Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. We do have quorum. Therefore, we will start the Order of the day as contained in this afternoon's Order Paper. Hon. Senators, kindly take your seats. I am informed we now have quorum. So, we will proceed with today's business. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(Several Senators walked into the Chamber)]

Teso South, Busia County. The delegation consists of 19 teachers and 50 students who are in the Senate for an academic exposition. Hon. Senators, in our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming guests to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them and on behalf of the Senate, and on my own behalf, wish them a fruitful visit. I will request the Deputy Minority Leader and Senator for Kitui, unde…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to welcome the students and teachers who are visiting the Senate this afternoon. I wish they would recognise that they are not at the County Assembly of Busia, but attending a sitting of the Senate of the Republic of Kenya. As you have said, I wish them a fruitful visit to see how the Senate transacts business, especially on matters conc…

Next Order.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Thursday, 9th October 2025- Report of the Kenya Parliamentary Delegation to the 150th Assembly of the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) and related meetings in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 5th to 9th April 2025. I thank you.

[(Sen. Mumma laid the document on the Table)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate notes the report of the Kenya Parliamentary Delegation to the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and related meetings in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 5th to 9th April 2025, laid on the Table of the Senate on Wednesday, 8th October, 2025.

Next Order.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a statement on a matter of general topical concern regarding the untimely demise of Hon. Elijah Kiptarbei Lagat and to pay tribute to a life well lived. I rise with deep sorrow, solemn remembrance and profound respect to honour the memory of Hon. Elijah Kiptarbei Lagat, whose life was marked by extraordinary achieve…

unwavering commitment to improving social services, advancing sports development, and strengthening health initiatives for the benefit of his constituents. Mr. Speaker, Sir, beyond his public service, Hon. Elijah Lagat was a man of strong values. Deeply rooted in his faith as a member of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, he held academic credentials that included a degree in History and a Maste…

Statements pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) . Senator for Nandi, you have two statements under that particular Standing Order, you may read them at once.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am earning my salary rightfully. 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 national concern regarding reports of systemic discrimination and unfair labour practices at the I&M Bank, Kenya, including discriminatory promotions, bonus allocations, compensated promotions,…

Sen. Mohamed Faki, Senator from Mombasa, proceed. That statement is dropped.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Read both of them.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the prolonged non-payment of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in Marsabit County. It has come to my attention that young people serving as CHPs in Marsabit County have gone without pay since September, 2024, to date; a period amounting to over on…

Order, Hon. Senators. The Senator of Marsabit should be heard in silence. Proceed, Senator.

Let me repeat.

Senator from Murang’a County, Sen. Joe Nyutu, proceed.

Thank you, 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 national concern regarding the delayed issuance and collection of national identity cards (IDs) . In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Senator from Busia County, Sen. Andrew Okiya Omtatah. The three statements are dropped.

I will now allow comments, for not more than 15 minutes, on the Statements that have been sought. Since no one is interested in--- Sen. Beatrice Akinyi, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Statement by Sen. Cherarkey to the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on the systematic discrimination and unfair labour practices at the I&M Bank, Kenya. We would like to tell this bank from the word go that we do not have private and public Kenyans. This bank thinks that since it is a private entity, it can treat workers however it likes. Mr.…

Sen. Mandago.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to support the Statement sought by Sen. Cherarkey on the late Elijah Kiptarbei Lagat, the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Chesumei Constituency. This is a distinguished Kenyan who contributed immensely in athletics and later in leadership. I remember the late Hon. Elijah Kiptarbei Lagat for the establishment of Namgoi Secondary School, a day school that riv…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, as you directed yesterday afternoon, the Senate Health Committee visited Busia County Referral Hospital. With your permission, I wish to give a brief feedback to the House. The condition of the hospital is deplorable. It is very pathetic. We had the opportunity to visit the morgue, which is designed to hold 12 bodies, but currently holds over 42. The facility lacks refrigeration …

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to make very brief comments on the request for a Statement by Sen. Samson Cherarkey on the findings of a special audit on the e-Citizen platform. A digital government is desirable. A system and a government where payments can be done online is highly desirable. Kenya has blazed a trail on that even though we are still lagging behind some of our neighbours like Rwanda. The…

by Elon Musk, has won big contracts to develop rockets and ships that go to space. There is nothing wrong for a private sector player to be in this space nor make money out of the innovation. When we speak of scrutiny in this matter, it is not to begrudge private investors their liberty or their right to do business and earn profit. Rather, we are saying that this infrastructure is so important t…

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to also make comments on two of the statements. One is the statement about Hon. Elijah Lagat. Elijah Lagat is a former Member of Parliament for Chesumei in Nandi. We served with him in the Tenth Parliament. He was a very hard-working person, rising from athletics to be a servant of the people in the constituency. He initiated many projects in …

missing them do not get services in either locations or offices that they would be getting and therefore there is need for the chiefs and administrators to do campaigns, so that they are collected for purposes of even voter registration and many other services that give people with IDs rights. I thank you.

Hon. Senators, before we proceed with the comments, allow me to make this communication. Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker's Gallery this afternoon, of visiting deputy governors from Bungoma, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia county governments. I request each deputy governor to stand when called out, so that you may be acknowledged in the Senate tradition.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On my own behalf and on behalf of the Senate, I would like to extend a welcome to the three distinguished Deputy Governors from this region, as well as the religious leaders. The Deputy Governors, we come to this particular place to oversight the counties and I am happy that you are here today to witness some of the activities that we are doing. I would like you to ta…

Sen. Mumma, you may proceed with comments.

[(Resumption of debate on Statements)]

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to contribute to Sen. Cherarkey’s Statement on the findings of the special audit on the e-Citizen platform. I would like to commend Sen. Cherarkey for bringing this very important issue to our attention. I urge that the Committee on Finance and Budget treat this Statement as a matter of urgency and addresses the issues raised by Sen. Cherarkey in a timeous manner, …

of Murang’a for digitising most of the services and the systems, and particularly the financial system. Therefore, I ask that beyond the questions that Sen. Cherarkey has asked, we must also include how we can create this system in such a way that it continues to respect the distinctive nature of our devolved governance. So, we are creating a system that is able to ensure county governments can o…

Sen. Mundigi, please, proceed.

Asante, Bw. Spika, kwa kunipa nafasi niweze kuchangia mjadala wa Sen. Cherarkey kuhusu benki ya I&M. Ningependa kusema kuwa utendaji kazi unafaa kufuatiliwa kwa sababu hakufai kuwa na mtu ambaye hafuati njia inayofaa. Ikiwa kampuni yoyote, benki au wizara imekubali kufanya kazi katika Kenya, ni sharti kuwe na uwazi ili tuweze kusadia uchumi wa Kenya na kaunti zetu zote. Utendakazi ni mzuri. Hata…

Watu watapiga kelele kuwa benki imeanguka kwa sababu njia ya utendakazi unayofaa haikufuatiliwa kwa sababu ya utapeli wa pesa. Vile vile, naunga mkono mjadala unaohusu kuchukua vitambulisho ambao umeletwa na Seneta wa Kaunti ya Murang’a. Tumesalia miaka miwili kabla ya uchaguzi. Ningeomba wale wanaopeana vitambulisho wawe wakiingia kazi asubuhi na mapema ili wanaotaka vitambulisho wasaidiwe kwa s…

You have 30 seconds, hon. Senator.

Sawa. Bw. Spika, kwa hivyo ningeomba hao watu wakae pamoja ili waone vile watasaidia kilimo kwa sababu kilimo cha hapa ni uvuvi wa Samaki na ukuzaji miwa. Vile vile, ningeaomba waangalie mambo ya value addition ili waone kama kuna kilimo kingine kama ya macadamia na vitu zingine ili kuimarisha kilimo. Elimu hapa iko juu sana lakini kilimo---

On a point of Order!

[(Laughter)]

The Hon. Senator has concluded his remarks. Before I allow Sen. Olekina to make his comments, allow me to make this Communication.

[(Interruption of debate on Statements)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity. St. Monica Chakol Girls is one of the premier schools in Busia County. Even the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, where we are here, Teso South, is an alumnus of St. Monica Girls High School. So, feel welcome. You have seen our distinguished Senators. They are here because of their efforts. As I told you in my words, it is the cream that rises…

[(Resumption of debate on Statements)]

Sen. Olekina.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to support the Statement by Sen. Cherarkey. This Statement should worry Kenyans. We cannot have an audit carried out and we are told by the Auditor-General that there is an issue of accountability of up to Kshs7 billion. That is why I always say that statements are brought to this House, not for the sake of one committee investigating, but to also assist this Senate …

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

Hon. Senators, I wish to reinstate the Statements by Sen. Okiya Omtatah before we continue with the comments. Sen. Omtatah, proceed.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I have three Statements. I request that I read them all together.

Proceed, Sen. Omtatah.

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 inter-county concern regarding protection of Lake Turkana's fishing ecosystem and the establishment of Busia as a national dry fish auction market. Lake Turkana, the world's largest desert lake and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, sustains thousands of …

Critical infrastructure, including access roads, visitor amenities and research facilities, have not been established. This neglect jeopardises the preservation of Kenya's heritage, undermines key national and continental development agendas and deprives the local community of educational, cultural and economic benefits. In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

We resume comments on the statements.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Allow me first to start by making a brief comment on the park that we visited because it is one of the statements by Sen. Okiya Omtatah, regarding its improvement. I joined the Committee on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism. I was privileged to also to see the park, which is a national museum. All that needs to be done is that money should be set aside to im…

and with very competent people. I am really very proud of that. They even have their own system. I encourage them to continue with the same. Today, we were looking at financial issues in terms of pending bills in this county. Apparently, in this county, the health sector is the one doing the best in terms of own-source revenue collection. There are huge amounts of pending bills in this county whi…

Thank you very much, Madam Temporary Speaker. I want to contribute to the Statement by Sen. Okiya Omtatah on the protection of Lake Turkana fishing ecosystem. As you are aware, Marsabit County shares the lake with Turkana County. Actually 70 per cent of the lake is in Marsabit County. Last week, some businessmen and politicians came to my office and told me that we have a problem in Lake Turkana.…

We have two problems in Lake Turkana. One is security and the second one is the use of incorrect mesh size nets. If we do not stop this, we will not have fish to harvest from Lake Turkana in the next five years. I spoke to Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Hassan Joho, about three weeks ago on the same issue. I told him there is a problem in Lake Turkana and we need to deal with it as soon as possible. He p…

Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise to note that we do not have quorum in the House. Do we have quorum for the proceedings?

Clerks, do we have quorum? We do not have quorum. I request the Serjeant-at-Arms to ring the bell for 10 minutes.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Senators, we seem to be suffering the consequences of overwork. I am aware that a number of committees are still doing their exit meetings.