Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. Clerk, proceed to call the first Order.

[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the petitioners, I present this public petition on prolonged appointments, staffing challenges and working conditions of teachers in Samburu County. We, the undersigned citizens of Kenya and professional educators serving in public schools within Samburu County, draw the attention of the Senate to the following-

Hon. Senators, pursuant to Standing Order No.238 (1) , I commit the Petition to the Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources. In terms of Standing Order No.238 (2) , the committee is required, in not more than 60 calendar days from the time of reading the prayer, which is today, to table its report in the Senate for consideration. Next Order.

[(The Petition was committed to the Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources)]

Chairperson of Standing Committee on Health.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, Thursday, 2nd April, 2026- Report of the Standing Committee on Health, regarding its consideration of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (National Assembly Bills No.19 of 2022) . Thank you.

[(Sen. Mariam Omar laid the document on the Table)]

Next Order.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to give notice of the following Motion- THAT AWARE THAT, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is redefining economies globally through emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) , blockchain and financial technology (Fintech) ; FURTHER AWARE THAT Kenya has made commendable strides in digital infrastructure and mobile innovation, positionin…

Next Order. Before I call hon. Senators to make their requests, allow me to make this Communication.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity to welcome the young men to the Senate. There is a programme just like we have here, where young university students work and get attached to the Capitol Hill and have an opportunity to interact with Senators and Congressmen. The programme runs between 10 days and nine months. Many of these young people are able to interact with the leadership, volu…

Thank you, Mr. 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 national concern relating to the challenges affecting the implementation of the country's health insurance framework under the Social Health Authority (SHA) . The Constitution under Article 43 guarantees every Kenyan the right to the highest attainable …

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Senator for Nyandarua, Sen.Methu, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on a matter of nationwide concern regarding the impact of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) , enforcement of the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (ETIMS) and tax recovery policies on contractors and business…

The hon. Senator for Embu County, the Sen. Alexander Munyi Mundigi.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and National Resources on a matter of county-wide concern regarding the reported discovery of mineral resources within Embu County following recent geological surveys and assessments undertaken by the government through an aerial geographical survey done in 2022 and 2…

Senator for Machakos County, hon. Agnes Kavindu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I have two statements.

Senator for Marsabit County, the Hon. Mohamed Chute.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Education on a matter of countrywide concerns regarding the status of Komothe Primary School in El molo, which is in Marsabit County, and has been submerged by recent floods. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Komothe Primary School serves the El molo community, a minority group in Marsabit …

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, please, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

The Statement by the Senator for Kisumu County, the Hon. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda is dropped.

Let us proceed to the Statement pursuant to Standing Order No.57 (1) . The Senate Majority Leader, please, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the Senate Majority Leader, I rise under to Standing Order No.57 (1) to present the business for the week commencing Tuesday, 21st April, 2026. As Hon. Senators are aware, in accordance with the Calendar for the Fifth Session, the Senate will proceed on a two-week recess, at the rise of the Senate today. Regular sittings will resume on Tuesday, 21st April,…

Hon. Senators, I will allow comments for not more than 15 minutes. If you get an opportunity, kindly, speak for not more than three minutes. The Hon. Onyonka Richard, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this House has for a long time been trying to figure out what to do with itself. My honest observation and conclusion is that with time, I think the House has realised that maybe, this is a House that might be the last line of defence for the simple reason that we have several issues that are outstanding and every elected leader is fighting for their space. What you normally rea…

came to know that my Vice-Chairperson in the Committee on Health, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, is a pharmacist; I actually did not know. It has been wonderfully useful when we go to health facilities, visit the hospitals to try and interrogate ---

Sen. Okenyuri, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to support the statement by the Senator for Embu County on the discovery of minerals in Embu County. Probably this committee needs to go beyond Embu because it is not the first time this matter is coming up. The other time, Sen. Eddy of Migori County raised the same on gold and I commented and said, probably, I need to hear from the Ministry on what they look at…

Senator for Nairobi City County, the Hon. Edwin Sifuna, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, listening to the request for statement by the Senator for Machakos County, the Hon. Kavindu, you will notice that our people have a yearning for development. My reading and understanding of the Constitution under the Fourth Schedule, Clause 7, is that when it comes to trade, development and regulation, it is a function that is specifically assigned to county governments. I reite…

campaigning, we were told that the spectre of nighttime demolitions would be a thing of the past. Mr. Speaker, Sir, if indeed you are doing it for the people, why come in the dead of the night and demolish people's stores? Why can you not just come during the day and even allow the people to cart away their property and tell them, now, this is the day for the demolitions? Whenever you see anythin…

[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Mumma) in the Chair]]

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Let me comment on the statement by Sen. Kavindu. In terms of the unremitted statutory deductions by the various county governments on the payments due, whether as NSSF or NHIF deductions, the failure by our various county governments, not only Machakos County Government that Senator Kavindu made reference to, but it cuts across almost all the county governments.…

employee who will benefit as well as that institution in form of the penalties that are levied on the county governments that deduct. Madam Temporary Speaker, I, therefore, expect that the committee that will deal with this statement will pass a resolution that will support the employees whose deductions are not remitted. I thank you.

Thank you Madam Temporary Speaker for granting me the opportunity. I support the statement by the Senator for Embu on the issue of minerals. However, it is important to notice that there are serious challenges to this industry. For example, the issue of royalties continues to remain unsolved by the parent ministry. It is so unfortunate that National Treasury keeps on confirming that there are moni…

Sorry. Let us have Sen. Khalwale.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I would like to comment on the statement by the Senator for Marsabit in respect of the El Molo community. I was recently in Turkana and saw that El Molo Bay Village has been submerged by water, just like Komothe Primary School. On this statement, I urge that the government must come clear on how they are going to settle the villagers of El Molo Bay Village and w…

Madam Temporary Speaker, the second point is on the statement by the Senator for Embu. He has raised the issue of concluded aerial geological surveys. Maybe some members might not know, at the end of this aerial geological survey, when the investors now come in, they do not go and apply for a mining licence, they apply for a survey licence. So, they are going to stay there for the next 10 years, m…

Next Order.