Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 23 July 2024
Senators discussed the Public Transport (Motorcycle Regulation) Bill, highlighting the vital role of boda boda riders in Kenya’s economy and politics while stressing the high incidence of accidents and criminal misuse. They called for specific licensing, training, safety gear, and the inclusion of tuk‑tuks and bicycles under the regulatory framework, as well as mechanisms such as SACCOs to improve enforcement and rider financing. Senators sought additional time to incorporate amendments into a bipartisan motion, urging the leadership to allow broader participation and address omitted issues such as DPP powers and cabinet secretaries. The Speaker facilitated an adjournment motion, setting a deadline for submissions and directing the debate to continue the following day, while also enforcing speaking limits. Procedural tensions emerged over speaking time and the need for consensus among majority and minority leaders. Senators Osotsi and Mariam Omar expressed support for the Boda Boda Regulation Bill, highlighting its potential to improve transport, health access and address industry challenges. They called for amendments on financing, police harassment during inspections, penalty amounts, board composition, registration procedures and dedicated road infrastructure, including use of motorcycles as ambulances. The debate was largely constructive but raised concerns about enforcement and affordability.
Hon. Senators, kindly take your seats. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, pursuant to Standing Order No.238 (2) , I beg to lay the following Petition report on the Table of the Senate today, 23rd July, 2024- Report of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on a Petition to the Senate by the residents of Siany area, Nyamira County, regarding destruction of 41 hectares of Siany Wetland, LR Number North Mugirango, Magwagwa 2/40…
[(Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi laid the document on the Table)]
Next Order.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 23rd July, 2024- Annual Report of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights for Financial Year 2022/2023. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay.
[(Sen. Cheruiyot laid the document on the Table)]
Next Order.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on a Petition to the Senate by residents of Siany Area, Nyamira County, regarding the destruction of 41 hectares of Siany Wetland – LR No. North Mugirango/Magwagwa II/403 laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 23rd July, 2024.
Next Order.
The hon. Senator for Kisumu County, Sen. (Prof.) Ojienda, had formally requested that his Statements be deferred to tomorrow. So, we will move to Order No.8.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, listening to the House, I beg to move that the debate on this Motion be adjourned pursuant to Standing Order No.110 (1) to enable the Motion of the Senate to be moved. The reason we are moving this is because there are Members requesting, and perhaps, there are one or two things they want to add. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you need to guide the House on the timeliness. This is because th…
It is not possible to put every specific action in a Motion. That is why we are directing it to the various committees. However, listening to the views of the colleagues, I request that, in accordance to Standing Order No.110 (1), the debate be adjourned until perhaps tomorrow in the morning, when we will have had the opportunity to benefit from the various amendments of colleagues who want to add…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I concur and second this Motion.
Sen. Chute, you may take your seat, please. Hon. Senators, I will proceed to propose the question. Again, you may want to debate that or you may allow me to proceed to put the question so that we lay this matter to rest. Procedurally, that is permissible. Again, as a way of guidance, if there is any Senator wishing to propose any amendments, you have up to 5.00 p.m. today. This is to give the le…
[(Question, that debate on the Motion be adjourned proposed)]
[(Question, that debate on the Motion be adjourned put and agreed to)]
Second Reading
We will move to Order No.15. Clerk, proceed to call that Order.
Sen. Chimera, proceed to reply.
I thank them for that bold step and for the first time as a country, I hope and I am persuaded that we are headed in the right direction; that people in this nation can freely exercise their democratic minds, that we can hear those who are disgruntled and that people in positions of power or leadership can be willing to engage in a much more structured dialogue and conversation that safeguards and…
only one to safeguard the question of conflict of interest as we perform our oversight role in this Senate. You may agree with me and most of us who are in different Committees of the Senate, especially the oversight committees, that whenever we summon a governor and they appear before us, they have one uniform answer to the question of the use of public funds allocated to them. They always say t…
I thank them for that bold step and for the first time as a country, I hope and I am persuaded that we are headed in the right direction; that people in this nation can freely exercise their democratic minds, that we can hear those who are disgruntled and that people in positions of power or leadership can be willing to engage in a much more structured dialogue and conversation that safeguards and…
Thank you, Sen. Chimera. The putting of the question is deferred to the next Sitting of the House, pursuant to Standing Order No. 66 (3) of the Standing Orders of this House. Clerk, call the next Order.
[(Putting of Question on Bill deferred)]
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise to lay on this Table, today, 23rd July, 2024, the Paper from the Committee on Finance and Budget, being a report of this Standing Committee on the nominee by the Senate, on behalf of county governments, to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) . consulted with Sen. Mariam Omar)
[(Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale laid the document on the Table)]
[(The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Wakili Sigei)]
Hon. Members, I see that we have a request to speak to this particular Motion. I will ask Sen. Mungatana, MGH to proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I hope to just say one word, so that the Mover can reply. If Kenyans can recall, these were the beginnings of the new administration when President William Ruto had taken over. They were hit with a scandal of the Malaria nets. Very prompt action was taken against KEMSA and its administration. In fact, the Principal Secretary was removed from the position and …
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to Second.
[(Question proposed)]
Hon. Members, I see that we have a request to speak to this particular Motion. I will ask Sen. Mungatana, MGH to proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I hope to just say one word, so that the Mover can reply. If Kenyans can recall, these were the beginnings of the new administration when President William Ruto had taken over. They were hit with a scandal of the Malaria nets. Very prompt action was taken against KEMSA and its administration. In fact, the Principal Secretary was removed from the position and …
Kenyans lauded this step that was taken against obvious mismanagement of funds that belonged to the Kenyan people. Somewhere along the line, that spirit totally disappeared. There is a plea by the young men of Kenya today for the spirit of taking action against public officers who fail to live to the ethical standard that is required of them be applied. The call by the young people is that we mus…
Sen. Mungatana, MGH, you will have 18 minutes remaining, when the House resumes, to conclude on your contribution to the Motion.
Hon. Senators, it is now 6.30 p.m., time to adjourn the House. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, 24th July, 2024, at 9.30 a.m. The Senate rose at 6.30 p.m.