Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today’s happenings.

1. UN conference

The sixth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) being held in Nairobi enters its second day today.

UNEA-6 focuses on how multilateralism can help tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.

Speaking during the opening plenary on Monday, Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said the world needs to overcome triple planetary crisis because it casts its shadow over every person on planet Earth, regardless of nationality, colour, faith, or gender.

“This Assembly knows all too well that we are living through an intensifying triple planetary crisis. The good thing is this forum has consistently shown the unity we need to overcome this crisis. We will need that unity to safeguard Earth as we know it,” Andersen said.

The five-day conference is being held at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters and is scheduled to close on March 1, 2024.

2. Kisii politicians presser

Politicians, opinion leaders and professionals from the Gusii community are today expected to address a press conference on the state of politics in the country at the Bomb blast Memorial Park hall from 10:30 am.

The leaders are expected to comment on the fallout between Kisii Governor Simba Arati and his deputy Robert Monda in recent months, which culminated in an impeachment motion being filed against the latter last week.

Monda is accused of abuse of office and violating the constitution. He is accused of having received a bribe of Ksh799,000 from Dennis Mokaya who wanted to secure a job at the Gusii Water and Sewerage Company (GWASCO).

The DG, however, denied the claims, terming them a political witchhunt.

“I have never had a tag of corruption in my life. It is only this time that it is coming in my history. I have sufficient answers and it is the responsibility of the holders of this motion to ensure they have a case to prosecute,” the DG said.

51 out of 69 Members of County Assembly (MCAs) signed the impeachment motion which was tabled in the Kisii County Assembly last Tuesday.

Last year, Monda attributed his collision with Arati, to a lack of a clear development agenda for the county.

“My sin was that I interrogated if there is any clear agenda for our people away from rhetoric which we had been feeding them since we came into office,” Monda told a local daily.

3. Energy committee to grill EPRA DG over Embakasi explosion

The National Assembly’s Committee on Energy is scheduled to question officials from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on the Embakasi gas explosion that claimed the lives of 12 people and left hundreds with serious injuries early this month.

The officials, including EPRA Managing Director Daniel Kiptoo, are expected to respond to concerns regarding the operations of the gas plant said to have been operating illegally.

4. Senators to meet Sakaja

Senate Committee on Roads, Housing and Transportation will hold a meeting today with Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja at KICC Amphitheatre.

The county boss is expected to respond to an inquiry into the urban regeneration and renewal programme of old estates in Nairobi County; and a statement by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale regarding the status of operation of the Green Park Terminus and the upgrade project of Uhuru Park and Central Park.

5. KEMSA bosses to appear before MPs

The National Assembly’s Committee on Implementation is expected to meet today to consider the Public Investment Committee’s report on the Special Audit on Utilization of COVID-19 funds by Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).

Principal Secretary, State Department for Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Kachuwai Kimtai, and KEMSA CEO Andrew Mulwa are expected to attend the event at Panari Hotel in Nairobi.

6. Other parliamentary committee meetings

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health will on Tuesday have a meeting with top officials of the Ministry of Health, including Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha, on validation of the Draft Regulations for the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, and Review of the Draft Regulatory Impact Statement.

Other officials expected to attend the meeting are Mary Muthoni, the PS State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards; Harry Kimtai, PS State Department for Medical Services; Elijah Wachira, Acting CEO of Social Health Authority; and Timothy Olweny, Chairperson, Social Health Authority (SHA).

The meeting will be held at Garden INN Hotel in Machakos County.

The Public Investments Committee is today scheduled to have a meeting with Philip Mainga, Managing Director, Kenya Railways Corporation, and Kabale Tache Arero, CEO of the National Land Commission, to consider the joint verification report by the office of the Auditor General regarding the audit query on unsupported payments by the Kenya Railways Corporation on the acquisition of SGR phase I land.

The meeting will be held in Committee Room 7, Main Parliament Building from 10:00 am.

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries is also scheduled to meet today to consider responses from the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) and the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) regarding the petition on the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) Graft Investigation on the West Kano irrigation Scheme.