Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we have quorum now. So, we will proceed with the business of the day. Clerk, kindly call the first Order.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

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 national concern regarding the shortage of special needs education teachers in public schools across the country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Kenya continues to face a significant shortage of trained special needs education teachers, thereby affecting the impl…

Senator for Bungoma County, Sen. David Wakoli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I was tasked early enough to read the statement on behalf of Sen. Wakoli and I accepted to do so. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on a matter of countywide concern regarding discrepancies in coffee pricing in Bungoma County, particularly in respect of coffee cherry and …

Proceed, Sen. Hamida Kibwana.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. 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 national concern regarding the implementation of the integrated county payroll system by county governments and county assemblies. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the National Treasury has directed county governments and county assemblies to process the A…

Management and Information System (IFMIS) payroll module. The system is intended to streamline salary processing, improve payroll accountability, address irregular staff records and ensure proper remittance of statutory deductions, including Social Health Authority (SHA), National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), pension contributions and other deductions. In the Statement, th…

Is the Senator for Kisumu County, Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda not here? That statement is dropped.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for that indulgence. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism on a matter of national concern regarding reports of exploitation of consumers following the April 2026 increase in fuel and petroleum prices across the country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this matter raises grave concerns unde…

several counties have reported unreasonable increases in public transport fares and the cost of essential goods and services. Credible evidence suggests that certain traders and transport operators impose disproportionate price hikes not fully justified by operational costs, thereby placing an undue financial burden on consumers. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the statement, the committee should address t…

Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on a matter of countrywide concern regarding the state of compliance with fair labour standards within the private industrial establishments in Kisumu County. In recent years, Kisumu County has obstructed private investment in small and medium manuf…

Next is a Statement pursuant to Standing Order No. 57 (1) by the Senate Majority Leader. Absolutely, the Senate Minority Leader, as a Member of the Senate Business Committee, may do so.

[(Sen. Madzayo spoke off record)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. It is not a Vice-Chair; it is a Co-Chair. Unfortunately, we cannot be subordinate to the National Assembly.

Correct!

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish Sen. Cherarkey would just let people contribute. I feel disrupted. I feel I do not have your ear as the conversation is going on.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish Sen. Cherarkey would just let people contribute. I feel disrupted. I feel I do not have your ear as the conversation is going on.

Sen. Mumma, this ear is on your side, so do not mind. I am just getting some direction.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you are a miracle worker, that you can listen to Sen. Cherarkey and, at the same time, hear what I am saying. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when Sen. Cherarkey contributed, I listened. In fact, I was in the Chair. I listened very carefully. I just want to urge that you also have respect for others as we contribute. Listen, I am sure you will have some good points to add.

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

What is your point of order, Sen. Cherarkey?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, under Standing Order No.1, Sen. Mumma is saying I do not respect her and the House, and yet, you cannot approach the Chair without his permission. You are the one who beckoned me to approach. Is it certain that I am showing disrespect? I thought you had called me for one or two consultations. I did not do it in bad faith. I respect the Senator. I normally listen to her su…

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my point was this: Hon. Sen. Cherarkey, I request that you be humble enough to listen. Every day, we have to actually call you to lower your voice for people to listen. That is what I was referring to. I have no problem with you approaching the Chair, but listen---

Sen. Mumma, stop addressing Sen. Cherarkey directly.

to, at least, honour his memory by doing what is right. An amount of Kshs450 billion was supposed to be given in the past financial year. In this financial year, we should be going up. I urge the Government to give more to counties. In my view, my humble advice to the national Government of the day is that embracing devolution will actually develop this country faster because a lot of the service…

knowing very well the economy is not seriously growing and inflation is a factor. What are we trying to achieve? When we come to oversight as well--- I am urging that our Committee on Finance and Budget team and whoever will be in the Mediation Committee, to fight to for the maximum. I suggest that we go for the CRA proposed share. When we come to the oversight, we must also audit the expenditur…

national Government. The national Government cannot afford to throw a token of Kshs5 billion extra to the counties. The Committees must also be firm and tell the governors that we will do what we are supposed to do. We will ensure that they spend the monies that they are given to the functions that they are supposed to spend on. They have to cut down on unnecessary expenditure for our people to g…

national Government. The national Government cannot afford to throw a token of Kshs5 billion extra to the counties. The Committees must also be firm and tell the governors that we will do what we are supposed to do. We will ensure that they spend the monies that they are given to the functions that they are supposed to spend on. They have to cut down on unnecessary expenditure for our people to g…

the county governments, we must also reinforce and relook at the mechanism that has been put in place to ensure that we do not only oversight, but also come up with a definition of what is an impactful project. If we leave it at the liberty of the governors, as it is today, some of them will give manure to the people, while some will give cows that die after a couple of days. Some of them will gi…

the county governments, we must also reinforce and relook at the mechanism that has been put in place to ensure that we do not only oversight, but also come up with a definition of what is an impactful project. If we leave it at the liberty of the governors, as it is today, some of them will give manure to the people, while some will give cows that die after a couple of days. Some of them will gi…

resources. This is because we do not know a situation where, as Senators, we are championing the national Government to increase the allocation of resources to our counties and, again, we do not see the results. In several counties within our country, roads are in a very pathetic condition, and you find governors demanding for more resources. Agriculture and Health sector is doing badly in our co…

resources. This is because we do not know a situation where, as Senators, we are championing the national Government to increase the allocation of resources to our counties and, again, we do not see the results. In several counties within our country, roads are in a very pathetic condition, and you find governors demanding for more resources. Agriculture and Health sector is doing badly in our co…

Hon. Senators, the Mover of this Bill is not around to reply. So, I defer the reply of the Motion to the next sitting. Hon. Senators, I want to reorganise the Order Paper again. Order appearing as Nos.9, 10, 11 and 12 are deferred. Then when you look at our Order Paper again, business appearing under Order Nos.14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 are divisions. Therefore, they are also deferred. Then we will g…

[(Reply to the Bill deferred)]

to enhance the interaction between the Senate and county governments, as a means of bringing the Senate closer to the counties and the general public; ACKNOWLEDGING the recommendation of the Senate Business Committee that a sitting of the Senate be held away from the traditional premises in Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, during the term of the 13th Parliament; and the subsequent resolution of the…

(Bill deferred)