Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 15 May 2024
Sen. Miraj criticised the lack of support for coastal women fish sellers and questioned whether legal frameworks hinder assistance to coastal communities. The Temporary Speaker responded with a series of announcements on blue‑economy initiatives, aquaculture funding, research partnerships and infrastructure investments, signalling a mix of criticism and optimism. The Temporary Speaker detailed government initiatives on fisheries value‑addition, mariculture centres and a national mariculture training platform, as well as the transition plan for Base Titanium’s mining operations and pending prospecting licences. Senators raised concerns about the limited benefits of gold mining for Embu County and asked for clarification on budget allocations, while also urging greater support for marine studies in Homa Bay to address unemployment. The debate combined informative updates with critical questions from members. Senators questioned the Cabinet Secretary on the allocation and monitoring of blue‑economy funds in Homa Bay and other counties, highlighted concerns about women’s safety in fisheries and the need for marine education, raised issues on flood‑rescue training, the closure of Moyale mines and its impact on local livelihoods, and sought clarification on security threats such as illegal fishing in the Indian Ocean. The debate combined constructive inquiries with criticism of perceived gaps in government response.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Senators, I am informed that we now have quorum. Clerk, kindly proceed to call the first Order.
Hon. Senators, according to the Order Paper, there are seven Questions that were due for response this morning. We invited three Cabinet Secretaries. Three Questions were meant to be responded to by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development; two by the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation; and the last two by the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy an…
I am informed that the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is in the House. Therefore, we will start with her. Thereafter, we will move to the two Questions directed to the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. I am, however, informed that the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development is not in the House and he will be able to attend…
Bw. Spika, nilikuwa na swali kwa Waziri anayehusika na mambo ya kilimo. Nilikuwa nataka kumuuliza kuhusu mashamba ambayo yameathiriwa na maji na hatua ambazo Serikali imechukua ili kusaidia wananchi kuanza upya. Nilitoka Kuanti ya Tana River jana usiku. Wananchi pia wanauliza maswali haya. Niliwaambia kuwa Waziri atahudhuria kikao hiki. Ni kitu gani muhimu zaidi kuliko emergency ya mafuriko ambay…
Sen. Mungatana, you are a seasoned Member of this Parliament. If you choose to use one language, stick to it all the way.
Bw. Spika, ni nini kinachomsumbua Waziri huyo? Juzi tu ametoka kwenye kitanzi na sasa anahepa Bunge hili. Nangoja ripoti ya Kamati ya Kilimo, Mifugo na Uvuvi ili Seneti itoe maoni yake. Hatutaki mchezo wanaofanya kule kwenye “Bunge Ndogo”.
Proceed, Sen. (Dr.) Murango.
Bw. Spika, kama vile Seneta wa Tana River amesema, kuna jambo ambalo limetokea ambapo linastahili Waziri aje hapa. Kuna European Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) ambazo zinapendekeza kukomesha uuzaji wa kahawa katika nchi za nje. Sheria hiyo itaanza kutekelezwa mwezi ujao. Nilikuwa natarajia kuwa Waziri atahudhuria kikao hiki kwa sababu ifikapo mwakani, hatutaweza kufikia soko yetu kubwa ku…
Tumemaliza ripoti yetu kama Kamati ya Kilimo, Mifugo an Uvuvi na tutaiwasilisha katika Bunge hili. Ripoti hiyo inaeleza mambo tuliyopata katika sakata ya mbolea ghushi.
Hon. Senators, the reason the Cabinet Secretary is not with us this morning, as indicated in his letter, is because he is leading a Kenyan delegation to the launch of the China-Kenya Tea Trade Centre, which is in an event aimed at promoting Kenya tea export to China for improved farmers’ earnings. This particular event is taking place between 14th and 18th May, 2024. Proceed, Sen. Munyi Mundigi.
Bw. Spika, ningemuliza swali Waziri wa Kilimo na Mifugo kama angekuwa hapa. Tangu wiki iliyopita, kumekuwa na vita kati ya wafanyibiashara. Wakulima wa miraa kutoka Kaunti ya Embu hawawezi kuiuza Mombasa na kaunti jirani. Serikali ya Kenya Kwanza ilitupatia pesa ili kuendeleza kilimo cha miraa. Swali langu kwake ni kuwa, je, ametusaidia vipi? Madereva wa lori zinazosafirisha mimea hiyo wanaitishw…
Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to request for your Solomonic ruling. This matter has come up. I am standing under Standing Order No.51C. I do not know whether the SBC should define the timeline that warrants a Cabinet Secretaries not to appear. I know that the ongoing China-Kenya Tea Trade event was scheduled. Most of the formal meetings are scheduled. Is it possible that in future, if a Cabinet Secret…
At the end of the day, Sen. Mungatana wants to ask questions about the floods, submerged farms, miraa and the coffee in the market. Should it end there when the House is not satisfied or it can be processed further? Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think you should not condone that. We have always relied on you. I am happy that the Senate Majority Leader is here. We should not allow Cabinet Secretaries to get…
Thank you, hon. Senator for Nandi County. If you look at Standing Order No.51 (a) (6) , immediately a question is approved by the SBC, Cabinet Secretaries are given seven days before they appear in plenary for purposes of responding to that question. Therefore, a Cabinet Secretary has seven days to look at the diary. If they are not in a position to appear before Senate, then they can write to th…
appearance of that particular Cabinet Secretary. That is the direction that was given by SBC. The Senate Majority Leader was to help SBC in this regard for purposes of communicating or transmitting this information to the Cabinet Secretaries. Now, on the second limb, normally, when a Cabinet Secretary appears here and a supplementary question is asked by an hon. Senator, you will most of the time…
No, Mr. Speaker, Sir.
Good! Sen. Chute, proceed.
Asante Bw. Spika. Ningependa kuongezea yale maneno Mhe. Mungatana amesema. Mhe. Mungatana ametoka Kaunti ya Tana River na labda amesafiri usiku wote akifikiria kwamba leo asubuhi atawakilisha watu wake wa Tana River. Lazima tukubaliane kama Seneti kwamba Waziri hataweza kufika kama labda ni mgonjwa au ameitwa State House kwa mkutano muhimu sana. Tukubaliane kwamba Waziri yeyote ambaye atashindwa …
Hon. Senators, as far as the Cabinet Secretary is concerned, let us terminate those interventions there. The reason that the Cabinet Secretary has communicated is a valid reason. The biggest problem, which is unacceptable, is the fact that the communication came in too late.
Clerk, can you confirm that the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is present? (The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker) You may usher him in. (The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation (Hon. Zachariah Njeru) was ushered into the Chamber) Hon. Senators, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is present. Hon. Cab…
Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed to respond. The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation : Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, and Senator for that Question. My response to Question (a) is as follows- The Ministry is implementing 16 projects in Wajir County in the Financial Year 2023/2024. The projects are being implemented by the Northern Water Works Development Agency (NWWDA) , …
[(Hon. Zachariah Njeru)]
Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed to respond. The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation : Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, and Senator for that Question. My response to Question (a) is as follows- The Ministry is implementing 16 projects in Wajir County in the Financial Year 2023/2024. The projects are being implemented by the Northern Water Works Development Agency (NWWDA) , …
[(Hon. Zachariah Njeru)]
Hon. Senators, that table has been circulated as an attachment to the response. Sen. Abass, do you have that table with you?
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I do have it.
The 16 water projects under implementation in the Financial Year 2023/2024 have a combined budget amounting to Kshs586 million whereby some are complete and others are ongoing. These projects once completed will serve 5,355 households in Wajir County. The Ministry is fully aware of the water scarcity in Wajir County and through the NWWDA has developed proposals for mega dams like Bute Dam and ot…
The 16 water projects under implementation in the Financial Year 2023/2024 have a combined budget amounting to Kshs586 million whereby some are complete and others are ongoing. These projects once completed will serve 5,355 households in Wajir County. The Ministry is fully aware of the water scarcity in Wajir County and through the NWWDA has developed proposals for mega dams like Bute Dam and ot…
I will allow the Senator for Nandi to ask Question No.029. Thereafter, we will invite supplementary questions to those two Questions; the one by Sen. Abass and the one by the Senator for Nandi. Please, Proceed. Well, according to my notes, the Senator for Nandi was supposed to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation a question, but that was a mistake. Sen. Abass, you may …
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank the Cabinet Secretary for the detailed reply as he has given us the real statements. My concern, hon. Cabinet Secretary is, as you attested that Wajir Town where the county headquarters is, faces an acute shortage of water and at times people go without water. The project for Bute Dam and Arbajahan has been there for a long time. I wonder why the Bute project has taken 1…
Proceed to respond, Hon. Cabinet Secretary. The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation : Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As indicated earlier, we know Wajir and many other areas across the country have a big shortage of water, but those designs are ready. What the Ministry is doing is to source for funding. Once that is done, Bute Dam is one of those earmarked, so that acute water sh…
[(Hon. Zachariah Njeru)]
Sen. Maanzo.
Ordinarily though, we have many dry boreholes in many parts of the country and this usually attracts a criminal penalty. What is the Cabinet Secretary doing about the people who have been given contracts to dig boreholes and they end up being dry boreholes and what is the cure? Other than exploring, there are many people who have wasted Government’s money when they dig up boreholes. What is the r…
Ordinarily though, we have many dry boreholes in many parts of the country and this usually attracts a criminal penalty. What is the Cabinet Secretary doing about the people who have been given contracts to dig boreholes and they end up being dry boreholes and what is the cure? Other than exploring, there are many people who have wasted Government’s money when they dig up boreholes. What is the r…
Sen. Gataya Mo Fire.
Asante, Bw. Spika. Nitauliza swali linaloambatana na swali la kwanza kutoka kwa Seneta wa Wajir. Wajir na sehemu zingine za Tharaka-Nithi ziko sawa kwa ukame. Hii ni kwa sababu--- Bw. Spika, kuna watu ambao wanazungumza hapa. Tumekuwa na Waziri kwa muda mrefu na tumekubaliana mambo mengi kuhusu sehemu kame zilizoko Tharaka-Nithi. Kuna mito mingi na tulipanga kutakua na madimbwi na mabwawa na vile…
[(Maseneta kadhaa waongea kwa sauti)]
Senator, what is your question? You are giving us long speeches.
Bw. Spika, swali langu ni kwamba, Waziri anajua vizuri sana kuwa hizo sehemu ni kame na tulikubaliana kutachimbwa visima. Je, Wizara inafanya nini ili kuhakikisha wale watu wamepata visima na maji safi ya kunywa?
Sen. (Dr.) Boni? Hon. Cabinet Secretary, as you collect your thoughts on the question by Sen. Mo Fire, allow Sen. (Dr.) Boni to also pose a question.
unlocked to ensure that these little questions that come from ASAL counties benefit from that fund?
unlocked to ensure that these little questions that come from ASAL counties benefit from that fund?
[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]]
Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. We will terminate there as far as the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is concerned. We shall now move to Question No.029 and No.046, directed to the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. I thank the hon. Cabinet Secretary for making time to come to the Plenary for purposes of responding to questions. Clerk, you…
[(The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation was ushered out of the Chamber)]
[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]]
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Coincidentally, Nandi County is County No.029. I rise to ask Question No.029 and it is as follows-
Kanyagwal, where we will develop a center of excellence for aquaculture. This will initially cost Kshs1 billion, and we will then add Kshs1.5 billion to the project. We are in a partnership with Tom Mboya University as the institution that will participate actively in this project. When you look at the entire maritime area, we have found international partnerships so that Kenya can benefit from …
regulations that I have put forward before this House have also created an enabling environment that will protect women. Later this year, we will have a whole conference with the Common Market of East and South Africa (COMESA) and other countries to discuss this matter in great detail, so that we can also get much more commitment to the protection of women. Sen. Chute from Marsabit, thank you ve…
Mwisho kabisa kwa swali limeulizwa na Sen. Miraj na amezungumza moyo wake safi kwa ufasaha kuhusu vile kina mama wanashiriki kwa biashara ya samaki na uchumi samawati. Mbali na hii bilioni moja ambayo tumezungumzia inaangaliwa na sekta ya kibinafsi, kuna mradi mwingine tunashirikiana na Benki ya Dunia na ruzuku zingine zinavyofaidi vikundi vingine. Bi. Spika wa Muda, Mheshimiwa Rais mwaka jana al…
Mwisho kabisa kwa swali limeulizwa na Sen. Miraj na amezungumza moyo wake safi kwa ufasaha kuhusu vile kina mama wanashiriki kwa biashara ya samaki na uchumi samawati. Mbali na hii bilioni moja ambayo tumezungumzia inaangaliwa na sekta ya kibinafsi, kuna mradi mwingine tunashirikiana na Benki ya Dunia na ruzuku zingine zinavyofaidi vikundi vingine. Bi. Spika wa Muda, Mheshimiwa Rais mwaka jana al…
Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. You may take your leave. The next Order shall be deferred.
[(The Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs was ushered out of the Chamber)]
other economic activities owing to the destruction and/or closure of educational, health and other institutions. FURTHER CONCERNED THAT, the people living in the affected regions have been denied the enjoyment of their social, economic and political rights as guaranteed to them under the Bill of Rights as enshrined in Chapter Four of the Constitution. NOW THEREFORE, the Senate resolves that the …
Sen. Kavindu, it is time to rise. Serjeant-at-Arms, you can hold on a little. We will allow you to read the Motion and then we adjourn.
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Will it be seconded?
No, it will not be seconded, but it will continue later.
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I beg to move the following Motion:- THAT, the Senate adopts the progress report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the compensation to the Kenyan victims of the 1998 bombing of the United States of America Embassy in Nairobi, laid on the Table of the Senate on Thursday, 2nd May,
Sen. Kavindu, we will adjourn, and you will have 18 minutes when we resume.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.15 p.m., and having concluded the business for which I extended the hours of Sitting pursuant to Standing Order No. 34 (2) (a) , the Senate stands adjourned until today, Wednesday, 15th May, 2024, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.15 p.m.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.15 p.m., and having concluded the business for which I extended the hours of Sitting pursuant to Standing Order No. 34 (2) (a) , the Senate stands adjourned until today, Wednesday, 15th May, 2024, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.15 p.m.