Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Members, we are certain that we have quorum pursuant to Standing Order No.40. Let us begin.

Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of Kirandich Water Company Ltd for the year ended 30th June, 2021. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of Kirinyaga County Assembly Mortgage (Members) Scheme Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2021. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of Kirinyaga County Assembly Car Loan (Members) Fund for the …

On a point of order, Madam Temporary Speaker.

On a point of order, Madam Temporary Speaker.

Sen. Wambua, what is your point of order?

[(Loud consultation)]

Proceed, Senate Majority Whip.

[(Loud consultation)]

[(Laughter)]

[(Laughter)]

Madam Temporary Speaker, I am happy that you have forgiven Sen. Orwoba. If it actually comforts you, she got confused by my melodious voice. That is why she forgot.

[(Laughter)]

[(Laughter)]

Hon. Senators, before we proceed to the next Order, I have the following Message to communicate.

Hon. Senators, Pursuant to Standing Order No.47 of the Senate Standing Orders, I wish to convey a message from His Excellency the President. The Message was delivered to the Office of the Speaker via a letter referenced OP/CAB.26/4A VOL.I/ (46) , dated 29th September, 2022, and received in the Office of the Speaker of the Senate on 18th October, 2022, regarding Parliamentary approval of the nomine…

Hon. Senators, Pursuant to Standing Order No.47 of the Senate Standing Orders, I wish to convey a message from His Excellency the President. The Message was delivered to the Office of the Speaker via a letter referenced OP/CAB.26/4A VOL.I/ (46) , dated 29th September, 2022, and received in the Office of the Speaker of the Senate on 18th October, 2022, regarding Parliamentary approval of the nomine…

ACKNOWLEDGING that the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (EAC) as one of the key organs and institutions of the Community responsible for the Community’s legislative matters; RECOGNIZING that Article 50 of the Treaty provides for the election of Members of EALA by respective partner States’ Legi…

Let me first invite Sen. Wambua who had an urgent Statement on security issue, to read his Statement before we proceed with the rest.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for indulging me and giving me an opportunity to seek this Statement on matters security. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding the heightened insecurity situation in Mutha Ward, Kitui County. In the Statement, the Committee should –

Sen. Wambua, do you want to be informed?

Sen. Wambua, do you want to be informed?

Yes, Madam Temporary Speaker. The Temporary Speaker (

Asante sana, Bi. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipa fursa hii. Mambo ya usalama na ufugaji yamekuwa yakiandamana. Ni vuzuri ijulikane wazi kuwa kazi kuu ya Serikali ni kulinda maisha na mali ya wananchi. Jambo ambalo limekuwa likitendeka katika Kaunti ya Laikipia ni kuwa wafugaji wanalisha wanyama wao kwenye mashamba ya watu, na kusema kuwa wanawalisha nyasi sio mchanga. Mchanga ni yako lakini mimea ni ya …

Senators, this being an

[(Loud Consultations)]

I had made a ruling that two people would contribute to that Statement. We have very many Statements today, unless we do not want to receive some of them. Okay, that is noted. I will give you a chance, but you have to wait until I have finished what I am reading out. We are committing this matter to the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations to issue a Statement on…

[(An hon. Senator spoke off record)]

Okay, Proceed Senate Minority Leader. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo) : Bi Spika wa Muda, katika Mjadala unaoletwa katika hili Bunge, singependa kukueleza utakavyofanya. Najua kazi unafanya kisawasawa lakini haki na utendaji kazi lazima uende pamoja. Upande huu una haki ya kuchangia. Nashangaa kuwa unaelekeza pande moja waongee na upande huu huapewi nafasi. Sitaki kukosoa uamuzi uliofa…

[(Loud Consultations)]

I had made a ruling that two people would contribute to that Statement. We have very many Statements today, unless we do not want to receive some of them. (An hon. Senator spoke off record) Okay, that is noted. I will give you a chance, but you have to wait until I have finished what I am reading out. We are committing this matter to the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign…

On a point of Order, Madam, Temporary Speaker.

Okay, Proceed Senate Minority Leader. The Senate Minority Leader (

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order 52 (1) , to make a Statement on a matter of inter-county importance and general topical concern, namely, concerns over the plan by Safaricom PLC, to block SIM Cards that would not have been Re-registered by Saturday, 15th October, 2022. There are millions of Kenyans in need of humanitarian aid, especially in the Northern count…

This way, humanitarian aid will not be disrupted by the action of disconnecting these customers.

[(Loud consultations)]

I will exercise my discretion. I assure both sides of the House that the Speaker is allowing everybody to contribute to the Motion. The Statement came from the Minority side, but to give further assurance, I will give one more person a chance to comment on it. Let us have one. consulted with the Clerk-at-the-Table)

[(The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina)]

Madam Temporary Speaker, just to confirm something although I am not certain; I thought I saw a communication from the Communications Authority (CA) of Kenya, that they have extended the deadline for this registration by a further 60 days. With your guidance, perhaps Sen. Abdul Haji could let us know if this has been done. If so, we may not need to dwell too much on this.

I rise under Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement about the concluded World Sight Day held on 13th October, 2022. Madam Temporary Speaker, everyone in the blind and visually impaired community knows that October is an important month because it is blindness awareness month. World over, people have been celebrating and creating sensitization activities around loving your eyes, which is thi…

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Disability of any form is a reality that can find someone in the most unexpected way. As shared by the Senator, the issue of eyesight is a critical issue that needs to be shared. Sometimes when one’s entire wellbeing is intact, we tend to take a lot of things for granted. However, the line between becoming visually impaired or having other forms of disability i…

[(Applause)]

Thank you very much Sen. Crystal Asige. That is very well spoken and presented. We are proud of you as a Senate and remember your name is VIP. Asante sana. I will allow a few comments; one comment from each side of the House. Proceed, Sen. Oketch Gicheru.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to make a quick statement in appreciation of what Sen. Crystal Asige has talked about. One of the most ignored chapters of our Constitution is Chapter 4. The framers of the Constitution spent so much time on thinking and rethinking the idea of the Bill of Rights.

If you look at Article 19 of our Constitution, the Bill of Rights is seen as an integral part of our democratic Kenyan State to the extent that it should form the framework for social, economic and cultural policies that we make. I believe that this is one of those socio-economic cultural policies that institutions like the Ministry of Health should look into. If you look at it further, you will …

Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the recall and suspension of sales by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) , of several edible oil products from various manufacturers in Kenya. In the Statement the Committee should-

Sen. Olekina, what is your point of order?

Madam Temporary Speaker, I know that some of us are quite new here, but the distinguished Senator who just walked out, Sen. Methu, just crossed the Floor to come to this side. Since we are all learning, all new Senators should be reminded that they have to walk all the way there, bow, and then come here. It is just a point of information.

Thank you, Sen. Olekina. All new Senators, can we take note of that, please? Senator Cherarkey, you may proceed.

Let us have the next Statement from Sen. Cherarkey.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the recall and suspension of sales by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) , of several edible oil products from various manufacturers in Kenya. In the Statement the Committee should-

Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding the incessant conflicts between Mbeere and Ameru communities in Siakago Constituency, Embu County. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Madam Temporary Speaker, I know that some of us are quite new here, but the distinguished Senator who just walked out, Sen. Methu, just crossed the Floor to come to this side. Since we are all learning, all new Senators should be reminded that they have to walk all the way there, bow, and then come here. It is just a point of information.

Thank you, Sen. Olekina. All new Senators, can we take note of that, please? Senator Cherarkey, you may proceed.

Madam Temporary Speaker, allow me to pick from where I left.

Next Statement by Sen. Mundigi.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding the incessant conflicts between Mbeere and Ameru communities in Siakago Constituency, Embu County. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding an arsonist attack that left seven members of a family dead in Ngimari village, Gichiche sub-location, Runyenjes Constituency, Embu County. In the Statement, the Committee should-

There is a point of order from Senator Wambua.

Hon. Senators, we will defer the remaining Statements because we have spent a lot of time on this.

The second Statement is

Madam Temporary Speaker, there is a reason I raised that issue. I have a personal issue that I need to attend to and I had asked to be allowed to make my Statements that are listed but I was told that I could only do one Statement. However, if it is allowed for the Senator of Embu, then he is my neighbor. It is okay.

Hon. Senators, we have agreed that he will be the last to read his Statements and then we will postpone the others because we have spent more than one hour on Statements. Sen. Mundigi, proceed and finalize your Statement

Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding an arsonist attack that left seven members of a family dead in Ngimari village, Gichiche sub-location, Runyenjes Constituency, Embu County. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Hon. Senators, we will defer the remaining Statements because we have spent a lot of time on this.

Otherwise, all the countries of East Africa have already concluded the process of electing Members to EALA except the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is because it is a new member and now the East African community is going to have seven Members. We have been having six Members and the six Members appoint nine Members from each State. The membership of EALA has been 54. Southern Sudan ha…

NOW THEREFORE, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 9 of the Houses of Parliament (Joint Sittings) Rules, the Senate resolves:

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

I congratulate the Senator who has just spoken before me, for the time that he spent in EALA. He is a senior Member of this House. The EALA has been a big disappointment, not only to Kenya but to the rest of EAC.

[(Applause)]

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I thank our two colleagues who have responded to this Motion. They have spoken on behalf of the other Senators. I have taken keen interest in their contributions, both North and South, in terms of what EALA has been able to achieve. Sen. Oburu has served in EALA and he has been very optimistic about what we can achieve as EAC, through EALA Statutes and the four…

Sen. Mungatana, proceed. You have only two minutes.

Madam Temporary Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I have only one point and I will be brief.

I congratulate the Senator who has just spoken before me, for the time that he spent in EALA. He is a senior Member of this House. The EALA has been a big disappointment, not only to Kenya but to the rest of EAC.

[(Applause)]

B. County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee

Thank you, Madam, Temporary Speaker. I rise to second the Motion of the consideration of Senators to serve in these three Committees. If you look at all the Order Papers that we have considered since we started the term of this Parliament, you will notice that the Papers Laid revolve around the two Committees that we are considering their Members today. The first Paper Laid out today is the Repo…

Hon. Senators, pursuant to Standing Order No.84 (2) , I wish to make a determination that this matter does not affect counties. Therefore, I would like to put the question.

[(Question put and agreed to)]