Senate · Afternoon Sitting
Wednesday, 4 December 2024
Senators raised concerns over alleged mismanagement at the University of Nairobi, urging the Committee on Education to investigate before the institution deteriorates further. The debate also touched on broader issues such as political accountability, the role of experts and social media, and the emergence of new presidential contenders, while criticizing fake religious institutions. The Senate afternoon sitting opened with quorum confirmation and the laying of the County Public Accounts Committee reports covering numerous county assemblies and executives, followed by a motion to adopt those reports. Senator Tabitha Mutinda then delivered a statement on the 16‑day global campaign against gender‑based violence, highlighting alarming Kenyan statistics and calling for urgent action. The session combined routine procedural business with a substantive focus on combating GBV. The Senate conducted a series of procedural votes on the Houses of Parliament Bicameral Relations Bill (National Assembly Bills No.44 of 2023), including divisions by county delegations and a motion to adopt the Committee of the Whole’s report with amendments. The session was largely administrative, featuring electronic voting, calls for senators to approach the chair, and the final endorsement of the committee’s recommendations.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, Kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(Several Senators walked into the chamber)]
Order, hon. Senators. I am informed we do have quorum now. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale and company, kindly take your seats.
[(Several Senators took their seats)]
Vice Chairperson, you may proceed to lay the Papers on behalf of the Chairperson of the County Public Accounts Committee.
Report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the reports of the Auditor-General on the financial statement of the following County Assemblies: Siaya, Nandi, Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Elgeyo, Marakwet, Embu, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Laikipia, Meru, Nakuru, Tana River and Nyeri. For the financial year 2019-2020, Tharaka Nithi for the financial years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, a…
Next Order. We will proceed to Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) . Sen. Hamida Kibwana, proceed. Senator for Nandi, I will indulge you. Before we proceed with the Statements, you may have to give notice on the reports that you have just laid on the Table.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give Notice of the following Motion- THAT the Senate adopts the report of the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on the reports of the Auditor-General on the financial statements of the following county assemblies: Siaya, Nandi, Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Elgeyo, Marakwet, Embu, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Laikipia, Meru, Nakuru, Tana River, and Nyeri for th…
financial statements of the following county executives:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. It is an honour because even in communication, your tone and your words are more than congratulations. So let me ride on what you have just said and tell the young Kenyans that they are most welcome to this Senate. I wish them well. One of these days, one of them will run to be Senator. I advise you not to run in Nairobi County because my brother's son is the Senator …
Ladies and gentlemen, you are most welcome.
Sen. Hamida Kibwana, proceed. Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, what say you?
Sen. Kibwana requested that I take care of her statements. She might be running late.
You may proceed, please.
On behalf of Sen. Hamida Kibwana, I stand to make a Statement on the global observation of the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) . Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise Pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement on a matter of general topical concern, namely the global observations of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, which commenced on the 25th Novembe…
[(Loud Consultations)]
Hon. Senators, may Sen. Tabitha Mutinda be heard in silence, please. Sen. Tabitha Mutinda: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Over 38 per cent of women aged between 15 years to 49 years reported experiencing physical and sexual violence in their lifetime. Alarmingly, we have witnessed an upsurge in femicide cases, with the National Crime Research Centre reporting a 35 per cent increase in femicide cas…
young women. The socio-economic and emotional toll of GBV, including TFGBV, cannot be overstated. Survivors do face profound physical and psychological trauma, and the violence exacerbates gender inequalities in education, employment, and public participation. GBV also affects Kenya's economic growth, and the National Gender and Equality Commission estimates that GBV costs the economy billions a…
Proceed and conclude that Statement.
Proceed and conclude that Statement.
UNITAD has supported systems that improve oxygen delivery, which is critical for maternal health and paediatric emergencies. Health unity, UNITAD has consistently prioritised equitable access to health tools, benefiting millions of Kenyans, particularly women and children. The visit reinforced the importance of health partnerships and the role of parliamentarians in driving change. It is impera…
UNITAD has supported systems that improve oxygen delivery, which is critical for maternal health and paediatric emergencies. Health unity, UNITAD has consistently prioritised equitable access to health tools, benefiting millions of Kenyans, particularly women and children. The visit reinforced the importance of health partnerships and the role of parliamentarians in driving change. It is impera…
Sen. Chesang, proceed. Sen. Chesang had three Statements, those three Statements are dropped.
Sen. Wafula, proceed. Senator for Nandi, you may approach the Chair. You do not need to use the microphone.
[(Sen. Cherarkey approached the Speaker)]
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 status of the Equity Bank Kenya Limited Employee Share Ownership Plan ASOP scheme. In the statement, the committee should-
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to request a Statement from the Standing Committee on Information, Communication and Technology regarding the need for automation and digitization of services in the office of the Controller of Budget (CoB) . The Standing Committee on Information, Communication and Technology resolved to conduct a county oversight and netwo…
Thursday, 28th November 2024, to ensure financial stability and continued service delivery at the county level. However, during the counties visit, the Committee identified a critical bottleneck that threatens the success of devolution; namely the persisting challenge occasioned by the delays and inefficiencies in the budget approval processes at the office of the Controller of Budget (CoB), desp…
Thursday, 28th November 2024, to ensure financial stability and continued service delivery at the county level. However, during the counties visit, the Committee identified a critical bottleneck that threatens the success of devolution; namely the persisting challenge occasioned by the delays and inefficiencies in the budget approval processes at the office of the Controller of Budget (CoB), desp…
pending bills owed by Trans Nzoia County Government from financial year 2021/2022 to date. In the Statement, the Committee should-
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment, and Natural Resources regarding the claims of grabbing community land in Isiolo County. In the Statement, the Committee should-
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment, and Natural Resources regarding the claims of grabbing community land in Isiolo County. In the Statement, the Committee should-
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation, and Housing on the status of roads in Isiolo County.
In the Statement, the Committee should-
Sen. Kathuri, Senator for Meru County, do you have two Statements? You may proceed to read both.
Hon. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the mismanagement of the University of Nairobi. In the Statement, the Committee should-
Senator for Nandi County, please proceed.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare regarding the dismissed employees of the Kenya Medical Research Institute, (KEMRI) .
Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the Statement, the Committee should-
Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the Statement, the Committee should-
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Since my brother, Cherarkey, has discussed the issue of KEMRI, I would hope that the clerks to this House would perhaps look for a way on how, sometimes when we ask overlapping questions, they can put them together.
performance of the Nairobi Expressway, given that recently there has been conflicting information as to how the expressway has been doing. This is a key infrastructure project commissioned in 2022 under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The National Expressway is operated by the China Road and Bridge Corporation Company under a 27-concession agreement, which was envisioned as a financia…
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise under Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the termination of Professor Stephen Kiyama Gitai from his position as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi last year. In the Statement, the committee should-
Sen. Kinyua, you may proceed.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the escalating land dispute between ranchers and residents of Laikipia County, which threatened to result in eviction and displacement of residents. The situation has been particularly dire in the following areas-
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the escalating land dispute between ranchers and residents of Laikipia County, which threatened to result in eviction and displacement of residents. The situation has been particularly dire in the following areas-
Sen. Alexander Mundigi, proceed.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Roads, Transport and Housing regarding basis of the maintenance of the Mkunumbi-Kibaoni Road by the County Government of Lamu. In the Statement, the Committee should-
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Roads, Transport and Housing regarding basis of the maintenance of the Mkunumbi-Kibaoni Road by the County Government of Lamu. In the Statement, the Committee should-
Thank you. I will allow limited comments for not more than 15 minutes on these Statements. Senator for Nairobi City County.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. It is quite curious the number of Statements that have been brought by my colleagues and yet it is the final week of sitting. I wanted to raise a concern. The majority of the Statements that have been raised have been directed at the Standing Committee on Roads and Transportation. I have counted no less than seven such Statements. At our last meeting, we had almost 30…
[(Sen. Tabitha Keroche consulted loudly)]
Order, Sen. Tabitha Keroche. Proceed, Senator for Nairobi City County.
When we hand over to the new team that is coming into that Committee, at least we will not leave them with matters that have been pending all this time. It is also an indicator of the state of the roads in this country. I said during the debate on the President's Speech that we had an occasion in the Standing Committee on Energy to have a conversation with the Chairperson of the Standing Committe…
When we hand over to the new team that is coming into that Committee, at least we will not leave them with matters that have been pending all this time. It is also an indicator of the state of the roads in this country. I said during the debate on the President's Speech that we had an occasion in the Standing Committee on Energy to have a conversation with the Chairperson of the Standing Committe…
Hon. Senator for Nakuru County, I will give you the first caution of the day. If you proceed, I will rule you out of order. Proceed, Senator.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, we need to deal with two issues: First, I am happy that on the Order Paper today we have CARB. We need to dispense with this so that we can release money to counties. Every time we raise questions about roads in our counties, the governors say they do not have money. Then the second issue is the dispute of the RMLF. If there is anything as a House, we can do to help unlock the s…
Proceed, Sen. Faki.
Bw. Spika Taarifa ya pili ambayo nilikuwa nataka kuchangia ni taarifa ambayo imeombwa na Naibu wa Spika, Seneta wa gatuzi la Meru, kuhusiana na mambo yalivyo katika University of Nairobi ambacho ni chuo ambacho mimi niliwahi kupitia. Ni jambo la kusikitisha kwamba vyuo vyetu sasa vina kuwa ni mahali ambapo uongozi haufanyiki au uongozi umekuwa duni kiasi ambacho migogoro na mizozano haishi. Ikumb…
Bw. Spika Taarifa ya pili ambayo nilikuwa nataka kuchangia ni taarifa ambayo imeombwa na Naibu wa Spika, Seneta wa gatuzi la Meru, kuhusiana na mambo yalivyo katika University of Nairobi ambacho ni chuo ambacho mimi niliwahi kupitia. Ni jambo la kusikitisha kwamba vyuo vyetu sasa vina kuwa ni mahali ambapo uongozi haufanyiki au uongozi umekuwa duni kiasi ambacho migogoro na mizozano haishi. Ikumb…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this chance. I want to comment on the Statement by the Senator for Meru, the Deputy Speaker, Sen. Kathuri on this alleged mismanagement of the University of Nairobi. I do not know much about this University simply because of the very fact that I do not understand how you can study at a University next to a very busy highway. How will you concentrate? However, that…
Proceed.
I do hope that the Committee on Education can quickly find out what the facts are in this particular case. I have heard this conversation from very reliable sources, including people that I hold in extremely high regard. As they say, if you hear it repeated more than once and perhaps from very credible sources, then chances are that there is truth in what is being said. I hope our Committee on Ed…
The challenge we have is that we have experts from all over. There are people who want to tell you how to run everything, yet the only thing they have ever run in their life is a social media account. However, they are so loud and have an opinion of what should and what should not be done. Congratulations, Sen. Omtatah. I look forward to listening to your manifesto and ideas, so that you tell us …
The challenge we have is that we have experts from all over. There are people who want to tell you how to run everything, yet the only thing they have ever run in their life is a social media account. However, they are so loud and have an opinion of what should and what should not be done. Congratulations, Sen. Omtatah. I look forward to listening to your manifesto and ideas, so that you tell us …
That brings us to the end of the comments session. I now call upon the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget to lay the Paper. Had you laid the Paper?
Yes, Mr. Speaker, Sir.
Okay. You may now proceed to give the Notice of Motion.
Madam Temporary Chairperson, I beg to move that the Committee do report to the Senate its consideration of County Allocation of Revenue Bill (Senate Bills No.25 of 2024) and its approval thereof.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The House resumed)]
Serjeant-At-Arms, you may now draw the Bar and open the Doors. Hon. Members, I call upon the chairperson to report on the consideration of the President's Memoranda on the County Allocation of Revenue Bill (Senate Bill No. 25 of 2024) .
[(The Bars were drawn and the Doors opened)]
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole has considered the County Allocation of Revenue Bill (Senate Bill No. 25 of 2024) and its approval thereof with amendments.
Mover?
I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee on the said Report. I request Sen. Wambua to second.
Sen. Wambua proceed.
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I second.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Hon. Senators, the results of the division are as follows-
Hon. Senators, the results of the division are as follows-
Clerk, you may now call Order No. 12.
Serjeant-at-Arms, please continue ringing the Bell for another five minutes.
[(Loud consultations)]
Serjeant-at-Arms, you may now close the door and draw the Bar. Sen. Cherarkey and the Deputy Speaker, please, have your phones off. I would like to ask the Senators who are online to remain online for purposes of this business that we are going to immediately transact.
[(Loud consultations)]
Sen. Mundigi, please approach the Dispatch Box.
[(Sen. Mundigi approached the dispatch)]
Hon. Senators, we now want to facilitate the Senators who are online to vote. Sen. Wamatinga, Sen. Oketch Gicheru, Sen. M. Kajwang, Sen. Mwaruma, and Sen. Chute voted.
[(Online voting in progress)]
Sen. Munyi Mundigi, once again approach the Chair to be assisted in voting. We have Sen. Wamatinga. Sen. Wamatinga, please, proceed to cast your vote. I am wondering why the Hon. Senator; Deputy Speaker is online yet he is physically present here. We have Sen. Oketch Gicheru. Clerk, we can pass the hon. Members who are unable to vote so that we report?
[(Sen. Munyi Mundigi proceeded to the Dispatch Box to vote)]
[(Sen. Wamatinga voted online)]
[(Voting online in progress)]
[(Some Senators were unable to vote online)]
Mr. Temporary Chairperson, can you hear me?
Mr. Temporary Chairman, Sir, this is Sen. Chute. Can you hear me?
Mr. Temporary Chairman, Sir, this is Sen. Chute. Can you hear me?
Yes, Sen. Chute, we can now hear you. Earlier, we could not hear you.
[(Sen. Chute proceeded to vote online)]
Thank you, Sen. Chute. Your vote is taken. Sen. M. Kajwang’, please, vote. Thank you, hon. Senator. Hon. Members, before I announce the results of the two Bills which you have just voted for, I want to correct the earlier results which we read out under The County Allocation of Revenue Bill (Senate Bill No.25 of 2024) .
[(Sen. M. Kajwang’ voted online)]
Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-
Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-
Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-
The “Ayes” have it.
AYES: Sen. Abass, Wajir County; Sen. Ali Roba, Mandera County; Sen. Boy, Kwale County; Sen. Cherarkey, Nandi County; Sen. Cheruiyot, Kericho County; Sen. Chesang, Trans Nzoia County; Sen.Chute, Marsabit County; Sen. Dullo, Isiolo County; Sen. Faki, Mombasa County; Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Tharaka Nithi County; Sen. Githuku, Lamu County; Sen. Kathuri, Meru County; Sen. Kavindu Muthama, Machakos County;…
County; Sen. Oketch Gicheru, Migori County; Sen. Okiya Omtatah, Busia County; Sen. Osotsi, Vihiga County; Sen. Tabitha Keroche, Nakuru County; Sen. Wafula, Bungoma County; Sen. Wakili Sigei, Bomet County; Sen. Wamatinga, Nyeri County; and, Sen. Wambua, Kitui County.
The “Ayes” have it
I now call upon the Mover of the National Assembly amendment to the Cotton Industry Development Bill (Senate Bills No.5 of 2023), Sen. Beth Syengo, to proceed to report.
Thank you. Hon. Temporary Chairperson, I beg to move that the Committee to report to the Senate its consideration of the National Assembly Amendments to the Cotton Industry Development Bill (Senate Bill No.5 of 2023) and its approval thereof. (Question proposed) (Question put and agreed to) The Temporary Chairperson (
We are proceeding to the reporting of the Bill by the Committee of the Whole on the Houses of Parliament Bicameral Relations Bill (National Assembly Bills No.44 of 2023) . I will call upon the Mover to proceed. The Senate Majority Leader was the mover. Please proceed.
Hon. Temporary Chairperson, I beg to move that the Committee do report its consideration of the Houses of Parliament (Bicameral Relations) Bill (National Assembly Bills No.44 of 2023) and its approval thereof with amendments. Thank you. (Question proposed) (Question put and agreed to) The Temporary Chairperson (
This is the end of the Committee of the Whole on the two Bills. (The House resumed)
[[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Wakili Sigei) in the Chair]]
Hon. Members, let us resume our seats. Hon. Senators, so that we do not interrupt the reporting of the Divisions that we have done, pursuant to Standing Order No.34, I will extend the sitting of the House for 15 minutes. I now call upon the Mover in The Cotton Industry Development Bill (Senate Bills No.5 of 2023) to report. Sorry, the Temporary Chairperson first, and then the Mover. Sen. Veroni…
[(Hon. Senators resumed their seats)]
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole whole has considered the National Assembly Amendments to The Cotton Industry Development Bill (Senate Bills No.5 of 2023) and its approval.
Very well. Sen. Beth Syengo, the Mover, please proceed.
Mr. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee of the Whole on the said report. I request Sen. Wafula Wakoli to second.
Sen. Wakoli, proceed to second.
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I take this opportunity to exactly do what everyone expects, to truly second.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
We will proceed to report on The Houses of Parliament (Bicameral Relations) Bill (National Assembly Bills No.44 of 2023, and I call upon the chairperson to report.
Mr. Temporary Speaker Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole has considered The Houses of Parliament (Bicameral Relations) Bill (National Assembly Bills No.44 of 2023) , and its approval thereof with amendments.
Before I call the mover of the bicameral, I just like to announce that as regards to The Cotton Industry Development Bill (Senate Bills No.5 of 2023) , Senators having considered and approved the National Assembly amendments to The Cotton Industry Development Bill (Senate Bills Number 5 Of 2023) , there will be no Third Reading, and the Bill will be referred to the National Assembly for considerat…
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee on the said Report. I request Sen. Eddie to second.
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I second.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Hon. Members, we may all rise. It is now 6.45 p.m., late interruption of business under Standing Order No.34 (2) (a) . Having concluded the business for which I extended the hours of sitting pursuant to Standing Order No.34 (2) (a) , the Senate stands adjourned until Thursday, 5th December, 2024 at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 6.45 p.m.