Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 12 March 2025
The Speaker outlined the government’s tea reforms, highlighting quality‑control standards, traceability measures and penalties to prevent mixing of grades. He reported substantial gains for smallholder farmers, increased export earnings and market diversification into orthodox and specialty teas, alongside improved corporate governance in tea factories. The remarks emphasized continued reforms to boost competitiveness and farmer returns. The Senate session centered on the Lower Kuja Irrigation Development Project, with the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation detailing the project's background, land acquisition, compensation to affected persons, and outstanding payments. He outlined the amounts paid, the remaining balance, and the guidance received from the National Land Commission, noting that compensation is expected to be completed by August 2025. The discussion was procedural and focused on project implementation and financial settlement. Senators congratulated the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture while pressing for concrete actions on research, especially macadamia seedling development tailored to regional conditions. They criticised the absence of a coherent agricultural policy and the perceived neglect of the Agricultural and Food Authority, urging the CS to present a sessional paper for parliamentary consideration. The CS defended the AFA's continued relevance and highlighted ongoing efforts to consolidate and add value to the sector.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly, ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, kindly, take your seats; we now have quorum. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(Several Senators stood in their places)]
Irrigation. To make the most of our time, we will interact with the Cabinet Secretary in charge of water from now until 11.00 a.m. Thereafter, we are going to usher in the Cabinet Secretary in charge of agriculture until 1.00 p.m., or when business is concluded for the morning. The Senators from Migori County and Makueni County, who I can see are present, have Questions directed to the Cabinet Se…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I would like to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development the following Question -
Mr. Speaker, Sir. I would like to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development the following Question-
Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may now proceed to respond.
[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Abdul Haji) in the Chair]]
the Senate for this opportunity, particularly Sen. (Dr.) Murango. I would like to express my response to these two questions. I would like to express the fact that I feel like I am talking from the wrong place because my seat is over there. I feel like I am talking from the wrong side of the House. It is always nice to be back. In response to the issue of tea reforms, I will first address the me…
country; the overall objective of the tea reforms is to enhance the competitiveness of our tea industry in order to increase the returns of tea growers and other tea value chains. In this respect, we have increased monthly payments as a result of the reforms. Smallholder tea factories have increased the monthly payment of tea to tea farmers from Kshs16 to Kshs21 per kilo in the east of the rift a…
to the National Assembly. The Ministry has forwarded further amendments to the National Assembly for consideration in order to address the current challenges facing the industry and enhance the competitiveness of the subsector. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, export earnings from tea have increased from Kshs136.5 billion in 2021 to Kshs180.57 billion in 2023 and Kshs181.69 billion in 2024. The number…
Order No.9 is a Motion on the report of the 9th Inter-Parliamentary Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians held in Hanoi, Vietnam from 16th to 17th September, 2023. Sen. Kathuri is not here. We shall defer it. Next Order.
This Motion is deferred.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.00 p.m., and it is time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until later today, Wedneday, 12th March, 2025, at 2.30 pm. The Senate rose at 1.00 p.m.