Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Senators condemned the use of live ammunition against demonstrators and the breach of Parliament’s security, demanding accountability for the police actions. They also debated the Senate’s authority to review the Finance Bill, especially provisions affecting county governments. The speakers called for unity, restraint and a stronger stance against impunity and corruption. Senator Crystal Asige denounced the government's handling of recent youth protests, accusing police of brutality and the Finance Bill of being opaque and harmful to citizens. She, alongside the Speaker, demanded a presidential apology, urgent parliamentary inquiries into the unrest, and urged the Senate to postpone recess until these issues are addressed. The debate centered on youth grievances, the contentious Finance Bill, and calls for greater government accountability. A senator delivered an impassioned appeal urging President Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga to provide decisive leadership, warning that Kenya could face unrest or revolution if grievances are ignored. The remainder of the sitting focused on procedural matters, including roll‑call voting, door security, and compliance with standing orders for virtual participation. The debate combined strong criticism of the executive with routine Senate business.
Clerk, do we have a quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly, ring the quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Clerk, we have quorum now. You may proceed to call the first Order.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Sen. Chute, have your seat.
[(Sen. Madzayo walked into the Chamber)]
The Senate Minority Leader, kindly take your seat, I need to pass a communication. Hon. Senators, I have a Communication to make relating on the resumption of regular sittings of the Senate for Part Three of the Third Session and the unprecedented attack on Parliament on Tuesday, 25th of June, 2024. As you may recall, on Tuesday, 25th of June, 2024, the Parliament of Kenya faced an unprecedented…
Hon. Senators, I wish to report to the Senate that pursuant to Standing Order No.46 (3) , I received the following Message from the Speaker
of the National Assembly regarding the passage, by the National Assembly, of the Mediated Version of the Division of Revenue Bill, (National Assembly Bills No. 14 of 2024) - The Message, dated 10th of June, 2024, was received in the office of the Clerk of the Senate on Wednesday, 19th June, 2024, while the Senate was on recess. Pursuant to Standing Order No. 46(5), I now report the message- Purs…
Whereas the Equalization Fund Appropriation Bill (No.2) Senate Bills No.30 of 2023 was passed by the Senate on Wednesday, 21st February, 2024 with amendments and referred to the National Assembly for consideration; And whereas the National Assembly considered and passed the said Bill on Thursday, 13th June, 2024 with further amendments in the form attached hereto; Now therefore, in accordance wi…
Bills No.24 of 2023) be listed for First Reading in the Order Paper, today, Wednesday, 26th June 2024. Next Order.
Asante, Bw. Spika. Tunaelewa
Very well, Hon. Senators, we shall rise to observe a minute of silence before we proceed with business. You may take your seats. Next Order.
[(Hon. Senators rose and observed a moment of silence)]
Proceed, Majority Leader.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of Senate, today, Wednesday, 26th June, 2024-
Hon. Senators, before we proceed to the next Order, I have a further Message to pass.
Proceed, Majority Leader.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion- Notwithstanding the resolution of the Senate made on the 15th February, 2024, regarding the approval of the Calendar of the Senate for the Third Session and pursuant to Standing Order No.32 (4) ; the Senate resolves to alter its calendar to proceed on recess at the rise of the Senate on Wednesday, 26th 2024, morning sitting and resum…
Senate Majority Leader, proceed to give Notice of the Motion.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give Notice of the following Motion, which is approval of the sittings of the Senate to be held in Busia County- THAT, AWARE that the Senate of Kenya is established under Article 93 of the Constitution and its main role, as set out in Article 96 is to represent, serve and protect the interests of counties and their governments; FURTHER AWARE of the critical role that t…
Let us go to the next Order, which is Order No.8. We need to dispense of with this because the secretariat needs to start preparations. If we defer this until we resume, there will be no time to prepare to go to Busia. It is something that should take us under five minutes.
[(Sen. Olekina spoke off record)]
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, Sir. When we met as the Senate Business Committee (SBC) , the main business of this session today was to adjourn the sitting because of what happened. I am a bit perplexed to see that other Motions are being introduced, yet we discussed the seriousness of matters that happened yesterday. The
history of this country was changed forever. I beseech you, because these Members are sitting here waiting for the House to be adjourned once the Motion has been passed, let us not try to introduce other matters. The issue of the sittings in Busia can be dealt with another time. We do not need to discuss it now. With all due respect to the secretariat, I request that we focus on what brought us h…
Sen. Olekina, you are a Member of the SBC. If you look at the agenda that we prosecuted at the SBC, it included adoption of the Supplementary Order Paper. If you look at the Supplementary Order Paper that was adopted by the SBC, it is exactly what we are prosecuting in plenary here. It included this Motion. Hon. Senators, if you look at the alteration of the calendar, if we resolve---
[(Sen. Madzayo spoke off record)]
Senate Minority Leader, the Chair is speaking. If you look at the proposed alteration of the Senate Calendar, we will resume in July, but we are supposed to go to Busia in September. The secretariat needs to prepare for the Senate to proceed for Senate Mashinani in Busia. The Motion needs not to take more than two minutes. The time we are wasting arguing, we could have dispensed with this Motion.…
[(Sen. Madzayo spoke off record)]
Sen. Madzayo, that is exactly what
Ikiwa tutaanza kushughulikia mambo mengine, tutaharibu muda wa huu mjadala.
Sen. Madzayo, just take your seat. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo) :
Tafadhali, Bw. Spika, nakuomba.
Bw. Spika, nakubaliana nawe
When we met as the SBC, and minutes are there, one of the agendas was to adopt the Supplementary Order Paper, which was adopted by Members of the SBC, including you. The Supplementary Order Paper is the one that is before the Plenary now, which includes that Motion.This is a Motion that should take us two minutes. It is going to affect you when you come back. The secretariat needs to adequately pr…
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the following Motion- THAT, notwithstanding the resolution of the Senate made on 15th February, 2024, regarding the approval of the Calendar of the Senate for the Third Session, and pursuant to Standing Order No.32 (4) , the Senate resolves to alter its calendar to proceed on recess at the rise of the Senate on Wednesday, 26th June 2024 (Morning Sitting) and resume…
Are you asking me to rearrange the sequence of the Order Paper? The Senate Minority Leader (
With those very many remarks, I request him to second.
Okay. Clerk, proceed to call Order No.9.
NOES: Sen. Beth Syengo, Sen. Chute, Sen. Crystal Asige, Sen. Faki, Sen. Githuku, Sen. Kavindu Muthama, Sen. Kibwana, Sen. Lemaltian, Sen. Kajwang’ M., Sen. Madzayo, Sen. Methu, Sen. Montet Betty, Sen. Mumma, Sen. Mwaruma, Sen. Omogeni, Sen. Osotsi, Sen. Tobiko, Sen. Wafula, and
Sen. Beth Syengo.
Hon. Senators, the results on the Motion are as follows:
Hon. Senators, the time being 32 minutes past 1.00