Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Order, hon. Senators, we now have quorum. Kindly settle down. Sen. Karen Nyamu and Sen. Murgor kindly take your seats. Clerk, you may call the first Order. Sen. Faki take your seat. We are waiting for you. That is the respect we accord you.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(Sen. Karen Nyamu and Sen. Murgor sat in their places)]

[(Sen. Faki walked into the Chamber)]

[(Sen. Faki sat in his place)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I join you, on behalf of my colleagues, to welcome this delegation of members from various counties who are here in Parliament on a study tour with the CPST, a premier institute which I regret that as a Senate, we do not use as much as we should. When members of a county assembly come to train, sometimes they leave here better equipped than even us, legislators. This is because …

Next Order. Senator for Nairobi City County, what is your intervention?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, with your kind permission, I just wanted to inform the Majority Leader that part of the delegation is from Elgeyo Marakwet. We had very serious loss of lives there, so that maybe he records the message of condolence from this House to the delegation from Elgeyo Marakwet or through their Senator as well.

Senator for Nairobi City County, I remember approving a Statement on that subject. I know it will be read out by the Senator standing by my side here, but you can as well register your condolences.

Very well, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I take this opportunity to send our condolences to the delegation from Elegyo Marakwet both as your countrymen, as the people of Nairobi, and of course the party that I represent, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) , for the tragedy that has befallen you. We are together with you as your brothers and sisters. Through your Senator, we will be extending a hand of help …

Next Order.

Next Order.

My apologies, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate resolves that during the long recesses of the Fourth Session of the 13th Parliament, where any Statutory Instrument or Paper is transmitted for tabling in the Senate, and the Speaker determines that the Statutory Instrument or Paper is of priority; the Speaker shall forthwith refer the Statutory Instrum…

[(No.3 of 2023)]

Next Order.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to seek a Statement on a matter of international and national concern namely, the exceptional performance of Kenyan athletes at the recently concluded 2025 New York City Marathon, one of the premier marathons. Kenya has once again demonstrated its global dominance in long-distance running, with our athletes securing top positions in bo…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, these achievements are a source of immense national pride. They reflect the discipline, resilience and excellence of our athletes who continue to elevate the Kenyans' profile on the global stage. Their victories are not only personal milestones, but also national triumphs that deserve formal recognition and celebration. It is time that we, as a country, deepen our commitment to …

Hon. Senator for Nandi, whenever you have the opportunity, stick to the written statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement on an issue of national concern regarding the recent flooding and landslide that occurred in Elgeyo Marakwet County on 1st November, 2025. I share my deepest condolences to the people of my county, Elgeyo Marakwet, during this difficult and profound period of tragedy following the devastating landslides t…

Moror villages in Marakwet East Constituency and Kibendo area in Keiyo North. This past week has been marked with overwhelming sadness. I grieve with every family that has lost loved ones. The confirmation of 35 deaths from Marakwet East and two from Kibendo, Keiyo North, is a tragedy that has shaken us all in the country. My thoughts are also with the families that have been affected by this tra…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to appeal to the national Government and the county governments, to provide temporary shelter as we look into long-term solutions of compensation and resettlement of the affected families. I want to request the Ministry of Health to provide medical care and psychosocial support to the affected victims and their families. This will ease the pain and help in the recovery. A…

Hon. Senators, before we move to the Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , allow me for the convenience of the House, to rearrange today's Order Paper pursuant to Standing Order No.45 (2) , so that we handle Orders No.10, 11, 12 and 14. Thereafter, we will resume the normal flow as contained in today's Order Paper. Clerk, you may proceed to call those orders.

[(Interruption of debate on Statements)]

living in major cities like Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu where the cost of living is too high; NOW THEREFORE the Senate resolves that the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development in consultation with the Public Service Commission reviews the Guidelines to the Public Service Internship Programme of October, 2019 with a view to: -

Clerk, do we have the requisite quorum? Hon. Senators, I will proceed to put the question. Next Order.

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

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Do we have the requisite quorum?

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

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Next Order.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have two concurrent Statements. If you may, you can allow me to read both. Mr. 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 a matter of countrywide concern regarding the safety and dignity of police officers in the line of duty following the recent assault of la…

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Asante Bw. Spika. Nasimama kwa mujibu wa Kanuni za Kudumu 53 (1) za Seneti kuomba kauli kutoka kwa Kamati ya Leba na Ustawi wa Jamii kuhusu kucheleweshwa kwa mishahara ya wafanyakazi wa Shirika la Posta. Katika siku za hivi karibuni, Shirika la Posta limekumbwa na matatizo ya kulipa mishahara kwa wafanyikazi wake. Hivi sasa shirika hilo halijawalipa wafanyakazi mishahara kutoka mwezi wa Aprili mw…

Proceed, Sen. Chute.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have two Statements to read. I will start with the first one and it is a request of a Statement on retention of funds for construction in Marsabit County. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing on a matter of countywide concern

regarding the management and disbursement of retention funds arising from construction and contracts executed by the County Government of Marsabit. Retention funds serve as a critical financial safeguard in construction projects designed to guarantee contractual compliance, workmanship quality and project completion. However, there have been growing reports of delays, lack of transparency and pos…

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 regarding the acute shortage of psychiatrists in Kenya. Mental health has emerged as a major public health challenge, yet the number of qualified psychiatrists in the country remains severely inadequate. Available data indicates that Kenya falls d…

reportedly continued with construction in open defiance of the Tribunal's directive raising serious concerns about the enforcement of environmental and judicial orders and the broader implications for the rule of law and public confidence in regulatory institutions. In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

The next Statement is with regard to the rising cases of Gender- Based violence (GBV) and the need for a national framework to address it. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Orders No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on a matter of countrywide concern regarding the rising cases of gender-based violence and the need for a national frame…

The Senator for Kisumu County, the Hon. (Prof.) Tom Odhiambo Ojienda. Sen. (Prof.) Tom Odhiambo Ojienda had two statements. Both statements are dropped

Sen. Karen Nyamu.

I rise pursuant to Standing Orders No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism on a matter of national concern regarding the widespread sale of counterfeit alcoholic beverages in licensed outlets across the country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, unlike illicit brews, this crisis involves fake versions of genuine licensed brands, fraudulently packaged and …

Sen. James Lomenen, the Senator for Turkana County.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have a request for a Statement on the harassment and killing of fishermen by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers in Lake Turkana. I rise pursuant to Standing Orders No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations on a matter of country- wide concern regarding the harassment and killing of fishermen …

Sen. Osotsi.

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

county-wide concern regarding the ongoing dismissal of over 500 employees by the County Government of Vihiga arising from payroll irregularities covering the period between 2019 and 2025. A payroll reconciliation exercise was undertaken by the County Executive of Vihiga, which revealed anomalies in the payment of salaries and allowances with some employees being overpaid while others being underp…

Sen. Mandago.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on a matter of national concern regarding the provision and mobilisation of grain dryers during the ongoing rainy season and the measures being taken to mitigate post-harvest losses in maize-growing regions. The country is currently exper…

Statement pursuant to Standing Order 57. The Senate Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, with your permission, may I also comment on the earlier statements once I have concluded this?

Just read your Statement, Senate Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, why are you making my enemies happy?

[(Laughter)]

Hon. Senators, we are going to rearrange the Order Paper and also defer Order No.15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and

(Bill deferred)

Hon. Senators, this Order is resumption of debate on the Motion. When we adjourned, Sen. Olekina had a balance of 10 minutes. He is not here. So, we will go to the next Senator. Proceed, Sen. Joyce Korir.

data that has been collected by the Ministry, you find there are a number of learned persons with disability who deserve to be given an equal treatment as Kenyans and as learned individuals. They also have a very big problem in terms of gender issues. You find a number of ministries, especially the one that we had yesterday, the percentage for the women is far much below the requisite percentage.…

data that has been collected by the Ministry, you find there are a number of learned persons with disability who deserve to be given an equal treatment as Kenyans and as learned individuals. They also have a very big problem in terms of gender issues. You find a number of ministries, especially the one that we had yesterday, the percentage for the women is far much below the requisite percentage.…

Sen. Chute, proceed to reply.

No, I want to contribute.

Did you contribute the other time?

Not yet.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Let me take this opportunity, first of all, to thank my Members. We did a very good job. As you are aware, there was a Motion by the Majority and the Minority leaders in this House asking, that was on Wednesday 24th July 2024, the Committee of National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration to look into issues that were raised by Gen Zs. Immediatel…

there is their grandson who could be an engineer like them, who is qualified and able to do that work. Another issue that we dealt with is ethnicity. We realised that majority of the counties have got over one-third of staff from dominant ethnic communities. That is an issue that needs this House to amend some laws. We should think of something like inter- county transfers. For example, somebody …

contracting the ones present, so that you can bring in your own relatives and clan members. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we also noted that county service boards must ensure that at least 30 per cent of vacant positions are occupied by people who are not dominantly from that county. How are they going to do it? The law is very clear that 30 per cent should be from other regions. They can talk to t…

I support.

I support.

Sen. Karen Nyamu, make your contribution.

Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I want to make my contribution to this Motion by the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunities and Regional Integration. The aim of the report was to find out how counties are doing in terms of compliance of the constitutional provisions on equality, especially when it comes to employment, procurement and other opportunities in ou…

I call upon the mover to reply.

also in the Committee on National Cohesion, Regional Integration and Equal Opportunity. I also wish to thank Hon. Karen Nyamu for ably contributing to this very important Motion. She has done a tremendous job with the comments that she has made. There are several recommendations that, as a Committee, we have proposed. I wish to say that those are very important issues that need to be addressed. I…

also in the Committee on National Cohesion, Regional Integration and Equal Opportunity. I also wish to thank Hon. Karen Nyamu for ably contributing to this very important Motion. She has done a tremendous job with the comments that she has made. There are several recommendations that, as a Committee, we have proposed. I wish to say that those are very important issues that need to be addressed. I…

Thank you, Hon. Senator. That putting of the question has been deferred.

[(Putting of the Question on the Motion deferred)]

Hon. Senators, we will arrange the Order Paper, so that we go to Order No.34. Order Nos. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 are deferred.

Next Order, Clerk.

[[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Abdul Haji) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina) in the Chair]]

Sen. Karen Nyamu, that is your Motion. Are you ready to move the Motion? Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I want to move this very important Motion on the installation of CCTV cameras in the police reporting desks, in all our police cells, in all the police stations across the country. This Motion is premised on the simple principle that justice must not only be done, but it must be seen to be done. Article 51 of our Constitution is very clear and it states that all…

Sen. Karen Nyamu, can you please begin by moving the Motion? You have not moved the Motion. You will debate all that after you move the Motion.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I thought I had done that.

Can you be guided by the clerk, please?

Okay. I am guided. Motion on installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations, police cells and police reporting desks.

I am guided, Madam Temporary Speaker.

I am guided, Madam Temporary Speaker.

Please proceed now.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion- AWARE THAT Article 51 provides that a person who is detained, held in custody or imprisoned under the law, retains all the rights and fundamental freedoms in the Bill of Rights, except to the extent that any particular right or a fundamental freedom is clearly incompatible with the fact that the person is detained, held in custody or im…

Who is seconding? Indicate

I request, my friend, the Nandi Senator, Sen. Cherarkey to second.

We want to ensure that we bring accountability, professionalism and transparency to the police service. Therefore, I agree that Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras must be installed in all police stations in the Republic of Kenya. This will be for only two things; accountability and transparency. The Mover has alluded to the unfortunate death of Albert Ojwang. I still commiserate with the f…

As we install CCTV, we must ask the National Assembly to deliberately allocate funds to the National Police Service to modernise our police stations. Our police stations should be the safest places on earth because they are guarded 24 hours a day through police surveillance and CCTV. We need to be honest. Going into the future, even when you go to court, you should be able to demand accountabilit…

recorded. That one will absolve the police from blame. This is because body cameras will record everything. Some suspects and some of the accused people are not friendly to the police. They are rough. So even if those people want to shoot the police, attack the police with a machete or resist arrest, it will be easy for the police to have evidence, if they are wearing a body camera. This can easi…

Madam Temporary Speaker, the reason you sleep soundly in your house is because there is a police officer outside. The reason we work even at night--- People gallivant and perambulate within the city. I know our children wanapiga sherehe or they are raving within our major cities. Allow me to use that slang. The reason we can move freely is because of the sacrifice and surety of the police who work…

Madam Temporary Speaker, the reason you sleep soundly in your house is because there is a police officer outside. The reason we work even at night--- People gallivant and perambulate within the city. I know our children wanapiga sherehe or they are raving within our major cities. Allow me to use that slang. The reason we can move freely is because of the sacrifice and surety of the police who work…

Is there a point of order, Sen. Karen? What is the point of order?

Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise under Standing Order No.41 to say that we do not have quorum in the House. You can ring the quorum bell.

Clerk, can you confirm whether we have quorum? Ring the Quorum Bell for five minutes.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Serjeant-At-Arms, please ring the Quorum Bell again for five minutes. Clerk, confirm whether there is quorum.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

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