Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we do have quorum now. Therefore, we will proceed with the afternoon business. Clerk, you may proceed to call the First Order.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

The Message, dated Thursday, 24th October, 2024, was received in the office of the Clerk of the Senate on Tuesday, 29th October, 2024. Pursuant to Standing Order No.46(4). I now report the Message: Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No.41(1) and 148(b) of the National Assembly Standing Orders, I hereby convey the following Message from the National Assembly- “WHEREAS” on Wednesday, 23r…

The Vice-Chairperson Mediation Committee to lay the paper.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Chairperson of the Mediation Committee, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, 30th October, 2024. Report of the Mediation Committee on the National Rating Bill (National Assembly Bills No.55 of 2022) . I thank you.

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

Next Order. The Vice-Chairperson Mediation Committee to give their notice.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the Chairperson of the Mediation Committee, I beg to give Notice of the following Motion – THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Mediation Committee on the National Rating Bill (National Assembly Bills No.55 of 2022) , laid on the Table of the Senate on Wednesday, 30th October, 2024, and further that pursuant to Article 113 (2) of the Constitution and Standing O…

Next Order. Proceed, the Senator for Meru County, Hon. Kathuri Murungi.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, regarding concerns raised by the Kenyan youth about internship opportunities offered by the Public Service Commission (PSC) . In the Statement, the Committee should-

Sen. Kisang.

Thank you, Mr. 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 efforts to combat the proliferation of counterfeit phones and digital products in Kenya. In the Statement, the Committee should-

Proceed, Sen. Beth Syengo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for accepting that I request for a statement on behalf of Sen. Beth Syengo, MP. This is a request for a statement on the security of female taxi drivers following the murder of Ms. Victoria Mumbua. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations concernin…

The Hon. Senator for Kajiado County, Sen. Seki. That Statement is dropped.

[(Statement dropped)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare regarding the current regulations governing the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and their alignment with the Constitution of Kenya. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is public knowledge that sports is a devolved function and generally acknowledged that football is no longe…

Proceed, Sen. Chute.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have three statements. Let me start with Statement number one. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism regarding the importation of rice by the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) . In the Statement, the Committee should-

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate this. I want to request a statement on the killing of Mr. Edward Kairo by an officer of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) of the Administration Police Service at Ilmolelian sub-location in Narok County. Mr. Speaker, Sir, pursuant to Standing Order No.53, I rise to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations r…

In the Statement, the Committee should:

Sen. Eddy, what is your point of order?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, as you have seen the concern of people in this House with regard to a number of killings that have been going on in the country, especially of women, I wish to rise on under Standing Order No.37 and beg to give a Notice of the following Motion- THAT pursuant to Standing Order No.37, the Senate do now adjourn to discuss a definite matter of urgent national importance, namely, the…

[(All Senators rose in their places)]

Hon. Senators, I do ascertain the requisite threshold has been met. Therefore, the House will adjourn at 5.30 p.m.to discuss this Motion. Now, before I call the next order, allow me to make the following Communication.

In our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them. On behalf of the Senate and my own behalf, I wish them a fruitful visit. I will allow the Senate Minority Leader and the Senate Majority Leader, both speaking under one minute, to extend words of welcome. Senate Minority Leader, you can pass it to a former student if you are not prepared to…

Starehe and Kianda are big schools in Nairobi City County. I would like to welcome them to Senate. However, we have the distinguished Senator for Nairobi, my brother, Sen. Sifuna. I would like to give this opportunity to Sen. Sifuna to do the welcoming remarks.

The Senate Majority Leader and then I will give the Senator for Nairobi his time to extend words of welcome. You need not donate any time to him.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of my colleagues in this House, I join you in welcoming these students from Starehe and Kianda Schools to the Senate, who I believe are on a study tour. They have found us in the midst of business today discussing statements and should they hang around a little bit longer, they will see us transact other business, either business at the Committee of the Whole or even di…

Senator for Nairobi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to confirm that these two top schools in Nairobi are the first schools to be welcomed to this Chamber by three Senators in a row. It is in recognition to their outstanding performance. Kianda and Starehe do not need introduction to anybody in this country; they are top institutions. We welcome all of you to this Chamber to see for yourselves what we do here and…

[(Laughter)]

Next order! The Senate Majority Leader?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise to move the following Motion: THAT, AWARE that on the 11th of July 2024, pursuant to Article 126 (1) of the Constitution, the Senate resolved to hold its Plenary and Committee sittings in Busia County from the 23rd to the 27th of September 2024; FURTHER AWARE THAT on the 18th of September, 2024 the Senate resolved to alter the dates of the Senate Mashinani in Busia County…

other eight East African countries. Those of us who participate in these games over the years, we know how kind the rest of the Parliaments of East Africa have been to us to ensure that we have been comfortable during our stay in their countries. It will be completely gross and wrong for us if we give them anything less, especially knowing that Kenya is a superpower of the region. That affair wil…

Put the Question.

Very well. Thank you. I will now proceed to put the question. Next Order. Hon. Senators, for the convenience of the House, pursuant to Standing Order No.45 (2) , I will move to rearrange the sequence of today's Order Paper. We will move to Order No.10 then to Order No.37, and thereafter, resume normal flow of today's Order Paper. Clerk, proceed to call that Order. Sen. Eddy Oketch?

[(Question put and agreed to)]

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

Put the Question.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity. From the onset, I rise to support this amazing Bill by the wonderful Senator for Meru. I am in the Finance and Budget Committee and have had the opportunity to interrogate this Bill many times. We had a lot of stakeholder engagements together with the Senator for Meru County on this particular Bill. We cannot overemphasize the issue of…