Committee chaired by the Speaker.
As stipulated in the Standing Orders, the House Business Committee is set to meet to receive from the leadership, both majority and minority, the proposed Chairpersons of the 18 Committees among them all the audit Committees, the Budget & Appropriations Committee, the Public Debt and Privatization Committee and the three (3) Sessional Committees.
Also set to be prioritized is the consideration and approval of the 2025 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) and the Debt Management Strategy both of which are expected to be submitted in the House on or before 15th February 2025.
The Senate is also set to resume its sittings at 2:30 pm, marking the beginning of the Fourth Session of the 4th Senate. This session follows a long recess that began in early December 2024.
With a packed legislative agenda, the session will commence with the reconstitution of key Senate Committees.
Among these are the Senate Business Committee, reconstituted pursuant to Standing Order 190 (1), the County Public Accounts Committee under Standing Order 193, the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee in line with Standing Order 194 and the Committee on Delegated Legislation as per Standing Order 195.
Once the Senate Business Committee is reconstituted, one of its first tasks will be to review and approve the session’s draft calendar before presenting it to the Senate for approval.
Direction on National Assembly Majority and Minority
As the National Assembly convenes for the 4th session, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula will be expected to give direction on the House Minority and Majority sides.
This is after Milimani High Court on Friday, February 7, 2025, declared the Azimio coalition as the majority party in the National Assembly.
The judgement was delivered by a three-judge bench stating that Kenya Kwanza is not the majority party in the National Assembly.
Justices John Chigiti, Lawrence Mugambi, and Jairus Ngaah ruled on the matter.
According to the ruling, the majority party was determined by Kenyans during the August 2022 general elections.
“It is hereby declared that the question as to which party or coalition parties is the majority of the National Assembly of the 13th Parliament was determined by the sovereign will of the Kenyan voters during the August 9, 2022, general elections,” part of the ruling read.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka Kalonzo has already called for an Azimio Parliamentary Group meeting on Wednesday, February 12, to make plans following Friday’s High Court decision that squashed a decision by Wetang’ula declaring the Kenya Kwanza coalition the majority party in the House.
On Monday, February 10, 2025, Kalonzo while addressing a rally in Mombasa urged the Azimio-allied MPs to occupy the Majority side when sittings resume today.
Reactions to Raila’s Sakaja endorsement
Kenya’s African Union Commission (AUC) Chairmanship candidate Raila Odinga on Monday, February 11, 2025, endorsed the leadership of Nairobi county governor Johnson Sakaja, a move that is expected to continue drawing mixed reactions.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, February 10, 2025, during the interdenominational prayer service that was organized for him by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Women’s Chapter ahead of the AUC polls scheduled for Saturday, February 15, Raila endorsed Sakaja to take care of his political affairs in Nairobi in his absentia.
The former Prime Minister referred to Sakaja as his son, noting that he wanted Nairobi to remain steadfast under the leadership of the first term city governor, as he heads to AUC.
“Nataka Nairobi ibaki imara, ndo huyu kijana wangu huyu ashikilie, afanye kazi sawa sawa,” Raila said as he pointed at Sakaja who had joined the prayer event.
Several political leaders have been reacting to Raila’s decision, with some claiming that it was not a direct endorsement.
Baba did not endorse Sakaja for 2027 gubernatorial election. He simply flagged him off to continue serving as nairobi governor as opposed to him being impeached !
— Hon. Caleb Amisi, MP (@Honcalebamisi) February 10, 2025