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, please.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have three Statements this afternoon. The first Statement is on the status of Kisumu-Busia Road infrastructure. 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 inter-county concern regarding the status of infrastructure development along the Kisumu-Busia Road corridor.

The Kisumu-Busia Road is a crucial transport link for trade, movement of goods and regional integration between Kenya, Uganda and the other East African countries. The improvement of this corridor is expected to ease congestion, enhance economic activities and promote cross-border trade. However, while there have been discussions on the upgrading of this road to a dual carriageway, there is no con…

I will allow 15 minutes of comments on those three Statements. Senator for Nandi County, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I just want to seek further clarification on the Statement regarding the status of the Kisumu-Busia Road infrastructure. I would like the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing to also consider the dueling and upgrading of Uplands-Nakuru-Eldoret-Bungoma-Malaba Road so as to expand it. This is because as we speak, the road is so narrow tha…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am told that there are senior Government officials - whenever they know that the road near a certain village is due to be tarmacked - they buy land for speculative purposes during feasibility studies, displacing genuine Kenyans who should be compensated. Therefore, Kenyans should be compensated at the market rate. With those very many remarks, I hope this issue of roads can be…

Proceed, Sen. Osotsi. Senator for Nandi, get your history correct.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to comment on the Statement by Sen. (Prof.) Ojienda regarding the dualling of the Kisumu-Busia Road, which happens also to pass through my county; between Maseno and Yala. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you know Uganda is a key trading partner of Kenya. In fact, in terms of trade volume, Uganda is a number one trading partner for Kenya. Therefore, all roads or transport sys…

afternoon the National Assembly will be talking about what our party leader, Raila Odinga, said. He said the truth, that the real people fighting devolution in this country are Members of the National Assembly.

[(Applause)]

Proceed, Sen. Wamatinga.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also rise in support of the Statement. Indeed, there is no single country that has ever progressed without taking the basic infrastructure; the connectivity that connects a community and country. We know the importance of regional integration. Most of the business partners lie across borders. It is important to ensure that we not only put the necessary reso…

unconnected to the national grid and to the basic infrastructure. It is not a privilege but a right for every Kenyan. As I address this issue here, I think that it is high time that we get our priorities right and know that the marginalized 80 per cent of the landmass must also contribute to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). I submit.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I do not know why Sen. Sifuna is so happy that I have the microphone. I also want to make comments on the Statement by Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda on the status of the Kisumu-Busia Road infrastructure. I hasten to say that lately Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda has been very active on matters of infrastructure and the people of Kisumu County should take note. Having said that,…

should rightfully go to counties for maintenance of roads. Any other conversation outside that is only a conversation that can be held by governors who are self-interested. Lastly, there is this money that has been set aside by the National Government from the same RMLF; the Kshs7 tax that has been given to the Ministry of Roads to pay pending bills and complete roads that have not been completed…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to comment on the Statement by Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda on upgrading Kisumu National Polytechnic to university status. While I appreciate his thoughts on the same, I would wish that this Statement brings our focus back to whether the current national polytechnics have actually met the intended purpose of the technical training institutions we have had in this c…

Just draw the microphone closer to your mouth.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to state the following. While I appreciate the statement by Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda on upgrading Kisumu National Polytechnic to a university, I would also wish that the Statement draws us to some of the following concerns. Technical training institutions and national polytechnics are meant to equip young people with technical skills relevant for the job …

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to complete by supporting the Statement by the Professor on the issue of funds set aside for the road network. As my colleagues have mentioned, the biggest enemy that is trying to kill devolution is the National Assembly. I wish that they would put themselves in our shoes because we have Members who were initially in the National Assembly and now in the Senate. You might b…

Sen. Sifuna.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me to add my voice to what my colleagues have said regarding the statement by Sen. (Prof.) Ojienda. As you know, I am a regular user of that road from Kisumu to Busia, because it is the route I use to go and see my mother in the rural areas. I branch off at the Oyugis, join the road through Emuhaya and Sabatia, then go all the way through Mumias to Bungoma. Mr. Speaker, Si…

Charge. They are saying Rhino Charge can now be easily held in Kilimani because of the state of the roads there and, therefore, we must raise our voices. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have said that we need to unlock this question of RMLF; we need these county governments to have funds, but, county governors are hiding behind this RMLF thing because it is not the only source of revenue for county governme…

Asante Bw. Spika. Kwanza ningependa kujiunga nawe katika makaribisho yako uliyowakaribisha ndugu zetu kutoka Kilifi, hususan familia ya Mhe. Chokwe. Tunaelewa kuwa Chokwe alikuwa Spika wa kwanza wa Seneti katika taifa la Kenya. Hii ni familia ambayo inajulikana sana kule Kilifi na imejitolea mhanga kuona ya kuwa watu wa Kilifi wamepata haki yao. Zaidi sana, hawa ndugu zetu wakiwa hapa, wamejionea …

Clerk, you may now proceed to call the orders as I directed. Clerk, allow us to dispose the two Orders, then we move on to the next Order. Hon. Senators, debate on Order No.8 had been concluded pending the putting of the question. I will put the question. This is a matter that does not concern counties and, therefore, voting shall be by voice.

[(The Clerk-at-the-Table called out Order Nos. 8 and 9)]

Clerk, you may now proceed to call out Orders No.11 all the way to 15.

Sen. Lomenen, proceed to the Dispatch Box and cast your vote.

[(Sen. Lomenen approached the Dispatch Box and registered his vote)]

Hon. Senators, I will proceed to put the question on Order No.12, which is the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No. 39 of 2023) . You may now proceed to vote.

[(Hon. Senators proceeded to vote)]

Order, Hon. Senators. We will now move to Order No.14. I will put the question. You may now proceed to vote.

[(Hon. Senators proceeded to vote)]

You may now proceed to vote.

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

AYES: Sen. Abass, Wajir County; Sen. Abdul Haji, Garissa County; Sen. Cherarkey, Nandi County; Sen. Cheruiyot, Kericho County; Sen. Faki, Mombasa County; Sen. Githuku, Lamu County; Sen. Joe Nyutu, Murang’a County; Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Kakamega County; Sen. Kinyua, Laikipia County; Sen. Kisang, Elgeyo-Marakwet County; Sen. Lomenen, Turkana County; Sen. Madzayo, Kilifi County; Sen. Mbugua, Nyandarua…

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

Serjeant-at-Arms, you may now open the doors and withdraw the Bar. Hon. Senators, if you look at Order No.10, we are supposed to go to the Committee of the Whole. I beseech you not the leave the Chamber, so that we dispense with that particular Order before we resume the normal flow of today’s Order Paper. Clerk, you may proceed to call that Order.

[(The doors were opened and the Bar withdrawn)]

be now read a second time, proposed) We will vote electronically and thereafter, proceed to log out. Serjeant-at-Arms, please collect cards from unattended stations. (The Serjeant-at-Arms collected cards from unattended stations) Let us take away the cards from unattended delegates' units. You may now log back in.

51, and 52 (as amended), New Clause 41A, New Clause 41B, New Clause 41C, New Clause 41D, New Clause 41E, New Clause 52A, the Schedule, Clause 2 (as amended), the Title, and Clause 1 put)

Joe Nyutu, Murang’a County; Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Kakamega County; Sen. Kisang, Elgeyo Marakwet County; Sen. Kinyua, Laikipia County; Sen. Lomenen, Turkana County; Sen. Mbugua, Nyandarua County; Sen. Mungatana MGH, Tana River County; Sen. Munyi Mundigi, Embu County; Sen. Murgor, West Pokot County; Sen. Mwaruma, Taita Taveta County; Sen. (Dr.) Oburu, Siaya County; Sen. Ogola, Homa Bay County; Sen. O…

Hon. Temporary Chairperson, I beg to move that the Committee do report to the Senate its consideration of the National Disaster Management Bill (National Assembly Bill No.24 of 2023) and its approval thereof with amendments. Shall we rise?

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(The House resumed)]

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

Hon. Temporary Chairperson, I beg to move that the Committee do report to the Senate its consideration of the National Disaster Management Bill (National Assembly Bill No.24 of 2023) and its approval thereof with amendments. Shall we rise?

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(The House resumed)]

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

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker. I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole has considered the National Disaster Risk Management Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 24 of 2023) and its approval thereof with amendments.

Mover, Majority Leader.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I request Senator Raphael Chimera Mwanzigu to second.

My name is Mwinzagu, not Mwanzigu. I second.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed)]

Proceed Mover.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that The National Disaster Risk Management Bill (National Assembly Bills No.24 of 2023) be now read a Third Time. I request Sen. Osotsi to second.

Sen. Chute, resume your seat. Hon. Senators, I will now read the results of the vote.

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follow-

Serjeant-at-Arms, you may withdraw the bars and open the doors.

[(The Bars were undrawn and doors opened)]

Senator for Taita Taveta County, Sen. Mwaruma, please approach the Chair.

Senator for Taita Taveta County, Sen. Mwaruma, please approach the Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. Today, 15th April, 2025, two years and three months after the internationally publicized accidents that I had here in Parliament, I am honoured to come before you and this House for the Second Reading of the Provision of Sanitary Towels Bill (Senate Bills No.7 of 2024) . Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, before I make my submissions, I would …

Sen. Orwoba, allow me to interrupt you. You need to introduce your Bill properly by stating that the Provision of Sanitary Towels Bill (Senate Bills No.7 of 2024) be now read a Second Time and then proceed to make your submissions.

and those who have been involved in the space of menstrual equity, we came down to this particular name: The Provision of Sanitary Towels Bill for the avoidance of doubt. We did not want to have any confusion. Some people suggested that we should call it the Provision of Menstrual Products or Provision of Menstrual Management. I want to inform the House that many a time we legislate and create a …

This Bill makes proposals contrary to what has been happening, which is bouncing off the finances from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage. I understand that this is not a popular Bill among the Members of the National Assembly, particularly the women. Recently, there have been challenges in procurement and distribution of sanitary towels from the mother…

This Bill makes proposals contrary to what has been happening, which is bouncing off the finances from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage. I understand that this is not a popular Bill among the Members of the National Assembly, particularly the women. Recently, there have been challenges in procurement and distribution of sanitary towels from the mother…

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I take this opportunity to welcome the students from Pwani University in Kilifi County. You have a unique opportunity to learn what the Senate is all about and what we do here. Some of us have