Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Order, hon. Senators. I am informed that we now have quorum. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order. Sen. Mundigi, please, take your seat.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(Sen. Munyi Mundigi stood in his place)]

[(Sen. Munyi Mundigi sat in his place)]

Hon. Senators, as you are aware, the Senate has established a tradition of holding a retreat at the beginning of each session to review its performance in the preceding session, and to plan for the forthcoming session. Consistent with this tradition, the Senate has organised an assessment and planning retreat for the Fifth Session, 2026 under the theme “Advancing the Senate's Agenda: Review, Stra…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I stand before you and the House, on behalf of our Chairperson, who is unwell and has a problem with his voice. I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, the Senate, adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the 2026 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) , laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 24th February, 2026, and pursuant to Section 25 (7…

Thank you, Sen. Faki. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will be very brief in the light of the fact of earlier discussions that we had at the Senate Business Committee (SBC) on how we transact business this afternoon, given that we have very serious legislative work this session, and I appreciate that it is not an easy time. This morning, we had the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Plan…

Sen. Korir, take your seat please. Hon. Senators, I will now propose the question. Now, the Floor is open for debate, but going by the sentiments from the Majority Leader, if you look at your Order Paper for the day, it is pretty heavy. We have to go through divisions and, thereafter, we go to the Committee of the Whole. I can see we have three honourable Senators wishing to contribute. Now, if w…

[(Question proposed)]

Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. I will be very brief. The Budget Policy Statement (BPS) is very important for both Houses. Over the years, budgeting looks like an affair of the National Assembly. The fact that we end up doing appropriation also for the counties, I think it is better this time around and, in the future, our Budget Policy Statement and the ideas in there also be considered. I support.

Having consulted the leadership of the House, we have agreed that we will take two Senators across the aisle. Now that Sen. Maanzo has already set the pace, we move to Sen. Boni.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion and I cannot help noting the fact that we have come a long way. I remember when I came to this Parliament in the year 2002, the total revenue collection by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) was Kshs201 billion only. Last year, it had risen to Kshs2.571 trillion.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Every time this document comes before this House, my attention as a Senator is always drawn to what has been provided for in terms of the shareable revenue for county governments.

On a point of order.

What is your point of order? What is so disorderly about Sen. Sifuna?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, under Standing Order No.105, the Senator of Nairobi City is referring to a document called MoU. That document has never been tabled in this House. Is it in order to refer serious agenda such as the BPS on some dog-eared document called MoU between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) , where this Parliament was never informed of?

Sen. Sifuna, proceed with your thoughts.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for continuing to protect me from old men. I have been under siege. The point that I am making is this; we agreed that the government that is led by UDA would at least show this goodwill by providing for Kshs450 billion in terms of shareable revenue for our counties. I am happy to see that the Committee has recommended that the equitable share for Financial Year 2026/202…

Sen. Mandago.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I want to address three things mentioned in the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) . From the Standing Committee on Health, we noted an increase of community health workers to the tune of 12,000 additional Community Health Promoters (CHPs) . In that BPS, there were no accompanying resources for payment of the new CHPs. Resources must also be provided. As we onboa…

I now call upon the mover to reply. Sen. Faki.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank Sen. Cheruiyot for seconding the Motion and everyone who has contributed to it. I request that pursuant to Standing Order No.66 (3) , the putting of the question be deferred to a later time this afternoon.

It is so deferred.

[(Putting of question on the Motion deferred)]

Chairperson, Standing Committee on Finance and Budget.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I stand before the House on behalf of Sen. Ali Roba, who is the Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee, who is unwell. I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, the Senate, adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the 2026 Medium Term Debt Management Strategy, laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 24th February, 2026 and approve…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will be brief on this matter. This is an important paper that the Senate has had an opportunity to put its voice to. Our debt management strategy continues to be an exercise that any administration, for the foreseeable future, will have to grapple with. As Parliament, we must continue to speak on these issues. I have never forgotten how in the last Parliament, when we debated…

Sen. Shakila, kindly be orderly.

[(Sen. Shakila spoke off record)]

[(Question proposed)]

Sen. Omtatah.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you for the opportunity to address this House on the Debt Management Strategy which is also linked to the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) .

Sen. Cherarkey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I will make brief comments. I commend the committee for this report. The issue of public debt management strategy is key. It is a reality that as at 2026, public debt was at Kshs12.3 trillion. It is also a reality that for some time now, Kenya has had a deficit budget, where we are projecting to have a budget of Kshs4.7 trillion. The input or the extrapolation of that …

I will now call upon the Mover to reply.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the seconder and those who have contributed to the Motion, especially Sen. Cherarkey. The views or the issues that you have expressed were within our thinking when we came up with this report. In fact, it has been our insistence that the debt levels are unsustainable. Maybe in the next Budget Policy Statement and Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy, the National …

It is so deferred.

February, 25, 2026 SENATE DEBATES 26

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division on Order No.11 is as follows-

Sen. Osotsi, can you proceed to the Dipatch Box and vote?

Hon. Senators, I will now put the Question, which is- THAT, The Kenya National Council for Population and Development Bill (National Assembly Bills No.72 of 2023) be now read a second time. You may proceed to vote. Sen. Githuku, proceed to the Dispatch Box and cast your vote.

Hon. Senators, I will put the Question, which is- THAT, the Senate adopts the report of the Mediation Committee on the Coffee Bill (Senate Bills No.10 of 2023) , laid on the table of the Senate on Thursday, 4th December, 2025, and that pursuant to Article 113 (2) of the Constitution and Standing Order No.167 (3) of the Senate, approves the mediated version of the Bill. You may proceed to vote.

Hon. Senators, I will put the Question, which is- That, The Electronic Equipment Disposal, Recycling and Reuse Bill (Senate Bills No.5 of 2025) , be now read a second time. You may proceed to vote.

Hon. Senators, the results of the division on Order No.15 are as follows-

Sen. Korir, this is the seventh time I am asking you to take your seat.

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division on Order No.15 are as follows-

Hon. Senators, we are compiling the results and we will get back to you shortly.

Hon. Senators, these are the results on deletion of clauses-

Hon. Senators, these are the results on clauses with amendments-

Hon. Senators, these are the results on deletion clauses.

Sen. Joyce Korir, I am calling you to report.

Mr. Temporary Chairperson, Sir, I beg to move that the Committee do report its consideration of the County Library Services Bill (Senate Bills No.40 of 2024 and its approval thereof with amendments. I request hon. Chute to second.

It is okay. It does not need a seconder.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(The House resumed)]

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

Hon. Senators, the session has resumed. I want to invite the Chairperson to report. Sen. Abdul Haji, you may proceed.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole has considered the County Library Services Bill (Senate Bills No.40 of 2024) and its approval thereof with amendments. I thank you.

Thank you, Sen. Abdul. Now, I want to call the Mover of this Bill to proceed.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee on the said report.

Who is the seconder, Sen. Joyce?

I request Sen. Chute to second.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to second.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put agreed to)]

Madam Temporary Speaker. I beg to move that the County Library Services Bill (Senate Bills No.40 of 2024) be now read a Third Time

Who is the seconder?

Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to request Sen. Kinyua to second.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I second.

Thank you, Sen. Kinyua.

[(Question proposed)]

Hon. Senators, we are now proceeding to division. I request you to log out and log back in readiness to move to the division part. We are voting electronically.

[(Question put and the Senate proceeded to vote)]

[(Voting in progress)]

Sen. Joyce Korir, can you approach the Clerk’s desk for assistance in voting? You are an assisted voter for Bomet County.

[(Sen. Korir approached the Dispatch Desk to vote)]

[(Voting in progress)]