Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? We do have quorum. Therefore, we will start today’s business. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.

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

[(Loud consultations)]

Odilo, respectively, for the warm welcome since our arrival in Busia and for partnering with the Senate to ensure that the sittings of the Senate in Busia County are a success. I request the two distinguished gentlemen to stand, so that they may be acknowledged in the Senate tradition. If the Governor of Busia County or the Speaker is in the House, kindly rise. (The Speaker of the County Assembly…

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

Yes, Sen. Boni.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to beg you to indulge me and the Senator for Vihiga County, because this is a historic moment in our region and within our three communities. I would like to request you to give us a moment to welcome colleagues to our region and also pass a word of appreciation to the people of Busia for hosting us.

You may proceed, Sen. Boni.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Colleague Senators, this is Western. We have three communities here, the Sabaots - who sometimes people try to steal from us by attempting to call them Kalenjins when they are not - the Teso Community and, of course, the Luhya Community. We feel truly honoured through the Speaker that you are going to be with us for this one week. This is truly historical because when…

It has been very difficult both for the first-generation Governor Ojaamong and the current one, Dr. Otuoma, because of the lack of support from the National Land Commission (NLC), which should help them to displace people to create space for us to maximise returns from these trucks. There is that and much more and I am privileged to host you. Even when the area Senator, Sen. Omtatah comes, he cann…

Senator for Vihiga County, kindly make your welcoming remarks in under three minutes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also join my colleague, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale to thank the Senate family for considering Busia County as one of the counties where we are going to have Senate Mashinani. Indeed, it is a great privilege for our region, which is composed of five counties, that is, Vihiga, Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, which we are also claiming to be part of our region. I ho…

Thank you, the two Hon. Senators, for the welcoming remarks. Hon. Senators, allow me to make a further Communication.

of 2025) and passed it with amendments as contained in the Schedule of Amendments attached hereto; NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the provisions of Article 112(1)(b) of the Constitution and Standing Orders No.41 and 144 of the National Assembly Standing Orders, I hereby convey the said decision of the National Assembly to the Senate. Now, Hon. Senators, Article 112(1)(b) of the Constitution …

The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Inter-Governmental Relations or any member of the Committee may proceed to lay the paper. Sen. Catherine Mumma, are you a member of that particular Committee? What happened?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, 7th October, 2025 on behalf of the Chairperson, Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations-

The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, Tuesday, 7th October, 2025-

dispute of the Wanainchi Settlement Scheme in Mwatate Constituency in Taita-Taveta County.

Next Order.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT the Senate adopts the report of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on a petition to the Senate by Mr. William Kaguro Michael regarding the Changara Water Pan, a World Bank-funded project in Busia County, laid on the table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 7th October, 2025.

Again, the Chairperson, Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources, you have another notice to give. Proceed to give all these notices to your reports.

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 Land, Environment and Natural Resources on a petition to the Senate by Mr. Francis Wainaina Njuguna Mbogo concerning historical injustices and illegal alienation of LR number No.7153/1, No.7153/2, No.7153/R, and also known as LR No.12825 in Kiambu County, laid …

Now, before I call the next Order, I have just been informed that the Governor of Busia County is in the Chamber. Governor, you may stand, so that you may be acknowledged by the Senate. stood in his place)

[(The Governor of Busia County (Hon. (Dr.) Otuoma)]

[(Applause)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing on a matter of county-wide concern regarding the forceful eviction of traders at Luanda Market in Vihiga County. Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is an ongoing effort to expand Kisumu-Busia Highway as part of an international highway, which is inde…

While we support the importance of modern infrastructure, the manner in which it is being implemented has translated into an inhumane affront to the economic and social rights enshrined in Article 43 of the Constitution. The forceful eviction of traders at Luanda Market raises grave concerns, as it is affecting the lives of many Kenyans, not just from Vihiga County, but all other neighboring count…

Senator from Busia County, the Hon. Andrew Omtatah.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have three Statements, and I request that I read them together.

Kindly do so.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing on a matter of inter-county concern regarding the proposed Lake Victoria Ring Road Project. This is a transformative 487-kilometre road network intended to traverse Busia, Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori counties by crossing the Yala Swamp and encirc…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations on a matter of regional concern regarding the long overdue operationalisation of the Muluanda Border Point in Samia Sub-County in Busia County. In 2009, the late President Mwai Kibaki declared Muluanda the third official Kenya-Uganda bor…

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 on a matter of countywide concern regarding the irregularities surrounding the Busia Green Park Project. The Busia Green Park project initially allocated Kshs8 million, which was later revised to Kshs6 million, intended to serve as the town's sole public recreational space. Despite its strategic role in urban beautification and environmental conservation, the site remains closed…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I request for a statement on child labour and exploitation in major cities and towns across the country. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. (53) (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on a matter of national concern regarding the alarming rise of child labour and the growing number of street children in cities and towns cou…

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Division Bell for two minutes?

[(The Division Bell was rung)]

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Division Bell for a further two minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, can we close the door and draw the bar? Thank you. Now, hon. Senators, voting shall be by Roll Call. I know you are used to the one that we vote, and under one minute, we are done but this one will be manual because we will do it by Roll Call. Therefore, we will need the tellers; a teller for the Noes an…

[(The door was closed and the Bar drawn)]

[(Question proposed)]

Now, the Clerk is going to call the names of the Senators in alphabetical order. Clerk, you may proceed.

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

Serjeant-at-Arms, you may now withdraw the Bar and open the doors. Hon. Senators, we will move to Order No.8.

[(The Bar was undrawn and the doors opened)]

Clerk, kindly read that Order.

Hon. Senators, debate on this particular Order had been concluded. What was remaining was the putting of the question. Clerk, do we have the requisite number of hon. Senators? We do. I will, therefore, proceed to put the question. Let us go to the next Order.

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

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Bw. Spika, naomba kutoa Hoja ya kwamba Mswada wa Ukumbi wa Umaarufu katika Kaunti usomwe kwa Mara ya Pili.

[(Mswada wa Seneti Nambari 18 wa Mwaka wa 2025)]

[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair]]

[[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]]

Sen. Wambua, let Sen. Miraj be heard in silence. It is like she is listening to herself.

Asante, Bw. Naibu Spika. Hata hivyo, ugatuzi hauhusu tu uhamishaji wa majukumu na rasilmali bali pia kusherehekea mashujaa na mabingwa wetu ambao wameunda kaunti zetu na taifa letu kijumla kupitia huduma zao za kipekee. Tunaenda kuangamiza historia hii na turathi ambazo mashujaa wetu wamefanya katika kaunti zetu. Hivyo basi, kutakuwa na pengo la kihistoria la yale ambayo wamefanya kama mashujaa w…

Sen. (Prof.) Kamar, sijui utatumia lugha ya Kiswahili ndio tuwe na muendelezo mwema.

[(Laughter)]

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. For the sake of the Members who do not understand Kiswahili much, let me speak in English. I second The County Hall of Fame Bill (Senate Bills No.18 of 2023) . I do so proudly because its time has come. It should have been implemented by now. I thank the Hon. Sen. Miraj for moving a very progressive and inward-looking Bill. We almost lost our identity because …

Since we lost it, we must look for a way of recovering it. This Bill is trying to do that. We must restore ourselves from the damage done by colonialism. Incidentally, Sen. Mungatana and I sit in the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). This is the year of reparations due to colonialism. Therefore, this Bill is coming at the very right time, when we must look inward and appreciate ourselves because a lo…

recognise people, even our own children will not recognise us. This is very important. A sense of appreciation in recognition of people who have done something will run through the bloodstream and that recognition will go further. Therefore, I think it is very urgent and very important. I was very impressed to listen to the daughter of the soil, Sen. Mumma, when she gave us a whole list of heroes…

I once went to Holland for an academic trip and they took us to what they call their tourist centre. Of course, tourism in Kenya is big business. Then we went for tourism and we were dressed in the original Dutch clothes and asked to carry six pounds of cheese for photo session. I thought that was really something. However, as we went under a university programme taken care of by our hosts, intere…

Sen. Cherarkey, you cannot raise your hand even before we propose the question. Just be patient. Proceed, Majority Leader.

[(Question proposed)]

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wonder if we have lost the traditions of this House. How can Cherarkey want to claim the Floor while the people who inducted him and showed him points of order and how to do work in the House are still sitting? He should know that when such opportunities appear, you wait patiently. So, I expect that today, Sen. Kisang, despite his relatively advanced

age than Cherarkey, will also wait for Cherarkey to speak first, then the good man from Tot can speak later. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this important Motion.