Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Senators questioned the Defence Ministry over alleged corrupt practices in military recruitment, where families pay bribes to secure positions for their children, and sought clarification on the Ministry’s actions to curb this. The Cabinet Secretary defended the Kenya Defence Forces’ humanitarian engagements, legal basis for deployments, and urged continued oversight, while also addressing media inaccuracies and regional security concerns. Senators raised concerns over unresolved compensation for two families and sought clarification on the status and funding of several dam projects, highlighting cost overruns due to height increases and weak foundations. The discussion focused on the financing mechanism of the Thwake Dam, specifically the African Development Bank concessional loan and its Appropriation‑in‑Aid (A‑in‑A) structure, with the Cabinet Secretary providing explanations. Procedural remarks about question timing and representation also featured in the sitting. The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation responded to Senate queries on land acquisition, compensation mechanisms and the Thwake Dam project, outlining the standard procedures involving the National Land Commission and noting that the dam is near completion but has experienced a slowdown due to technical settlement phases. He acknowledged longstanding compensation backlogs and clarified that funding comes from both the African Development Bank and the Kenyan government, while Senators pressed for details on funding ratios and unresolved compensation cases.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we do have a quorum. We will now proceed with the morning session. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Clerk, can you confirm that the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is present? Hon. Senators, as we wait for the hon. Cabinet Secretary to be ushered in, I can see Sen. Maanzo, but I do not see Sen. Eddy. Is there any Senator holding a brief for Sen. Eddy? (The Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
Water, Sanitation and Irrigation and Question No.024 is directed to the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Defence. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, welcome back. You were here last week. However, your responses were deemed not satisfactory. Therefore, we expect you to directly respond to the questions as asked by the Hon. Senators. We will, therefore, proceed with Question No.008 by the Senator for Migori. …
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to move- THAT, the Senate notes the Reports of the-
Thank you. Proceed, Sen. Mungatana.
My prayer is that every time we go to these international meetings, the point must be made that Africa should not be segregated. We should not use these standards to deny opportunity to do business. Already, we suffer a lot. It takes a lot of effort for us to access the markets in the EU. It is sad that they are now developing more standards that are excluding animal products and other products fr…
I want to congratulate those Members who represented us and the views that our regional Parliaments need, to also shift focus and start finding a way to work with the BRICS. The reason is that the BRICS came together and discussed a lot of issues around trade and cooperation between themselves. They have started to invite other nations to come together and work with them. The most critical thing …
My prayer is that every time we go to these international meetings, the point must be made that Africa should not be segregated. We should not use these standards to deny opportunity to do business. Already, we suffer a lot. It takes a lot of effort for us to access the markets in the EU. It is sad that they are now developing more standards that are excluding animal products and other products fr…
Thank you, Senator. Sen. Kinyua, proceed.
[(Question proposed)]
Asante Bw. Spika wa Muda. Nashukuru kwa ripoti zilizoletwa, lakini ni kazi bure ikiwa tutafanya mikutano hii ilhali uhusiano wa biashara hauonekani kwa Wakenya ama wananchi wa nchi husika. Majukumu makubwa ya miungano yoyote inayofanywa ni kuleta manufaa kwa wananchi wa nchi husika. Hii ni kwa sababu wale waliotuchagua na kutuweka katika nyadhifa hizi wamefanya hivyo ili tuinue hali yao ya maisha…
inayofanywa inaleta mahusiano mazuri. Vilevile inafanya nchi husika kuondoa vikwazo vya kibiashara na uhusiano. Nashukuru vile Naibu Spika wetu amesema kwamba katika mikutano aliyohusika walichagua viongozi wa nchi zingine. Huu uhusiano usionekane tu katika biashara, bali hata wakati wa shida. Ikiwa nchi jirani wana shida ama majanga, wanaweza kupata mahali ambapo pana usalama na hali nzuri. Sit…
Asante, Seneta. I call upon the Mover to reply.
[(Laughter)]
Are you deferring?
Sorry, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I request. I thought I had powers when standing here.
[(Laughter)]
Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. If you indulge me for one minute, I would also want to inform the House that a fortnight ago, I was elected as the Mount Kenya District League Golf Convener. We had our first match, Nyahururu versus Nyeri and we beat Nyeri 13-3. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to move- THAT, the Senate notes the Report of the 9th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Global Conf…
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I listened to the good Senator for Nyandarua County, Sen. John Methu, saying you indulge him, but what he said, I did not understand. Does it relate to this Senate? How does it relate to this Senate or to what he is about to present? Maybe, he can clarify.
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it relates to the extent that I am a Senator and a Member of this August House and having gotten such a rare honour, it is only fair that I inform the Senate. I have gotten that opportunity right from Hon. Kanini Kega, and now it has come to the Senate. I have even gone further to explain that in my leadership we have started on a very positive note that we have beaten…
Sen. John Kinyua, what is your point of order?
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I listened to the good Senator for Nyandarua County, Sen. John Methu, saying you indulge him, but what he said, I did not understand. Does it relate to this Senate? How does it relate to this Senate or to what he is about to present? Maybe, he can clarify.
of Masalani in your county. This has made business very easy. It is this digital transformation and stories like this that we are sharing at the 9th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Hanoi. Mr. Temporary Speaker, sir, the Conference encompassed three primary sessions - Digital Transformation, Innovation and Startups, and Promoting Respect for Cultural Diversity in Support of Sustainable Developm…
Hon. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the delegation, I would wish to thank the office of the Speaker of the Senate and the Clerk of the Senate for the continued support towards facilitating the activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, ensuring that Kenya was well represented during that Conference of young parliamentarians. It is also important to say that, even though the delegation of …
of Masalani in your county. This has made business very easy. It is this digital transformation and stories like this that we are sharing at the 9th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Hanoi. Mr. Temporary Speaker, sir, the Conference encompassed three primary sessions - Digital Transformation, Innovation and Startups, and Promoting Respect for Cultural Diversity in Support of Sustainable Developm…
Hon. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the delegation, I would wish to thank the office of the Speaker of the Senate and the Clerk of the Senate for the continued support towards facilitating the activities of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, ensuring that Kenya was well represented during that Conference of young parliamentarians. It is also important to say that, even though the delegation of …
Sen. Veronica, please, proceed.
during this Conference; that the SG took the opportunity to address the under- representation of young women in parliaments, emphasizing that their contributions were indispensable in advancing the SDGs, through digital transformation and innovation. He underscored the crucial role of young women and called for increased efforts to ensure their meaningful participation in parliamentary processes. …
I have noted with a lot of interest the venue where this Conference took place. That was in Hanoi, Vietnam, an interesting destination, which has been in the discussion of Kenyans lately, because of Kenyan, Margaret Nduta, a lady from Murang’a County, whose fate is hanging on the thread because of having been convicted for capital punishment due to offences or accusations related to drug peddling …
during this Conference; that the SG took the opportunity to address the under- representation of young women in parliaments, emphasizing that their contributions were indispensable in advancing the SDGs, through digital transformation and innovation. He underscored the crucial role of young women and called for increased efforts to ensure their meaningful participation in parliamentary processes. …
Thank you, hon. Senator. Sen. Danson Mungatana.
[(Question proposed)]
purposes using simple technology. He was using phone technology so you can know when you are supposed to irrigate the land, if the water is enough, and stuff like that. He really impressed me. Nonetheless, where is the money to help young people, such as those, to support their innovation and startups? We need to tell our Government and the Cabinet Secretaries in charge to think of ways and means…
digital transformation. There was a session in innovation and startups. There was a session on promoting respect for cultural diversity in support of sustainable development. One of the comments that Sen. Methu made there as the head of delegation was that, we need to support the resolutions that are passed there with resources, so that what is reflected there, becomes a reality in this country. …
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.00 p.m. It is time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate stands adjourned until later today, Wednesday, 19th March 2025, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.00 p.m.
Sen. Mungatana, you will have two minutes left when this debate resumes.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.00 p.m. It is time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate stands adjourned until later today, Wednesday, 19th March 2025, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.00 p.m.