Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 2 August 2023
Senators questioned the Cabinet Secretary on water and irrigation initiatives, including plans to farm 56,000 acres around Lake Baringo and the prioritisation of dams in Meru and Tharaka. The discussion highlighted budget shortfalls, the need for rehabilitation of existing treatment plants, and proposals for pipelines and public‑private partnerships to improve water supply in arid regions. The Senate debated the backlog of sawmill licences tied to the 2018 forest moratorium, stressing that only previously engaged operators should be allowed to harvest. Attention then shifted to the Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Ministry, where the Cabinet Secretary explained delays in the Mutithi Ward canal works, funding gaps and budget constraints, and was asked about plans to use Lake Baringo for irrigation in Baringo County. The tone was largely procedural with both constructive updates and criticism over delays and irregularities. Senators discussed the urgent need to address river pollution and waste management, criticizing past ad‑hoc actions while outlining forthcoming amendments to the National Environment Management Act and a value‑chain‑based waste strategy. The Cabinet Secretary highlighted the polluter‑pay principle, plans for sustainable waste‑to‑energy projects such as at Dandora, and the broader ecosystem restoration agenda including massive tree‑planting.
Clerk, do we have quorum? We have quorum. Proceed and read the first Order. Clerk, you need to confirm whether the Cabinet Secretaries listed for purposes of responding to Questions are present, so that we can start the Session of the day.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
Hon. Senators, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry is already in the House. Therefore, we will start with Question No.033. It is a question that was asked by Sen. (Dr.) Murango. I am informed that Sen. Methu is holding brief for Sen. (Dr.) Murango. Kindly usher in the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, so that we can st…
Hon. Senators, I know I had made this Communication before, but I am going to make it once more for purposes of bringing clarity in this Session. The Senator whose Question is the subject of the Cabinet Secretary’s presence here will be asked. Thereafter, the Senator whose Question is the subject of the response will have an opportunity to ask two supplementary questions. That Senator may elect …
Sen. Cheptumo, proceed.
The State has made it worse by not implementing Article 56 of the Constitution. Allow me to refer to that particular Article of the Constitution so that the House appreciates what I am saying. Article 56 of the Constitution states – ‘The State shall put in place affirmative action programmes designed to ensure that minorities and marginalised groups-
[[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) left the Chair]]
[[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Abdul Haji) in the Chair]]
The State has made it worse by not implementing Article 56 of the Constitution. Allow me to refer to that particular Article of the Constitution so that the House appreciates what I am saying. Article 56 of the Constitution states – ‘The State shall put in place affirmative action programmes designed to ensure that minorities and marginalised groups-
gatuzi ya Tana River, utakuta kabila hilo ni ndogo. Lakini hao ni Wakenya kama Wakenya wa huku. Tunataka tuwe na moyo wa kubadilisha hali ilivyo sasa. Hoja hii ambayo iko mbele yetu, tunataka kuzungumzia jambo hili. Nyumba ambayo mambo yanajadiliwa na kupangwa kama wazee, ni hapa. Tunatuma ujumbe kwa magavana wote ya kwamba waiangalie Kenya kama nchi yao. Usitambue watu wale ambao walikupigia kur…
Tusiseme Kenya ni moja lakini wengine wanaumia. Tunataka Kenya iwe moja kwa ukweli na haki. Naomba Masenata wote ambao watazungumza waunge mkono Hoja hii. Kwa hayo mengi na machache, ninaunga mkono Hoja hii. Asante, Bw. Spika wa Muda.
gatuzi ya Tana River, utakuta kabila hilo ni ndogo. Lakini hao ni Wakenya kama Wakenya wa huku. Tunataka tuwe na moyo wa kubadilisha hali ilivyo sasa. Hoja hii ambayo iko mbele yetu, tunataka kuzungumzia jambo hili. Nyumba ambayo mambo yanajadiliwa na kupangwa kama wazee, ni hapa. Tunatuma ujumbe kwa magavana wote ya kwamba waiangalie Kenya kama nchi yao. Usitambue watu wale ambao walikupigia kur…
Tusiseme Kenya ni moja lakini wengine wanaumia. Tunataka Kenya iwe moja kwa ukweli na haki. Naomba Masenata wote ambao watazungumza waunge mkono Hoja hii. Kwa hayo mengi na machache, ninaunga mkono Hoja hii. Asante, Bw. Spika wa Muda.
Hon. Senators, this Motion was moved in an amended form. Therefore, I will propose the question as amended. I now invite Senators to make contributions. Proceed, Sen. Mumma.
[(Question proposed)]
Integration sometimes can be exclusionary. We must respect the identity of communities that want to be identified even if they are few. We should be talking about inclusion and not assimilation. As we use “mainstreaming and integration”, we need to do so in a careful manner such that it will not end up obliterating communities from their own identities. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with those few…
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, even as we plan to implement this Motion, the Mover should require that the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), which has a specific mandate in relation to the minority, brings a policy. I support because equality and equalisation have sometimes been narrowed to the issue of women, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and the youth. We must find a policy that s…
Integration sometimes can be exclusionary. We must respect the identity of communities that want to be identified even if they are few. We should be talking about inclusion and not assimilation. As we use “mainstreaming and integration”, we need to do so in a careful manner such that it will not end up obliterating communities from their own identities. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with those few…
Proceed, Sen. Wamatinga.
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also rise to support the Motion by the Senator for Baringo County, Sen. Cheptumo. Indeed, it is time that we, as Kenyans, aligned ourselves knowing that as a nation, our diversity does not matter because it is being used to oppress others. We need to embrace our diversity and know that in it we can draw a lot of strength. I have listened to Sen. Mungatana seconding …
regardless of where we come from. Whether marginalised, disabled or from an ethnic minority, you must have equal opportunity. It is high time that we, as legislators, put the legal framework in place to ensure that every child who goes to school in this country, regardless of whether their father is known or unknown, has an equal opportunity. We can never do that if we have a million and one exam…
Sen. Wamatinga, you will have 11 more minutes to continue contributing when the Motion appears on the Order Paper.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.00 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until today, Wednesday, 2nd August, 2023, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.00 p.m.