Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. We will proceed with the day's business. Clerk, proceed to call the first Order. The Chairperson Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, proceed.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of Senate today, 10th July 2025- Report on Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on its consideration of the Social Protection Bill (National Assembly Bills No.12 of 2025) .

[(Sen. Murgor laid the document on the Table)]

Next Order.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.57 (1) to give a Statement presenting the business of the Senate for the week that commences 15th July, 2025. As Senators will recall, the Senate held two special sittings on the 27th and 30th June, 2025, during which the mediated version of the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bills No.10 of 2025) was considered and approved. The …

There is a report on a petition from the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on former employees of Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) concerning the failure by KBL, Kaplan & Stratton Advocates and Harrison Kinyanjui Advocates to pay compensation awarded to the petitioners. There is also a report from the Committee on Health on oversight and networking engagements to Taita Taveta, Momb…

Next Order.

Hon. Senators, we will move to Order No.12 before we come to Order No.9. Go ahead, Sen. Abass.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move- THAT, the Senate adopts the report of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on a Petition to the Senate by Mr. Laban Omusundi concerning the branding of public projects with images of governors and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and branding of county vehicles, laid at the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 3rd June, 2025. Mr. Spea…

What is your point of order, Sen. Kinyua?

I rise under Standing Order No.95. I am listening to a speech from the Senator. I thought he was moving, but he is reading.

Proceed, Sen. Abass.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee observed that-

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to second this particular Motion. This is a very important Motion that has arisen as a result of a Petition. If you go across our counties, you will see photos of governors and MCAs everywhere being branded across, saying what they have done for the people. It is important to tell the governors and the MCAs that when projects are undertaken within their areas, it…

What is your point of order, Senator for Meru?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to speak to the transition between the Chairperson, Sen. Abass and the Seconder of the Motion. I do not know how he got the Floor. I did not hear the chair say--- Mr. Speaker, Sir, you did not authorise. He just got the microphone through some other means.

Hon. Senator for Meru, while you were consulting with me, Sen. Abass requested Sen. Kisang to second. Since I could not speak while you were talking to me, I nodded, giving permission for him to proceed. So, conclude, please.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As I conclude, the Deputy Speaker is my colleague and a good friend. We were in the National Assembly for 10 years. I know there are issues that came to the House sometime last year and I did not support him. Maybe he still has some issue with me because of Kawira. I was on the opposite side.

[(Laughter)]

Hon. Senators, I will defer the proposing of the question, so that we dispense with Order No.9, which we had gone halfway yesterday. Before I allow this Clerk to call Order No.9, allow me to make this communication.

[(Interruption of Debate on Motion)]

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the public gallery this afternoon, of visiting teachers and students from Othaya Girls High School in Nyeri County. The delegation comprises five teachers and 240 students who are in the Senate for a one-day academic exposition. Hon. Senators, in our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors from Parliament, I extend a warm welc…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Senate and particularly on behalf of the Senator for Nyeri, Commissioner Wamatinga, I wish to welcome these students who are here on a study visit. This afternoon, I believe they have observed us transact one or two businesses so far and have learnt that which brought them here. These are our future leaders. I believe that in this moment before the present leade…

should prepare very well when they finally get the opportunity to serve this country. I wish them well as they travel back to Nyeri, and in their studies as well. I thank you.

Clerk, kindly call Order No.9.

[(Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale walked into the Chamber)]

Senator for Kakamega County, welcome to the Senate.

[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina) in the Chair]]

Hon. Senators, we are reporting progress on the Conflict-of-Interest Bill (National Assembly Bills No.12 of 2023) . Chairperson?

Hon. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole has considered the President's Memoranda on the Conflict-of- Interest Bill (National Assembly Bills No.12 of 2023) and seeks leave to sit again tomorrow.

represent can allow me because in this House, we legislate, oversight and represent. That is the duty of a Member of Parliament. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, can you imagine if this Petition had found its way into a County Assembly, for example? There was no way they would agree to because they themselves are the abusers of these provisions. If you drive around Nairobi or your counties, you will find…

I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said Report. I request Sen. Oketch Gicheru to second.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I second.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed on)]

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you for this opportunity to support this report. Just last week, I was amongst the delegation at the Pre-Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County as was hosted by the Governor of Homa Bay and the

CoG. You should have seen and we continue to see the kind of interest and the value our people attach to devolution. As I start making my presentation, I want to state to you that devolution should work and devolution must be made to work. I also stated there, that devolution must be made to work and devolution should be supported by everyone else, including the national Government sectors. This …

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I am a member of the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations. I stand to applaud Mr. Laban Omusundi for his very progressive petitions to this House and to Parliament that are very momentous and relevant to the times of our nation at the moment. The issues raised by Mr. Laban Omusundi in terms of barring the appending of personal images and nam…

Mr. Deputy Speaker, you might be aware that in every law we have implemented, and I was a member of the Commission on Implementation of the Constitution, we made it a requirement that before anybody is appointed or elected into public office, they should be compliant with Chapter Six of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. I have just demonstrated how what Mr. Laban Omusundi is talking about is a viol…

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am guided. What I was asking is why a leader should wish a magnanimous leader like Raila Amolo Odinga or anybody death.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to relate to you a story as I wind up. One time we had a by-election in Homa Bay County and one leader indicated that one of the contestants was an old man who would take people to a by-election soon. The next day, we lost that same person who made that allegation. Seven years to date, that old man he was referring is still alive. It is God who gives life. …