Senate · Morning Sitting
Thursday, 21 November 2024
The Senate and National Assembly speakers formally convened a joint special sitting to receive the President’s constitutional address, outlining progress on national values, governance, and international obligations. President William Ruto highlighted rapid socio‑economic change, citizen empowerment, and Kenya’s readiness to host the 14th East African Community Inter‑Parliamentary Games. The debate was largely procedural and forward‑looking, with an optimistic tone toward national transformation. President William Ruto addressed citizens' concerns about high living costs, unemployment and education while outlining the government's response to economic challenges. He highlighted macro‑economic improvements such as a stronger shilling and lower inflation, and cited sectoral gains in sugar, coffee and dairy production. The speech combined acknowledgment of ongoing hardships with optimism about the country’s turnaround. President William Ruto highlighted the government’s progress in three priority areas: the recruitment of 56,000 teachers to strengthen education, the launch of universal health coverage through the Social Health Insurance Act and the new Taifa Care system, and the rollout of the Affordable Housing Programme with the sale of 4,888 new units and the creation of 164,000 jobs. He urged Kenyans to register for the health scheme and to apply for housing, emphasizing transparency, equity and the broader economic boost from these initiatives.
Order, Hon. Members. Let us all be seated. Your Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) William Samoei Ruto, CGH., President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces; the Rt. Hon. Dr. Moses Wetangula EGH, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly; Hon. Members of Parliament, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Article 132 (1) (b) , of our Constitution provides that the President sh…
In addition, Article 240(7) of the Constitution requires the President, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the National Security Council to report to Parliament annually on the state of security in Kenya. In this regard, the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, vide a letter referenced No.EOP/CAB.26/4a Vol. 4(178), dated 9th September, 2024, informed the Speakers of the Houses of Parliam…
Your Excellency, Hon. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, CGH., President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces; the Rt. Hon. Amason King EGH., MP, Hon. Speaker of the Senate; Hon. Members of Parliament; members of the Diplomatic Corps; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen, Article 132 (1) (b) of the Constitution requires the President to address the nation once every ye…
Community and the East African Legislative Assembly and are part of the deepening, widening, and tightening of the integration process. The games are scheduled to commence next month on 7th December, 2024 in Mombasa County and all is set in readiness for these games. Moving on, Your Excellency, it is in the custom of Parliament to recognize invited guests seated in our galleries. I, therefore, wi…
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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir.
The Hon. Speakers of Parliament, the Hon. Members, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. I am honoured to address you today in the fulfilment of the mandate vested in me under Article 132(1)(c) of the Constitution; to report to you and to the people of Kenya on the measures we have taken, and the progress we have made in realising our national values and principles of governance; and to submit to yo…
Additionally, there have been conversations about our education system, particularly the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and whether policies in this sector are working for or against Kenyans. Important questions have also been raised concerning the direction of development in relation to democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as the rule of law, transparency…
Kshs162 to the dollar in February 2024 to Kshs129 today, a remarkable gain of 20 per cent. This recovery has restored confidence in our financial markets and significantly reduced the cost of servicing external debt, creating physical space for our development imperatives. Inflation has declined dramatically from 9.6 per cent in September 2022 to
metric tonnes, surpassing the national monthly consumption average of 40,000 metric tonnes. For the first time in recent history, Kenya is producing enough sugar to meet our local demand. This success is attributed to many factors; subsidised fertiliser for sugar cane farmers, an additional 500,000 acres that has been brought under production and improved management of the sugar sector, which has…
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To address this issue in our education sector, we have already hired, as you know Members, 56,000 teachers and are in the process of recruiting another 20,000 by January next year.
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long, too many households have lived on the edge, just one inch less away from financial catastrophe. Our healthcare system has historically neglected the poor and vulnerable, leaving them without any option, while private sector medical coverage remained out of reach for the majority. This is precisely what we will correct through the provision of universal health coverage. This agenda is not j…
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interaction, we are tackling corruption, reducing inefficiencies and ensuring that resources are used where they are needed most. As a result, the good news is, SHA will pay all October claims in full by next week and it will continue like that going into the future.
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Dear Kenyans, we have a date with an urban future and the only choice we have is what this urban future will look like. Will it be characterized by decent, dignified, safe and liveable neighbourhoods and communities, or will it be haphazard, unsanitary, unsafe slum dwellings? This is the fundamental question that our Affordable Housing plan seeks to answer. Kenya has a serious housing deficit and…
made significant strides in implementing another key pillar of our manifesto; labour migration. This initiative seeks to harness Kenya's abundant human capital by creating meaningful job opportunities abroad, empowering our citizens and positioning Kenyan talent on the global stage. Since July, 2023, we have successfully facilitated employment of 105,367 Kenyans across multiple countries in a wide…
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To mark the Fund’s second anniversary, we have taken a bold step by launching a third product, specifically tailored for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This new initiative will initially target two million beneficiaries who have demonstrated a strong credit history with the Fund. By so doing, we aim to create a pathway for these entrepreneurs to transition into the formal banking system, th…
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We have a democracy which we are proud of, must defend and should defend by all means. At the same time, we have citizens whose lives and rights we must protect and a nation whose security, stability and prosperity we must safeguard. The task at hand is complicated if citizens and state agencies dilute the distinction between the lawful and the criminal, the just and the unjust, thereby making it…
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This is both tragic and unacceptable. It also complicates, in disturbing ways, the struggle by Kenyan women for inclusion, equality, dignity, social justice, their rights and protection, a section of our society that has been marginalised for a long time.
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Government services and revenue collection to promote transparency, seal loopholes that lead to revenue losses, enhance accountability and eliminate opportunities for corruption, therefore improving efficiency, transparency and integrity. I am delighted to report to this House on the dramatic improvements we have recorded by automating and digitizing our revenue collection and service delivery th…
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Members, it is also unacceptable for the Houses of Parliament to deny the nation a much-needed instrument in the war against corruption, by continuing to sabotage the passage of the Conflict of Interest Bill.
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Hon. Members, the work of taking our nation forward is our collective responsibility as citizens. For this reason, we value the contribution of all, whether they come in the form of support or encouragement, suggestion or proposal, criticism or protest. I believe that the most powerful component of leadership is listening and learning. Therefore, I engage with you and listen to all citizens, thei…
ready for harvest. So is economic transformation; it requires hard work, investment of resources, patience and faith. We have planted the seed and all over the field it is beginning to sprout. While, admittedly, there remains much to fulfill, our collective hope to deliver the national economic transformation that this nation so dearly deserves, is on course. I am proud to declare that we have al…
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Order, Hon. Members. Your Excellency the President, the Right Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Members, distinguished guests, please be upstanding. We have come to the end of the business of the day and it is now time to adjourn. The Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 26th November, 2024 at 2.30 p.m. in the Senate chamber.
Hon. Members of the National Assembly, the National Assembly now stands adjourned until Monday, 25th November, 2024 at 2.30 p.m. I will repeat. The National Assembly stands adjourned until Monday, 25th November, 2024 at 2.30 p.m.
I also take this opportunity to invite all Hon. Members and our guests to a reception at the Parliament’s courtyard. I also request all of you, Hon. Members and our guests to remain standing in your places until the procession of His Excellency the President and the Speakers of the two Houses leave the Chamber.