Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, confirm whether we have requisite quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. Let us transact business. Clerk, call out Order No.1.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Vice-Chairperson of the Procedure and Rules Committee, I beg to lay the following paper on the Table of the Senate today, Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024 - The Second Report of the Procedure and Rules Committee (PRC) on the review of the Standing Orders of the Senate.

[(Sen. Abass laid the document on the Table)]

Thank you. There is also a Paper to be laid by the Chairperson Standing Committee on Health. Proceed, Vice-Chairperson.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate today, Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024- Report of the Standing Committee on Health concerning the inspection tour of County Referral Hospitals in Kisii, Nyamira and Bomet Counties. Report of the Standing Committee on Health concerning the inspection tour of County Referral Hospitals in Vihiga and Kisumu co…

[(Sen. Mariam Omar laid the documents on the Table)]

Thank you, Senator. Next Order.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT, pursuant to Standing Orders 267, 268 and 270, the Senate approves the Second Report of the Procedure and Rules Committee on the review of the Standing Orders of the Senate, laid on the Table of the Senate, on Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024, and that pursuant to the provisions of Article 124 (1) of the Constitution and Standin…

Thank you. Next order?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52

[(Applause)]

Thank you. Let us go to the statements under Standing Order No.53 (1) . Let us have the Senator for Kisumu County read his two statements first.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I have two statements. I will start with the statement on the state of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Grounds and Victoria Park, and the establishment of other parks in Kisumu County.

Sen. Kibwana, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defense and Foreign Relations regarding the circumstances leading to the fatal altercation involving Master Stephen Mwangi, a form three student at Maji Mazuri Day School and Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officers at Maji Mazuri in Eldama Ravin…

Sen. Betty Montet proceed.

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 operation of the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK) . In the statement, the committee should-

Thank you. The ladies are doing so well this afternoon. Proceed, Sen. Shakila Abdalla.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Roads,

Transportation and Housing concerning the recent flooding and transportation challenges along the Lamu-Garsen Road at Gamba, Tana River County. In the statement, the committee should-

Sen. Cherarkey, proceed. You have three Statements. Kindly read them simultaneously.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I will try to read them all.

Sen. Wafula, proceed.

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 regarding the death of a pedestrian in a hit-and-run accident that occurred near Chabera Shopping Centre in Nyamira County. In the statement, the committee should:

That is the end of statements. We go to the next order.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not wish to contribute to that.

Is the Mover around to reply because there is no other Senator interested to speak on this. We defer that Bill to next week. I defer Order Nos. 10 to 12.

[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted the Chair)]

Sen. Hamida Kibwana.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the Nuts and Oil Crops Development Bill (Senate Bills No. 47 of 2023) be read a Second Time. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is long overdue. This Bill will be significant in the nuts and oil industry. The industry needs a strong and a robust policy. It is time we spoke about coconuts, cashew nuts and other nuts as well. We have had Bills for coffee and t…

We will have farmers establishing Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOS) for growing cashew nuts and nuts. For our youth in the Coast, there has been debate on muguka and such similar issues, but this debate will go on as long as our boys and girls do not have jobs. Once this Bill is enacted, it will create jobs for the youth. The Bill is critical for economic empowerment, particularly in rura…

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I would have wished to second the Bill in Swahili since it is a coastal product. However, since the Mover started in English, I will proceed with the same language. I rise to support the Nuts and Oil Crops Development Bill (Senate Bills No.47of 2023) . It should have come earlier, but we say God's timing is the best. The reason I say it should have even come ea…

I thank my colleague and sister, Sen. Kibwana, for this great Bill. Not only does she come from the coastal regions, but she has a passion for value addition as far as different products are concerned. I have looked at the Bill and noted that it has also talked about the Nuts and Oil Development Board. It is a very key factor. These boards assist in making the structure and policies that are not …

[[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) left the Chair]]

because it eases up their export procedures and processes. Farmers can also have a direct market of their products in future as long as the output is of an international standard. Job creation is a very key aspect. However, in my research, I have also noted that we only have two companies in the coastal region that are doing the oil and nuts business. That is the East African Tall Coconut and the…

Hon. Senators, I will allow debate on this. The first Senator will be Sen. Faki.

Asante, Bw. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa fursa hii kuchangia Mswada wa mazao ya nuts and oil crops. Mimea ya mafuta kama vile korosho, nazi, macadamia na mingine hupandwa kwa nia ya kuzalisha mafuta.

Nampongeza Sen. Kibwana kwa kuweza kuudhamini Mswada huu kwa sababu utasaidia pakubwa kuinua mazao haya ya nazi pamoja na korosho katika kaunti za pwani ambapo mazao haya yanakuzwa kwa wingi. Kwa mfano, mazao ya nazi na korosho yanafanya vizuri sana katika kaunti za Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River na Lamu. Ukosefu wa sheria kama hii kwa miaka mingi imefanya mazao haya yatupiliwe mbali na wanan…

[(Loud consultations)]

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I beg to move the following Motion- THAT the Standing Committee adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the status of implementation of the projects funded by the Conditional Grant for the construction of County Headquarters laid on the Table of the Senate on Thursday , 28th March, 2024. This is a process that started during the…

They had something to start with. However, there were five counties that did not have anything to use as offices. In that regard, the State Department for Public Works at that time was also involved in this process. The counties that were identified to have need for headquarters were five; Lamu, Nyandarua, Isiolo, Tharaka-Nithi and Tana River. These counties at the advent of devolution did not in…

remaining balances to completion, despite the challenges of inflation in order to have a win-win situation. This is to avoid the projects lagging behind as the projects would not benefit anyone. The other issue on the intergovernmental agreements’ framework entered into by beneficiary counties and the State Department of Public Works had posed a challenge in effective implementation of the projec…

Sen. Faki, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I wish to second the report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget of the Senate regarding the adoption of the report of the Status of Implementation of Projects Funded by the Conditional Grant for Construction of the County Headquarters in Nyandarua, Isiolo, Tharaka-Nithi, Lamu and Tana River counties. The committee held extensive negotiations with…

[(Question proposed)]

At this point, Senators can make their contribution to the---

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

What is your point of order, Sen. Kibwana?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise under Standing Order No. 41. There is no quorum, so we need to get quorum.

Clerk, can you confirm? Serjeant-at-Arms, please ring the Bell for ten minutes.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]