Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Senators highlighted the severe impact of drought on livestock and the looming threat of food insecurity, urging both national and county governments to adopt coherent policies, subsidies for production, and value‑addition initiatives. While the motion received broad support, speakers criticised the repetitive nature of past debates and the lack of concrete action, calling for devolved, community‑driven solutions. The discussion emphasized the need for better storage, marketing, and poverty‑reduction measures to sustain Kenya’s agricultural sector. The Senate confirmed quorum and acknowledged a county security officer before debating a petition from Nyandarua County concerning the cancelled Ndunyu‑Njeru‑Ihithe road, with senators criticizing NEMA’s reliance on the Environmental Impact Assessment and stressing the road’s importance for local connectivity. A brief procedural point of order raised the absence of the Speaker’s portrait, prompting light‑hearted remarks, and other senators introduced papers on public participation in county budgeting. Senators discussed using reformed warriors from Turkana County in athletics to reduce violence and urged greater sports development and integration with education, while also raising accusations of human trafficking against a colleague. The debate then moved to a request for a health committee statement on persons with disabilities and a call for increased PWD representation in public offices. The session combined constructive proposals with pointed criticism, resulting in a mixed tone.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Kindly ring the Quorum Bell for five minutes. We still do not have quorum. I order the Quorum Bell to be rung for five more minutes. Hon. Senators, let us be seated. We do have quorum. First Order.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table Consulted the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(Several Senators walked into the Chamber)]
Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge in the Speaker’s Gallery the presence of Mr. Vincent Kipyator, Principal Security Officer from Nairobi City County Assembly who is at the Senate for an attachment. You may stand to be acknowledged in the Senate tradition.
[(Mr. Vincent Kipyator stood at his place)]
[(Applause)]
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I thank Nyandarua County Assembly and the County Government for this Petition. It is ironical that NEMA is using the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as an excuse not to allow the road to pass through. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you and I are aware that houses have been built on the river riparian areas in this city. If that road was allowed to pass in other counties, it …
Proceed, Sen. Methu.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you for this opportunity. First and foremost, I laud the County Assembly of Nyandarua for the resolutions that they made. I have kept myself abreast with the happenings on the tendering process of the Ndunyu- Njeru-Ihithe Road and now its cancellation. For those who may not understand how and why that road is very important to the people of Nyandarua and Nyeri, is that a…
Next Order.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of this Senate, today, 23rd November, 2022-
On a Point of Order, Mr. Speaker, Sir.
What is your point of order, Sen. Methu?
Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is really not a point of order per se. I seek for your guidance because every time, Sen. Cheruiyot keeps reminding us that we are young and learning. I have been patient and learning but at this point, I would really seek for your guidance. I have read the second and third schedule of the Constitution of Kenya on symbols on national unity. I have also observed that all public…
[(Laughter)]
Sen. Methu, I have been really struggling to understand your point of order.
[(Laughter)]
Is Senator for West Pokot County, Sen. Murgor, and Sen. Mwaruma in the House?
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labor and Social Welfare on the establishment and management of sports training academies in counties. In the Statement, the Committee should -
Hon. Senator, you know very well that you can neither explain your Statement or debate it. You read it as you submitted and approved by the Speaker. Thank you. Sen. Sifuna, what did say you?
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am just seeking your guidance. I do not know whether I should proceed? I want to add one word to this.
You can do so, Senator.
I am very happy that this particular Statement is being sought. I am personally very passionate about sports and sporting facilities especially here in the city where we have a lot of talents. So, I will be looking forward to this Statement. It continues to break my heart that we do not take sports seriously. We even have an ongoing problem which I have spoken to on this Floor. There is absolutel…
Sen. Cherarkey, proceed.
Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for this opportunity. Firstly, I thank Sen. Kathuri for this Statement. Where I come from, Nandi County, is called the ‘Source of Champions’. About 99 per cent of the youth there depend on sports. If you kill sports, you kill the youth in my county. We had sports funds. At some point during the last regime, it was diverted to fund Petroleum Development Levy
Sen. Crystal Asige, you may proceed.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to contribute to this Statement. Sports should be seen from the lenses of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLwD) as well. I wish to inform the House and Kenyans that people with disabilities are very talented in many ways including sports. Right now, the sports fund is not supporting PLWDs in different fields and disciplines in the sporting world in Ken…
Sen. Lomenen, you may proceed.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support the Statement by the Deputy Speaker. I would like to inform the relevant Committee in charge of sports that in the county where I come from, warriors have excellent talents. We have persuaded them to go to church. They have reformed from killing people, raiding livestock and killing women on the highway. Instead of them running fast with cattle and camels, we urge the G…
[(Laughter)]
Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, just to echo what the Senator of Nairobi City County said. Sports is a major industry that offers very high paying jobs all over the world. I request the Committee to take a holistic approach to this problem. For example, you need to speak to the Ministry of Education and see how the education system is going to be tweaked so that children have time for sports. At the moment, ch…
Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I am sorry to address him. I started feeling as if I was addressing a criminal. He is not a criminal. He could easily hit me from the back that is why I was looking at him. It is important that we free our children. Talent is got from the youth. We constructed a make shift stadium in Malinya. Thanks to that stadium, children are emerging from that little stadium to join football …
That Statement is referred to the relevant Committee for consideration. Sen. Crystal Asige, please proceed.
Mr. Speaker Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the Ministry of Health strategic plan 2018-2023, specifically regarding Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) . In the Statement, the Committee should-
Sen. Cheruiyot, please proceed.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have a comment on this Statement by Sen. Crystal Asige. Sen. Crystal Asige continues to distinguish herself as an indefatigable defender of PWDs or differently gifted persons. As her colleagues, we must continue to commend, support and join her as partners to see persons gifted differently enjoy their rights as enshrined in Article 54 (2) of our Constitution. The Constitution…
Sen. Osotsi, you have the Floor.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Allow me to say something on the Statement sought by the Deputy Speaker regarding the sports academies.
Sen. Osotsi, kindly yield and take you seat. Hon. Sen. Wamatinga, you may proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to support the Statement by Sen. Crystal Asige. We should not only stop at ensuring that health facilities are accommodative of the People with Disabilities (PWDs) but we should go a step further and start having a candid conversation on mainstreaming PWDs into the main schools. We know that PWDs are highly stereotyped in the society we live in today. This is …
Sen. Madzayo, please, proceed. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo) :
We will now move to the next Statement. Hon. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, please proceed.
November 23, 2022 SENATE DEBAT 15 THE CONSTRUCTION STATUS OF HEALTH FACILITIES IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek for a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health on the Construction Status of Health Facilities in informal settlements in Nairobi City County. In the Statement, the Committee should -
Those three Statements are so referred to the relevant Committees. Sen. Cherarkey, proceed with your Statement.
Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to thank Sen. Cherarkey for the Statement on maize importation. It is sad that we are back to the same problem that we were in three years ago when the current Speaker for the National Assembly and I had to investigate the very same issue of importation of maize when it was being harvested. Luckily, God has blessed us with productivity in t…
November 23, 2022 SENATE DEBAT 17
November 23, 2022 SENATE DEBAT 18
Asante Bw. Spika. Nataka kumpa kongole ndugu yangu Sen. Chararkey, Seneta mchapa kazi wa Nandi.
Hon. Senators, you will notice that the Statement Hour is long spent. Therefore, for those Statements that we have not managed to call out, they stand deferred to tomorrow.
Hon. Senators, you will notice that the Statement Hour is long spent. Therefore, for those Statements that we have not managed to call out, they stand deferred to tomorrow.
Next order, Clerk.
Since Sen. M. Kajwang’ is not in the House. Let us differ the Motion to the next session. Sen. Veronica Maina, it is your turn to move your Motion.
November 23, 2022 SENATE DEBAT 47
Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to second the Motion by the distinguished Sen. Veronica Maina, the Secretary General of the ruling party, on the plight of the Kenyan domestic workers in the Middle East.
November 23, 2022 SENATE DEBAT 50
Thank you, Sen. Methu.
[(Question proposed)]
Hon. Members, we shall resume debate on this Motion tomorrow. It is now 6.30. p.m., time to adjourn the House. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned to tomorrow, Thursday, 24th November, 2022 at 2.30.