Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly, ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Order, hon. Senators. Kindly, take your seats. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Senators, I have got two Communications to make. I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery this afternoon, of a visiting delegation of Members of the Speaker’s Panel of the County Assembly of Turkana. The delegation is undertaking a benchmarking visit with their counterparts in the Senate. I request each Member of the delegation to stand when called out, so that they …

[(Applause)]

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery this afternoon, students from Starehe Boys’ Centre and School and Alliance High School who are undertaking a one-week Voluntary Service Scheme in the Senate. I request each student to stand when called out so that you may be acknowledged in the Senate tradition-

Mr. Speaker, Sir, when you go to school in St. Mary’s Yala, you sound the way I do. After that, when you go to the University of Nairobi (UoN) with impeccable grades because you went to Yala, the only people we disliked were Alliance High School because they were better than us. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am very proud of my son who now goes to Alliance. He is in Form 2. I want to encourage the students…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to join you in welcoming the students from the Alliance High School. I interacted with some of the students when they came to our Committee. I am glad that one of them is the house captain of Greve House, which was our neighbor. Those days, I also served as house captain of Arthur House. The Alliance High School has produced many great people. In fact, the first Cabinet o…

[(Loud consultations)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I cannot hear myself speaking. I do not know why there is a lot of excitement in the House. However, if you follow the principle that sons are better than fathers, then I am a more refined product than Alliance because my own father went to Alliance. That means I am even better than Alliance.

[(Laughter)]

A certified version of this Report Lastly is to appreciate the County Assembly of Turkana. They hosted us very well when we visited Turkana and we had promised to revenge. I hope the “revenge” from the Senate side has been worth the while because it has taken a long time before their staff have joined us. I hope that they have interacted and met all the people that they need to meet. We appreciat…

Next Order.

Hon. Senators, I wish to report to the Senate that pursuant to Standing Order Nos.46 (3) and 4 (4) , I received the following Message from the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the passage by the National Assembly of the Division of Revenue Bill, National Assembly Bills No.10 of 2025. The Message, which is dated Monday, 14th April, 2025, was received in the Office of the Clerk of the Sen…

A certified version of this Report introduced in the Senate by way of First Reading in accordance with Standing Order No.144, hon. Senators, as you may have noted, the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bills No.10 of 2025) has been listed in today's Order Paper and at the appropriate time during this sitting, I will direct the Clerk to read the Bill a First Time. I thank you. Next Order…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This is a Petition to the Senate of the Republic of Kenya regarding the eviction of Korogocho Community living in the Nairobi River Corridor after its declaration as a special planning area. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we, the undersigned, on behalf of the Korogocho Community in Ruaraka Constituency, being peace-loving and law-abiding citizens of the Republic of Kenya, and in e…

Pursuant to Standing Order No. 238 (1) , I commit the Petition that has just been read out by Senator for Nairobi City County to the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources. Now, in terms of Standing Order No.238 (2) (a) , the Committee is required in not more than 60 calendar days from the time of reading the prayer, which is today, to table its report in the

[(The Petition was committed to the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources)]

A certified version of this Report Senate for consideration. The Senate thereafter shall consider and adopt the report of the Committee. Next Order.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following papers on the table of the Senate today, Wednesday, 16th April, 2025- The Sustainable Waste Management (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations, Legal Notice No.62 of 2025. The Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Water Quality) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations, Legal Notice No.63 of 2025. The Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Waste Managemen…

[(Extended Producer Responsibility)]

[(Access to Biological Resources and Benefit Sharing)]

Next Order.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. My statement is on transition of leadership in the Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA) . Mr. Speaker, Sir, we, Sen. Hamida Kibwana and Sen. Maureen Tabitha Mutinda, the former Chairperson and Vice-chairperson of the KEWOSA, rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement on the transition of leadership in KEWOSA and to formally acknowledge the elec…

A certified version of this Report Additionally, KEWOSA has forged strategic partnerships with organisations such as Echo Network Africa, which implements targeted interventions to support girls and women, with a special focus on young women, women with disabilities and those from marginalised communities. Mr. Speaker, Sir, these collaborations have been instrumental in expanding the reach and i…

Thank you. The second Statement under that particular Standing Order is by Sen. Mohamed Chute which is hereby dropped, pursuant to a request by the said Senator to have the Statement dropped.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the House as well, let me take this opportunity to welcome the students from PCEA, Emmanuel Church in Kibra. This is an institution that has close to 300 students aged between three years and 22 years.

A certified version of this Report The Centre works in collaboration with an organisation known as Compassion International to try and impart skills and develop the talents of these young children, so that they are able to be pulled from the extreme levels of poverty that is very prevalent in that area. We hope that they will have an opportunity to interact with Members of Parliament and follow …

Statements pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) . Proceed, Senator for Samburu County, Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on a matter of countrywide concern regarding the status of projects funded through the Equalisation Fund, disbursed during the Financial Year 2023/2024 in Samburu County. In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Proceed, Sen. Essy Okenyuri.

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Mr. Speaker, Sir, 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 establishment of shelters and safe spaces for homeless children and vulnerable mothers in major cities and urban centres across Kenya. In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Next is the Senator for Wajir.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Roads, Transport and Housing on a matter of national concern regarding commercialization and accessibility, by the public, of Wajir Airport. Although Wajir Airport is designated for civilian use, it continues to operate primarily as a military base under state control by the Kenya Defe…

The next one is by Sen. Tabitha Mutinda.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism on a matter of national concern regarding the financial crisis at the Metropolitan National SACCO Limited. The financial crisis at the SACCO, which has been declared technically insolvent by the Commissioner for Cooperatives has left over 75,000 mem…

Next is the Statement by the Senator for Trans Nzoia County, Sen. Allan Chesang.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on a matter of countrywide concern regarding the operationalization of the Nawiri Fund by Trans Nzoia County Government. In the Statement, the Committee, should address the following-

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The Senator for Kirinyaga County, Sen. (Dr.) James Murango. What is the issue, Sen. Cherarkey? Can you state your position, please?

Mr. Speaker, Sir Sen. (Dr.) Murango, had requested me to read the Statement on his behalf.

Do you have any written authority in that regard? Sen. Cherarkey: No, but Sen. Kinyua was a witness.

That Statement is dropped. IMPOSITION OF LEVIES ON COFFEE PRODUCTS BY THE NAIROBI COFFEE EXCHANGE AND CAPITAL MARKETS AUTHORITY

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This is a request for Statement on contracting of private law firms by the County Government of Nandi. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights on a matter of national concern regarding the contracting of private law firms to represent the County Government …

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This is a request for Statement on contracting of private law firms by the County Government of Nandi. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights on a matter of national concern regarding the contracting of private law firms to represent the County Government …

Senator Raphael Chimaera. DELAYED PROCESSING OF CERTIFICATES OF TITLES IN LAND REGISTRIES

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 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 national concern regarding the delays in the processing of certificates of titles in land registries across the country. In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

The Senator for Kisumu County, Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, SC.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Mr. Speaker, I have two Statements this afternoon. The first Statement is on the state of sanitation in the rural areas of Kisumu County.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker. I beg to move that the Sports (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No.33 of 2024) be now read a Second Time. As a Senator of Nairobi City County, I receive a lot of guests in my office. There is a gentleman called Ronald Khainga who is the Secretary of the Nairobi County Boxing Association. The first time he came to my office, he had been invited for a tournament in Vih…

A certified version of this Report I have not met Senators who confirmed to me that their county governments actually allocate money to support registered sports associations in their counties. So, what we did then, we agreed that we were going to bring an amendment to the Sports Act to make sure or to mandate counties to set aside a minimum amount of money every single financial year to support …

A certified version of this Report even know, until that particular day. We even had somebody representing American Football. So, it was quite an eye-opener. I want to assure everyone who appeared before the Committee that we took note of the contributions that they had presented before us. We will be presenting certain amendments during the Committee of the Whole of this Bill, so that we capture…

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker. This is an incredibly responsive piece of legislation. While Sen. Sifuna referred to it as a simple amendment, its impact on the sports fraternity in this country will be immense. Since joining this House, I do not think I have loved a legislative proposal more than this. As Sen. Sifuna tabled the proposal, I found myself nodding all the time, not just in agreeme…

[(Laughter)]

[(Applause)]

A certified version of this Report on a large scale, affecting many of our youth, it would be one of the ways of raising money for this country. We know countries which have developed largely because of investment in sports. This is a very welcome amendment. As he rightly said, many counties do not have a sports fund. I think it is only my county, Vihiga, that has a sports fund, but which is larg…

A certified version of this Report This money should be taken back to sports. If this money was put in sports, we would now be having at least 10 international stadiums in this country because of the huge amount of money that has come in here. If that was the case, we would have academies across the country. I earlier said that I am the one who originated the sports academy Motion in the Nationa…

A certified version of this Report Committee should investigate how this Fund is managed and administered, and how its beneficiaries have been supported, including the amounts involved. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I second.

At this point, we will allow Senators to make contributions starting with Sen. Karen Nyamu.

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise under Standing Order No.41 on quorum during the proceedings of the Senate. I have noticed that we are just a few Senators here.

[(Loud consultations)]

[(Applause)]

Sen. Eddy Oketch, proceed.

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Mr. Temporary Speaker, I continue to be a proud member of the ODM party. Our Secretary General, Sen. Sifuna, has consistently demonstrated remarkable acumen through his substantial contributions to this House. His vision is evident not only in his support for ideas brought forward by others, but also in his leadership on impactful legislation that have an impact in our society today. Matters rela…

A certified version of this Report

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise under Standing Order No.41 on quorum during the proceedings of the Senate. I have noticed that we are just a few Senators here.

[(Loud consultations)]

You are in order, Sen. Chimera. Clerk, please confirm if we have quorum. Serjeant-at-Arms, please ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]