Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 21 May 2024
Senators used International Tea Day to highlight ongoing challenges for tea growers, including land disputes, past violent protests and restrictive trade barriers that limit value‑addition and market access. They praised recent legislative work such as the Tea Bill to empower farmers and called for coordinated regional action to negotiate better terms and develop processing infrastructure in counties like Nandi, Bomet and Bungoma. Senators praised the appointment of a mediation committee tasked with delivering Ksh 415 billion to counties and urged it to adopt a firm stance on devolution funding. They highlighted concerns that current allocations favour expenses over development, warned against reducing NG‑CDF and women representatives’ funds, and called for anti‑corruption measures to ensure resources reach county projects. The debate reflected both constructive support for the committee and criticism of existing funding mechanisms. Sen. Cherarkey criticised several constitutional clauses, arguing that the Senate’s role is being undermined by the National Assembly’s control over money bills, joint‑sitting rules and public‑participation provisions. He urged that the current Bill be rejected and sent to mediation, while proposing a constitutional amendment to give the Senate powers comparable to the US Senate, including involvement in impeachment and appointments.
Clerk, kindly confirm if we have quorum. My eyes cannot see well. Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. Clerk, call the first Order.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the table of the Senate today, 21st May, 2024. Report of the Auditor General on financial statements of Embu Water and Sanitation Company Limited, for the year ended 30th June, 2023.
[(Sen. Tabitha Keroche laid the document on the Table)]
The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Trade and Industrialisation, Vice Chairperson or a Member? Sen. Wakili Sigei, you have some papers to lay as the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights.
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following papers on the table of the Senate today, 21st May, 2024. Report of the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights on its consideration of the Statutory Instruments Amendment Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 2 of 2023) . Report of the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights on its consideratio…
Thank you. I lay.
Let us have the Senate Majority Leader again lay the Paper on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the table of the Senate today, 21st May, 2024. Report of the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism on its consideration of the Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, (Senate Bills No.53 of 2023)
[(Sen. Tabitha Keroche laid the document on the Table)]
Thank you. Next Order.
Hon. Senators, we have a statement under Standing Order No. 53 (1) . Senator for Kirinyaga County, Sen. (Dr.) James Murango has two statements. One to the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations. The other one is to the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights. So those two statements are dropped.
Clerk, who has the Statement on International Tea Day? Any other statement will be read tomorrow because they must be scheduled. Who has the statement on International Tea Day? Is it Sen. Cherarkey? Sen. Kisang’ proceed to read it. Where is your Statement?
Thank you, 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 payments made by Marsabit County Government to various suppliers for the financial years 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. In the statement, the committee should:
Next Order. Hon. Senators, by invoking Standing Order No 45 (2) , I hereby defer Order No. 8 we have no numbers for the Division.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted the Deputy Speaker)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have been on the top of the mountain. Thank you for your indulgence.
All Members, rise. Hon. Senators, it is now 6.30 p.m., time to adjourn the House. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024, at 9.30 a.m. The Senate rose at 6.30 p.m.