Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, confirm whether we have a quorum. Kindly, ring the quorum bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, I can confirm that now we have quorum. Clerk, read out the first order.

[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Senators, I wish to report to the Senate that pursuant to Standing Order No.46 (3) and (4) , I received the following Message from the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the passage, by the National Assembly, of the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bills No.14 of 2024) . The Message, which is dated Thursday, 21st March, 2024 was received on Friday 22nd March, 2024 in the O…

PURSUANT to the provisions of Standing Orders No. 41(1) and 142 of the National Assembly Standing Orders, I hereby convey the following Message from the National Assembly: WHEREAS, the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 14 of 2024) was published vide Kenya Gazette Supplement No.57 of 8th March, 2024 as a Bill to provide for the equitable division of revenue raised nationally bet…

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, Tuesday, 26th March, 2024- Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kisumu County Alcoholic Drinks Control Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2021. Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kisumu County Alcoholic Drinks Control Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Re…

Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Makueni County Assembly State and Public Officers Car Loan and Mortgage Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2023. Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority for the year ended 30th June, 2023. Report of the Auditor-General on Financial Statements of Kajiado County Educat…

Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. Kindly, where is the Chair?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, 26th March, 2024- Report of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on the Gambling Control Bill (National Assembly Bills No.70 of 2023) .

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

Next Order. Proceed, Sen. Olekina.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to give notice of the following Motion- AWARE THAT, as at 31st December, 2023, according to the County Governments Budget Implementation Review Report for the first half of the Financial Year 2023/2024, county governments had accumulated a total of Kshs156.34 billion in pending bills with Nairobi City County accumulating the largest share of Kshs107,037,0…

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, Members.

FURTHER CONCERNED, that most of the service providers in the counties are battling court cases lodged against them by their financiers and suppliers while others are languishing in poverty exacerbated by the increased cost of living with increased mental health disease incidences and others dying as a result of the effects of colossal amounts of debt owed to them by county governments; NOW THEREF…

Thank you. Next Order. Let us get the Statements under Standing Order No.53 (1) . Proceed, the Senator for Kajiado County, Sen. Seki.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. This is a request for a Statement on entry qualifications for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding ECDE in the country, in light of the change of policy by the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission, raising the…

Kindly, continue as you had two Statements. Proceed, with the second one.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education, regarding the fate of teachers holding P1 certificates following the change in policy by the Ministry of Education and Teachers Service Commission, raising the minimum entry qualifications into the Teaching Service from certificates to diploma. In the Statement, the…

Thank you. Next is Sen. Kavindu Muthama.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget regarding the approved budgets for Machakos County Government for the financial years 2013/2014, 2014/2015, 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. In the …

Sen. (Dr.) Murango, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity.

I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53(1), to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing regarding the delayed upgrading of infrastructure in Ngurubani Town, Kirinyaga County. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Very well. Sen Beth Syengo, you have two Statements. You can read them concurrently.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunities and Regional Integration regarding the access to opportunities and improvement of the quality of life and status of the Daasanach Community in Marsabit County. In the Statement, the Committee should-

In the Statement, the Committee should-

Sen. Wafula, read the Statement on behalf of the the Meru County Delegation.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise on behalf of the Senator for Meru County to seek a Statement pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , from the Standing Committee on Health concerning the delayed remittance of funds by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to health facilities. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Thank you very much for that support. We have a Statement by Sen. Wakili Sigei. Is there anyone who has been assigned that responsibility? If not, then that Statement is deferred. Sen. Olekina, proceed and read the Statement. I know where the Member is. He is on duty, so read the Statement on his behalf.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise on behalf of Sen. Wakili Sigei to seek a Statement pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare regarding the composition and compliance of various boards, committees and forums in Bomet County.

In the Statement, the Committee should-

Sen. Kinyua, before we come to Statements under Standing Order No.52 (1) , let me get a few comments from both sides. This is because your Statement does not require any comments. Let us start with Sen. Sifuna.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I thank the Senator for Meru County for bringing this important matter before this House. As the people of Nairobi City County, we had the privilege of hosting the Senate Committee on Health yesterday. I take this opportunity to thank the entire Committee led by the Chairperson, the Senator for Uasin Gishu County, Sen. Mandago, for spending time with us to look at t…

which includes, a burn unit that would have taken care of all the victims from the Embakasi fire blast. At Mbagathi Hospital, where the Members of the Committee had an occasion to visit, the NHIF owes over Kshs180 million. There is a stalled outpatient department expansion block that requires only Kshs18 million, owed to the current contractor for him to return to site that he abandoned a long ti…

Hon. Senators, there is a Statement by Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale. Can you read your statement as we combine all the comments?

Asante, Bw. Naibu Spika, kwa kunipa fursa hii. Nimesimama kuambatana na Kanuni ya Kudumu 52 (1) kutoa kauli ya jumla kuhusu suala muhimu la kitaifa kuhusu hali ya usalama katika Kaunti ya Laikipia. Hali ya usalama katika Kaunti ya Laikipia imekuwa ya kutatanisha, hasa katika kipindi cha wiki moja iliyopita. Visa vya kutishia hali ya usalama katika Kaunti ya Laikipia vimekuwa vikiongezeka kadri si…

Hali hii ya utovu wa usalama inazua hofu miongoni mwa wakazi wa Kata ya Yethi na maeneo jirani, hasa ikizingatiwa visa hivi vya utovu wa usalama vinazidi kukithiri kila uchao. Inatia hofu zaidi, visa vya utovu wa usalama vikiwalenga maafisaa wanaotarajiwa kuisaidia Serikali kuu katika utekelezaji wa usalama mashinani kama vile machifu. Wakazi wanadai kuwaona wezi hao wikitokomea porini. Licha ya …

Thank you. Clerk, next Order.

Thank you. Clerk, next Order.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. As I was spewing wisdom last time, the sugar industry serves at most 400,000 small-scale farmers. These numbers, when you do your multiply effect, many Kenyans rely on the sugar industry to put food on their table and take their children to school. That is why the Bill comes in handy to ensure that we boost productivity, streamline processing, enhance value …

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on zoning and the catchment areas, millers have been put together in a zone that provides a catchment area for them. This ensures that companies have an opportunity to operate and compete in terms of pricing. This gives the farmer an opportunity to benefit from that catchment area. That catchment area turning into a zone gives the farmers an opportunity to equally get r…

Sen. Aaron, proceed to second the Bill.

I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to second the Sugar Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 34 of 2022) . This is an extremely important Bill, touching on an industry that has been long neglected over the years. It has the opportunity to give livelihoods to millions of Kenyans and save our country billions of shillings that we spend importing sugar from other countries that have organiz…

Sen. Aaron, proceed to second the Bill.

I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to second the Sugar Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 34 of 2022) . This is an extremely important Bill, touching on an industry that has been long neglected over the years. It has the opportunity to give livelihoods to millions of Kenyans and save our country billions of shillings that we spend importing sugar from other countries that have organiz…

First, I congratulate my colleague, Sen. Wakoli, a new Member in this House but has quickly studied and established himself into the ways and practices of legislative culture. Today, he has moved a Bill of an important industry in this Republic. He has done so with zeal and dedication. Over the last few weeks, I have consulted with him and listened to the stakeholders of this industry when they ca…

there is enough supply in the country but at the same time caution our farmers and ensure that you do not open the market for cheap imports from other parts of the world to the detriment of our poor farmers. I am impressed that in this Bill, we shall be returning to the good old days of the sugar directorate just like we did with the Tea Bill. Where you have a board that is dedicated and specific…

During break season, since sugar takes long before it matures in the farm, if a farmer is not provided with proper capital support, they are either bound to abandon that trade or even sometimes sell their cane before it is properly mature. They may also abandon the trade altogether and prefer to do other farming such as such dairy and tea where one is paid frequently. I have seen the proposal and…

example, the Nandi where Sen. Cherarkey comes from. There are farmers in specific regions including areas of Chemase who they feel left out because there is no sugar mill in that area. If you zone them to a particular region, they either have to operate with West Kenya, which is fairly distance of West Valley in Kericho or Kiboss, Chemilil and Muhoroni. It is important for the Board to be given p…

Hon. Senators, I have seen, from my desk, a good number of you who are seeking to contribute to this Bill. However, since the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture is tabling his report, which has just been approved for tabling, I will allow him to table the report and contribute to the Bill and immediately thereafter, I will allow the membership to contribute. Sen. (Dr.) Murango, you may p…

[(Interruption of debate on Bill)]

Asante Bw. Spika wa Muda. Ninaomba kuwasilisha Ripoti ya Mswada wa Sukari wa 2023 katika Seneti. Bw. Spika wa Muda, sukari imekuwa tamu kwa wenye wanaitumia lakini imekuwa chungu kwa wakulima. Wakati tumekuwa tukizunguka kama Kamati ya Ukulima, Uvuvi, Mifugo na Uchumi Samawati, katika maeneo yanayokuza sukari, tumejionea wakulima ambao wamenyanyaswa na kuteseka kwa muda kwa sababu ya sharia na u…

[(Sen. (Dr.) Murango laid the document on the Table)]

[(Resumption of debate on Bill)]

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am a contracted farmer with Nzoia Sugar in my other life. This is something many people might not know. I am not rich, but my grandfather, the late Mr. Joel Mabele Sifuna had a farm in Kitinda Village of Bungoma County. The Mover of this Motion is my Senator at home. When he died, in his will, he instructed that the grandchildren would till that land. I hav…

Thank you, Sen. (Dr.) Murango. Proceed Sen. Sifuna.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am a contracted farmer with Nzoia Sugar in my other life. This is something many people might not know. I am not rich, but my grandfather, the late Mr. Joel Mabele Sifuna had a farm in Kitinda Village of Bungoma County. The Mover of this Motion is my Senator at home. When he died, in his will, he instructed that the grandchildren would till that land. I hav…

this House have tried to usurp the powers and roles of county governments. From the beginning of the provisions of this Bill, there is clear recognition of the role of county governments, which starts in Clause 4 on the constitution of the sugar board. In Clause 5 of the Bill, there are functions of the county government that are clearly outlined, including extension services, which we used to ha…

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, under Section 23 of the Bill, there is provision for anybody who wants to import sugarcane to import only what is called a deficit, an established deficit of the supply of sugar locally. Therefore, one of biggest complaints of farmers has been that we are being forced to compete with those people who import sugar when we have sufficient sugar on the ground. Therefore, i…

goods, pharmaceuticals and even in cosmetics. Those of you who use moisturisers, it would be nice for you to know this.

is a lot of employment that is created in the agricultural sector. In places such as Homa Bay, I have seen many contracted farmers growing sorghum. There is also the spectre of employment being lost in the manufacturing itself, including at East African Breweries Limited (EABL). Last year, for the first time in many years, a company as big as EABL declared some redundancies and some job losses, w…

30 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, 27th March, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. The Senate rose at 6.30 p.m.