Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 7 March 2023
Senators criticised the current narrow focus on a few cash and food crops, urging diversification into cashew nuts, sorghum, sunflower and other products to boost revenue and address food scarcity. They highlighted high import prices for staples and the need for supportive policies such as free sanitary towels. The debate combined frustration with existing policies and constructive proposals for a broader agricultural strategy. Senators debated a Bill aimed at ensuring host communities receive a fair share of revenues from natural resources such as oil, gold, sand and tourism assets. They highlighted chronic neglect and unequal distribution in counties like Marsabit, Turkana and Busia, urging comprehensive resource mapping and a transparent benefit‑sharing framework. The speakers expressed strong support for the Bill while condemning current exploitation practices that marginalise local populations. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale advocated for a structured sharing framework for mineral wealth, emphasizing the inclusion of landowners in areas where gold has been adjudicated. He criticised successive governments for failing to develop the gold sector and warned that mismanagement of resources can become a curse, while urging fairness to host communities. Other senators offered brief commendations and the temporary speaker supported the bill’s fairness provisions.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for five minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, I am informed that we now have quorum. Kindly, stop the Bell. Clerk, please read the first Order. Hon. Senators, I have a Communication to make. Deputy Speaker, you are certainly out of order. Please proceed and take your chair.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(Sen. Kathuri stood up in his place while the Speaker was upstanding)]
[(Sen. Kathuri proceeded to sit down)]
Hon. Senators, in the public gallery today, we have 260 History and Government students, accompanied by nine teachers from Sawagongo High School in Siaya City County, who are in the Senate on an education tour. Hon. Senators, in our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them and, on behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, wish them a frui…
Hon. Senators, I also wish to acknowledge the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery this afternoon, of a visiting delegation from Makueni County Assembly. The delegation is in the Senate on a five-day benchmarking visit with counterpart departments in the Senate. I request each Member of the delegation to stand when called out, so that you may be acknowledged in the Senate tradition -
[(Applause)]
The Senator for Siaya County is here.
Yes. The Senate Minority Leader will proceed to make the remarks and the Senator of Siaya will also have an opportunity to welcome the guests. Let us proceed in that order.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to stand in the gap for my brother and neighbour, from Makueni County. He will be walking in any time from now to welcome the delegation from Makueni County and encourage them to spend their time well here. He will also encourage them to ensure they learn procedures of ensuring order in the Assembly when they go back. I am very sure unde…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also join Sen. Wambua and the rest of my colleagues in welcoming all the visiting delegations to the Senate. We have students from Sawagongo High School in Siaya County, the delegation from Makueni County Assembly and students and professors from Georgetown University in Washington. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is one of the beauties of our democracy, to be gathered here ev…
exchange ideas and try reach a consensus on many issues that are either a challenge or that need the consulted wisdom of the people of Kenya. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I believe our visiting delegations will have the opportunity to listen into a few of our debates; or learn as they interact with Members of staff and Senators in their committees in the course of their study. This way, they will appreciate…
Proceed, Senate Minority Leader. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo) : Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Allow me to join you in welcoming the students from Sawagongo High School, officials of Makueni County Assembly and the delegations or students from the USA. I believe their visit to Kenya will open their eyes to how we operate here democratically. This being the Senate, we set examples to th…
Sen. Oburu, proceed.
Sen. Oburu, proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I join you in welcoming the students from Siaya County and also the students from Makueni County. Before I comment on the visiting delegation from the United States of America (USA) , the two counties produced two very prominent Senators who are now governors. The Governor of Makueni County, the former Senator---
On a point of order Mr. Speaker, Sir.
On a point of order Mr. Speaker, Sir.
What is the point of order, Sen. Cheptumo?
Mr. Speaker, Sir, did I hear my colleague talking about students from Makueni County?
I am sorry about that. You are right. To the Serjeants-At-Arms, poleni. I meant the County Assembly. Welcome to the Senate. Now, let me go back to my earlier thoughts now that the flow has been interrupted. I will try and see whether I can continue. The two counties had two very prominent Senators who sat here. One is the former Senator for Siaya County who was also the Senate Minority Leader, h…
What is your point of order, Sen. Kathuri?
Sen. Kathuri, as you have been told, these are not students from any other school but a giant school. They are smart. They can decode whatever message you give them. Next Order.
Sen. Kathuri, as you have been told, these are not students from any other school but a giant school. They are smart. They can decode whatever message you give them. Next Order.
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, Sir.
What is your point of order, Sen. Cherarkey?
tabled a report and given their findings on what should happen. The National Assembly are also handling a similar Petition. So, it is important that you guide the House. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC) have been sleeping on their jobs because we are talking about an allegation of Kshs684 million that has been signed on that pr…
tabled a report and given their findings on what should happen. The National Assembly are also handling a similar Petition. So, it is important that you guide the House. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC) have been sleeping on their jobs because we are talking about an allegation of Kshs684 million that has been signed on that pr…
Thank you for that observation Sen. Cherarkey. Indeed, it is a weighty matter and answers need to be provided. This Petition has already been committed to the relevant Standing Committee of Labor and Social welfare. As the rules provide, there is a period within which they are supposed to retire, investigate the matter and file a report. However, due to the urgency of this matter, we shall adminis…
Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, Tuesday, 7th March, 2023- Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the County Executive of Nyeri for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of County Assembly of Nyeri for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on th…
Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of County Executive of Murang’a for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of County Assembly of Murang’a for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of County Executive of Nyandarua for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Audit…
Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of County Executive of Murang’a for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of County Assembly of Murang’a for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of County Executive of Nyandarua for the year ended 30th June, 2022. Report of the Audit…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 7th March, 2023- Report of the Joint Sitting of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget of the Senate and the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning of the National Assembly, on the nomination of Dr. Susan Jemtai Koech, for the appointment to the position of Deputy Govern…
[(Sen. Ali Roba laid the document on the Table)]
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 7th March, 2023- Report of the Joint Sitting of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget of the Senate and the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning of the National Assembly, on the nomination of Dr. Susan Jemtai Koech, for the appointment to the position of Deputy Govern…
[(Sen. Ali Roba laid the document on the Table)]
Next Order.
approves the nomination of Dr. Susan Jemtai Koech for appointment to the position of the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.
approves the nomination of Dr. Susan Jemtai Koech for appointment to the position of the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to give Notice of the following Motion- THAT, AWARE THAT in 2018 Kenya was placed under Category A by the World Anti-Doping Agency and since then 40 Kenyan athletes have been banned by either the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) or the Anti- Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and has led to a situation whereby the Kenyan athletes have to undergo intense testing before …
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to give Notice of the following Motion- THAT, AWARE THAT in 2018 Kenya was placed under Category A by the World Anti-Doping Agency and since then 40 Kenyan athletes have been banned by either the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) or the Anti- Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and has led to a situation whereby the Kenyan athletes have to undergo intense testing before …
Next Order!
Is Sen. Veronica Maina not here? That Statement is deferred.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Committee on Information Communication and Technology (ICT) on the routing of international gateway tariffs by mobile telecommunication firms and mobile service providers. In the Statement, the Committee should –
Next is Sen. Mwaruma.
Proceed, Sen. Okenyuri.
(Order for First Reading read – Read the First Time and ordered to be referred to the relevant Departmental Committee)
(Order for First Reading read – Read the First Time and ordered to be referred to the relevant Departmental Committee)
Hon. Senators, we are going to reorganize the Order Paper today. We are, therefore, going to move straightaway to Order No.13. Clerk, can you call out that particular Order? Second Reading