Senator Andrew Okiya Omtatah (Busia) has raised three pressing concerns in the Senate, calling for swift investigations and corrective action on deteriorating infrastructure, stalled academic accreditation, and weak enforcement of trade measurement standards.
In a Statement to the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Senator said the dire state of roads in Kenya’s sugarbelt is crippling cane transport and undermining both farmers and millers.
Omtatah blamed the worsening conditions on poor maintenance, unclear responsibilities between national and county governments, and inefficiencies in cane logistics.
“Farmers cannot be competitive when roads are impassable and responsibilities are confused. The sugar sector needs efficiency, not administrative chaos,” he told the House.
He warned that failure to restore key feeder roads continues to erode farm-gate prices, increase transport losses, and weaken millers already struggling with rising operational costs.
UoN Petroleum Engineering Graduates Left in Limbo
In a second Statement addressed to the Standing Committee on Education, Sen. Omtatah demanded clarity on why the Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering programme launched at the University of Nairobi in 2015 has never been accredited by the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK).
He said the prolonged delay has subjected graduates to professional uncertainty, despite government funding, curriculum development, and the University’s assurances.
“It is unjust for students to invest years in training only to emerge with qualifications that the regulator does not recognize. Their careers cannot remain in limbo,” he said.
Dozens of graduates are now unable to register as professional engineers, locking them out of jobs in oil and gas, drilling, upstream operations, and energy sector consultancies.
Weak Weights & Measures Enforcement Exposing Consumers
The Senator also sought a Statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism, citing widespread use of unverified weighing equipment in markets, retail outlets, and industrial settings.
He argued that weak inspections, low staffing, and inadequate enforcement by the Weights and Measures Department are enabling unfair trade practices that disadvantage consumers and businesses.
“Consumers deserve fairness and accuracy. Weak enforcement cannot be allowed to undermine trade integrity,” he said.
Omtatah urged the Senate Committees to fast-track investigations, identify systemic failures, and recommend clear, time-bound solutions.
