Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-arms, please, ring the quorum Bell for five minutes. Ring the Quorum Bell for another two minutes. Serjeant-at-arms, I am informed that we do have the requisite quorum. You may stop the Quorum Bell.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery this afternoon of a visiting delegation of Student Leaders from various universities in Kisii County. The delegation is in the Senate for a one-day academic exposition.

Hon. Senators, in our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them and, on behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, wish them a fruitful visit. I will allow the Senate Majority Leader to say short welcoming remarks to the visiting students.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I join you on behalf of the Senate to welcome the visiting delegation from Kisii University. I know a bit of history about this particular university and how they eventually became a fully chartered institution, and the journey they have had to walk as an institution. I am proud to say that, currently, despite being young and not in the league of the older institutio…

[(Sen. Onyonka walked into the Chamber)]

Hon. Senators, I have a further communication. Hon. Senators, yesterday afternoon, the Senate Minority Leader rose on a point of order seeking that the Speaker makes a communication on changes in the leadership of the Minority Side on the grounds that the Political Parties Tribunal had made a ruling yesterday, 14th March, 2023, striking out the complaint that had been launched with it by the Senat…

To this point of order, I ruled that in the same manner that I had previously withheld my Communication in response to the correspondence that the Senate Minority Leader had furnished me with after receipt of an order of the Tribunal served on my office, I could similarly only pronounce myself on the matter after receiving an order to the contrary effect. I further ruled, which is trite law, and w…

The order on the other hand which is in the same terms as the ruling is issued, dated and signed at Nairobi on 15th March 2023 and is under the hand and seal of the tribunal. Hon. Senators, you will recall that on 21st February, 2021, it was indicated from this Chair that while we were ready to deliver the ruling on the correspondence from the Senate Minority Leader on the changes made in the min…

The Senate Minority Leader, more or less, demanded that the changes be communicated at that sitting alleging that failure to do so portrayed badly on the part of the Speakership. Arguments in similar vein were advanced by Senators Ledama Olekina and Sen. Godfrey Osotsi, who also sought the immediate Communication by the Speaker on the matter. On the other hand, the Senate Majority Leader and the…

This must mean that the gaps occasioned by the Standing Orders not providing the manner, medium or timing of communication of the changes must be filled in the manner most consistent with a purposive interpretation of the Standing Orders, and that seeks to give effect to the letter and spirit of the Standing Orders rather than to defeat them. Similarly, there can be no doubt that in giving due co…

Hon. Senators, it is therefore my finding and I so rule, that the letter sent to me by the Senate Minority Leader, met the requirements of the Standing Orders as stipulated in Standing Order No.23 and accordingly-

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate today, Thursday, 16th March, 2023- Report of the Auditor-General on the Mathira Water and Sanitation Company Ltd for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the Kirinyaga County Alcoholic Drinks and Substance Abuse Control Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General…

Report of the Auditor-General on the Kakamega County Microfinance Corporation for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the Kakamega County Maternal Child Health and Family Planning Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the County Executive of Busia for the Year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the County Asse…

Let us go to the next Order, which is Notice of Motion. If Sen. (Dr.) Murango is not here, let us go to the next Order.

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

Hon. Senators, I will proceed to re-arrange this Order Paper, the reason being that there is a Joint Report that we need to adopt which is between us and the National Assembly who have already moved to debate and adopt it. Before we move to Statements, we will first prosecute Order No.8 and thereafter come back to Statements. Clerk, kindly call that Order.

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence, in the Public Gallery this afternoon, of a visiting delegation from Rukanga Secondary School in Kirinyaga County. The delegation comprises three teachers and 44 students who are in the Senate for a one-day study tour. Hon. Senators, in our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them, an…

[(Applause)]

Proceed, Sen. Onyonka and resume the debate.

[(Resumption of debate on the Motion)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. First, I would like to welcome the young trailblazers who have come to this House from

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. First, I would like to welcome the young trailblazers who have come to this House from

Kisii. Many of them happen to be university students who have for a long time been struggling trying to find out what to do. I am happy and I congratulate them for coming here.

[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Abdul Haji) in the Chair]]

effective and have the communities understand that even when trees provide a source of income, it is also important for them to be given an alternative as to what they can plant other than trees that they make revenue out of. I can see the Senator for Nakuru County. If you travel to Naivasha, when you are at Kinungi all the way down past Delamere Farm up to Gilgil--- One man who probably no one …

(MCAs) know who the forest officer is. These are things where we now need to wake up to. We will then come up with interventions so that we make sure we can change the direction our Country is taking and increase the forest cover as we have been advised to do. Looking at United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), we have a world organization stationed in Nairobi. I do not think that in the last…

Sen. Abass, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I also join my colleagues to support this Motion and congratulate the appointees to the Council. As you are aware, climate change has now become a big disaster, especially in Africa. The Britons, the people who have industrialised America, Europe, and all those places where there is a much industrialization have caused a lot of havoc. We must impress on the…

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I also join my colleagues to support this Motion and congratulate the appointees to the Council. As you are aware, climate change has now become a big disaster, especially in Africa. The Britons, the people who have industrialised America, Europe, and all those places where there is a much industrialization have caused a lot of havoc. We must impress on the…

It is high time that the Government had a plan and programme of restocking animals because that land can only be used for livestock keeping. It is also a high time we changed our lifestyle. We need to produce food. Seventy per cent of this country is marginal land. Food production can still be done under irrigation. Today, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are producing food in surplus. Kenya has better lan…

Thank you, Senator. Proceed, Sen. Crystal Asige.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I am pleased that the NCCC has been constituted. I congratulate the nominees that have been appointed to work in the Council. Everyone in this House and across the globe has acknowledged the importance of climate change action. Even though Africa emits the lowest globally emissions globally, which is about four per cent, we are the hardest hit and affected b…

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I am pleased that the NCCC has been constituted. I congratulate the nominees that have been appointed to work in the Council. Everyone in this House and across the globe has acknowledged the importance of climate change action. Even though Africa emits the lowest globally emissions globally, which is about four per cent, we are the hardest hit and affected b…

Accessibility is not something we can add on or consider as half-baked option at the end of our approach and programs. We will have been over-run by events by then. Accessibility must be embedded at the conception stage. I will give some real-life examples so that the Kenyans who are listening can relate. Let me backtrack a bit and start by saying that there is a sharp departure to the effects of…

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. It is always a pleasure to see our children come to our workplace which is also the seat of power. As I welcome these children, I reflect on the care that we give to our children. Today, we are happy that the children of Kitui are here but yesterday, we were very sad in Kakamega. On behalf of the children of Kakamega, these children here will carry home this…

[(Resumption of debate on Motion)]

Thank you, Senator. We are going to resume the debate. Sen. Thang’wa.

Thank you, Senator. We are going to resume the debate. Sen. Thang’wa.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion on the adoption of the report of the Joint Committee of the National Assembly Department Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining and the Senate Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on the appointment as members of the National Climate Change Council laid on the Table. As I rise to support this Moti…

It is an exercise in futility. However, if we can take the exercise of planting trees frequently at a minimal number of three to four per Kenyan, we will be able to achieve this. Research is paramount when it comes to fighting climates change. When we talk about climates change, it is all about food security and off course, securing the future of our generations. We cannot talk about climate chan…

[(Laughter)]

Thank you, Senator. Let us now listen to Sen. Okenyuri.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I support this Motion on the adoption of the Report on the Joint Committee of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining and the Senate Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on the approval hearing of the nominees for appointment as Members of the National Climate Change Council. I congratulate the nominees…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I support this Motion on the adoption of the Report on the Joint Committee of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining and the Senate Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on the approval hearing of the nominees for appointment as Members of the National Climate Change Council. I congratulate the nominees…

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion. I rise to support this Motion on the approval of the appointees of the National Climate Change Council. I want to congratulate His Excellency the President, Dr. William Ruto and Kenya Kwanza for taking climate change very seriously. We though climate change could not happen in an underdeveloped cou…

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this Motion. I rise to support this Motion on the approval of the appointees of the National Climate Change Council. I want to congratulate His Excellency the President, Dr. William Ruto and Kenya Kwanza for taking climate change very seriously. We though climate change could not happen in an underdeveloped cou…

Ahsante Bw. Spika wa Muda. Ningependa kuunga mkono mjadala wa wale ambao wamepata kazi ya mambo ya kupanda miti na mambo ya mazingira. Serikali iko na kibarua kikubwa sana kwa sababu tutapanda miti ambayo itatusaidia kutapata mvua na pia tutapata maji ya kukunywa. Ningependa kushukuru Serikali ya Kenya Kwanza kwa yale wamefanya. Tunajua wale watu ambao wamechaguliwa ni watu ambao wana elimu ya ju…

Ahsante Bw. Spika wa Muda. Ningependa kuunga mkono mjadala wa wale ambao wamepata kazi ya mambo ya kupanda miti na mambo ya mazingira. Serikali iko na kibarua kikubwa sana kwa sababu tutapanda miti ambayo itatusaidia kutapata mvua na pia tutapata maji ya kukunywa. Ningependa kushukuru Serikali ya Kenya Kwanza kwa yale wamefanya. Tunajua wale watu ambao wamechaguliwa ni watu ambao wana elimu ya ju…

Sen. Joe Nyutu, please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to also say something regarding the appointment of these three Kenyans to the National Climate Change Council. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, allow me to first laud our President, His Excellency William Samoei Ruto, for finding it fit to ensure that we have a council, so that we can address the issue of climate change that affects…

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to also say something regarding the appointment of these three Kenyans to the National Climate Change Council. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, allow me to first laud our President, His Excellency William Samoei Ruto, for finding it fit to ensure that we have a council, so that we can address the issue of climate change that affects…

Hon. Senators, I have a communication to make regarding visiting teachers from Stone Town Academy in Lamu County.

[(Interruption of debate on the Motion)]

Hon. Senators, I have a communication to make regarding visiting teachers from Stone Town Academy in Lamu County.

[(Interruption of debate on the Motion)]

The next Statement is by the Senator for Murang’a County, Sen. Joe Nyutu, but I do not see him. Therefore, the Statement is deferred.

The next Statement is by the Senator for Murang’a County, Sen. Joe Nyutu, but I do not see him. Therefore, the Statement is deferred.

The next Statement is by the Senator for Taita-Taveta County, Sen. Mwaruma, who is equally not in the House. So, that Statement is deferred.

The Senator for Kajiado County, Sen. Seki, is also not in the House. That Statement is deferred.

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Sen. Mundigi. That Statement is committed to the relevant committee. Sen. Thang’wa, you have the Floor.

Thank you, Sen. Mundigi. That Statement is committed to the relevant committee. Sen. Thang’wa, you have the Floor.

What is your point of order, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale?

Mr Temporary Speaker, Sir, I just wanted to appeal to you. Even if the Statement is conclusive, we have some little supplementary issues on the same. If you could indulge us, please.

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, we have a long list of items under the Standing Order, which had been suspended and I am afraid. If I were to use my discretion to grant Members time to comment, then a maximum of a minute on a supplementary bit. I believe that was also the concern by Sen. Mundigi. Well, I will give you strictly one minute to comment on that Statement. Clerk, kindly set the timer for one minu…

[(Sen. Munyi Mundigi spoke off record)]

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, we have a long list of items under the Standing Order, which had been suspended and I am afraid. If I were to use my discretion to grant Members time to comment, then a maximum of a minute on a supplementary bit. I believe that was also the concern by Sen. Mundigi. Well, I will give you strictly one minute to comment on that Statement. Clerk, kindly set the timer for one minu…

[(Sen. Munyi Mundigi spoke off record)]

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, proceed.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I just wanted to use the opportunity to appreciate the new Government. Can you imagine it is done! I laud the Chair for this very rapid response; more importantly, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) , Sen. Murkomen. This is the way we want to lead this country. I understand that this was a project for Kshs15 million. I ask the Senator of Embu County to take it easy. Talk to t…

The Senate Majority Whip to issue a Statement on the Business of the Senate for the week commencing Tuesday, 21st March, 2023. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, you may proceed.

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

What is your point of order, Chairperson of Committee on Roads and Transportation?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I seek indulgence on the Standing Order No.56 (1) . I know it has been a tradition where a Statement is requested by a certain Member and they read the Statement as it is written without adding any other input or even the background behind that Statement. The person who requests, noting that he cannot add anything, other Members are granted an opportunity to comment on …

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I seek indulgence on the Standing Order No.56 (1) . I know it has been a tradition where a Statement is requested by a certain Member and they read the Statement as it is written without adding any other input or even the background behind that Statement. The person who requests, noting that he cannot add anything, other Members are granted an opportunity to comment on …

Sen. Thang’wa, conclude on your point of order.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I conclude.

[(Laughter)]

[(Laughter)]

Sen. Thang’wa, you note that Standing Order No.56 (3) (1) permits the Chair to allow comments for not more than 20 minutes. I believe that your concern is taken care of. Senate Majority Whip, please, read the Statement.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, pursuant to Standing Order No.57 (1) , I hereby present the business of the Senate for the week commencing Tuesday, 21st, March 2023. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the status of the legislative business as of today is that there are 15 Bills, which are at the Second Reading stage. Five of these Bills are scheduled in today's Order Paper at Order Nos.9, 10, 11, 12 and 13,…

Next Order.

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

What is your point of order, Sen. Mandago?

The Majority Whip laid a Paper on Thursday, 2022. He needs to correct that in the HANSARD. It is 2023.

Majority Whip, please take note.

Thank you, for that correction. I request that the Clerk treats it as a typo and makes the necessary correction. It is 2023.

Clerk, please, take note. Call the next Order.

Clerk, please, take note. Call the next Order.

This is also a Bill by Sen. Wambua, who is not in the House. It is deferred to the next Sitting.

Next Order. Second Reading

This is a Bill sponsored by Sen. Crystal Asige, who is not in the House. It is deferred to the next Sitting. Next Order.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I request that you defer till next week when the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts is briefed.

That is noted. The Motion is deferred to the next Sitting. Next Order.

That is noted. The Motion is deferred to the next Sitting. Next Order.

This is a Motion that ought to have come for resumption. Sen. Orwoba, the Mover, is not in the House. It is deferred to the next Sitting. Next Order!

This is a Motion that ought to have come for resumption. Sen. Orwoba, the Mover, is not in the House. It is deferred to the next Sitting. Next Order!

This Motion sponsored by Sen. Chute, who is not in the House. It is deferred to the next Sitting. Next Order.

This Motion sponsored by Sen. Chute, who is not in the House. It is deferred to the next Sitting. Next Order.

This Motion is sponsored by Sen. Wamatinga, who is not in the House. It is deferred to the next Sitting. Next Order

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

What is your point of order, Senate Majority Whip?

What is your point of order, Senate Majority Whip?

Senate Majority Whip, remember this issue came before the Senate Business Committee (SBC) . We discussed in extenso, the consequences of Members allowing their Motions and Statements to be put in the Order Paper, when they know they will not be present. As a matter of fact, a position was taken, that where you have your Motion on the Order Paper, it is expected of you to be present. In the event …

Senate Majority Whip, remember this issue came before the Senate Business Committee (SBC) . We discussed in extenso, the consequences of Members allowing their Motions and Statements to be put in the Order Paper, when they know they will not be present. As a matter of fact, a position was taken, that where you have your Motion on the Order Paper, it is expected of you to be present. In the event …

Sen. Kavindu Muthama and hon. Members, it is now 6.30 p.m. Senator, for your comfort, you still have 13 minutes in the next Sitting, to continue to move your Motion. You have only utilized seven minutes and you still have 13 minutes.

Sen. Kavindu Muthama and hon. Members, it is now 6.30 p.m. Senator, for your comfort, you still have 13 minutes in the next Sitting, to continue to move your Motion. You have only utilized seven minutes and you still have 13 minutes.