Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-At-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Senators, we do have quorum now. So, kindly take your seats, so that we start the day’s business. Clerk, you may call the first Order.

Honourable Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence, in the Public Gallery this afternoon, of a visiting delegation of two teachers and 48 students from Enoomatasiani Girls School in Kajiado County. The delegation is visiting the Senate for a one-day academic exposition. On behalf of the Senate, and on my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful vis…

For a moment there, I thought the Speaker had forgotten that Kajiado neighbours and borders Nairobi. Many people from Kajiado call it the bedroom of Nairobi. I take this opportunity to welcome all the students who have come to visit us

this afternoon. I wish them a good session here in the Senate. I hope that you will stay long enough to follow some of the debates. We wish you well in your studies. We hope that in future, some of you can sit in this Chamber because I can assure you, other than Sen. Cherarkey, many of us do not plan to be here forever.

[(Laughter)]

Next Order. The Senate Majority Leader, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Majority Leader, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Thursday, 7th May 2026 – Annual report of the Office of the Controller of Budget for Financial Year 2024/2025.

[(Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi laid the document on the Table)]

Next Order.

Senator for Samburu County, the Hon. Dr. Lelegwe.

Mr. 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 county-wide concern regarding implementation of CSR programmes by the KETRACO in Samburu County. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Samburu County hosts several strategic energy transmission infrastructures, including the Ethiopia-Kenya 500KV and the Loiyangalani-Suswa

400KV transmission lines. These projects are of immense national and regional significance, contributing to energy security, regional power trade and grid stability. Despite this contribution, there is no visible evidence of meaningful CSR interventions by KETRACO in Samburu County. This is in contrast with other counties hosting similar transmission infrastructure, including Kajiado County, which…

Senator for Marsabit County, Hon. Mohamed Chute.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Senator for Marsabit County, I will read his request for a statement. 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 deterioration of several key roads in Marsabit County following the recent heavy rains. The ongoing rains have cause…

impassible, severely disrupting the movement of people, goods, humanitarian assistance, medical referrals and security operations. This situation has exposed residents to economic hardship, delayed emergency response services and heightened vulnerability among already marginalised communities. The most affected roads include the Odada-Nadaba Road, Nyayo Road within Marsabit Town, Uran Road, the L…

Senator for Wajir County, Hon. Abass Mohamed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration on matters of national concern regarding the concerns of fairness, equity and national cohesion in the March, 2026 recruitment exercise conducted by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) . The recruitment exercise condu…

Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) (b) , the Chairperson Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. 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 Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries during the first quarter of the Fifth Session, that is, January to 1st, April 2026. The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries is …

Necessary Interventions.” It also provided a platform for engagement between the Ministry and the committees drawn from the two Houses on the key policy, legislative and regulatory measures required to address the increasing reliance on food imports. Moving to Bills, during the period under review, the committee considered the following five Bills-

The next one is by the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Energy. Since he is not here, that statement is deferred.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) (b) to make a statement relating to the activities of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget for the first quarter of the Fifth Session covering the period between 10th February and 30th April, 2026. During the period under review, the committee held 19 sittings during which it processe…

The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Health.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 56 (1) (b) to make a statement relating to the activities of the Standing Committee on Health for the First Quarter of the Fifth Session covering the period between February and April, 2026. During the period under review, the committee held 26 Sittings dur…

have significant capital-intensive health projects that have either stalled or remain non- operational years after installation. Another observation is that counties routinely face supply shortages of essential drugs, reagents and consumables. While improvements in the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) field rates were noted in some areas, unmet supply needs persist, forcing patients to purch…

Statement pursuant to Standard Order No.57 (1) . Proceed, Senate Majority Leader.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the SEnate Majority Leader, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 57 (1) , to present the business for the week commencing Tuesday, 12th, May, 2026. The status of legislative business before the Senate is as follows-

the consideration of the report on the Mediation Committee on the National Disaster Risk Management Bill (National Assembly Bills, No. 24, 2023), is likewise awaiting division. I, therefore, implore upon hon. Senators to remain in the Chamber so that the pending divisions may be undertaken. I urge the party Whips to ensure that the requisite number of county delegations are present to enable the …

Thank you, Hon. Senators. I will allow comments on the statements that have been sought for a period not exceeding 15 minutes. So, if you get an opportunity to speak, kindly do so for not more than three minutes. However, no comments shall be made on the statements that have been requested by Sen. Abbas. This is because it has been established that the particular statement is in violation of Stan…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Let me comment on one statement by the distinguished Senator of Marsabit. We do not want to blame the rains because for us, farmers, we are happy that there is a lot of rain and food. My only concern is on the issue of roads that he has raised. I think the Ministry of Roads and Transport was unfair. This is because the Ministry only allocated over Kshs8 billion under …

We empathise and sympathise with Kenyans because we are told that across the country, in the few days, 18 Kenyans have died. Remember, Iten-Kabarnet Road was blocked because of heavy rains. There is a bridge in my county called Chemnoet Bridge, another one in Bonjoge and others in Aldai and Tinderet constituencies. I know it is actually across many counties. We hope the Committee on Roads, Transpo…

Sen. Maanzo, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I equally rise to support Sen. Chute. Recently, Sen. Chute took Sen. Consolata and I to his county. As Members of the Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration, we were going to help sort out some cohesive issues in the north, especially, concerning the Kenyan-Ethiopian border. It took us over 12 hours to get to Moyale; thank God President Kibaki…

The nation has not invested in northern Kenya, and I think it should begin with the roads. That is where it pains most. People in that area should have access to good roads. The communities live far and wide; very hard to reach areas. I think it is a high time we now made equal opportunity for this nation. It is not only Marsabit County that is suffering. Makueni County also got very little alloc…

Sen. Kinyua, proceed.

Asante sana, Bw. Spika, kwa kunipa fursa hii. Nataka kuchangia kauli iliyoletwa na Sen. Boni Khalwale, kuhusu umiliki wa ardhi. Kamati inayohusika, inayoongozwa na Seneta wa Mombasa, Sen. Faki, inapaswa ishughulikie hili jambo kwa sababu katika Jamhuri ya Kenya, kwa ajili ya ukosefu wa zile hati miliki za ardhi, kuna kuwa na migogoro hadi mauaji yanatokea. Kamati hiyo inapaswa ifuatilie kabisa. T…

Sen. Essy Okenyuri, proceed.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to support the statement by Sen. Abbas on the status of the recruitment exercise at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) .

It was dropped. That is what I wanted to comment on. I thank you.

We will expunge the little comment that you have made on the same. Sen. Wamatinga, proceed.

Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity to comment on the statement by Sen. Chute. Indeed, the issue of roads and infrastructure development across the country cannot be overemphasised. As has been mentioned, the distribution of road construction in Kenya has been very skewed. I say this with special emphasis on the 52 per cent of my county, which happens to be semi-arid. We s…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to support the statement by Sen. Chute on the maintenance of roads in this country. The reason we have a Road Maintenance Levy in every litre of fuel that we buy from the pump is so that we maintain our roads. It is not enough to construct roads. Once built, roads must be maintained in order for them to continue giving service. I say this because there is a roa…

Allow me to also comment on the statement by Sen. Boni Khalwale on public land. He is seeking to have the ownership established and there is an institution sitting on it. We must protect public land because if we want future development and expansion of public utilities, we must have land on which to do that. It will be remembered that not long ago, part of Langata Road Primary School’s playgroun…

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I support the statement by Sen. Chute on the state of roads in this country. I do not know why we have not been having an equal distribution for roads, which is a very critical component of development. I come from Tharaka-Nithi County and some parts of it have been seriously neglected. There is a road from Chiakariga to Marimanti which links key institution…

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to contribute to the statement by Sen. Boni Khalwale. Public utilities are set aside for a specific course but it is becoming an alarming situation in our country because public utilities are increasingly being leased out regardless of the purpose for which they were set aside. I agree and support this statement that the ownership of that land be ascer…

municipalities are still with us. We have witnessed situations where they are no longer in office but are still signing documents. That is why a land such as this one in Kakamega would easily change hands. The documentation and the signatures are verifiable. However, the period during which it is being signed is not the period it was supposed to have been signed, thereby causing loss of public ut…

[(Loud consultations)]

Hon. Senators, allow me to rearrange today’s Order Paper. We will move to Order No.17 and, thereafter, resume the normal flow of today’s Order Paper. Clerk, kindly proceed to call that Order.

Hon. Senators, allow me to make this communication before I call upon those who wish to speak on this particular Bill.

Clerk, call out the next Order.

I will allow Senators to make contributions beginning with Sen. Maanzo.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue of gender mainstreaming has been key for many years. When we were with you in the National Assembly, the former Chief Justice, Hon. David Maraga, declared that Parliament was not properly constituted because of failing to meet the two-thirds gender threshold. That was a court judgment. The then President Uhuru Kenyatta was supposed to dissolve Parliament. For ot…

of some of these practices, unlike situations whereby a lot of men are charged in public offices with these vices. In fact, one time I had an opportunity to represent Dr. Margaret Gachara, who was in a Government organisation, which was dealing with the prevention of HIV and AIDS. She was prosecuted for paying Kshs20,000 only, as a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to a Chairman who had done an activ…

Thank you, Sen. Maanzo. Hon. Senators, there is no other Senator interested to make his or her contribution on this Motion. I can see the Mover of the Motion, I can see, is not in the House. So, also, I defer and direct that the Mover will reply in the next Sitting. So, Hon. Senators, again, I have to reorganise the Order of business. Order Nos.20, 21, 22, and 23 are deferred.

[(Question, that the Mover be called upon to reply to the Motion deferred)]

of 2023), laid on the table of the Senate on Tuesday, 28th April, 2026, and that pursuant to Article 113(2) of the Constitution and Standing Order 167(3) of the Senate, approves the mediated version of the Bill. (Motion deferred)

Do we have a Mover for that Motion to adjourn debate?

Yes.

Sen. Murgor, you can proceed to take the microphone.

I beg to move that the debate be now adjourned, pursuant to Standing Order No.110 (1) .

Do we have a seconder, Sen. Murgor?

Sen. Maanzo, you may proceed. What is your point of order, Sen. Crystal?

Sen. Maanzo, you may proceed. What is your point of order, Sen. Crystal?

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. Just before Sen. Maanzo carries on, I am persuaded by his debate and his request that I do not seek to finalise today. However, if there is an opportunity that this Bill or the continuation of this debate can be placed on Tuesday's Order Paper, where there will be more Members rather than later in the week, which is closer to us going on re…

Sen. Crystal, it is in order that we proceed with moving of the Motion, then the scheduling can be organised together with the Clerk's desk and the Senate Business Committee (SBC) . However, there is no harm in your proposal. So, we proceed to have the seconder of the Motion.

Madam Speaker, I do second.

Thank you, Sen. Maanzo. Hon. Senators I am looking at the Order Paper and from Order No.25 up to Order No.32, the Movers are not in the House and so we are not able to proceed with them. Therefore, we stand down all those Orders to a later date. So, there is no other business in the Order Paper.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question, that debate on Bill be adjourned, put and agreed to)]

(Bill deferred)

offering them opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities promoting greater social inclusion; CONCERNED THAT, the integration of Junior Secondary Schools within primary school setups has posed major challenges for Junior Secondary teachers, including inadequate training on the new competency-based curriculum, limited opportunities for career advancement, conflict in leadership, dec…

makubwa kitaifa pamoja na madhara ya muda mrefu ya kimwili, kisaikolojia, kijamii na kiuchumi kwa familia zilizopoteza wapendwa wao na manusura; IKIWA NA WASIWASI KWAMBA, licha ya hakikisho na ahadi zilizotolewa na mamlaka mbalimbali kufuatia janga hilo, bado kuna mashaka na maswali kuhusu iwapo fidia ilitolewa kikamilifu na kwa haki kwa familia zote zilizoathirika; IKIKIRI KWAMBA, kuanzishwa kw…

Hon. Senators, there being no other business on the Order Paper, the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 12th May, 2026 at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 5.55 p.m.