Senate · Morning Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for another 10 minutes.

[(Quorum Bell was rung)]

We do have quorum. Clerk, kindly call the first Order. Hon. Senators, we were expecting the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development this morning for purposes of responding to three questions by the Senator for Marsabit, Sen. Hamida Kibwana and the Senator for Nairobi City County. However, last evening, we received a letter from the Cabinet Secretary indic…

Question No.045

Question No.064

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.

Clerk, do we have the requisite quorum? Hon. Senators, I will proceed to put the question on Order No. 8. Senator for Nairobi City County.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I remember when I used to be in the Senate Business Committee (SBC) , we had developed the practice of inviting a minimum of three cabinet secretaries, so that in the event one does not show up, at least another would. This increased the probability of us having those engagements. I do not know what has changed because I am no longer in the SBC that today we were expecting only o…

That is true, hon. Senator. Nothing has changed. We expected three cabinet secretaries this morning, but sitting at the SBC yesterday, we looked at the two letters that had been sent by the two cabinet secretaries who were supposed to appear before the House today. We found the reasons indicated in those letters to be valid and therefore, we acceded to their requests not to appear. However, the C…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a follow-up to what the Senator for Nairobi is inquiring. Remember, we had issued fresh guidelines on letters, such as the ones you are referring to, that come in hours before the plenary on what needs to happen. There were necessary sanctions that we said should follow, up to and including, if the House elects to do so, fining people that are misbehaving. As a House, yo…

Sanctions are handed down by the House and not by the Speaker. If indeed, it is the opinion of the House that you sanction the Cabinet Secretary, it is very much within your powers. It is true that we have communicated the procedure to the Prime Cabinet Secretary, but that procedure has been flouted by a number of cabinet secretaries. We have a letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public …

Sorry, Mr. Speaker, Sir, to speak twice on the same issue. I have looked at the letter that she wrote. Other than the fact that it was received very late, I honestly do not believe that those reasons are sufficient because she says that---

There is no reason.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, she says due to prior, earlier plans, whatever yet, you know that, as a House, when we do these invitations, the invitations actually are sent out in 14 days so that if, for instance, that invitation falls on a day when you are planning to travel or something else, you should write immediately. The Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development just unf…

Yes, Sen. Veronica Maina, you may proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity. I want to also reassert that it is important for the Cabinet Secretaries to take this session very seriously as an accountability platform both to the Senate and to the public. However, I want to distinguish the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development as a top performer in Cabinet. She has appeared before this House…

So, we proceed to Order No. 9

THAT, the Senate adopts Report of the Standing Committee on Energy on inquiry into the shortage of smart energy meters in Kenya and the potential for their local manufacturing, laid on the Table of the Senate on Wednesday, 11th June, 2025. Now, hon. Senators, I will proceed to put the question because the debate on this Order has been concluded. Clerk, do we have the requisite quorum? I will pr…

THAT AWARE THAT, Article 42 of the Constitution guarantees every person the right to a clean and healthy environment, which includes access to safe energy options; FURTHER AWARE THAT, over 900 million Africans, including more than 90 percent of households in Kenya’s rural areas, still rely on traditional biomass (firewood, charcoal, animal waste) for cooking, resulting in high levels of indoor air…

Sen. Hamida Kibwana, you may proceed. That business is deferred. Next Order. Yes, Senate Majority Leader.

[(Sen. Kibwana was not in the Chamber)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I was listening to you. You said “deferred.” Previously, there was an SBC resolution on what happens to Motions when they are called on the Floor and the owner of the business is not present. I do not remember if we agreed to vacate that position.

It was on Questions and Statements.

No, Mr. Speaker, Sir, even Motions.

You see, Senate Majority Leader, if we drop this Order and the hon. Member walks in, we may need to have it. If you look at the Order Paper, it is fairly short and, in the next 10 minutes, we may have to adjourn. So, for today, allow me to hold that decision in abeyance because we will be looking for business. So, in the event that Sen. Hamida Kibwana walks in, we may need her to continue with he…

THAT, AWARE that, Article 96 of the Constitution provides that the Senate represents the counties, and serves to protect their interests, determines the allocation of national revenue among counties, as provided in Article 217, and exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to the County Governments; FURTHER AWARE THAT, in the case of Senate v Council of Governors and 6 others (Petition 2…

Hon. Sen. Andrew Okiya Omtatah, you have the Floor. Sen. Okiya Omtatah not in the Chamber? That Order is deferred. Next Order.

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 academi…

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…

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 …

Hon. Sen. Karungo Thang’wa, you may proceed. Sen. Thang’wa not in the Chamber? That Motion is deferred. Yes, Senate Majority Leader, you may proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.38 on temporary suspension of a sitting. At the SBC yesterday – and it is good that I say this when the Vice-Chairperson is here – because the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget had proposed that they were likely to be through with the Mediation on the Division of Revenue Bill. We had said, because we knew we had one Cabinet Secretary, w…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I second but just to say that the Senate Majority Leader, just the way we have rebuked the Cabinet Secretaries, it is also very unfair for colleagues to come to the House this morning and the owners of the business on the Order Paper are not here. I think it is also something that we have to note as a leadership and as part of the whips of this House, we are having difficulties. …

All right, so then I will propose the question that the Senate do suspend its proceedings until 10.40 a.m., in order to receive a report from Mediation Committee on the Division of Revenue Bill. We are going to deal with the report on the Division of Revenue Bill. Now, Hon. Senators, this is rather procedural. We need not debate it. With your concurrence, you may allow me to put the question. Do …

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(The House adjourned temporarily at 10.10am)]

[(The House resumed at 10.40 a.m.)]

Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the consideration of the County Government's Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bill No.8 of 2026)

Next Order.

Chairperson, Standing Committee on Finance and Budget.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT the Senate adopts the report of the Mediation Committee on the Division of Revenue (National Assembly Bill No.2 of 2026) , laid on the Table of the Senate on Wednesday, 10th June, 2026, and that pursuant to Article 113 (2) of the Constitution and the Standing Orders 167 (3) of the Senate, approves the mediated version of the Bil…

Chairperson, Standing Committee on Finance and Budget.