Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Honourable Senators, kindly take your seats. We now have quorum. Clerk, kindly call the first order.

[(The Clerk-at the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Honourable Senators I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery this afternoon of a visiting delegation from the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI). KIRDI is a public research institution under the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Industry whose mandate is to undertake research, development and innovation in industrial and allied technologies and d…

The delegation comprises 12 researchers from the institution who are on a benchmarking visit to the Senate. I request each member of the delegation to stand when called out so that you may be acknowledged as per the Senate tradition- Dr. Calvin Kisa - Acting Director General (KIRDI) Dr. Francis Polong - Director, technology transfer and Extension Services Dr. Marth Induli - Director, Industrial Al…

Our visitors by now have noticed that I am the most sabotaged Senator in this House. My equipment almost always never works. I take this opportunity, on behalf of the House, to welcome the team from KIRDI. Indeed, this morning, I had a conversation with my team about the place of industrialisation in the development of nations. It has worked in other places and those of us who have never been in …

Karibu to the Senate. I hope you have a good afternoon.

Senator for Nandi, kindly take your seat.

Honourable Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the public gallery this afternoon of a visiting delegation of 10 teachers and 180 learners from Seven Forks Primary School, Embu County. The delegation is visiting the Senate for an academic exposition. On behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful visit.

Honourable Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the public gallery this afternoon of a visiting delegation of five teachers and 50 students from Gichuru Memorial High School, Kiambu County The delegation is visiting the Senate for an academic exposition. On behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful and visit. I …

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity. My name is Karungo wa Thang’wa. I am your Senator. That is PCEA Gichuru Memorial High School. The school is in Kikuyu Constituency, in Gikambura, Karai. It is a very beautiful school with bright students. The school is a testimony that the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) works. The reason I am saying that is …

Sen. Karungo, you may want to allow your colleague to do the honours.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, now that he is here, I will allow him to do so. However, I will say that it was a good coincidence because I come from Kiambu, which ends with “mbu” and Embu also. So, you can see we are one people and that is why I wanted to welcome them. Their Senator is here and he can go ahead and do that. For the students of PCEA Gichuru Memorial High School, when you go back home, say hell…

Sen. Mundigi, you may proceed.

Asante, Bw. Spika, kwa kunipa nafasi hii nikaribishe shule ya Seven Forks. Iko Mbeere, Embu. Karibuni sana siku ya leo. Mumekuja kujifunza yale mambo tunafanya hapa Seneti. Seven Forks ni moja ya shule katika kaunti ya Embu ambazo wanafunzi wanasoma vizuri. Pia, imeunganisha watu wa vijiji na wafanyikazi wa Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) . Ningewaomba ninyi mumekuja siku ya leo mua…

Next Order.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to request for a statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism on a matter of county-wide concern regarding the challenges facing mango farmers in Embu County. Mango farming is a critical economic activity and a major source of livelihood for many residents of Embu County, particularly in Karurumo, Kanyu…

Statement pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) (b) . The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration or any member from that Committee.

This statement is deferred.

Statement pursuant to Standing Order No.57 (1) , the Senate Majority Leader.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.57 (1) , to present the business for the week commencing Tuesday, 9th June, 2026. Before I proceed to make the statement, allow me to take this opportunity to welcome hon. Senators back from the recess period. With respect to the business before the Senate, the status is as follows- Sixty-two Bills are pending conclusion, of whic…

Works, Housing and Urban Development and the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. The tentative business for the afternoon sitting on Wednesday, 10th June, 2026, will include business not concluded on Tuesday's Order Paper and the following- Bills at Second Reading- The Agriculture and Food Authority (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No. 13 of 2023). The County Government's …

Sen. Karungo Thang’wa.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on a matter of county-wide concern regarding the protection of property rights and security of residents of Two Rivers Crescent Estate in Ruiru, Kiambu County, following reports of harassment, intimidation and threatened unlawful evicti…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Education on a matter of national concern regarding the implementation and transparency of the school feeding programme. The National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya, (NCONEK) , is a semi- autonomous agency under the Ministry of Education, is the primary implementer o…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education on a matter of national concern regarding the transition rate in the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya. While the CBC was introduced in line with Kenya's Vision 2030 and global workforce needs to equip learners with practical skills and reduce reliance on high-stakes

examinations, its success is undermined if learners drop out before completing transitions, exposing them to risks such as child labour and early marriages. In the statement, the committee should address the following- Detailed statistics on the inaugural CBC cohort from 2017, showing how many learners progressed to Grade 10 in 2026. The mop up operation efforts to trace, rehabilitate and safegua…

I would like to acknowledge the presence in the public gallery this afternoon of a visiting delegation of two teachers and 38 students from Mang’u High School in Kiambu County. The delegation is visiting the Senate for an academic exposition. On behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful visit.

I also wish to acknowledge the presence in the public gallery this afternoon of a visiting delegation of four teachers and 47 students from Mutitu Secondary School in Kirinyaga County. The delegation is visiting the Senate for an academic exposition. On behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful visit.

Naungana nawe kuwakaribisha walimu wawili na wanafunzi waliofika Seneti ili kuona majukumu tunayoyafanya tukiwa kazini. Kwanza, nawapa kongole walimu hawa kwa kuja hapa. Natumai wameona jinsi tunavyofanya mijadala yetu. Kazi yetu ni kutetea kaunti ili kuhakikisha zinapata pesa. Ni muhimu wawe wamejifunza mambo mengi wanaporudi nyumbani. Hivyo ndivyo wanavyotakikana kufanya kazi. Asante.

Sen. Chemitei.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity you have given me to comment and support the statement read by Hon. Hezena concerning the school feeding programme, especially in schools from nomadic communities and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) . It is a matter of serious concern and needs serious intervention. The County I represent, Baringo, is among the counties that 70 per of the area is …

Sen. Kavindu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to comment on the statements made by Senators, starting with Sen. Mundigi's statement about mangoes being destroyed by wild animals. This happens across the country. For example, in Machakos County, we have so many mangoes and avocadoes that go to waste. As you know, once a mango or an avocado is ripe, it goes bad almost immediately. The…

Hon. Senators, we have long spent the 15 minutes that I had given for this session. Before we move to the next Order, allow me to make this communication.

Hon. Senators, as you will recall, during the afternoon sitting of the Senate held on Wednesday, 3rd June, 2026, while commenting on a Statement sought by Sen. Hamida Kibwana, MP, regarding the rise in cases of missing children in the country and that of Sen. Danson Mungatana, MP, regarding the decade- long ban on night-time travel for public service vehicles along the Malindi-Garsen-Lamu Highway,…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, indeed, that is a proper account of the happenings yesterday. It has turned out that the God that I serve works in mysterious ways. As we were having that debate, this House was not aware that in fact the Cabinet Secretary for Health had addressed the National Assembly yesterday morning where he confirmed exactly what I said. I requested that I be allowed facility to play video…

You may proceed to table.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I do hereby table a video recording of the proceedings of the National Assembly yesterday, Wednesday, 3rd June, 2026, and a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Samuel Njoroge, CBS, requesting for the HANSARD of the said proceedings.

[(Sen. Sifuna laid the documents on the Table)]

Thank you. I will review the materials tabled and make a further communication. Before we move to the next Order, there were two Senators yet to make their comments. Sen. Mandago, you may proceed. Bear in mind that you have under three minutes to do so.

Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to support the Statement by Sen. Alexander Mundigi regarding mangoes and other fresh produce by farmers that go to waste. There is also mango production in Kerio Valley, West Pokot and Baringo counties. There is need for county governments to establish processing factories. In the Statement, the Senator sought to know whether the national Government cou…

work closely with the State Department for Industry so that processing plants can be established. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regards to the Statement sought by Sen. Hezena Lemaletian on the school feeding programme, there seem to be lack of transparency in the school feeding programme in this country. The National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) has been in existence for some …

[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]]

Sen. Abass, you have three minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I support the statement by Sen. Hezena that the school feeding programme has been in existence for many years. It has helped many young children grow up and complete their studies. However, the programme has many challenges. The food does not reach every corner of this country, especially those areas that need it most. There are many hurdles and many people misu…

costs. Otherwise, the overhead costs, including transportation, are too high. Reducing them will reduce the amount of money used for food supply.

Sen. Abass, you were the last contributor to the statement. Sen. Okenyuri, did you finish? Take two minutes.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for your indulgence. I also support Sen. Hezena’s statement briefly by saying that these regions are already disadvantaged. That is why this programme was introduced as a measure to assist them. As a remedial measure, we should not have issues with transparency. Let the process be transparent so that everyone is satisfied that it was a transparent process and tha…

Before we move to the next Order, there is this statement that the chairperson had not allowed. I will use my privilege to allow Sen. Wakwabubi to read it on behalf of the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to present this statement on behalf of the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) (b) of the Senate Standing Orders to make a statement relating to the activities of the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Region…

Next Order, Clerk.

THAT, the Senate adopts the Reports of the Standing Committee on Health on the County Oversight and Networking Engagements in Kitui, Makueni and Machakos Counties, laid on the Table of the Senate on Thursday, 26th February, 2026; Kiambu County laid on the table of the Senate on Thursday, 19th March, 2026; Bungoma and Kakamega Counties, laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 21st April, 2026. …

The Chairperson, Senate Standing Committee on Health, the Mover should reply now. Is it the Chairperson or the Vice- Chairperson? The Vice-Chairperson, proceed. Sen. Mandago, it is good that you are empowering the Vice-Chairperson. Actually, one of the Vice-Chairpersons who has really done a lot on this Floor is your Vice-Chairperson. So, thank you for empowering the girl child.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. That is a leadership role that my Chair has, that is why he is empowering me.

Thank me also for recognising that he is doing the right thing.

Yes, I am coming to that. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to reply to the Motion on the Report of the Standing Committee on Health, County Oversight and Network Engagement in Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Kiambu, Bungoma and Kakamega Counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, first, I thank the Members who have contributed to this Motion as well as the Members of the Commi…

implement the reports of the UHC workers as permanent and pensionable within 60 days of the adoption of this report. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, still on the human resource staff, there is lack of motivation of the staff who are working in the facilities. There are some who have worked in the facilities for 15 to 20 years, yet when it comes to promotions, they do not even get promoted. They do not g…

I beg to reply. Pursuant to Standing Order 66 (3), I request that the putting of the question be deferred to a later date. I request Senator Beatrice to Second.

No need. You are okay now. You have prosecuted your matter perfectly.

Thank you.

It is only for the Chair now to defer the putting of the question. Next Order.

[(Putting of the Question deferred)]

The Senate Majority Leader is not in the House, so I also defer the Mover’s reply. Honourable Senators, if you look at the Order Paper from Order No. 10 to 22, all these are divisions. As you know division needs some threshold of Members. Unless the Clerk advises, we can do division. If not, we go to Order No. 23

[(Reply to the Motion deferred)]

(Bill deferred)

(Bill deferred)

(Bill deferred)

(Committee of the Whole deferred

The Chair, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Committee was the Vice Chair of the Mediation Committee on Order No. 23. I can see he is not in the House.

THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Mediation Committee on the Food and Feed Safety Control Coordination Bill (National Assembly Bills No.21 of 2023), laid on the table of the Senate on Tuesday, 28th April, 2026, and that pursuant to Article 113(2) of the Constitution and Standing Order 167(3) of the Senate, approves the mediated version of the Bill. (Motion deferred) Order Nos. 24-26, that …

(Bill deferred)

(Bill deferred)

(Bill deferred) Order No. 27, Sen. Karen Nyamu? She is not in the House.

(Bill deferred) Order No. 28 is again the Majority Leader. Order No. 29.

(Bill deferred)

(Bill deferred) Order No. 30, Sen. Mumma has requested that it be deferred and I acceded to that as well.

(Bill deferred) Order No. 31, Sen. Karen Nyamu also not in the House.

(Bill deferred) Order No. 31, Sen. Chute.

(Bill deferred) Order No.33. Sen. Gataya.

THAT, AWARE that the Ministry of Education in Kenya, introduced Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) as part of the Competency- Based Curriculum (CBC) implementation marking a major milestone for the country’s education system, and a key opportunity to improve the quality of education available to students; APPRECIATING THAT, the Junior Secondary Schools program play a vital role in shaping the academic…

CONCERNED THAT, the integration of Junior Secondary Schools within primary school setups has posed major challenges for Junior Secondary teachers, including inadequate training on the new competency-based curriculum, limited opportunities for career advancement, conflict in leadership, decision-making and resource allocation leading to strained relationships with head teachers; FURTHER CONCERNED T…

IKIBAINISHA KWAMBA, mnamo tarehe 29 Aprili 1994, janga la ajali ya feri ya Likoni lilisababisha vifo na majeraha kwa wananchi wasio na hatia, wengi wao wakiwa wakaazi wa Likoni na Kaunti ya Mombasa, na hivyo kuleta majonzi makubwa kitaifa pamoja na madhara ya muda mrefu ya kimwili, kisaikolojia, kijamii na kiuchumi kwa familia zilizopoteza wapendwa wao na manusura; IKIWA NA WASIWASI KWAMBA, licha …

THAT AWARE THAT, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is redefining economies globally through emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and financial technology (Fintech);

FURTHER AWARE THAT Kenya has made commendable strides in digital infrastructure and mobile innovation, positioning itself as a potential leader in Africa’s tech-driven future; NOTING THAT in a landmark decision, the African Union Executive Council endorsed the Continental AI Strategy during its 45th Ordinary Session in Accra, Ghana, on July 18-19, 2024 to underscore Africa’s commitment to an Afric…

THAT the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy recently formulated and launched the Kenya National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy 2025- 2030; RECOGNIZING the need to align Kenya’s development with global standards in AI adoption while also safeguarding national values, inclusivity, and employment; CONCERNED THAT the absence of a comprehensive framework may hinder i…