Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Order, hon. Senators. We now have quorum. Kindly let us settle down. Senator for Nandi, please, take your seat. Clerk, you may call the first Order.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(Sen. Cherarkey sat at his place)]

Hon. Senators, as you are aware, the Taiden Multimedia Congress System has been in use since commencement of the Fifth Session on a pilot basis with progressive rollout of its features. I wish to inform you that the

system has now been configured to allow for dual speaking requests, one for debate and general comments on the business before the Senate and another for interventions. You will notice that the touchscreen interface now incorporates a floating icon resembling a raised hand. This icon gives you two options; “request” and “intervention”. Pressing on either or both of these options will add you to t…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I just wanted to get a clarification on your communication. Biometric fingerprints are a permanent identity which when compromised, there is nothing you can do because it is not a password. Some of us feel strongly about using our fingerprints because of our beliefs on the dangers that we face if your permanent identify is compromised. Why can we not use cards because this syste…

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, we appreciate your communication. I wish Sen. Crystal Asige was here. Yesterday, you heard her complaining that people abled differently have a challenge in terms of using these gadgets. Last time, we raised an issue of access to a multimedia system. If you want to access documents in these gadgets, it takes forever. You have to open “Congress File” then go to “Order Paper”, “Re…

Next is the Senator for Nairobi City County.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, because I am the one who sits next to Sen. Crystal Asige. Let me try and explain what the issue is. Since we have a floating icon, you need

to have the ability to see where it is on the screen because we have noticed that it is movable. There was a provision for visually impaired persons. If you look at the place for requesting to speak, there is actually Braille. However, with this new icon, it is very difficult for Sen. Crystal to know when her request has been put and so on and so forth. For the sake of Sen. Crystal and any other …

Proceed, Sen. Eddy.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think some of us have drawn the line and respect the directive that was given by your office to give our biometrics in order to access this system. However, in no certain terms can we disregard what Sen. Olekina has brought to this House. Despite the fact that we trust the institution and we followed instructions that were given about use of biometrics, there has not been clea…

Proceed, Sen. Kavindu.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support what other Senators have said. I have been putting my fingerprints on these machines since they were brought, but they have completely rejected. Therefore, I am forced to operate using the card. That might delay one from even contributing. Please, consider that.

Next is Sen. Haji.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to weigh in on this matter having listened to Sen. Olekina and Sen. Eddy. I believe they raised valid issues in terms of our biometrics being taken at the Senate. Considering the fact that we are usually here for a period of five years, some of us might be lucky enough to come back. As a way of compromise, it is important that the Senate and Senators have a sort of …

We need assurances that there will be no misuse of the personal data, such as our fingerprints and that upon the conclusion of our time here at the Senate, it will be properly deleted from the system. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo):

Asante, Bw. Spika. Ninakubaliana naye. Kidole changu kilikataa biometrics na mpaka leo, siwezi kubonyeza. Kwa hivyo, mimi na Sen. Agnes Muthama huwa tunatumia kadi na kila mara kadi zetu huwa zinapotea na hazipatikani. Kama sasa, nimeitisha kadi yangu niliyokuwanayo asubuhi na kwa sasa haipatikani tena. Kwa hivyo, mimi pia ninapata shida sana. The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) Hon. Senators, the concerns …

[(Loud consultations)]

Asante, Bw. Spika. Ninakubaliana naye. Kidole changu kilikataa biometrics na mpaka leo, siwezi kubonyeza. Kwa hivyo, mimi na Sen. Agnes Muthama huwa tunatumia kadi na kila mara kadi zetu huwa zinapotea na hazipatikani. Kama sasa, nimeitisha kadi yangu niliyokuwanayo asubuhi na kwa sasa haipatikani tena. Kwa hivyo, mimi pia ninapata shida sana. The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) Hon. Senators, the concerns …

[(Loud consultations)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Senate Majority Leader, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, Wednesday, 22nd April, 2026- The Civil Aviation Regulations, Legal Notice No. 45 of 2026.

[(Aeronautical Information Service)]

Next Order.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have two statements. The first one is on the integration of civic education in the voter registration exercise.

While voter registration remains a critical pillar of democratic participation, the true strength on an electoral process lies not merely in the number of citizens enlisted, but in the extent to which they are adequately informed, critically aware and able to exercise their democratic rights responsibly. There is growing concern that even as efforts are intensified to expand the voter's role, insu…

Sen. Abbas, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. 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 county-wide concern regarding the state of health care services in Wajir County. Wajir County healthcare system is facing a lot of challenges with many non- functional facilities despite the heavy investment by the county. The county has actually constr…

Now, statements pursuant to Standing Order No.58. Sen. Osotsi, proceed.

I further commend the Karen Hospital for their exemplary medical care and specialised attention, which ensured my swift and full recovery. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am aware that you went through the same incident in 2012, in which you lost one of your security personnel. The matter is not merely personal to me, as some people may imagine or some even celebrating. It is a test of our nation's commitmen…

[(Applause)]

I further commend the Karen Hospital for their exemplary medical care and specialised attention, which ensured my swift and full recovery. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am aware that you went through the same incident in 2012, in which you lost one of your security personnel. The matter is not merely personal to me, as some people may imagine or some even celebrating. It is a test of our nation's commitmen…

[(Applause)]

I will allow Sen. Ledama to make his request for a statement pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) .

Madam Temporary Speaker, I know you will be gracious enough if I overshoot the runway in case of my submission.

Are you taking a flight? Why are you overshooting on the runway?

Governance, Article 229 of the Constitution of Kenya, Article 201 on Principles of Finance and Article 174 on Principles of Devolution. Next week or the week after, we will issue a warrant of arrest against the governor who is also the CoG Chairperson, Hon. Ahmed Abdilahi, who continues to subvert justice because we are following through on the resummoning of governors. We want to make him an exa…

Sen. Cherarkey, do you really have powers to issue warrants of arrest against governors?

Madam Temporary Speaker, I have said the CPAC where I am a Member, I have the powers and privileges anchored in Articles 123, 124 and 125 of the Constitution. I thank Justice Mwamuye as I call upon the Judiciary that, in Speaker Mate's case, you only challenge the process at the tail end. No arm of Government can injunct another arm of Government. The other day, I was in Kericho, Kakamega and Nan…

The biggest weakling in the fight against corruption is the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) , Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and DCI. We have made recommendations to the EACC on many issues of financial impropriety in counties. The EACC, the DCI and the DPP must assist us in the fight against corruption. They must prosecute governors and county officials who continue to plun…

Sen. Cherarkey, do you really have powers to issue warrants of arrest against governors?

Madam Temporary Speaker, I have said the CPAC where I am a Member, I have the powers and privileges anchored in Articles 123, 124 and 125 of the Constitution. I thank Justice Mwamuye as I call upon the Judiciary that, in Speaker Mate's case, you only challenge the process at the tail end. No arm of Government can injunct another arm of Government. The other day, I was in Kericho, Kakamega and Nan…

Okay, 30 more seconds.

[(Applause)]

[(Loud consultations)]

Thank you, Sen. Cherarkey.

[(Interruption of debate on Motion)]

(Bill deferred)

they should deny clinical officers being empanelled under SHA. They do not need to go through the KMPDU. In Nandi, for three months now, nurses are yet to be paid their stipends as per the law. I always wonder whether governors live in utopia or in Mars. Governors should know that our nurses and health practitioners have their families to feed, rent and school fees to pay. Why are we becoming in…

Okay. I will utilise it properly. Yesterday, coincidentally, you were also on the seat. I am privileged, and I want to repeat what I said yesterday, that I am the one who read this petition on behalf of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) . Yesterday, I learnt the history of clinical officers that most of them ensure facilities function wherever they are.

Two minutes.

they should deny clinical officers being empanelled under SHA. They do not need to go through the KMPDU. In Nandi, for three months now, nurses are yet to be paid their stipends as per the law. I always wonder whether governors live in utopia or in Mars. Governors should know that our nurses and health practitioners have their families to feed, rent and school fees to pay. Why are we becoming in…

[[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Wakili Sigei) in the Chair]]

Two minutes.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. You know you will be the Senator of Murang’a County. I do not know whether you want to be a Member of Parliament The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) must ensure that the reports we have done agree with them. I will talk to Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Aden Duale, who is doing a good job, to ensure we remove bureaucracies in terms of empallment to allow acces…

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

[(Question proposed)]

I thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I am becoming of age in this House and I could not let a procedural element of this Motion pass. That is why I was a little impatient when you called me. It was not intended to disregard your dignity. That said, the issue of healthcare in this country is wanting. I must say that this is a devolved function which, we must not lose sight of. Anything that affec…

[[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Wakili Sigei) in the Chair]]

The sad part is that it is disregarded in such a callous way. Even when we negotiate in the Committee on Finance and Budget or go to mediation for the funds that should go to counties and successfully bargain for additional allocation for healthcare workers such as clinical officers and community health workers, the agreements are ignored. You will remember that last year, I was sent out of this …

County parades himself with millions of money every weekend, donating to churches, funerals and different activities to the tune of millions of shillings. The clinical officers in our facilities in Migori County have got no personal protective gears, what we call PPEs. The risk that they face is humongous. There is no proper way of dealing with clinical waste in this hospital. A medical practitio…

judice, it makes sense for them to be given the right to pre-authorise medical claims cases. The key issue that the committee dealt with was on the return-to-work formula. On the return-to-work formula, as I indicated, clinical officers had been on strike for a collective duration of 135 days between the year 2024 and January, 2026. That definitely must have put a dent in healthcare provision in …

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thank you for this opportunity.

I, first, commend the committee led by Sen. Mandago for bringing this report. This report is a matter of great national concern because clinical officers are often misunderstood and yet they are mid-level health professionals who, in many cases, are the only people available to attend to patients across the counties. In fact, some of them end up doing minor surgeries. The job of clinical officers…

judice, it makes sense for them to be given the right to pre-authorise medical claims cases. The key issue that the committee dealt with was on the return-to-work formula. On the return-to-work formula, as I indicated, clinical officers had been on strike for a collective duration of 135 days between the year 2024 and January, 2026. That definitely must have put a dent in healthcare provision in …

Thank you, Sen. Kajwang’. Now, honourable Senators, from my dashboard no other Senator is seeking to contribute to this particular Motion. In the absence of the Mover, I hereby direct that reply to this Motion be deferred to tomorrow, so that the Mover of the Motion can reply and we progress to process from there. I will rearrange the Order Paper and direct that Order No.30 be called out.

[(Reply to Motion deferred)]

We have seen situations of a county assembly that has hit its employment ceiling and yet it does not have a single legal counsel, nor does it have a single fiscal analyst. You would wonder why a county assembly, which is supposed to be doing legislation has no legal counsel who is supposed to be scrutinising budgets. They have no fiscal analyst and that is because of that blanket categorisation th…

Sen. Oketch, properly move the Bill.

Thank you, Sen. Kajwang’. Now, honourable Senators, from my dashboard no other Senator is seeking to contribute to this particular Motion. In the absence of the Mover, I hereby direct that reply to this Motion be deferred to tomorrow, so that the Mover of the Motion can reply and we progress to process from there. I will rearrange the Order Paper and direct that Order No.30 be called out.

[(Reply to Motion deferred)]

footprints in places such as Singapore when they are constructing their roads, buildings and any other form of construction in their country. It is time that this Bill, introduced in this House, was adopted to help the National Construction Authority (NCA) rethink the entire regulatory framework in terms of just thinking about climate change response and resilience when we are doing our buildings…

Sen. Oketch, you will hold your thoughts there. When the House resumes, you will have 50 minutes to conclude on moving your Bill.

Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I beg to move- THAT, this Bill be read for the second time. I will continue by bringing the attention of this House to the fact that we all know that the construction sector plays a very serious role in the development of our country. When you think about any infrastructure, there is no infrastructure that can be built without a proper construction mechanism and so is…

footprints in places such as Singapore when they are constructing their roads, buildings and any other form of construction in their country. It is time that this Bill, introduced in this House, was adopted to help the National Construction Authority (NCA) rethink the entire regulatory framework in terms of just thinking about climate change response and resilience when we are doing our buildings…

Sen. Oketch, you will hold your thoughts there. When the House resumes, you will have 50 minutes to conclude on moving your Bill.