Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Order, Senators. We now have quorum. Let us proceed with the business of the day.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Senate Majority Leader, you have Papers this afternoon

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, Thursday, 25th September 2025- The Crops (Bixa) Regulations .

[(Legal Notice No.145 of 2025)]

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

Next is the Chairperson, Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, Sen. Abass or the Vice- Chairperson.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the Chairperson, Committee of Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, 25th September, 2025- Report of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on a Petition to the Senate by Mr. Japheth Makokha, the Executive Director of Triple the Impact CBO, to amen…

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

Next Order. Sen. Mumma, give notice of the Motion.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the Chairperson, Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations, I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on a Petition to the Senate by Mr. Japheth Makokha, the Executive Director of Triple the Impact CBO, to amend the County Go…

Next Order.

No, have your seat.

I have a simple issue to raise. Allow me to issue just a statement.

I gave you a very clear guidance.

Thank you.

I gave you some guidance. Have a seat and approach the Chair after that. Proceed, Senator from Busia County. You have two Statements, read them simultaneously.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Energy on a matter of countywide concern regarding electricity connectivity in Busia County with particular emphasis on rural areas. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, rural areas in Busia County continue to face severe electricity challenges, including lack of power connectivi…

further been referring patients to private institutions for essential diagnostic services undermining its mandate as the national referral hospital. In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Very well. Order, hon. Senators. The three Senators standing on the gangways, familiarise yourselves with Standing Order No.118. Senators should always be seated. Let me read it for them, for clarity. Standing Order No.118 reads as follows- “Except when passing to and from his or her seat or when speaking, every Senator when in the Chamber shall be seated and shall not at any time stand in any of…

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health on a matter of countywide concern regarding the state of public sanitation infrastructure in Kisumu County, particularly within high-traffic public spaces such as markets, bus parks and beaches in Kisumu County. Despite consistent budgetary allocations by the C…

pose serious public health risks and undermine the dignity of residents, traders and visitors alike. In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the public gallery this afternoon, of a visiting delegation from Zion School in Utawala, Nairobi City County. The delegation consists of 35 students and seven teachers. In our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and on behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, I wish…

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for that kind indulgence. These young children from Zion School, Utawala, came in early before the session began and we were having a small conversation with them. I asked them if they knew who I was and

all of them said no. You can see they are fairly young. So, I had to request the Deputy Speaker that when the session begins, let me welcome them formally to the Senate and introduce myself to them. My name is Edwin Sifuna. I am the Senator of Nairobi City and this school is in Utawala. I want them to know their Member of Parliament is called Babu Owino. He is also elected on the same party as th…

Okay, thank you. The good thing is that the children are not aware of your intention. So, I also give them my greetings from Meru and the Senate of Kenya. There are a few Senators. I can open a few minutes for comments, starting with Sen. David Wakoli Wafula. Proceed, Sen. Beatrice Akinyi Ogola.

[(Resumption of Statements)]

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to support the Statement on the state of the Kenyatta National Hospital. As I support this Statement, it is important to note that Kenyatta National Hospital, being a national referral hospital, requires massive funding. All what Sen. Omtatah has enumerated here is right. However, we need to reflect as a country whether we are giving the right funding to…

Every other Kenyan runs to the KNH, that same hospital, because of the increase in the number of patients with terminal illnesses amongst the population. As I support Sen. Omtatah, I also rise to congratulate the Social Support Department of this institution for the work they do. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to comment on the Statement by Sen. (Prof.) Ojienda on the medical institutions i…

Let me give a different direction; let us first do statements under Standing Order No. 56 (1) (B) , so that if any Senator has to comment, they do them together. The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) , proceed. Do we have any Statements from the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights and the Committee on Labour and Social …

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No. 56 (1) (B) of the Senate Standing Orders to make a statement relating to the activities of the Standing Committee on ICT for the period between April to September, 2025. During the period under review, the Committee held a total of 21 sittings, during which it considered one Bill, 16 Statements and two inquiries. The Committee considered …

Two Statements sought by Sen. Lenku Seki Olekina, MP on the Administration of the Universal Service Fund and Status of Implementation of the National Digital Superhighway and the Last Mile Connectivity Projects under the Universal Service Fund, was considered by the Committee and included as part of the Committee inquiry into the governance, implementation and impact of the Universal Service Fund …

The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, proceed. Vice-Chairperson, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I have the Quarterly Statement of the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 56 (1) (B) of the Senate Standing Orders to make a Statement relating to the activities of the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights for the period commencing 1st May, 2025, to date. The Standing Co…

business, including the implementation of the Resolution of the Senate on the current state of the nation. The Committee considered one legislative proposal namely, the Draft Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) (Amendment) Bill 2025, sponsored by the Senator for Nyamira County, Sen. Okong’o Omogeni, SC, CBS, MP. During the period under review, the Committee concluded the Constitutional …

period. These included the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCHR), the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) and the Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC). Others were the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, the Council of Governors (CoG), the County Assemblies Forum (CAF),…

Thank you. The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) (B) of the Senate Standing Orders to make a Statement related to the activities of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare for the period between May and August 2025. During the period under review, the Committee held a total of 39 sittings during which it considered seven statements, two Bills, legislativ…

The Committee also considered two other Petitions; the non-payment of terminal benefits and Maziwa SACCO dues for former employees of KCC Limited and the winding up and liquidation of the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme. The Committee intends to conclude all these petitions by the end of the session. The Committee is pursuing three inquiries namely, the welfar…

Before I give a few Members opportunity to make comments, I wish to make a Communication.

[(Interruption of Statements)]

Next Order. No, I want it recalled because of the disorganisation of the Order, please.

[(A Member spoke off record)]

Asante Bi. Spika wa Muda.

Kwanza, ningependa kusema kwamba, hospitali inayotegemewa sana katika nchi yetu ya Kenya ni hospitali kuu ya Kenyatta. Hii ni hospitali ambayo ina wapa matumaini mengi sana wananchi wa Kenya. Bi. Spika wa Muda, ni jambo la aibu kuona hospitali hiyo ikianza kuzorota. Juzi, tulisikia ya kwamba mgonjwa ambaye alikuwa ameletwa katika hospitali hiyo alipatikana amekufa kwa kuchinjwa kama kuku. Hio ina…

I strongly support that we pass this Schedule for our counties to enjoy. However, it is sad that people have gone without salaries for the past four or three months now yet they are servicing their loans and paying school fees. It is pathetic that we have to experience this kind of situation year in, year out. I support.

Madam Temporary Speaker, from the word go, I want to declare that I support the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget. Counties are distinct governments. It is unfortunate that we are always lamenting about disbursements throughout the financial year. I feel like counties are on the receiving end when it comes to disbursement yet the law is very clear. The law clearly states that…

Our people need to get drugs in hospitals. It pains me when I am in the village and I see women carrying sick children, or even women and men who are sick. When they are sick and they go to hospitals, but they miss drugs in the name of funds not being disbursed to counties. It is important to note that sickness can come at any time. Our people cannot wait to be sick when funds have been disbursed.…

Sen. Mariam, please proceed.

Finalise whatever you are saying, then we will move to the next Order again. We will call it afresh. The Senate Minority Leader (

I am reading this because, where I come from, there is a lack of water. There is also the issue of the healthcare system. I urge the counties to take priority where people are concerned. If they planned well, the issue of water will be taken care of. A while ago, we were commenting on healthcare and about the overcrowding at the KNH. Most referral hospitals are in counties which cannot handle. Th…

procurement? Why do they not want to use e-procurement if IFMIS is being used by every county and also nationally? Madam Temporary Speaker, with those remarks, I support the Motion.

I do not see any more interest. I now wish to call upon the Mover to reply.

Next Order. No, I want it recalled because of the disorganisation of the Order, please.

[(A Member spoke off record)]

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Yesterday, I captured a number of my fellow Senators debate regarding the disbursement of funds to counties. It is very sad that we have only been around for close to three years and yet we have witnessed very serious disconnect between the Exchequer and the counties. The counties have gone without the intended allocations for three months and people have gone w…

Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to move- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Select Committee on Delegated Legislation on its consideration of the Affordable Housing Regulations , laid on the Table of the Senate on Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 and that pursuant to Section 59 (4) of the Affordable Housing Act, 2024, the Senate resolves to approve the Affordable Housing Regulations . Th…

[(Legal Notice No. 114 of 2025)]

[(Legal Notice No. 114 of 2025)]

Madam Temporary Speaker, from the word go, I want to declare that I support the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget. Counties are distinct governments. It is unfortunate that we are always lamenting about disbursements throughout the financial year. I feel like counties are on the receiving end when it comes to disbursement yet the law is very clear. The law clearly states that…

Sen. Lomenen, you may proceed.

Madam Speaker, in due respect, I support the Motion by Sen. More Fire.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I also rise to add my voice to this Motion of the cash disbursement schedule, which was brought by the Committee on Finance and Budget. I am one of the Members who passed the schedule. My concern is, let the National Treasury not take this disbursement as a formality. We normally have this formality yearly. Let them not take it a…

Madam Temporary Speaker, it is Sen. Gataya. I call him Sen. More Fire.

[(Laughter)]

Madam Temporary Speaker, the resolutions read by my respective Senator create employment and social development in our nation. I will give a case study. We have been hearing about housing. However, recently we met this reality in Turkana County where more than 2,000 houses are planned to be built, especially in new institutions that are being created in that area. Imagine, we were very happy as l…

[(Question proposed)]

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale.

Madam Temporary Speaker, having said that, I beg to reply. Due to obvious reasons, I request that the putting of the question under Standing Order No.66(3) be delayed to a later date. I thank you.

achieving an unprecedented growth of 7.2 per cent. We shall remember Kibaki. Thanks to this, we were able to construct the Thika Superhighway. Out moved Kibaki, in came Uhuru. Despite the confusion around the Jubilee Government and all the noise, Uhuru built the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). He went on and built the Express Highway here in Nairobi plus the other roads that he touched here and the…

Hon. Members, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the public gallery this afternoon of visiting students from Busia University and the College Students Association. The delegation consists of 12 students. 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 my own behalf, I wish them a fruitful vis…

[(Sen. Okiya Omtatah moved to the Dispatch Box)]

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity to welcome the delegation from Busia. I was not aware of their presence because I was not informed. However, I am happy that they are here. I would like to inform them that we shall be having the Senate Mashinani. Therefore, they are welcome in Busia to air their views about what the Senate can help to do for them from sixth of next month…

[(Resumption of debate on the Motion)]

that the word “ingokho” has the word “ingo” inside it. I would like the Senate Majority Leader to understand. In ingokho, we have ingo. When you see that bird, it means there is a home around there. That bird is a sign that the area is settled. Therefore, it was not an idle statement that Sen. Sifuna made. It is an important cultural--- There must be a chicken otherwise there will be no home. Tha…

[(Laughter)]

Sen. Okoiti, I want to warn you that you are not on a campaign platform for your presidential ambitions.

I am guided, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. There is another disregard of the law. Other than being built on public land, they are using money that is collected from Kenyans as a levy, which makes it public money. In essence, that is public property. We have got Article 227 of the Constitution which requires that disposal of public property must be done in a competitive and effective manner. The Publ…

[(Sen. Cherarkey spoke off record)]

[(Applause)]

For the benefit of Sen. Omtatah, it is the Chair who permits Members to speak. Take your seat, Senator. Take your seat, Sen. Okiya Omtatah. Sen. Wamatinga Wahome, you may proceed.

[(Sen. Okiya Omtatah spoke off record)]

Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Indeed, I came to your dashboard and I went to talk to my colleague to allow me to say something. A lot of technicalities have been spoken about this affordable housing. As I stand, I want to beg my colleagues to look at the history of this country, way back in 1963. I want to draw a parallel between where Kenya was and where Singapore and Malaysia…

Therefore, it is imperative that we, as leaders, say yes. We have a problem that has persisted for the last 62 years and I would like to commend the Kenya Kwanza Government because we know that every successful Government has committed itself to ensuring that there is a provision of affordable housing. None of them heard and none of them wanted to take this unpopular decision of introducing this h…

I thank His Excellency the President because we know four of his predecessors were not able to make this hard decision. However, he has taken the bull by its horns. I am a proud Kenyan for contributing to the Housing Levy because I also want to be counted among those who played an active role in ensuring that Kenyans get affordable and decent housing. We should start fighting the development of sl…

decision. We, as the political class, need to support him, so that we can change Kenya, and the change begins here, and the change begins today. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support because it is the right thing to do.

Thank you, Sen. Wamatinga. Let us now have Sen. Catherine Mumma.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to speak to these regulations. I begin with a dilemma that we must resolve as a House. The committee, in its report, has clearly indicated that the executive did not comply with the law. It actually did not submit these regulations within the statutory timelines that were required to be submitted. So, I ask myself, what is the consequence of …

Sen. Catherine Mumma, unfortunately, it is 6.30 p.m. However, when the House resumes, you will have a balance of 17 minutes to continue your contribution to the report.