On 29th October in Bomet, the Senate Committee on Labour and Social Welfare led by chair, Sen. Johnson Sakaja called on Bomet Governor, Hon (Dr) Hillary Barchok.
The meeting discussed labour matters touching on ECD teachers and tea industry workers in Multinational Corporations (MNCs).
It also underscored the need for nurturing sporting talent and safeguarding athletes’ mental health, through sensitization and counselling.
The committee further toured Bomet County Stadium before calling on County Assembly Speaker, Hon Nelson Mutai at the newly opened Dr Joyce Laboso Centre (Bomet County Assembly).
Senators present included- Sen Beatrice Kwamboka, Sen (Dr) Alice Milgo and Sen Naomi Shiyonga.
Elsewhere on the same day, the Departmental Committee on Health chaired by Murang’a County MP, Hon. Sabina Chege kick-started it’s inquiry on the petition regarding the negligence by the Department of Immigration to enforce Covid-19 protocols on workers of Kibos Sugar Factory.
The Committee started their inquiry by meeting the lead petioner, officials from the Department of Immigration, Ministry of Health Officials, Kisumu County government officials, Members of Kisumu County Assembly and Kibos Sugar Factory management.
In the petition signed by 91 petioners the allegation was that in May, 2021, the Ministry of Health reported the first five cases of the Indian Covid-19 variant in the Country.
The five were employees of Kibos Sugar Factory returning from India and who continued to work at the factory despite the risk they were putting their colleagues in, and the community at large.
The petioners are of the view that the laxity to enforce Covid-19 protocols contributed to the exponential rise in infections within counties in the Lake region.
The Committee asked the lead petioner to produce atleast five petioners to ascertain their Identification numbers and signatures. The Committee waited for the petitioners for hours, but this did not happen since the lead petioner’s phone went unanswered.
The Committee was informed by a section of MCAs that the petition was in bad faith and that it was as a result of business rivalry, adding that Kibos Sugar Factory has given employment to a good number of residents from the area.
They were keen to note that the factory had positively affected many lives, not just in Kisumu but also across Kenya .The Committee heard that the factory had been at the forefront in averting the spread of Covid-19 by distributing Sanitisers all over in the Lake region.
The Hon. Sabina led Committee however put to task Kibos Sugar Factory management to explain why they had given jobs that can be handled by Kenyans to immigrants.
In their response Kibos Sugar Factory management said that the investors were comfortable working with immigrants whom they trust to undertake some critical assignments due to their skills and experience over their local counterparts .
The Committee undertook that they work tirelessly to establish the truth especially after the mysterious disappearance of the lead petioners.
“We have government institutions at our disposal. We will do our own investigations to establish the truth and authenticity of these signatures. If we find out we have been duped, then someone will bear the consequences”, noted Hon. Sabina.
