Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Senators criticised the National Treasury for repeatedly missing the Disbursement Schedule, causing cash shortfalls, delayed salaries and business failures in counties. They supported a motion to approve a new schedule, urged amendments to the PFM Act and suggested a devolution bond to ensure timely funding. The debate highlighted the need for stronger fiscal mechanisms to improve county service delivery. Senators debated the County Additional Allocation cash‑disbursement schedule, expressing frustration that the National Treasury repeatedly fails to honour previously approved schedules. They urged the Treasury to release the funds in a single tranche and called for legislative amendments to make the schedule binding and to clarify the Treasury’s role under the Public Finance Management Act. Senators raised concerns over the allocation of mining royalties and court fines, arguing that counties like Narok, Nandi and Kakamega are receiving nothing while Nairobi benefits disproportionately. The debate also touched on funding for UHC workers and procedural frustrations, with several interjections about the conduct of the Temporary Speaker and the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget. The discussion was marked by criticism, repeated interruptions, and limited consensus.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Senators, let us take our seats. We now have quorum. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.
Mr. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, Tuesday, 27th May, 2025- The County Governments (Additional Allocations) Cash Disbursement Schedule for the Financial Year 2024/2025.
[(Sen. Cheruiyot laid the document on the Table)]
Majority Leader, you laid your Paper, but the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget also had a Paper to lay, unless you are saying that you did that on their behalf. Let us proceed as the Committee on Finance and Budget get their act together. Clerk, call out Order No.6 again.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give Notice of the following Motion- Notwithstanding the resolution of the Senate made on 19th February, 2025, pursuant to Standing Order No.32, on approval of the Senate Calendar (Regular Sessions) for the Fourth Session 2025; and further notwithstanding the provision of Standing Order No.34 (1) , the Senate resolves to suspend its Morning Sitting on Wednesday, 28th Ma…
The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget is not here? That business is deferred.
Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) . Is Sen. David Wafula not here? That Statement is dropped.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism on a matter of national concern regarding the implementation status of the extended producer's responsibility by manufacturers. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Section 51 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act, Cap.387C under the Sustainable Waste Management Ext…
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, the 27th of May, 2025- Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the County Government's County Allocations Cash Disbursement Schedule for the Financial Year 2024/2023.
[(Sen. Tabitha Mutinda laid the document on the Table)]
The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, you may proceed to give notice on the same.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to give Notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the County Governments (Additional Allocations) Cash Disbursement Schedule for the Financial Year 2024/2025, laid on the Table of the Senate, today, 27th May, 2025, and that pursuant to Section 17 (7) of the Public Finance Management Act,…
Next Order.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to move the following Motion- THAT, notwithstanding the Resolutions of the Senate made on 19th February, 2025, pursuant to Standing Order 32 on the approval of the Senate Calendar (Regular Sessions) for the 4th Session 2025; further notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 34 (1) , the Senate resolves to suspend its Morning Sitting on Wednesday 28th May, 2025. Mr…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. If the Senate Majority Leader had not pointed at me, I would have had a different opinion. However, I do rise to second. It is imperative that everything we do, we seek guidance from the Higher Almighty, given that we are going through difficult times. Difficult times require special prayers to allow us to navigate these challenges of either abductions or others. We j…
Hon. Senators, the Floor is open for debate, but this being a procedural Motion, with your concurrence, I may proceed to put the Question, so that we may vote. Very well, hon. Senators, I will proceed to put the Question.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Next Order. You may proceed, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. To suspend the Sitting of the Senate is an extraordinary issue and we are doing this to appeal to God. I, therefore, want your direction on this. Is it possible for all the luminaries of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) , who will be at the prayer meeting tomorrow, to find it in their hearts to forgive Gloria because God is a God of second chances? I say this becau…
Sen. (Dr.) Boni, kindly take your seat. Clerk, proceed to call the next Order, please. Chairperson, Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, you may proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to move the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the County Governments (Additional Allocations) Cash Disbursement Schedule for the Financial Year 2024/2025 laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 27th May, 2025, and that pursuant to Section 17 (7) of the Public Finance Management Act, the Se…
(CARA). The National Treasury has accepted and presented that they will disburse the entire County Additional Allocation in May and June in order for them to comply within the current Financial Year, as we are already in the process of doing the same County Additional Allocation and other documents for the following Financial Year 2025/2026, including the Division of Revenue Act and other Instrume…
Hon. Senators, we will now proceed to propose the question.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I echo the statement by Sen. Sifuna that this disbursement schedule that we pass for equitable share and also additional allocation has become a ritual. No one takes it seriously, especially at the National Treasury, not in terms of the amounts, but in terms of the time when the money is sent. Something has to be done about this because it seems as if junior officers …
As we support the passage of this Schedule, we are concerned that the National Treasury has continuously failed to honour the Schedule that this House has developed, putting service delivery in counties into jeopardy. By failing to follow the Disbursement Schedule, the National Treasury is continuously accumulating pending bills in counties and creating a situation where businesses are collapsing.…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also rise to support Motion on the Disbursement Schedule because we have had issues with counties. Every time we have an opportunity to meet governors or people who work for county governments in our counties sometimes they take us to task. We always tell people in our counties that we are the people that pass the Division of Revenue Bill and, therefore, affording o…
As we support the passage of this Schedule, we are concerned that the National Treasury has continuously failed to honour the Schedule that this House has developed, putting service delivery in counties into jeopardy. By failing to follow the Disbursement Schedule, the National Treasury is continuously accumulating pending bills in counties and creating a situation where businesses are collapsing.…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also rise to support Motion on the Disbursement Schedule because we have had issues with counties. Every time we have an opportunity to meet governors or people who work for county governments in our counties sometimes they take us to task. We always tell people in our counties that we are the people that pass the Division of Revenue Bill and, therefore, affording o…
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support this Motion that this Disbursement Schedule be approved, so that we can continue doing the service that we are supposed to do to our counties. I thank you.
The Senate Majority Leader.
speak, I hope the Senate Majority and Minority Whips are whipping the Members for us to conclude on this today. I thank you.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I hope Sen. Mandago together with the Members who serve in the Committee on Health, including Sen. Omogeni, will lead us home. They must at some point lead this House into making the right decision. They should feel bad on behalf of all Kenyans who watch doctors, nurses, health workers and all these health professionals who come outside the Senate each and every year. Today, they…
speak, I hope the Senate Majority and Minority Whips are whipping the Members for us to conclude on this today. I thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I hear the Senate Majority side is whipping their Members from the comfort of their chairs. I rise in support of the Disbursement Schedule and I will make a few comments on this. I have looked at the First Schedule and I associate myself fully with the comments by the Senate Majority Leader. We are headed towards end of May. This is when we are trying to approve this …
that was taken at the national level that they should be constructing. The least that we can do is to match the amount of money that counties have spent on these CAIPs to ensure completion and utilization of the facilities. Secondly, in the Second Schedule is the issue of court fines. I do not know whether this reputation is right. I request Sen. Roba to help me with this. I do not know whether t…
Hon. Senators, I request each member of the delegation to stand when called out so that you may be acknowledged in the Senate tradition.
procedures are conducted under the supervision of the qualified medical specialist. All post-operative briefings should be conducted by the lead surgeons to ensure accurate communication with patients and their families about the procedures and outcomes. Three, the KMPDC should, within three months of tabling this Report, issue a caution or reprimand in writing to all medical practitioners involv…
Madam Temporary Speaker, the petitioner filed a complaint with the KMPDC and enumerated particulars in support of an allegation of medical negligence; patience, mismanagement, intimidation and failure to follow up on second admission. However, during the process of lodging the complaint with KMPDC, they felt subjected to humiliation, harassment and intimidation by individuals; some of whom work fo…
Bi. Spika, muda umeyoyoma kwa hivyo sita sema mengi bali kuunga mkono kazi ya Kamati hii. Wamefanya kazi nzuri. Yule mama wa mtoto alipwe pesa na mambo ya madaktari ichukuliwe hatua vile inafaa ili iwe funzo kwa madaktari wengine. Ninaunga mkono kwa sababu Kamati hii imefanya kazi mzuri.
Can you second the report.
Bi. Spika, kwa lugha ya Kiswahili, tunasema kuunga mkono. Nina ‘second.’
Bi. Spika, muda umeyoyoma kwa hivyo sita sema mengi bali kuunga mkono kazi ya Kamati hii. Wamefanya kazi nzuri. Yule mama wa mtoto alipwe pesa na mambo ya madaktari ichukuliwe hatua vile inafaa ili iwe funzo kwa madaktari wengine. Ninaunga mkono kwa sababu Kamati hii imefanya kazi mzuri.
Can you second the report.
Hon. Senators, it is now 6.30
Thank you, Sen. Munyi Mundigi. It is duly seconded. Resume your seats, Hon. Senators.
[(Several Senators stood up in their places)]
[(Question proposed)]
Hon. Senators, it is now 6.30