Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, confirm whether we have quorum. Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. Call out the first Order.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(Loud consultations)]

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to welcome the Baringo students. Baringo and Nakuru counties used to be one district. I am happy to welcome them. I know it is a very good school. Baringo is a very beautiful county and a tourist destination just like Nakuru. I know your Senator may not have come, but I welcome you on his behalf. You are the future, so learn from he…

Next Order. Proceed, Deputy Senate Majority leader.

Next Order.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 No. (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the illegal acquisition by private individuals of land set for public utilities in Syokimau Estate in Machakos County. In the statement, the committee should:

Sen. Samson Cherarkey.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy 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 the fight against alcohol and drug substance abuse. In the statement, the committee should:

The next Statement is by Sen. Mbugua.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization, and Tourism regarding the status of the tourism sector in the country. In the statement, the committee should-

Sen. Okiya Omtatah, proceed.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization, and Tourism regarding the mismanagement of the cooperative funds in the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives (KUSCCO) . In the statement, the committee should-

Sen. Wafula, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare regarding staff at the management level at Kenya Seed Company. In the statement, the committee should:

Sen. Wamatinga, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defense and Foreign Relations regarding the visa-free requirement for persons travelling to Kenya with the visa free policy. In the statement, the committee should:

I want to give a few Members a chance to make comments on the statements. Let us start with Sen. Tabitha Keroche.

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

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have an issue of national importance. I rise under Standing Order No.1. I beg your indulgence on Article 41 on labour rights. Yesterday, out of your indulgence, I read a statement on Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) interns who are currently on industrial action, wanting to transit from internship to permanent and pensionable terms. Section 35 of Public Service Act provid…

Sen. Cherarkey, I have heard you, but I am not aware whether those are JSS interns outside the gates. Unless you have a mechanism to know that I direct that you draft your Question and push it to the office of the Clerk to process your request.

[(Sen. Cherarkey spoke off record)]

Kindly give him 30 seconds.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, yesterday you allowed me to read a statement on the issue of JSS. The TSC has now issued show cause letters to all the JSS interns across the country. I am requesting that since I had made a similar request yesterday, you direct the Standing Committee on Education to invite the TSC and the Ministry next week so that I do not need to come back.

I have directed that you draft your Question and take it to the office of the Clerk, which will be very happy to process it with the urgency that it deserves. However, for it to be neat, you need to raise the matter through the official way. Even the Chair of the Committee on Education was not interested in knowing what you were talking about. Sen. Tabitha Keroche I had requested you to make you…

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I would like to support the statement raised by Sen. Cherarkey on alcohol and substance abuse and the fight against the same. It is funny that he has brought up the issue of the JSS teachers. One of the questions he is asking for someone to shed light on the measures being taken by the State Department of Internal Security and National Administration in the affe…

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to comment on the statement by Sen. Mbugua on the status of the tourism sector. This sector brings high levels of income to the country amounting to close to over Kshs400 billion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we faced challenges as a country together with many other countries across the world. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, narrowing back to our country, you …

These are great investments that have high incomes. I support this statement and hope it will be expedited because these are areas where people have lost jobs and are high income areas. Further to that, there is the Statement by Sen. Wamatinga in terms of the visa free issue. It is very key and important to note the data and how much revenue it has used. I thank you.

Thank you. Let us proceed to the statement under Standing Order No. 57 (1) Senate Deputy Majority Leader.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Senate Majority Leader, pursuant to Standing Order No.57 (1) , I hereby present the business of the Senate for the week commencing Tuesday, 28th May, 2024. The Status of Legislative business before the Senate is as follows:

Thank you, Deputy Majority Leader. Let us go to the next order.

(Order for First Reading read - Read the First Time and ordered to be referred to the relevant Committee)

Hon. Senators, I reorganize the Order Paper. Orders appearing from No. 9 to 17 are deferred. We will go to Order No.18.

Next order. Sen. Cherarkey, proceed. Second Reading

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this indulgence. I beg to move that The Cancer Prevention and Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 45 of 2022) be now read a Second Time. All of us are aware that cancer is the biggest challenge in this country. If you are not a victim, you are associated with it.

I know a number of Members of the Senate who during the weekend, are either doing a fundraiser or are in WhatsApp groups to pay cancer hospitals bills. Majority of harambees that we do across the country are for cancer cases. This disease continues to ravage and kill our people. The sad thing about cancer is that it does not only kill a person, it also impoverishes families. There are many famili…

or any other procedure, they are doing the current mode of engagement to ensure one is able to see. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, many prominent people have died of cancer and I have mentioned one of them before. Cancer does not select a family, age or who you are. The Reggae icon Bob Marley died of cancer at the age of 36. Many people have died because of it. This issue of e-health means the combine…

[[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Abdul Haji) in the Chair]]

Sen. Cherarkey, do you want to be informed?

Yes, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Crystal Asige, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to inform Sen. Cherarkey of a fact that he may not have been aware of before. As an award- winning musician, I have composed and produced many albums and songs. It will be of great enjoyment for the Senator to know that one of my upcoming albums will be a reggae album. I would hope that he will attend the launch of this album.

I invite any Member of Parliament who enjoys reggae music because we cannot stop reggae music. I appreciate.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. That was useful information. I will attend the launch. No one can stop reggae. Those who supported the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) used this slogan. However, BBI was stopped, but not reggae. Reggae is a way of life. BBI was stopped, but reggae was not stopped. Reggae will continue. I hope to listen to that album when you launch it. I hope Sen. Gataya M…

the reason we are pushing for more resources to go to the counties is to ensure that we put in place the necessary healthcare infrastructure. I am allowed one hour and still have 30 minutes to go, but I want to end there, so that I allow my colleagues to also contribute to this. I expect all Senators to contribute to this Bill and I will be patient to listen on the issue of cancer prevention. Ca…