Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Senators raised urgent concerns about a mass fish die‑off in Lake Victoria cages, the exclusion of Kirinyaga coffee cooperatives from the Commodities Fund allocations, and a sharp rise in maternal deaths in Samburu County, calling for statements from the relevant standing committees. The debate also featured procedural interruptions regarding the handling of classified information and the order of statements. Senators praised the Electronic Equipment Disposal Recycling and Reuse Bill, noting it is long overdue and essential for proper e‑waste management. The Temporary Speaker highlighted recent government funding for solid waste in Nairobi and urged similar support for other counties, while also raising concerns about licensing provisions. The debate was largely supportive, with procedural interjections but no major opposition. Senators used the afternoon sitting to highlight several urgent county‑wide problems, including alleged non‑remittance of statutory pension and other deductions by Kajiado County, acute water shortages in Tharaka‑Nithi, violent herder‑farmer clashes in Lamu that killed livestock, and a mass fish die‑off in Lake Victoria affecting fishermen’s livelihoods. Each member called on the relevant standing committee to provide a statement and outline remedial actions, reflecting serious concern over governance, resource management and public welfare.
Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Clerk, if we now have quorum, please, read out the first Order. We are now properly constituted.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Senate Majority Leader, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, 18th February, 2026-
Very well. Next Order.
Chairperson, Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, you have a Notice of Motion to give. As you prepare, let Sen. Veronica Maina give Notice of her Motion.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to give Notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on a petition to the Senate by Ms. Beatrice Likwop concerning people living with invisible disabilities, laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 2nd December, 2025. I lay. The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) : Very well, next Order.
[(Sen. Murgor laid the document on the Table)]
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Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) , to make a Statement on a matter of national importance, namely, the urgent need to strengthen the protection of children from violence, neglect, abuse and exploitation, particularly in the light of the disturbing rise in cases of defilement, disappearance and brutal murder of children in Kenya. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the nat…
Very well. Next is Sen. Hezena Lemaletian, MP. Statement pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (1) .
Very well. Next is Sen. Hezena Lemaletian, MP. Statement pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (1) .
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. 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 county-wide concern regarding the schedule of payment of statutory deductions owned by the County Government of Kajiado. The County Government of Kajiado has allegedly deducted statutory pension’s contributions and other lawful obl…
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy 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 county-wide concern regarding the intervention measures being undertaken to address the ongoing water crisis in some parts of Tharaka-Nithi County. Residents in areas covered south by River Ura, Rurikunu and River Th…
Thank you, Hon. Deputy 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 county-wide concern regarding the intervention measures being undertaken to address the ongoing water crisis in some parts of Tharaka-Nithi County. Residents in areas covered south by River Ura, Rurikunu and River Th…
Thank you, Mr. Deputy 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 countrywide concern regarding the ongoing conflict between herders and farmers, which has resulted to livestock deaths at Witu-Nyongoro Ranch in Lamu County. On Tuesday, 27th January, 2026, at least, 50 …
Thank you, Mr. Deputy 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 countrywide concern regarding the ongoing conflict between herders and farmers, which has resulted to livestock deaths at Witu-Nyongoro Ranch in Lamu County. On Tuesday, 27th January, 2026, at least, 50 …
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 51 (3) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on a matter of countywide concern regarding mass death of fish, particularly Dunga Beach in Lake Victoria cages, affecting fishermen’s livelihood and the potential threat to food security in the region. In the statement, the commi…
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 51 (3) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on a matter of countywide concern regarding mass death of fish, particularly Dunga Beach in Lake Victoria cages, affecting fishermen’s livelihood and the potential threat to food security in the region. In the statement, the commi…
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on a matter of countrywide concern regarding the allocation and disbursement of the Commodities Fund for the clearance of the coffee cooperative's debts. Reports indicate that a substantial amount of money from the Commodities Fun…
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on a matter of countrywide concern regarding the allocation and disbursement of the Commodities Fund for the clearance of the coffee cooperative's debts. Reports indicate that a substantial amount of money from the Commodities Fun…
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health on a matter of countywide concern regarding the rising maternal deaths in Samburu County. Alarming rise in the maternal deaths in Samburu County points not to isolated clinical events but to systematic gaps in health services delivery including shortage of skil…
Thank you. Hon. Senators, I will interrupt that Statement session for us to clear with this pending matter. Sen. Cherarkey, I am aware that you have three Statements to make but before you do that, I would like you to clear this matter before me.
[(Sen. Cherarkey spoke off record)]
[(Applause)]
Thank you. Hon. Senators, I will interrupt that Statement session for us to clear with this pending matter. Sen. Cherarkey, I am aware that you have three Statements to make but before you do that, I would like you to clear this matter before me.
[(Sen. Cherarkey spoke off record)]
[(Applause)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Chairperson, Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing on a matter of countywide concern regarding the recent disputes between matatu and boda boda operators in Nairobi City County which have escalated into violence, confrontations, destruction of property and transport strikes that have paralyse…
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 52 (1) to make a Statement on a matter of international and general topical concern, namely; the Forum of Parliaments of Member States of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, (FP-ICGLR) electoral observation mission in the Republic of Uganda during the 2026 General Election held on the 15th January, 2026. …
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We will also defer Order No.10 in the Order Paper for today. For purposes of progressing with the business of the House, I will rearrange the Order Paper and I direct that Order No.20 be called out.
[(Committee of the Whole deferred)]
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that The Electronic Equipment Disposal Recycling and Reuse Bill, 2025 be now read a Second Time. I take this opportunity to speak about the Electronic Management Bill. Kenya generates an average of 3,000 tonnes of e-waste annually mixed with ordinary waste. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , e-waste is considered hazardous, threat to the e…
Give Sen. Tobiko the microphone. You are on. You may now proceed.
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that The Electronic Equipment Disposal Recycling and Reuse Bill, 2025 be now read a Second Time. I take this opportunity to speak about the Electronic Management Bill. Kenya generates an average of 3,000 tonnes of e-waste annually mixed with ordinary waste. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , e-waste is considered hazardous, threat to the e…
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I now call upon Senators who would like to contribute to this Bill. Sen. Maanzo, you are on top of the list from my dashboard; you may have the Floor.
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Mr. Temporary Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to support the Bill as proposed by the distinguished nominated Senator, Sen. Peris Tobiko. I do not want to underscore what has been said about Sen. Tobiko. The distinguished Senator for Makueni has agreed that Sen. Tobiko has served as a legislator for some time, and therefore, this comes with experience. The Electronic Equipment Di…
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[[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Wakili Sigei) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina) in the Chair]]
[[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Wakili Sigei) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina) in the Chair]]
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Kindness is my second name, so I will be kind to everyone, including the Senator, Queen of the North. Madam Temporary Speaker, allow me to begin by congratulating our colleague, Sen. Peris Tobiko. There is one thing that happens, and people do not talk about it a lot, but today, because you have asked me to be nice and kind, let me be nice and kind to Sen. Tobi…
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Thank you, Sen. Wambua. Proceed, Sen. Thang’wa Paul Karungo.
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Thank you, Sen. Thangwa’. Sen. Olekina Oledama, proceed.
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Madam Temporary Speaker, that is my full name, and I appreciate the fact that you have called out all the names, including the very critical place I represent, the County of Bomet. Madam Temporary Speaker, when we closed in the Fourth Session last December, this House and our respective desks had different gadgets. We had tablets which were different from the ones which we are currently using. I …
Hon. Senators, it is now 6.30