Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 22 May 2024
Senators from Upper and North Eastern Kenya highlighted severe livestock losses from drought, the burden of AFC loan repayments, and alleged exploitation by middlemen, urging the government for compensation and extended repayment periods. The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture responded by detailing donor‑funded projects (KeLCoP, FSRP, DRPNK), ongoing engagements with the World Bank and counties, and infrastructure initiatives such as the Isiolo abattoir and feedlots to improve market access and value for livestock farmers. Senators highlighted the unresolved compensation for farmers affected by the Lower Kuja Irrigation Development Project and urged the Cabinet Secretary to intervene. The debate also covered steps to meet EU standards for meat exports, including disease control and market access, and touched on agricultural financing and procedural matters in the Senate. Senators raised concerns that coffee farmers have not received payments for their harvests despite sales, and highlighted recurring coffee diseases affecting Makueni counties. They also flagged allegations of coffee smuggling from Bungoma to neighboring Uganda and questioned the effectiveness of current payment and disease‑control mechanisms. The Minister of Agriculture responded with commitments to coordinate with counties, improve crop protection, and expedite farmer payments.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, I confirm that we now have quorum. Let us transact some business. Dismantle that kamukunji with immediate effect. Clerk, call out the first Order.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(The Senators consulted loudly)]
Hon. Senators, today, Wednesday morning, we were expecting three Cabinet Secretaries to appear in the Senate. We have since received communication from the Cabinet Secretaries for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry and National Treasury and Economic Planning that they are out of the country. The Senate Business Committee (SBC) , in its consideration, accepted those two apologies.
So, this morning, we are again expecting the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development. I am told he is around. He can be ushered in for his Questions. (The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. We hear your communication about the absence of the Cabinet Secretaries. I am especially interested in the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning. I had been asked by Sen. Mumma to stand in for her, but I hear that the SBC has okayed the absence of the Cabinet Secretary. That means the absence was communicated yesterday when the SBC was s…
Yes. The two Cabinet Secretaries for Environment Climate Change and Forestry; National Treasury and Economic Planning and another one have been earmarked to appear again next week on Wednesday. The SBC felt that the reasons were genuine enough. Is the Cabinet Secretary Agriculture and Livestock Development around? Hon. Senators, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Hon…
Sen. William Cheptumo is the Mover of this Motion. He is not there, so, the Motion is deferred. Next order.
hope that as she goes back, she will include the terrorism prevention and compensation fund. Madam Temporary Speaker, we also want the protection of UN and the Red Cross staff because they provide humanitarian assistance in Eastern Congo, Kakuma, Uganda and all over. I propose that as the Senator goes back, we should have a list of all prescribed and militias that continue to destabilize the coun…
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. This is the report of the Parliament of Kenya delegation to the 13th plenary assembly of the Forum of Parliaments of the member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) , held in Juba, South Sudan from 28th March to 1st April, 2023. Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to Move- THAT, the Senate notes Report of the Parliament of Keny…
Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.
out because we seem to be well versed and passionate with what is happening within our continent. Being a leading democracy in Africa I can proudly say that we have been leading the negotiation very well. Even my colleague Sen. Cherarkey mentioned that we have our forces in the DRC. It is an issue of dialogue when we bring Rwanda, DRC and CAR to the table and make them converse. I always believe …
Thank you, Sen. Hezena. Next order.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
My apologies, Madam Temporary Speaker. Maybe they used gospel songs and church keshas. However, I know a number of our mothers and sisters were wooed by Rhumba songs by Kanda Bongoman, Tabu Ley, Koffi Olomide and other
musicians. The DRC is known for music as opposed to minerals and this should not be the case. On a lighter touch, I also know people there have bleached themselves. I was watching another Minister who 10 years ago was dark like me and yet they say the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice. However, he has transformed himself. While we focus on bringing peace to DRC, we hope that those minerals …
hope that as she goes back, she will include the terrorism prevention and compensation fund. Madam Temporary Speaker, we also want the protection of UN and the Red Cross staff because they provide humanitarian assistance in Eastern Congo, Kakuma, Uganda and all over. I propose that as the Senator goes back, we should have a list of all prescribed and militias that continue to destabilize the coun…
Thank you, Sen. Cherarkey for those kind words to Sen. Lemaletian and I. I do not see any request for contribution to the debate, but I will call Sen. Lemaletian to reply.
[(Question proposed)]
Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I appreciate my colleague Sen. Cherarkey for seconding it very profoundly and passionately. I had no idea that he was well informed on these matters. I also inform him that there is another subsequent report that is coming on the issue of the rape of women. We have been doing a lot as a committee in terms of bringing these countries together. There was a time I…
out because we seem to be well versed and passionate with what is happening within our continent. Being a leading democracy in Africa I can proudly say that we have been leading the negotiation very well. Even my colleague Sen. Cherarkey mentioned that we have our forces in the DRC. It is an issue of dialogue when we bring Rwanda, DRC and CAR to the table and make them converse. I always believe …
Thank you, Sen. Hezena. Next order.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Hon. Senators, there being no other business on the Order Paper, the Senate stands adjourned until later today Wednesday, 22nd May, 2024 at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 12.57 p.m.