Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 6 June 2023
Senators debated the inadequate salaries and allowances of MCAs, arguing that low remuneration hampers effective oversight of county governors and threatens devolution. They called for a review and increase of MCAs' compensation, urged the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to justify its findings—or be disbanded—and suggested moving the issue to the appropriate standing committee or Committee of the Whole. The discussion reflected both criticism of the status quo and proposals for constructive reform. The Senate afternoon sitting centered on the second reading and electronic voting of the Cotton Industry Development Bill, followed by procedural motions on the Equalization Fund Appropriation Bill and related business. The Speaker and temporary chair managed electronic and manual voting, while senators moved motions, reported committee findings, and ensured the session proceeded without interruption. Senators debated the sustainability of the Murang’a County creamery and raised concerns about its impact on regional milk prices, while also highlighting the rise in gender‑based violence cases against men and calling for broader awareness. Additional statements addressed water shortages in Nairobi and the need for clean piped water in settlement villages of Kirinyaga County. The session featured procedural exchanges and occasional tension over titles and speaking order.
Clerk, do we have quorum?
[(The Clerk-at the-Table consulted the Speaker)]
Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(Several Senators walked into the Chamber)]
Serjeant-at-Arms, I am informed that we do have quorum now. So, you may stop the Bell. Clerk, may call the first Order.
[(Sen. Boy walked into the Chamber)]
Sen. Boy, kindly take your seat.
Hon. Senators as you are all aware, the National Breakfast is an annual event in the calendar of Parliament. It is an interdenominational prayer meeting sponsored by Members of Parliament, both Senate and National Assembly.
A This year's National Prayer Breakfast is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 7th June, 2023, from 7 a.m. at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi. The theme is: ‘Reconciliation with God and with Man’. The event is co-ordinated by National Organising Committee, which has been working closely with the Kenya National Prayer Breakfast Coordination Team. The Organizing Committee is co-chaired by Senator …
Hon. Senators, part of our duty as legislators is to continually seek to better the legislative process and contribute to its development. In this respect, the Senate, through the Office of the Clerk, has developed two publications - the compendium of considered rulings, directives and guidelines issued by the Speaker of the Senate of Kenya during the 12th Parliament and a Handbook for Legislators…
A I thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. First, I want to thank you for allowing me to welcome the young people from my part of the world, Bungoma County. As you all know, Bungoma is a very unique county to visit us in the Senate. Bungoma has had the opportunity to produce a Speaker who was sitting exactly where the hon. King is sitting. In addition, Bungoma County has now produced the current Speaker in the…
Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, you understand the rules of this House. We do not allow people to speak in tongues. Therefore, kindly proceed to withdraw the last part and speak in English, so that not just the visitors, but also your colleagues can be able to understand.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, to remain strictly within the Standing Orders, allow me to say without withdrawing, if you allow me, that for the words that I spoke in Kiluhya, I quote, and unquote. Thank you.
Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, kindly proceed with the Luhya version and translate it to English.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Luhya version was that, you are most welcome. Travel well when you go back and may the God Almighty give you journey mercies.
Clerk, proceed with the next Order.
A
Hon. Senators, due to the packed business of the day, I am afraid I will not allow comments on this Petition, pursuant to Standing Order No.237. Instead, I will straightaway proceed to commit the Petition to the relevant committee for its consideration. In this case, I direct that the Petition be committed to the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. In terms of Standing Order No.238 (…
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am guided by your direction on the matter of KEWOTA and TSC. I just want to plead with you to find it okay to just open a window even if it is just one Member each from that and this side. Matters of education, teachers and the TSC are touchy. They are affecting a section of an entire county where members have been drafted into a union without their consent. Mr. Speaker, Sir, …
Sen. Wambua, I am afraid I may not be in a position to allow comments on this. If you look at the Order Paper, you will agree with me that one of your Bills has been with us since the day I was sworn in. The reason is that we have been expending a lot of time on Petitions and Statements. Today we want to reach your Bill. The only way to do that is to make sure we do not allow comments. Instead, w…
[(The Petition was committed to the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare)]
Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to table this report on the Petition by Mr. James Muriu Gakonga and other residents of Lamu, Baringo and Nairobi counties concerning Linda Soccer tapping into Kshs302 billion football economy.
A I beg to table.
Let us go to the next Order.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of this Senate, today, 6th June, 2023- Report of the Auditor-General on the financial statements of the Kericho Municipality for the year ended 30th June, 2020. Report of the Auditor-General on the financial statements of the Kericho Municipality for the year ended 30th June, 2021. Report of the Auditor-General on the financial st…
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following report on the Table of the Senate today, 6th June, 2023: Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the Prompt Payment Bill (Senate Bills No. 8 of 2022) .
[(Sen. Tabitha Mutinda laid the document on the Table)]
Next Order.
These are Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.53. When the Petition was read, I gave directions. Again, once you have read out your Statement, it will be committed to the relevant Committee. Therefore, we are not going to have any comments. However, I will allow only six interventions on Statement No.2; three from the majority and three from the minority side. The Statement is by the Senator…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.3 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education, on the alarmingly high rate of transfer of teachers at KK Mukalamatu Primary School, Karama Ward in Tigania East Constituency in Meru County. In the Statement, the Committee should -
Sen. Cherarkey, proceed to request your Statement.
Serjeant-at-arms, kindly proceed to ring the Division Bell for five minutes. Serjeant-at-arms, proceed to ring the Bell for a further five minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, proceed to close the Door and draw the Bar.
[(The Division Bell was rung)]
[(The Division Bell was rung)]
[(The Door was closed and the Bar drawn)]
[(Sen. Wambua and Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale stood in their places.)]
Sen. Wambua and Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, kindly take your seats so that we proceed with this business. Hon. Senators, we are going to stand down the division on the Prompt Payment Bill. We shall proceed with division on Order No.9; The Cotton Industry Development Bill (Senate Bills No.5 of 2023) . Before I put the question, I wish to inform you that voting will be done electronically. Therefore, pr…
[(Division on the Bill deferred)]
Sen. Wambua and Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, kindly take your seats so that we proceed with this business. Hon. Senators, we are going to stand down the division on the Prompt Payment Bill. We shall proceed with division on Order No.9; The Cotton Industry Development Bill (Senate Bills No.5 of 2023) . Before I put the question, I wish to inform you that voting will be done electronically. Therefore, pr…
[(Division on the Bill deferred)]
Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, proceed to your designated seat. Serjeant-at-Arms, once you are done collecting the cards that are in the delegates units, kindly let me know. Have you collected all the cards remaining in the delegates units? Hon. Senators, you may proceed to vote. Just log in your cards in the delegate units and vote by pressing ‘yes’, ‘no’, or ‘abstain’. Proceed from now. The following Se…
Hon. Senators, the results are as follows-
Hon. Senators, the results are as follows-
AThe Temporary Chairperson (
Hon. Members, kindly resume your seats. Let us proceed with this session of the Committee of the Whole. I request you not to leave because we need to do a Division after I put the Question.
Madam Temporary Chairperson, I need assistance to vote electronically. The Temporary Chairperson (
Sen. Thang’wa, please, come and vote manually. (Sen. Thang’wa proceeded to vote) The Temporary Chairperson (
Hon. Senators, we are going to the second set. Clause 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and the Schedule
A (Question of the amendment proposed) We will vote electronically. You can vote now. You do not need to log out, the system is set and, therefore, just vote. Sen. Okiya Omtatah and Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, please approach the Chair. Come and vote manually.
A Sen. Chesang, Trans Nzoia County; Sen.Chute, Marsabit County; Sen. Faki, Mombasa County; Sen. Githuku, Lamu County; Sen. Joe Nyutu, Murang’a County; Sen. Kathuri, Meru County; Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Kakamega County; Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi, Samburu County; Sen. M. Kajwang’, Homa Bay County; Sen. Madzayo, Kilifi County; Sen. Mandago, Uasin Gishu County; Sen. Mungatana, MGH, Tana River County; S…
A
Madam Temporary Chairperson, I beg to move that the Committee do report to the Senate its consideration of the Equalization Fund Appropriation Bill (Senate Bills No. 3 of 2023) and its approval thereof with amendments. Thank you. (Question proposed) (Question put and agreed to) The Temporary Chairperson (
A
Hon. Members, kindly do not leave. Let us finish up with this business. The Temporary Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole, please report.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the Equalization Fund Appropriation Bill (Senate Bills No.3 of 2023) be now read a Third Time.
[[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]]
Hon. Members, kindly do not leave. Let us finish up with this business. The Temporary Chairperson of the Committee of the Whole, please report.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I second. Division will be at the end. Let us go to the next Bill.
[(Question proposed)]
Who is seconding?
I request Sen. Methu to second.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole has considered the County Vocational Education and Training Bill (Senate Bills No.3 of 2022) and its approval thereof with amendments.
Sen. M. Kajwang’.
[(Laughter)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the Equalization Fund Appropriation Bill (Senate Bills No.3 of 2023) be now read a Third Time.
Who is seconding?
I request Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale to second.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I second. Division will be at the end. Let us go to the next Bill.
[(Question proposed)]
Who is seconding?
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole has considered the County Vocational Education and Training Bill (Senate Bills No.3 of 2022) and its approval thereof with amendments.
Sen. M. Kajwang’.
It should be seconded first?
I request Sen. Mungatana, MGH, to second.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I second.
No, I called the Mover.
A
Who is seconding?
Hon. Senators, these are the results of the Division:
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I second.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Senators, proceed and vote.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the County Vocational Education and Training Bill (Senate Bills No.3 of 2022) be now read a Third Time. I ask Sen. Sifuna to second.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I second.
[(Question proposed)]
Let the Division Bell be rung for three minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, please, close the door and draw the Bar. Hon. Senators, we are now on the Equalization Fund Appropriation Bill (Senate Bills No.3 of 2023) . We will vote on this Bill and the next one; one at a time.
[(The Division Bell was rung)]
[(The door was closed and the Bar drawn)]
We are now back to Statements. We will get Statements under Standing Order No.53 (1) from Sen. Mbugua.
Very well. Statement deferred.
A
I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Sen. Methu seeks to help me. He can do so if he wants to. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Energy regarding the last mile electricity connectivity to public schools. I would have appreciated if Sen. Ali Roba stops the meeting he is holding.
[(Sen. Ali Roba consulted Sen. Thang’wa)]
Open the doors.
[(The Bar was undrawn and the doors opened)]
Proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I need him to listen to this. It is important. I will take it again. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Energy regarding the last mile electricity connectivity to public schools. In the Statement, the Committee should-
Thank you. Sen. Sifuna has two Statements. I saw him here this afternoon up to the time of Division. Those Statements are dropped.
A
I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Sen. Methu seeks to help me. He can do so if he wants to. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Energy regarding the last mile electricity connectivity to public schools. I would have appreciated if Sen. Ali Roba stops the meeting he is holding.
[(Sen. Ali Roba consulted Sen. Thang’wa)]
Sen. Ali Roba.
He cannot even hear.
Thank you, Sen. Joe Nyutu from Murang’a County. I hope you note that I am a ‘Madam Speaker’ not a ‘Speaker Sir.’ Sen. Methu, you may proceed.
[(Sen. Joe Nyutu spoke off record)]
I apologize, Madam Temporary Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Sen. Joe Nyutu is your Senator. I am sure that he would not want to give you a title that does not belong to you. I rise to comment on these two Statements that have been sought by my neighbour and colleague, Sen. Joe Nyutu. I shall start with the first on Murang’a County Creameries. Those of us who come from agricultural counties are strongly opined and belie…
A County and all of us. We must know what plans the County Government of Murang’a has in place to reviving the creamery. My second and last comment is on the Statement sought on the increasing cases of GBV against men. He is very specific on men. Every time there is GBV against a man, people joke about it. If you find for whatever reason a man is being abused or it has come to the attention of th…
Proceed, Senator for Murang’a County, Sen. Joe Nyutu.
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I have three Statements to make. I will start with the most important one affecting dairy farmers in Murang’a.
Yes, my Chairman of the caucus can dully inform me. I know he was attending very serious Government business. I did not know he was meticulous enough to finish and come back in good time. However, the point I was making was that, especially from our region; every time a case comes up, it will most likely be from Nyeri or Kirinyaga and remotely from Nyandarua Counties because most of us are settler…
I thank you Sen. Methu. We can have Sen. Sifuna to give his Statement.
Thank you for your indulgence, Madam Temporary Speaker. I had two Statements. The first one was on water shortage in Nairobi City County.
A County and all of us. We must know what plans the County Government of Murang’a has in place to reviving the creamery. My second and last comment is on the Statement sought on the increasing cases of GBV against men. He is very specific on men. Every time there is GBV against a man, people joke about it. If you find for whatever reason a man is being abused or it has come to the attention of th…
On a point of order!
What is your point of order?
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I am holding brief for the Senator for Kirinyaga. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order 53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the supply of clean piped water for domestic use by residents of settlement villages in Mwea Constituency, Kirinyaga County. In the Statement, the Committee should -
Thank you Senator. We have a Statement by Senator for Taita-Taveta County, Sen. Mwaruma.
Yes, my Chairman of the caucus can dully inform me. I know he was attending very serious Government business. I did not know he was meticulous enough to finish and come back in good time. However, the point I was making was that, especially from our region; every time a case comes up, it will most likely be from Nyeri or Kirinyaga and remotely from Nyandarua Counties because most of us are settler…
I thank you Sen. Methu. We can have Sen. Sifuna to give his Statement.
Thank you for your indulgence, Madam Temporary Speaker. I had two Statements. The first one was on water shortage in Nairobi City County.
A
Debate is now open on this Bill. There being no one wishing to contribute on this Bill, I will defer the putting of the question to give the Mover time to respond. Next Order. Second Reading
[(Putting of the question on the Bill deferred)]
I will defer this Bill. It will be listed on the Order Paper when the Senate resumes tomorrow in the afternoon at 2.30
Thank you Senator. We have a Statement by Senator for Taita-Taveta County, Sen. Mwaruma.
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker for this opportunity to request for this Statement. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order 53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare regarding the public service workforce and state of the wage bill of the County Government of Taita-Taveta. In the Statement, the Committee should -
Thank you, Senator. Next Order.
Debate is now open on this Bill. There being no one wishing to contribute on this Bill, I will defer the putting of the question to give the Mover time to respond. Next Order. Second Reading
[(Putting of the question on the Bill deferred)]
I will defer this Bill. It will be listed on the Order Paper when the Senate resumes tomorrow in the afternoon at 2.30
In line with directions that were earlier on issued by the Chair and based on the decision and resolution of the Senate Business Committee (SBC) , The Tea (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No.1 of 2023) will go back to be queued for Second Reading. We will take it out of the Order Paper for today. Sen. Sifuna, what is your point of order?
Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise Pursuant to Standing Order No.41 on the quorum during proceedings of the Senate. So that the business on the Order Paper does not suffer the consequences that were discussed at the Senate Business Committee (SBC) , I would like to notify the Chair that we do not have quorum to continue with this particular Sitting.
[(The Temporary Speaker consulted the Clerk-at-the-Table)]
I confirm that there is no quorum. Serjeant-at-Arms, could you ring the bell for 10 minutes.