Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, I am informed we now have quorum. Kindly, stop the Bell. Clerk, proceed to call the first Order, please.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(Several Senators walked into the Chamber)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of Senate, today, 5th December, 2023- The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) 2021/2022 Annual Report.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of Senate, today, 5th December, 2023- Report of the Standing Committee on Energy on its consideration of the Energy (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No. 42 of 2023) .

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

Next Order, Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the registration of Lake Ol’ Bolossat as a national reserve. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Sen. Wafula, proceed.

Sen. Wafula is not here. Therefore, the Statement is dropped. Sen. Okenyuri, proceed. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, please approach the Chair.

[(Statement dropped)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education, regarding the career growth path for teachers hired by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on contractual terms. In the Statement, the Committee should-

We will now go back to statements pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) . We ought to have started with those ones, but they were not listed. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, kindly proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement on a matter of general topical concern, namely; the progress made in the betterment of our nation and Kakamega County, in particular, since the General Elections that were held in August, 2022.

On 8th December, 2023, this week, the Senate will proceed to a recess to mark the end of the Second Session of the current Parliament, a year and two months after the hotly contested 2022 General Elections. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am truly grateful to the people of Kakamega County who voted me in as their Senator, with more than 300,000 votes. I am grateful to the Speaker of the Senate and the Senate…

currently working on legislation from the National Assembly that seeks to improve sugarcane farming and the sugar industry. Even with all the progress registered, there is still much to do, particularly with regard to the importation of sugar that ultimately impacts negatively on the sugar industry. Therefore, I urge the Presidency and the National Treasury to develop a friendly sugar importation…

[(Laughter)]

I urge the President to go the whole hog and ensure the successful flushing out of all land grabbers, particularly with regard to Bukhungu Stadium land, former showground land, the Approved School land, Mudiri Estate land and Otiende Estate land, that are all in possession of land grabbers. This lands must be repossessed to pave way for the current ambitious plan of development. On to the final m…

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Speakers gallery this afternoon, of visiting delegation from the County Assembly of Turkana. The Delegation comprises eight Members and five officers of the Committee on Delegated Legislation, who are on a benchmarking visit to the counterpart in the Senate. I request each Member of the delegation to stand when called out, so that the…

[(Applause)]