Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 22 May 2025
The Senate addressed a procedural dispute over a committee’s mandated visit to Nyamira County Assembly, with the Speaker ordering the resolution be communicated and the visit carried out locally. The debate then turned to the Division of Revenue Bill, where Sen. Cheruiyot launched a forceful critique of county governments for overspending on salaries, lacking long‑term financial plans, and ineffective devolution projects such as CAIPs, urging stronger regulation and accountability. Sen. Cheruiyot advocated for the Cooperative Development Bill, highlighting its role in safeguarding members’ savings, establishing national and county‑level regulatory offices, and creating a tribunal system to resolve disputes. He stressed the need for devolved oversight to prevent fund misappropriation and called for differentiated rules for large and small cooperatives. While supportive of the legislation, he warned against potential abuse and urged careful implementation. Sen. Olekina expressed concerns that the proposed co‑operative bill lacks clear data, integration with existing programmes such as the Women Enterprise Fund, and risks stifling innovation. He called for better inter‑ministerial coordination, a devolved approach to governance, and the use of technology like AI to inform policy. While offering constructive suggestions, he criticised centralised control and the current legislative drafts.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we do have quorum now, so we will proceed with the business for the afternoon. Clerk, kindly, call the First Order.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Public Gallery this afternoon of visiting teachers and students from Bright Light Preparatory School in Kajiado County. The delegation comprises six teachers and 47 students who are in the Senate for a one-day academic exposition.
In our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation. On behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, I wish them a fruitful visit. I thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I want to join you in thanking the students and teachers from Bright Light Academy in Kajiado County. I want to congratulate them for finding time to be with us here. This is the Senate of Kenya. It is a Parliament where we deliberate issues concerning counties and national issues. I want to welcome you and inform you that we have three Senators from Kajiado in this S…
Sen. Peris, since you are already on your feet, I will allow you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, and Sen. Seki. Since Sen. Seki had been given a minute which he was gracious enough to donate to me, let me just welcome the students and teachers from Bright Light School in Kajiado County. Kajiado is the home of all Kenyans. In Kajiado, we host all Kenyans and we have very good academic facilities. I know this school and many others produce leaders and professionals …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also want to join you on behalf of my colleagues in the Senate to extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation from the USA.
For the avoidance of doubt and to clear the mind of the Chairman of my Committee of Roads and Transportation who is wondering why the Deputy Minority Leader should be the one to welcome the delegation from the USA; for the record, yours truly went to school in the USA. I studied at Smith College in Massachusetts between 2007 and 2008, fully sponsored by the school and seconded for the studies by …
Next Order.
RECOGNIZING the need to align Kenya’s development with global standards in AI adoption while also safeguarding national values, inclusivity, and employment; CONCERNED THAT currently there is no comprehensive legislative or policy framework to guide the governance, development, or ethical use of AI in Kenya a phenomenon that is potentially likely to affect innovation among local startups and youth-…
Is Sen. Onyonka not here? That Statement is dropped.
County dumpsite which has resulted in severe environmental degradation and a threat to the public health. The dumpsite has been a long-standing source of public concern who continue to suffer the effects of mismanagement waste disposal, including improper handling of hazardous and medical waste. In 2020, the Senate received a Petition from Wajir residents seeking intervention. The responsible Co…
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations on a matter of countrywide concern regarding the shooting and killing of residents at Ang’ata Barikoi by police officers. Mr. Speaker Sir, on Monday 28th April, 2025, five people, including a six-year- old child were killed following an…
In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-
Statement pursuant to Standing Order No.57 (1) . Proceed, Senate Majority Leader.
[(Loud consultation)]
Mr. Speaker, Sir, pursuant to Standing Order No.57 (1) , I hereby present the business for the week commencing Tuesday, 27th May,
The tentative business for the morning sitting on Wednesday, 28th May, 2025 will include the following questions to Cabinet Secretaries as approved by the SBC as well as the Motions.
Proceed, Sen. Mungatana.
The Chairperson Standing Committee, this is the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bills No.10 of 2025) . The mover is the Senator Majority Leader. You may proceed to reply.
am not wrong, were spending more than half the resources that we devolved on paying salaries. Surely, why should you want to be called a governor? Your name should be turned to paymaster general. You are just a salaries payment officer if you are disposing more than half of the shareable revenue that is due to your county to pay salaries alone. I have said that this business of telling us that in…
that money at the Ministry of Health here at Afya House instead of sending all that money to the counties? We can calculate and we know what a stipend is. What is this obsession we have in our country of holding on to resources that we do not need, even people's salaries? At least we know that if Sen. Eddy is looking for a kickback, there are no kickbacks in people’s salaries, at least sign that …
and we have borrowed this much.” We borrowed because they passed a budget that has a deficit of close to Kshs1 trillion and we do not have any other way of meeting the budget. We want to have this conversation, but it cannot be because someone is no longer wanted by his colleagues. They cannot suddenly want to talk down on everybody and tell us, “oh, this and that is not right.” We are now being …
I hope that I am still responding to comments made by my colleagues on the Division of Revenue Bill (National Bills No.10 of 2025). In this country, you can follow things and you wonder. We want equity. There is a point that I said, but it perhaps got lost. In the new formula, the Fourth Generation Formula, there is an element called the gross county product which looks at how much a county has b…
[(Loud Consultations)]
The putting of the question is deferred. Next Order.
[(Putting of the question deferred)]
I hope that I am still responding to comments made by my colleagues on the Division of Revenue Bill (National Bills No.10 of 2025). In this country, you can follow things and you wonder. We want equity. There is a point that I said, but it perhaps got lost. In the new formula, the Fourth Generation Formula, there is an element called the gross county product which looks at how much a county has b…
[(Loud Consultations)]
The putting of the question is deferred. Next Order.
[(Putting of the question deferred)]
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to reply to the Creative Economy Support Bill (Senate Bills No. 30 of 2024) . Just like devolution, the creative economy has also suffered because it did not have champions. You saw the Baba effect today when he came to address us here. You have seen what one meeting with Baba has done to the Senate Majority Leader. He is fired up becaus…
Very well. The putting of the question on Order No.9 is deferred. Additionally, Orders No.10, 11, and 12 are also deferred.
[(Putting of question on the Bill deferred)]
[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]]
the creative industry, or production, television, publishing, commentary, newspaper writing, or book publishing. These are all elements of the creative industry that we cannot lose sight of, especially at this time when AI is shaping the trajectory of economies worldwide. We must not loose sight on the need to make a case for creatives as a viable business option in this country and a significant…
Very well. The putting of the question on Order No.9 is deferred. Additionally, Orders No.10, 11, and 12 are also deferred.
[(Putting of question on the Bill deferred)]
Hon. Senators, it is now 6.37 p.m. Having concluded the business for which I extended the hours of sitting, pursuant to Standing Order No.34 (2A) , the Senate stands adjourned until next week Tuesday, 27th May, 2025, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 6.37 p.m.