Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, I am informed that we have the quorum, so you may stop the Bell. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order, please.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(Several Senators walked into the Chamber)]

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence in the Speaker’s Gallery this afternoon, of a visiting delegation from Embu County Assembly. The delegation comprises seven Members and four officers of the

Broadcasting and Library Services Committee, who are on a benchmarking visit with their counterparts in the Senate. I request each Member of the delegation to stand when called out to be acknowledged in the Senate tradition.

Asante, Bwana Spika. Nakaribisha Waakilishi wa Wadi na wafanyikazi kutoka Kaunti ya Embu. Wamekuja hapa kujifunza yale ambayo tunafanya katika Bunge la Seneti. Hapa, tunafanya mambo mengi ikiwemo kutunza ugatuzi. Yangu ni kuwambia wafanye kazi vizuri na waangalie jinsi ambavyo pesa zinatumika huko. Tunapotoa mgao wa pesa kwa kaunti, mfanyie wananchi kazi kule mashinani. Kazi nyingine ya Bunge la…

Next Order, Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Wednesday, 22nd November, 2023- Report of the Auditor-General on the financial statements of Nyakach County Level 4 Hospital for the year ended 30th June, 2022.

[(county government of Kisumu)]

[(Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale laid the document on the Table)]

Chairperson, Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, proceed.

Sen. Mbugua, proceed. Sen. Seki, we have long passed that Order. Proceed Sen. Mbugua.

[(Sen. Seki stood up in his place)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the Senator for Kisii County, Sen. Onyonka, I beg to give Notice of the following Motion- THAT, AWARE of the crucial role played by indigenous trees in purification of air and combating of climate change, protection against floods and water pollution, in the field of medicine, nutrition and timber production, among other roles; APPRECIATING that the nati…

Programme, gazetted 13th November, 2023 as a Public Holiday to allow Kenyans to plant trees; CONCERNED that the Government is yet to establish elaborate measures for the growing and protecting of indigenous trees and to involve such crucial players as the county governments, hence impeding the sustainability of the programme; NOW, THEREFORE, the Senate urges the 47 county governments to set asid…

Next Order.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Energy regarding the seizure by Government of a Kshs17 billion consignment of oil at the Port of Mombasa. In the statement, the Committee should-

Sen. Abass, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This Statement is on behalf of my friend, Sen. Abass, who is also my neighbour in my county and here in the Senate. I rise pursuant under Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, regarding the emergency response and interventions in place for the residents of Wajir County, facing se…

Sen. Cherarkey, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights concerning the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) incidents submitted as evidence during the impeachment proceedings of Governor Kawira Mwangaza held on 7th and 8th November, 2023. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Chairperson, Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations, when your matter was called out, you were not present. Since you have explained reasons why, you may now proceed to lay your Paper.

[(Interruption of Statements)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I apologise for coming late. I am always prompt in this House. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, Wednesday, 22nd November, 2023-

Report of the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations on its consideration of the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No.31 of 2023). Thank you.

Sen. Crystal Asige, what is your intervention?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I had a Statement under Standing Order No.53 (1) . It has been given to me here. I wonder if you are also aware of it.

This Statement is not listed for today, Senator. However, I will allow you to proceed to read it. It was not part of the Statements listed on the Order Paper. Proceed, Sen. Crystal Asige.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on the harassment and removal of street vendors with disabilities from the Central Business District (CBD) , by the Nairobi City County Government. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Clerk, read out the next Order.

This Motion is up for Division. However, we do not have the requisite numbers to carry out division. This order is therefore deferred.

Clerk, call the next Order kindly.

This Order is up for Division. Since we do not have the requisite number of delegates to carry out division, this order is also deferred Second Reading

This Order is also deferred due to lack of requisite numbers to carry out a Division.

Next Order. Second Reading

This Order is up for the Mover to reply. However, I am informed that the Mover was suspended from the House this morning. Therefore, this Order is also deferred.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on a point of order.

Sen. Chute, you know exactly how and when you are supposed to rise on a point of order. The circumstances we are now do not warrant a Senator to rise on a point of order. Next Order.

(The Clerk-at-the-Table approached the Speaker) Hon. Senators, Order Nos. 12, 13,14, 15, 16, and 17 are supposed to go to Division in the Committee of the Whole. However, we do not have the requisite numbers to do that. Therefore, those orders are deferred.

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, proceed to move the Bill for Second Reading.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to move that the Food and Feed Safety Control Co-Ordination Bill (National Assembly Bills No.21 of 2023) be now read a Second Time.

Before I move this Bill, as a Whip, seeing how late it is in the evening, I think I owe it to you, Members, who adjourn this House with me week in, week out. I laud the presence of Sen. Thang’wa of Kiambu County, Sen. Tobiko, Sen. Okenyuri, Sen. Mariam Omar from Mandera County, Sen. Mungatana and Sen. Wambua in that particular respect. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if Members will stand behind this…

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. Health is crucial. We need the health system to be perfect because it is not good to our body when we consume things that are unhealthy. The objective of the Bill is detailed. The guiding principle and implementation of the Act should be the protection of human life and health. On this, there is a statement raised by one of our Senators …