Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. We have quorum now. Proceed to call the first Order.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker's gallery this afternoon of 20 clerk assistants serving in the Directorate of Legislative and Committee Services from the County Assembly of Baringo. The officers are undertaking a training on law making and procedural matters at the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST) . In our tradition of receiving and welco…

[(Applause)]

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the Senator of Baringo County and my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the Members of County Assembly (MCAs) for Baringo County Assembly. I confirm as the darling of MCAs across the country that their welfare on the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) in reviewing their parks and salaries and welfare is well catered for. Secondly, as th…

When I read the communication, I did not say that these are MCAs from Baringo County. I said they are 20 clerk assistants serving in the Directorate of Legislative and Committee Services. Let us make progress. Next Order.

Thank you, Senate Majority Leader. Next Order. Sen. Thang’wa proceed. Clerk, give Sen. Thang’wa the microphone.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise to give notice of the following Motion that calls for consolidation of bursary funds for equitable access to education in Kenya. AWARE THAT, pursuant to Article 53 of the Constitution, every child in Kenya is entitled to free and compulsory basic education. The Basic Education Act provides that, basic education should be guided by principles such as equi…

Very well. Next is Sen. Karen Nyamu. Give notice of your Motion.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to give notice of the following Motion. AWARE THAT schools play a crucial role in shaping the future of our children and providing a safe environment for learning; CONSCIOUS THAT personal growth is vital and that safety within schools is a fundamental right of every student, teacher and other workers and that safety is critical in improving the overall qu…

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, Members! Proceed and do not address the Members. I am protecting you. You are well protected.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. NOTING THAT deploying dedicated safety officers in schools will significantly reduce risks, enhance preparedness and provide immediate response capabilities during emergencies, and that these trained safety officers will oversee safety protocols, provide first aid, conduct safety drills, ensure fire preparedness, manage emergency evacuation and assist in address…

NOW THEREFORE, the Senate urges the national Government through the Ministry of Education to:

Thank you. Next Order. We have several Statements under Standing Order No. 53 (1) . We start with Sen. Mohamed Chute.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy 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 regarding the status of KFW Development Bank funded Drought- Resilient Programme in Northern Kenya (DRPNK) . In the statement, the committee should:

Sen. Joyce Korir.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the incorporation of teachers with diploma qualification to the Teacher Service Commission. In the statement, the committee should:

Good, next is Sen. Orwoba.

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 regarding the status and implementation of the Linda Mama Healthcare Programme. In the statement, the committee should:

Sorry. Sen. Orwoba, your statement is to the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have two Statements on Standing Order No.53 (1) . I will start with the Statement to the Committee on Health.

Okay, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the status and implementation of the Linda Mama Healthcare Programme. In the statement, the committee should:

Sen. Orwoba, why are you adding issues that are not in your Statement? I am looking at the statement and cannot see where you indicated “like yourself.” Your statement does not have the phrase “like yourself.”

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, about the expectant mothers?

That bit is not in your Statement.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand guided. However, I am expectant. Can I go ahead and read my second Statement?

Thank you. Sen. Sifuna, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, 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 the alleged kidnap of a Kenyan truck driver, Ms. Florence Wanza Munyao, in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 27th August 2024. In the Statement, the committee should address the following:

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare regarding the audits by the Public Service Commission of Human Resource and Payroll Systems in Government. In the Statement, the committee should:

Hon. Senators, we have visiting teachers and students from Olbutyo Boys Secondary School in Bomet County.

I would like to acknowledge the presence in the public gallery this afternoon of visiting teachers and students from Olbutyo Boys Secondary School in Bomet County. The delegation comprises four teachers and 64 students who are in the Senate for a one-day academic exposition. Hon. Senators, in addition to the tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to t…

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not mind welcoming the students from Olbutyo; if I got the name correct. I can see them nodding. I know where Olbutyo is. Sen. Sigei was in the House earlier so he must be somewhere within the precincts of Parliament. On his behalf, I welcome the visiting students together with their teachers. I hope they will enjoy their tour of Parliament, enjoy the debate and see …

Sen. Joyce Korir, maybe under one minute you can also welcome them.

Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity. The Senator was just around. On behalf of my Senator and this House, allow me to also welcome the students from Olbutyo Secondary School. This is one of the secondary schools that is performing well within the county. They have an opportunity to see what is happening. It is said, “seeing is believing.” I believe th…

The next Statement is from Sen. Prof. Tom Ojienda. Senior Counsel, you have four statements. How many do you want to read today?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will read all the statements. They are short statements. As you know, Kisumu County is a county of excellence and we lead in the broad-based system.

The first Statement is on the state of education in Kenya.

In the statement, the committee should:

Senator for Taita-Taveta County, Sen. Mwaruma.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to request for a statement on the ongoing strike by medical personnel in Taita-Taveta County. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the ongoing strike by medical personnel in Taita-Taveta County. In the Statement, the committee should:

Next is a statement by the Senator for Lamu County, Sen. Githuku. He is not present. That statement is dropped.

The other one is the Statement from the Senator for Kisii County, Sen. Onyonka. That Statement is also dropped.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise on a point of order.

As you execute your point of order, I thank you because you just pressed the intervention key and waited for the Speaker's attention. That is the way to go; not shouting points of order in the Chamber.

Thank you. No, I had already pressed it.

Yes, you are leading by example. That is what I am saying. Thank you. You just press and you wait.

Thank you. I think Sen. Kinyua should take over.

Others should see this; Sen. Orwoba and the rest, together with Sen. Cherarkey.

[(Interruption of debate on Statements)]

County and the need to put in place necessary measures for successful sittings; NOW THEREFORE, the Senate resolves to alter the dates for the Senate Mashinani in Busia County from 23rd to 27th September, 2024 to the 28th October to 1st November 2024. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is a move by about four weeks. I had explained earlier that there are certain contingency plans that have not been c…

County and the need to put in place necessary measures for successful sittings; NOW THEREFORE, the Senate resolves to alter the dates for the Senate Mashinani in Busia County from 23rd to 27th September, 2024 to the 28th October to 1st November 2024. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is a move by about four weeks. I had explained earlier that there are certain contingency plans that have not been c…

For instance, I know that Sen. Cheruiyot likes mursik so much. When he goes to Busia, which is very close to the great County of Kisumu and also extends to the border of Kenya-Uganda, you will realise that the economy of fish is very big. We have seen people fighting over menial jobs that are created abroad. Sometimes, even when you talk about absolute numbers on those jobs, you might find that t…

Hon. Senators, considering that this particular Motion is similar to the earlier Motion, there are Members who had requested in the earlier debate to speak to this Motion. I will allow only two Members and under two minutes each to contribute to this Motion. Proceed, Sen. John Kinyua.

Hon. Senators, considering that this particular Motion is similar to the earlier Motion, there are Members who had requested in the earlier debate to speak to this Motion. I will allow only two Members and under two minutes each to contribute to this Motion. Proceed, Sen. John Kinyua.

Asante, Bw. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa fursa hii. Nasimama kuunga mkono kubadilisha kwa tarehe ya kuwa na kikao katika Kaunti ya Busia. Hii inapatia Seneti fursa ya kutembea mashinani ili kuchangamkia mambo yanayowahusu watu katika ile kaunti. Haijapotea kwangu kwamba Seneti hii imetembea katika kaunti nyingi. Tumetembea Kaunti ya Kitui ambapo tuliona kwamba Gavana alikuwa ametengeneza kiwanda cha…

While we were in Turkana last year for Senate Mashinani, as the ICT Committee, we launched free Wireless Wi-Fi in two markets. That has created opportunities for the youth to do online jobs. We also had an opportunity to check the Lake Turkana wind power in Loyiangalani. Those are the experiences that we get from the Senate Mashinani. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there are industrial parks being p…

While we were in Turkana last year for Senate Mashinani, as the ICT Committee, we launched free Wireless Wi-Fi in two markets. That has created opportunities for the youth to do online jobs. We also had an opportunity to check the Lake Turkana wind power in Loyiangalani. Those are the experiences that we get from the Senate Mashinani. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there are industrial parks being p…

Hon. Members, pursuant to the directives that I gave earlier on, I will now close the debate on that particular Motion and call upon the Mover, who is the Senate Majority Leader, to reply.

I am seeing an emerging trend where Governors – I do not know but perhaps they are informed by scientific evidence or project viability proposals – are setting up industries to be run and managed by county governments. If the national Government is struggling to manage some of the industries, tell me how good our counties will be to manage many of these? I just thought of that particular industry…

I am seeing an emerging trend where Governors – I do not know but perhaps they are informed by scientific evidence or project viability proposals – are setting up industries to be run and managed by county governments. If the national Government is struggling to manage some of the industries, tell me how good our counties will be to manage many of these? I just thought of that particular industry…

Hon. Members, I make a determination that pursuant to Standing Order No.84 (1) , the matter does not affect counties, and similarly ascertain that we have the requisite quorum on this particular Motion. Hon. Members, I will therefore put the question. Hon. Members, I will rearrange the Order Paper. We will defer Order Nos.12 to 27 so that we go to Order No.29.

[(Question put and agree to)]

(Bill deferred)

Sen. Mariam Omar, please, approach the Chair.

[(Sen. Mariam Omar consulted with the Temporary Speaker)]