Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. We now have quorum. We will start the day’s business. Clerk, proceed to call the First Order.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Senators, I have a communication to make regarding the launch of the first edition of the Annotated Senate Standing Orders and three other publications on mediation in the legislative process during the 11th and 12th Parliaments, the process of allocation of revenue to county governments between the 2013/2014 and 2021/2022 financial years and the impeachment processes in the Senate from 2013 …

They will constitute part of the Senate’s institutional memory and serve as a useful and practical reference for yourselves, Members of the National Assembly and county assemblies, parliamentary officers, scholars, researchers and other members of the general public interested in legislative procedures and practices. They are also intended to make parliamentary processes more open to the public, i…

Hon. Senators, take your seats. I have a Message to pass to you.

[(Hon. Senators sat in their places)]

NOW THEREFORE, having concluded the bicameral passage of the Bill, I will present the Bill to H.E. the President for Assent in accordance with the provisions of Article 112 of the Constitution.’’ Thank you. Next Order, Clerk.

Senator for Nairobi City County, Hon. Edwin Sifuna.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a petition by Mr. Peter Kamau Gitau seeking parliamentary intervention regarding the recruitment of Kenyan nationals into the Russian army and the detention of Kenyans in Ukrainian prisons. I take this opportunity to present this petition on behalf of the families of Kenyan nationals who are unlawfully recruited and sent to serve in the armed forces of the Russian Federa…

THAT, whereas we the undersigned, on behalf of other families of Kenyan citizens, illegally recruited to serve in the Russian military have pursued all possible means, including but not limited to petitioning and lobbying state agencies responsible to help find and repatriate our relatives dead or alive back to Kenya, we have been unable to make any progress, leaving many families despondent and h…

Hon. Senators, pursuant to Standing Order No.238 (1) , I commit that petition to the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations for the consideration. Now, in terms of Standing Order No.238 (2) , the committee is required, in not more than 60 calendar days from the time of reading the prayer, which is today, to table its report in the Senate for consideration. The Sena…

[(The Petition was committed to the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 28th April, 2026: - Report of the Mediation Committee on the Food and Feed Safety Control Co- ordination Bill (National Assembly Bills No.21 of 2023) . The Chairperson Standing Committee on Health, please, proceed.

[(Sen. Ogola laid the document on the Table)]

[(The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Health was not in the Chamber)]

The Senate Minority Leader, you may proceed to table. The Chairperson is not present, so you may table on his behalf. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo) : Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Next Order. The Vice-Chairperson, Mediation Committee, Sen. Beatrice, please proceed.

Next Order. The Vice-Chairperson, Mediation Committee, Sen. Beatrice, please proceed.

pursuant to Article 113(2) of the Constitution and Standing Order No.167(3) of the Senate, approves the mediated version of the Bill.

pursuant to Article 113(2) of the Constitution and Standing Order No.167(3) of the Senate, approves the mediated version of the Bill.

Once again, thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 28th April, 2026:- Report of the Mediation Committee on the National Disaster Risk Management Bill (National Assembly Bills No.24 of 2023) . I beg to lay. Thank you.

[(Sen. Chute laid the document of the Table of the Senate)]

Once again, thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 28th April, 2026:- Report of the Mediation Committee on the National Disaster Risk Management Bill (National Assembly Bills No.24 of 2023) . I beg to lay. Thank you.

[(Sen. Chute laid the document of the Table of the Senate)]

Next Order, Clerk.

win at the London Marathon puts his tally at four victories from four marathons he has contested in. This achievement is a true testament to his extraordinary zeal, discipline and talent. Mr Speaker, Sir, at the same race, Amos Kiprutto came in fourth after clocking 1:01:39. In the women's category, Olympic medallist Hellen Obiri secured second place, finishing the marathon with a time of 2:12:53…

In conclusion, let us honour our champions not only with applause but with tangible support, recognition and advocacy for their rightful place in world athletics. The achievements at the 2026 London and Boston Marathons are reflections of Kenya's excellence and they deserve to be celebrated as the heroes of our time and posterity. I thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir.

In conclusion, let us honour our champions not only with applause but with tangible support, recognition and advocacy for their rightful place in world athletics. The achievements at the 2026 London and Boston Marathons are reflections of Kenya's excellence and they deserve to be celebrated as the heroes of our time and posterity. I thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Thank you very much Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a statement on a matter of national importance namely, the continued humanitarian and administrative challenges facing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Marsabit County and the refugee households currently hosted in Dilo and Magado border area. This matter arises from information previously presented be…

continued vulnerability of the displaced households in Marsabit, therefore, represent not only humanitarian concerns, but also a failure to operationalise an existing legal framework. Kenya has previously demonstrated that displacement crisis can be addressed decisively following the 2007-2008 post-election violence. The national Government established structures and programmes through which disp…

[(Loud consultations)]

Senator for Nandi, Senator for Garissa and Senator for Isiolo, may the Member from Marsabit be heard in silence, please?

[(Loud consultations)]

Senator for Nandi, Senator for Garissa and Senator for Isiolo, may the Member from Marsabit be heard in silence, please?

Thank you. If the State was able to compensate citizens displaced by political violence, there is no constitutional, legal or moral justification for excluding citizens displaced by insecurity and conflict in Marsabit County, in northern Kenya. Mr. Speaker, Sir, equally, Kenya continues to benefit from international protection extended to Kenyan refugees abroad. Our standing as a responsible memb…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on a matter of countrywide concern regarding serious mismanagement of the payroll and budgetary challenges affecting employees and delivery of essential public services in the County of Kakamega. Employees of Kakamega County have been unable to access he…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on a matter of countrywide concern regarding serious mismanagement of the payroll and budgetary challenges affecting employees and delivery of essential public services in the County of Kakamega. Employees of Kakamega County have been unable to access he…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Health on a matter of national concern regarding the deplorable state of facilities at the Mathari National and Teaching Reform Hospital. Article 43 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen a right to the highest attainable standard of health. However, mentally ill patie…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Health on a matter of national concern regarding the deplorable state of facilities at the Mathari National and Teaching Reform Hospital. Article 43 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen a right to the highest attainable standard of health. However, mentally ill patie…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on a matter of countywide concern regarding the implementation of agriculture and blue economy programmes in Mombasa County. In the statement, the committee should address the following-

Senator for Nyandarua County, honourable John Methu. He is not in the House? The statement is dropped.

Senator for Nyandarua County, honourable John Methu. He is not in the House? The statement is dropped.

Members will debate and share their thoughts on that very important subject. I hope that they will be around long enough to engage, learn and interact. Many of us who are in this House trace our roots in leadership to what we did as young student leaders and that is why we are here today. So, I hope that they do not delay a minute in their active participation on their journey to leadership. I wi…

Members will debate and share their thoughts on that very important subject. I hope that they will be around long enough to engage, learn and interact. Many of us who are in this House trace our roots in leadership to what we did as young student leaders and that is why we are here today. So, I hope that they do not delay a minute in their active participation on their journey to leadership. I wi…

On a point of procedure, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

On a point of procedure, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Yes, Senator for Kakamega County.

Mr. Speaker, we feel that the office of the Serjeant-at-Arms might be embarrassing us in the public eye. These proceedings, from the time we came in, are live and students from another school were here, yet you did not acknowledge them. You have acknowledged university students, which is okay, but what message are we sending to the children, especially with those schools that you failed to recogni…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, ordinarily, the ruling that you have just made is not subject to debate. I am just wondering, because, as the Majority Leader has correctly said, the Division of Revenue Bill is the very reason we are here. Usually, I have seen in previous years that the debate on that particular Bill spills over to the next sitting day. I am unsure how we will manage that with the comment sectio…

Could you make your point?

Could you make your point?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, even when business is sponsored by the Senate Majority Leader, he should not take it as his personal business. It is the business of this House. Since we made these decisions in a collegiate manner, do not ambush us. You can tell us that there was a meeting with the elders of the Kalenjin Community or the Bukusu Community and that certain progress has been made, but do not just a…

Senator for Nairobi City County, you missed two very crucial meetings. I accepted your apologies for missing those two meetings. It is during those two meetings that a decision was made. The Senate Majority Leader will, of course, explain and inform you. Of course, before he moves the Bill, he will get a chance to explain why this Bill is not getting moved today. Now, we need to make progress. Se…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise under Standing Order No.1, with your indulgence and Article 110 of the Constitution on Bills, concerning county governments. This Division of Revenue Bill is so critical and that is why the Senate is here. When you look at Article 96 of the Constitution, our role as a Senate is very critical. One, since I do not sit in the Senate Business Committee (SBC) or leadership, wh…

Senator for Nandi, just hear the Chair, Senator for Nandi, we are not rushing this Bill. If all the 67 Senators would wish to contribute to this Bill, they will have an opportunity to do so. So, we are not rushing it.

Can I conclude, Mr. Speaker, Sir, so that I get your Solomonic direction?

Yes, you may.

Senate Majority Leader moves it? We should not be bound by time and so we allow the 67 Senators to agree. Finally, Mr. Speaker, Sir, as he explains on what transpired, he must tell the country, because as a Senate, we had said we would not debate or pass the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No.2 of 2026), until and unless the Council of Governors appears before the Senate to talk …

Senate Majority Leader moves it? We should not be bound by time and so we allow the 67 Senators to agree. Finally, Mr. Speaker, Sir, as he explains on what transpired, he must tell the country, because as a Senate, we had said we would not debate or pass the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No.2 of 2026), until and unless the Council of Governors appears before the Senate to talk …

Yes, Senator for Meru.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think I was very fast, more than the person giving me the microphone, Hon. Speaker, Sir. I am sorry. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I really understand the weight of the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No.2 of 2026) . We should deliver and dispense of it. However, looking at the Order Paper today, the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No.2 of 2026) is under …

Clerk, proceed to call Order No. 16.

Clerk, proceed to call Order No. 16.

Hon. Senators, under Standing Order No.122- “ (1) A Senator commits an act of gross disorderly conduct if the Senator–