Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Sen. Murkomen reflected on his ten‑year tenure in the Senate, highlighting his roles in devolution, county public accounts, and legislative reforms while defending the Senate's constitutional mandate. He criticized the National Assembly and occasional executive interference, and announced his resignation, expressing both pride in achievements and regret for unfinished work. The session began with Sen. Joe Nyutu congratulating Sen. Murkomen on his new appointment and highlighting the need to complete the Kenol‑Marua road, followed by Sen. Murkomen’s extensive thank‑you remarks to colleagues, staff and his family as he prepares to leave the Senate. Subsequent senators used the floor to request statements from standing committees on data‑storage localisation and on compensation for compulsory land acquisition linked to halted coal‑power projects in Lamu, while a brief interjection raised concerns about hospital parking fees. Senators used the afternoon sitting to congratulate Kipchumba Murkomen on his appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, praising his past contributions and urging swift, non‑political action on road projects. They highlighted specific infrastructure gaps in counties such as Tana River and Kitui, and referenced the shortcomings of the previous administration while expressing confidence in the new leadership.
Hon. Senators, I have confirmed that we have quorum. So, let us transact business.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate, today, 26th October, 2022: Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statement of Kajiado County Executive Staff Car Loan & Mortgage Scheme Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2021. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statement of County Assembly of Kajiado Car Loan & Mortgage Fund for the year …
Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statement of Oloolaiser Water & Sewerage Company Ltd for the year ended 30th June, 2021. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statement of Elgeyo-Marakwet County Executive Car and Mortgage Revolving Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2021. Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statement of Elgeyo-Marakwet Education Fund - Executiv…
Hon. Senators, we have two Notices of Motions. Let us start with the one by Sen. M. Kajwang’.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give Notice of the following Motion on Integrating Climate Education into the National Education Curriculum- AWARE THAT, climate change is a complex social and scientific issue which is characterized by uncertain and context specific knowledge, demanding that educators engage in inquiry and co- learning with students, while noting the lack of time and curriculum opportu…
every Kenyan, which includes the right to have the environment protected for the benefit of the present and future generations; NOTING THAT, climate change is a global nightmare with consequences that are already quite visible and should be a priority for the national education curriculum, in accordance to Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, which espouses the enhancement of climate change educatio…
Thank you. Let us move to the next Notice of Motion by Sen. Mungatana.
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to give Notice of the following Motion on Effects of Upstream Activities of River Tana to the Residents of Tana Delta- AWARE THAT, water is a fundamental resource to life, livelihood, food security and sustainable development and an economic good, which is critical for the sustainable development of the country; FURTHER AWARE THAT, the River Tana plays an…
Garissa and Tana River Counties, whose main economic activities are livestock keeping, farming and fishing; RECOGNIZING THAT, Article 43 (1) (d) of the Constitution, provides that every Kenyan has the right to clean and safe water in adequate quantities; NOTING THAT, the residents of Tana River County have perennially suffered from acute effects of flooding and inadequate supply of water to its re…
Thank you, Sen. Mungatana. Next Order.
Let us get Statements under Standing Order No. 52 (1) . Senator for Migori County, Sen. Oketch Gicheru, proceed. Are you ready?
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
Yes, Senator for Nairobi City County.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.51. There was a question yesterday and I want you to make a direction on this. The Standing Order speaks of Statements Hour. I have spoken to many of my colleagues, especially on the Minority side, who think that the Statements Hour is no longer an hour. It is taking too long and we have to wait to prosecute the other matters down the …
Senator for Nairobi City County, Sen. Sifuna, what is the Chair supposed to do after the hour, before we get to the next Order, when he is presiding and he has been given 20 Statements? Is he supposed to stop the Statements after one hour? The Speaker allowed for the Statements. However, there are a lot of interjections and requests to contribute to the Statements. Yesterday, I tried to limit the…
[(Sen. Cherarkey spoke off record)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, protect me from the heckling by Sen. Cherarkey. He is my friend and likes people from Sondu.
Proceed Senator, you have the Floor.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement on a matter of general topical concern, namely: concern over the predatory asset-based lending by micro-finance lending companies in Kenya. Kenya has experienced an exponential growth of approximately 80 per cent in the number of micro-lending companies for the period 2016 to 2022. This growth has been as a r…
To make the situation worse, micro lending companies offering unsecured loans provide small loans, which are not significant enough to finance or establish a relatively good business venture. This has made the average Kenyan to opt for asset-based loans, with loans backed by collateral of motorcycles and motor vehicles being the most common and attractive form of borrowing in our markets today. M…
Okay. The Statement from Sen. Oketch Gicheru stands committed to the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget.
[(The Statement was committed to the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget)]
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on a point of order
Sen. Cherarkey, what is out of order?
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to congratulate the Senator for Migori, Sen. Oketch Gicheru. He is learning from me fast, which is a good thing. As the Government seek ways to address the issue of the digital credit providers, I agree with his Statement. This is because where we come from, most of the families have been trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty. Sometimes, the digital credit p…
use the APs to seize property. I hope the incoming Cabinet Secretary (CS) will look into this. I support.
Senators, before we go the Statements under Standing Order No.53 (1) , let us have the personal Statement from Sen. Murkomen, the former Senate Majority Leader and now a Cabinet Secretary. Waziri karibu.
[(Laughter)]
Thank you, Sen. Orwoba. Sen. Kibwana, proceed.
Sen. Orwoba, you have the Floor.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Information, Communication and Technology, regarding the localization of data storage. In the Statement, the Committee should-
[[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Wakili Sigei) in the Chair]]
Thank you, Sen. Orwoba. Sen. Kibwana, proceed.
Sen. Sifuna, sorry to cut you short, but kindly approach the Chair for the proper and approved Statement. You may now proceed, Senator.
[(Sen. Sifuna approached the Chair)]
Thank you. Proceed with your Statement, Senator for Nairobi City County, Sen. Sifuna.
Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order 53 (1) to request a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources, regarding the issue of compulsory acquisition of land, to land owners in Lamu County over the terminated coal and power projects. Over 4,000 acres of land was set aside for two power generating projects in Kwasasi and Bahari…
Sen. Sifuna, sorry to cut you short, but kindly approach the Chair for the proper and approved Statement. You may now proceed, Senator.
[(Sen. Sifuna approached the Chair)]
Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources, regarding the fate of the 600 owners of compulsorily acquired land, which was to pave way for the coal and power projects in Kwasasi and Baharini villages in Lamu County. In the Statement, the Committee should-
Thank you. Next is Sen. Faki. He is not in the House. His Statement is deferred.
Next Order.
Hon. Senators, there being no other Business on the Order Paper, the Senate stands adjourned until Thursday, 27th October, 2022, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 6.07 p.m.