No catering services for Senators during sittings - Speaker Lusaka

There will be no catering services offered to Senators during sittings, Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka said.

In a statement released on March 30, the speaker further stated that the Senate Lounge shall remain closed until further notice.

This comes after the Senate resolved to reconvene on Tuesday, March 31 and hold one sitting in each week, on Tuesdays for two weeks, until Tuesday, April 14.

Plenary sittings will be held in the Senate Chamber and commence at 2,30 pm and end no later than 4.30 p.m.

This is to allow members and staff to travel and arrive at their places of residence before the 7 pm curfew.

In a raft of measures to help observe social distancing, only 28 Senators will be allowed to participate in the debate.

According to Lusaka, the 28 designated Senators are the only ones who will transact house business on Tuesday and the foreseeable future.

"I urge all senators and staff of the Senate to observe these guidelines in order to ensure the smooth flow of legislative business while the COVID-19 pandemic persists," Lusaka added.  

All Senators and staff aged 58 years and above are encouraged to abide by the Presidential directive dated March 25, 2020, and thus work from home.

"Those with chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer and HIV are encouraged to work from home as they are more at risk of contracting COVID-19," Lusaka said.

Senators are reconvening Tuesday to debate a raft of measures among them the protection of tenants, employees and reduction of food prices.

These measures are aimed at cushioning Kenyans against the economic effects of Covid-19.

In a motion that will be debated in the chamber on Tuesday afternoon, Majority Leader Kipchumba has proposed the formation of a seven-member ad hoc committee to work around measures to cushion Kenyans from the effects of the pandemic.