Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Senators, led by Olekina, contested claims that money earmarked for counties was diverted to the Hustler Fund and called for the Division of Revenue Bill to be examined, while the Deputy Speaker warned against unparliamentary language such as “shame.” Multiple points of order were raised concerning standing orders, the legitimacy of statements made by Senator Cherarkey, and the procedural handling of a finance committee report on county allocations. The exchange highlighted tension over factual accuracy, procedural compliance, and parliamentary decorum. Senators moved to adjourn the Senate to discuss the urgent national issue of mass graves linked to Pastor Paul Mackenzie's followers in Shakahola, Kilifi County. The debate centered on distinguishing the phenomenon as a cult rather than a religion, condemning the leader, and urging security agencies and the President to act decisively. Additional remarks touched on past financial allocations and procedural order in the chamber. Senators highlighted the chronic problem of pending bills in counties, citing years‑long unpaid debts to suppliers, women, youth and persons with disabilities, and urged the Finance and Budget Committee to investigate all 47 counties. They defended the boda boda sector’s contribution to GDP and called for its protection, while a separate request sought clarification on which committee should handle landing‑rights issues for Mombasa International Airport. The Deputy Speaker directed the matters to the appropriate committees and noted procedural points.
Clerk, confirm whether we have quorum. I request we call for quorum for five minutes. Hon. Senators, I have ascertained that we now have quorum. So, let us transact the House business. Clerk, proceed to call the first Order. Sen. Kavindu, speed up a bit to your seat.
[(The Clerk consulted the Deputy Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(Sen. Kavindu walked into the Chamber)]
Hon. Senators, as you may recall, on Thursday 23rd March, 2023, the Senate passed a Motion on the fifth Report of the Procedure and Rules Committees; and approved amendments to the Standing Orders, which effect was to provide a framework for questions to CSs. In approving the amendments to the Standing Orders, the Senate also varied hours of meetings to provide for sittings on Wednesday morning, …
At the appropriate time, the CS, accompanied by a maximum of three officers from the Ministry, will be led into the Chamber by the Serjeant-at-Arms. Other officers from the Ministry may take up seats in the Speaker’s Gallery. The CS, and the three designated officers will take up seats to the right of the Chair and wait for the Order for Questions to be called out upon which, Senators may pose th…
[(Applause)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table of the Senate, today, 25th April, 2023- Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statement of the County Executive of Nakuru for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statement of the County Assembly of Nakuru for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on…
Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statement of the County Revenue Fund for the County Government of Makueni for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statement of the Baringo County Emergency Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2022. I beg to lay. (Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi laid the documents on the Table)
Thank you, Senate Majority Deputy Whip. There is another paper to be laid by the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations. Are you ready?
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, 25th April, 2023. Report of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on the County Boundary Bill (Senate Bills No. 6 of 2023) . I beg to lay.
[(Sen. Abass laid the document on the Table)]
Thank you. Next Order. Hon. Senators, let me make this Communication before we get to Order No. 7.
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Before I go on, I would like to give my regards to the team that has come from Murang’a to benchmark in the Senate. I was not very clear in the mind when you made the Communication. I did not raise the issue because I did not know how to respond to your Communication. I am very excited. Allow me to say this for the sake of the Members of this House who may not…
Order, Sen. Onyonka. Are you making your Statement? Your Statement is on pending bills?
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am making my Statement. I thought you would let me slide through by giving you accolades. However, I will not. Let me go to the major issue.
[(Sen. Githuku walked into the Chamber without bowing to the Chair)]
Sen. Githuku, Senator for Lamu County, this is not a cowshed. When you get to the bar you must appreciate that this is a House of honour. Go back to the bar and bow in honour of this House. Hon. Senators, I am very keen today so you must be careful.
[(Sen. Githuku walked to the Bar, bowed to the Chair and walked into the Chamber)]
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for protecting me. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, regarding the status of pending bills of Kisii county
government as well as those of the other 46 county governments in our Republic of Kenya. In the Statement, the Committee should-
Thank you, Sen. Onyonka. The next Statement is from the Senator for Kirinyaga County, Sen. (Dr.) Murango.
On a point of order Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
What is your point of order, Sen. Kinyua? It must be a point of order. You know that you cannot just raise frivolous points of order.
Asante Bw. Naibu Spika. Hoja yangu ya nidhamu ni kuwa, ni kawaida yetu wageni wanapotutembelea tuwakaribishe. Tuna wajumbe kutoka Murang’a ambao wametutembelea. Kwa sababu Seneta wa kutoka Murang’a hayuko, nimechukua jukumu hilo kama Kamishna.
[(Applause)]
Sen. Kinyua, mbona unaruka Seneta wa Nyeri na yeye ndiye jirani zaidi? Wewe uko Laikipia. Jirani wa Murang’a zaidi ni Seneta wa Nyeri.
Bw. Naibu Spika, akufaaye kwa dhiki ndiye rafiki. Hakusema lolote.
[(Applause)]
Nitampatia dakika moja. Yeye ni jirani mwema wa Murang’a pia.
Asante Bw. Naibu Spika. Naungana nawe kuwakaribisha wajumbe hawa kutoka Murang’a Kaunti. Ningependa kuwaambia karibuni Seneti. Kwenye Jumba hili mtasoma mengi. Nawatakia kila la heri wakati mko hapa kwa masomo yenu. Vile vile, nataka kuwaambia mlifanya jambo la manufaa zaidi kumchagua Sen. Joe Nyutu. Yeye ni Mwenyekiti wetu wa Kamati ya Elimu. Yeye huongea Kiswahili sanifu katika Bunge hili. Pia …
shughuli za kikazi. Kwa hivyo, yeye ni mchapa kazi na anaendelea kufanya kazi ambayo amechaguliwa kufanya. Bw. Naibu Spika, naungana na wewe kusema asante na kuwaambia karibu sana.
Seneta wa Nyeri?
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to commend you for noticing that Senator for Laikipia. Sen. Kinyua jumped two counties to get to Murang’a. I take this opportunity to welcome Members of the Murang’a County Assembly. The Senator for Murang’a County, Sen. Joe Nyutu is away on official duty. He had told me that they are coming. I had said that I will wait for your grace to give me an oppor…
Senator for Nyeri, I did not know that you had that passionate message. Next time you must catch the Speaker’s eye. Otherwise, you could have lost your message.
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
Sen. Mumma, what is out of order? Are you also claiming to be a neighbor of Murang’a?
[(Applause)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, women are Kenyans. So, I can claim to be a neighbor of Murang’a because that is our nature. Pursuant to Standing Order No.37, I seek leave of the Senate to adjourn to discuss a definite matter of urgent national importance, namely. the discovery of mass graves thought to be those of Pastor Paul Mackenzie’s followers who purportedly died of starvation as part of the religi…
[(Several Hon. Senators stood up in their place)]
I can see for sure that this is a matter of national importance. It is a bipartisan issue. I have confirmed that you have the threshold and therefore, I direct that the Senate will adjourn at 5:30 p.m. to consider that Motion. Hon. Senators, there is a Statement from Sen. (Dr) Murango. There are three other Statements. I can see Sen. (Dr) Murango is not around. So, those Statements stand deferred…
We will go to the next and the last one from Senator Oketch Gicheru. No, it is not the last one, there is one more.
45 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. Therefore, the Senate stands adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, 26th April, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. The Senate rose at 6:45 p.m.