Senate · Afternoon Sitting

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(Several Senators walked into the Chamber)]

Order, hon. Senators. I am informed that we do have quorum. Kindly take your seats, so that we can do our business. Clerk, proceed to call the first Order. Sen. Ali Roba, we are waiting for you to take your seat. I have Communications to make.

[(Sen. Ali Roba sat at his place)]

Hon. Senators, in the Speaker’s Gallery, we have 16 students and one faculty member from Mama Ngina University College in Kiambu County, who are undertaking a one-day education visit in the Senate.

In our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them. On behalf of the Senate and my own behalf, I wish them a fruitful visit.

[(Applause)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I take this opportunity, on behalf of all my colleagues, to welcome visiting students from Mama Ngina University College in Kiambu County. I am sure that when they scheduled a visit to the Senate, it was because of appreciation of the good work that has been going on in this House. The students have visited to understand the law-making procedures. They should draw inspiration fr…

Hon. Senators, I do have another Communication to make.

AND WHEREAS, on Tuesday, 12th March, 2024, the Senate considered the Affordable Housing Bill (National Assembly Bill No.75 of 2023), and passed it with amendments and referred back to the National Assembly for concurrence; AND FURTHER, whereas the National Assembly having considered the amendments, concurred with the Senate on Thursday 14th March, 2024; NOW THEREFORE, having concluded the bicame…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, rather than a point of order, it is to seek your direction on a matter that if not arrested, will soon lead us into a stalemate between us and our colleagues in the National Assembly. Occasionally when I am not in the Chamber, I follow proceedings of what happens in the National Assembly, especially when they are debating Bills that have emanated from the Senate. If I am not wro…

and it is a matter which I invite you to have a conversation with your counterpart, the Speaker of the ‘Lower House’. I thank you.

Thank you, Senate Majority Leader. Indeed, your concerns are valid and I will take it up with my counterpart in the National Assembly. However, if you listen to my earlier communication on co-sponsorship, co- sponsorship is one of the ways that we can employ to avoid scenarios such as this. Since one, in as much as the Bill is considered extremely important by the Senate, the National Assembly ma…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a petition regarding regulation of credit profession that was submitted by CCP Mokaya Magembi Bernard. It is the right of every Kenyan citizen to petition public authorities and Parliament as offered in the Constitution under Articles 37 and 119. Further to the Petition to Parliament, Procedure Act No.22 of 2012 makes provision for the procedure for the exercise of the r…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, proper credit management influences financial inclusion and encourages ecosystem within which access to credit is improved. However, it is immediately apparent that whereas the primary role of credit management is to maximize profit, this cannot be achieved at the expense of the well-being of borrowers. In the quest for ensuring profitability, some lenders have shown, over the y…

Next Order, Clerk.

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Municipality of Homa Bay for the year ended 30th June, 2023. Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Nakuru County Emergency Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2023. Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Nakuru County Bursary Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2023. Report of the Auditor-General on Fina…

Sen. Faki, you are supposed to lay a Paper on behalf of Sen. Ali Roba.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sir. I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, 19th March, 2024- Report on Inaugural High-Level Joint Session of the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Senate held from 15th -18th June, 2023 in Naivasha, Nakuru County.

Sen. Faki on behalf of Sen. M. Kajwang’.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Sir. I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, 19th March, 2024- The County Government's Additional Allocations Cash Disbursement Schedule for the Financial Year 2023/2024. Thank you.

[(Sen. Faki laid the documents on the Table)]

Sen. M. Kajwang’ or any Member of that Committee to proceed to lay the Paper.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On behalf of Sen. M. Kajwang’, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, 19th March, 2024. Report of the proceedings and resolution of the inaugural biennial Devolution Conference held from 15th to 19th August 2323, in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

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

Next Order, Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to give notice of the following Motion-

THAT AWARE THAT Part 2 of the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of Kenya obligates County Governments with the responsibility to develop, establish, manage, and maintain sports and cultural facilities which includes stadiums, sports arenas, cultural centres, and other related infrastructure; NOTING THAT the entire Coastal Region of the country lacks a modern stadium built to international stand…

Next Order, Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to make a Statement on the issue of a general topical concern on the efforts made to address the pressing issue of waste management through the development and implementation of a vibrant circular economy. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Kenya generates over 8 million metric tonnes of waste annually. This calls for adaption of innovative approaches to transform waste into va…

[(Sen. Dullo and Sen. Abdul Haji consulted loudly)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am being distracted by my two colleagues.

Order, Sen. Abdul Haji and Sen. Dullo. May the Senator be heard in silence! No funny gestures. Allow the Senator to make her Statement. Proceed, Senator.

Mr. Speaker Sir, the benefits of a circular economy cannot be gainsaid as it cuts on waste and reduces carbon emissions. Products are kept in use for as long as possible through sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling. As we embark on this transformative journey, it is crucial to ensure that these benefits are equitably distributed across all segments in the society. This…

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, hon. Senators. The Senate Majority leader.

Mr. Speaker Sir, Empowering communities to take ownership of waste management initiatives will also foster local economic development and environmental stewardship. In addition, it is also important to diversify the typologies of industrial production plans that will utilize the raw materials generated from our waste management efforts, incorporating a range of industries specialized in recycling…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement on a matter of inter-county concern, namely, the urgent need to improve water transportation in Lake Turkana, to enhance trade and connectivity. I bring to your attention the pressing issue of challenging water transportation in Lake Turkana, which has significantly impeded trade between the Turkana and other commun…

Sen. Abdul Haji and Sen. Hezena, you can make use of the Lounge to extend your conversation. Otherwise, when you are here, you have to allow the Senator to read his Statement in silence.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) . Sen. Cherarkey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for the indulgence. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries regarding the distribution of subsidised fertiliser to farmers across the country. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Sen. Lomenen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. My Statement is on the land acquisition process occasioned by the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) project in Turkana County. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources, on the land acquisition process occasioned by the LAPSSET corridor proje…

Proceed, Senator.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Statement is on the operationalisation of the Rural Electrification and Renewal Energy Corporation (REREC) projects in Turkana County. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Energy on operationalisation of REREC projects in Turkana County. In this Statement, the Committee should-

Statement by Sen. Kathuri Murungi is deferred pursuant to his own request.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the outcome of the assessment by the African population and Health Research Center on the policy and institutional constraints to the availability and supply of medical oxygen in Kenya. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Proceed, Sen. Orwoba.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health concerning inadequate bed capacity at Mbagathi County Referral and Mama Lucy Hospitals. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Proceed, Sen. Chimera.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources concerning the impending shutdown of the mining company, that is, Titanium Limited in Kwale County. In the Statement, the Committee should-

The next Statement is by Sen. Ledama.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget regarding budget formulation, execution and utilization in the county governments of Kiambu, Busia, Mandera, Mombasa, Nairobi, Tana River, Wajir, Machakos, and Narok counties for the Financial Year (FY) 2022/2023. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Next is Sen. Mandago.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing regarding production of new generation number plates at the Kenya Prisons Industries. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Clerk, let us go to the next Order.

On a point of intervention, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

What is your intervention, Senate Majority Leader?

Mr. Speaker, Sir---

Senate Majority Leader, kindly take your seat. I had skipped one Statement. Allow Sen. Fatuma Dullo to request a Statement. Thereafter, you will seek your intervention.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget regarding utilisation of emergency relief funds in Isiolo County. In the Statement, the committee should-

Senate Majority Leader, what is your intervention?