Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 29 September 2022
The Speaker outlined a broad agenda to accelerate Kenya’s transformation, highlighting investments in agriculture, affordable credit through the Hustler Fund, and public‑private partnerships for housing, water, electricity and health services. He emphasized reforms to improve judicial efficiency, expand digital financing, and urged legislative action to enable these initiatives. The tone is optimistic and focused on delivering concrete infrastructure and social welfare outcomes. The joint sitting was convened for the President’s inaugural address, beginning with prayers and formal notices confirming the session’s legality. Speakers highlighted record numbers of re‑elected MPs, increased women legislators, and the unique political transition that saw the opposition candidate become President, underscoring Kenya’s democratic maturity. The proceedings were received with applause and light‑hearted remarks. The Speaker warned that Kenya’s fiscal position is weak, with savings below 10% of GDP and heavy reliance on borrowing for recurrent spending. He proposed cutting non‑essential expenditures, launching a national savings drive for informal workers, and highlighted ongoing drought relief and climate‑action measures, while urging better parliamentary oversight. The remarks combined criticism of current policies with constructive proposals for reform.
Your Excellency, the President, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, hon. Members and invited guests, at this juncture, allow me to invite our spiritual leaders to lead us in prayers. (Prayers were then said by the following spiritual leaders:Bishop Kepha Omae, Sheikh Sukyan Hassan Omar, His Grace Bishop Philip Anyolo, Rt. (Rev.) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, and Mr. Mancha Ole Kupai Se…
The Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Members of Parliament, invited guests, you may now take your seats. Your Excellency, Hon. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Moses Wetangula E.G.H MP, hon. Members of Parliament, Article 132 (1) (a) of the Constituti…
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Your Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) William Samoei Ruto, CGH, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces, the Speaker of the Senate, Rt. Hon. Amason Kingi, the Hon. Lady Justice Martha Koome, EGH, Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, hon. Members of Parliament, members of the Diplomatic corps, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I w…
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We are also pleased to host the former Vice President of the Republic, Hon. Musalia Mudavadi, EGH, former speakers of the Houses of Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Justine Bedan Muturi, EGH, my immediate predecessor and the Rt. Hon. Gov. Kenneth Lusaka, EGH.
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The Hon. Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate, hon. Members of the National Assembly and the Senate, by the grace of God, it is my pleasure to address this inaugural Session of the 13th Parliament following the August 9th, 2022 General Elections. It is important to note that we have made very positive progress. This Parliament has recorded the highest number of re-elected Members of Parli…
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commitments; aimed at positively affecting the wellbeing of all Kenyans from the bottom, up. In summary – and this only happens in Kenya, by the way – the siting Deputy President became the candidate of the Opposition, and the Leader of the Opposition became the candidate of Government. As things would be, the opposition candidate won the election and became President. The President became the le…
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It is in this spirit, that I would be seeking additional resources to support the bottom-up scaling of justice; and empower the Judiciary to acquire capacity and develop the infrastructure needed, to more efficiently adjudicate and expeditiously conclude corruption cases, commercial disputes and all other matters that are a huge back log on the Judiciary today. Hon. Members, to implement the pled…
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My administration will allocate resources every year to the Hustlers Fund from which micro, small and medium enterprises can access affordable credit to start and expand their businesses. Yesterday, I promised that we will leverage on technology in the management and disbursement of these funds. Shortly, we will be bringing to this House the legislation and regulatory framework to operationalise t…
Hon. Speakers and Hon. Members, I have news and it is not very good news. Our financial situation is not very good. For Kenya to grow to an upper income country, we need to invest at least 25 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Our current national savings is below 10 per cent of our GDP which translates to an investment-savings deficit of 15 per cent of our GDP. Over the last decade, …
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public, that is the NSSF, and private only cater for people in formal employment, thereby excluding the vast majority of working Kenyans. There is no retired Kenyan today who is living on their NSSF retirement benefits. The meagre current contribution of Kshs200 a month adds up to Kshs72,000 over 30 years. There is no rate of return on earth that can grow this into an adequate pension. I mean, we…
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Hon. Members, please, be upstanding. Your Excellency the President, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Members, we have come to the conclusion of the business of the day and it is now time to adjourn. The Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 4th October, 2022 at 2.30 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
Hon. Members, the National Assembly equally stands adjourned until Tuesday, 4th October, 2022 at 2.30
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