Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. So, kindly settle down. Clerk, proceed to call the first Order. Technical team, can you power the microphones better?

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I join you, on behalf of my colleagues, to welcome this delegation from the Parliament of Namibia that is here to interact and follow the proceedings of this House this afternoon. Unfortunately, I have never been to Namibia, but I have heard of its very good stories. The last three ambassadors from Kenya to Namibia have all been from the county that I represent in this House, in…

Next Order.

Sen. Hamida Kibwana. Those two statements by Senator Hamida Kibwana are dropped.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism on a matter of county-wide concern regarding the inspection and--- Is this the right one? Many traders continue to use and verify the equipment in violation of the Weights and Measures Act Cap. 51 (3) , exposing customers to unfair trade …

exploitation, while disadvantaging compliant traders. The Department of Weights and Measures, mandated to ensure accuracy and fairness in trade, faces challenges of inadequate funding, limited personnel and weak enforcement. This has undermined market integrity and the objectives of the bottom-up economic transformation agenda, Vision 2030 and the African Continental Free Trade Framework in this r…

Sen. Mwenda Gataya, the Statement that I approved is on Education.

That is why I think I have been reading the wrong statement. However, this is also mine. I have two statements.

No, you will read the one in the Order Paper.

That is well guided, but this Statement is also mine.

You will read them at a later date.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. There was a mix-up, which is normal. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement for the Committee on Education on a matter of country-wide concern regarding the welfare of learners in Tharaka Nithi County. In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Proceed, Sen. John Methu. You may proceed, Sen. Kibwana, on behalf of Sen. Methu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will read this Statement on behalf of Sen. Methu. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on a matter of county-wide concern regarding the budgetary allocation and payment of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) in Nyandarua County from 2022 and 2023 to date. Community Health Promot…

Sen. Kibwana, you may proceed to read your two statements that had been dropped.

Thank you, 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 on a matter of national concern regarding the management of the annual Hajj pilgrimage by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) . Mr. Speaker, Sir, over the last past several months, many Muslims, including respected---

Sen. Joyce Korir, you are out of order. Kindly sit appropriately. You may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Over the past several months, many Muslims, including respected sharifs, have called for elections to reconstitute the Council's leadership on grounds of poor planning and facilitation of Muslims attending the Hajj pilgrimage, as well as general concerns about mismanagement of funds. The situation has escalated into public demonstrations and if left unaddressed, threat…

The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on a Petition to the Senate by Mr. William Kaguro Michael regarding the Changara Water Pan, a World Bank funded project in Busia County, laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 7th October, 2025. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on 11th October, 2023, you reported a Petiti…

Asante sana Mstahiki Spika. Naunga mkono ripoti iliyoletwa katika Bunge la Seneti na mwenyekiti wa kamati husika. Ni ukweli tulienda Changara tukayathamini yaliyotendeka. Changara sio karibu. Ile kazi ambayo ilichukua Shilingi milioni 24 haikuwa imefanyika vilivyo. Waswahili husema ya kwamba ukiona manyoya, jua ya kwamba imeliwa. Kwa hivyo, Kamati ilithamini ya kwamba fedha ambazo zilitumika pale…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As I support this Motion, the Chairperson of this Committee should apologise to me because he had assured me I would second it. He actually gave me a lot of material to digest. I say that on a lighter touch. This is a straightforward matter. The Changara water pan was funded by the World Bank. The EACC and necessary agencies should take it up. Many people think that t…

supposed to use this water have not done so. I do not want to belabor on this. I appeal to the EACC to move suo moto and prosecute the individuals who perpetrated these crimes. I have tremendous respect for Sen. Faki who was once a Member of my Committee, the Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights. Then, I was powerful in this House. We went with him to Mombasa and he hosted us very…

which I believe is straightforward, I request if adopted, we be informed who is responsible for this issue in 90 days. I am not sure if you can use your powers within the Standing Orders to do that. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with your indulgence, there appears to be political interference. As we speak, one of the Tinderet Member of Parliament aspirant, Eng. Shadrack Maritim, has disappeared. The other da…

Senator for Nandi County, observe relevance whenever you are making your contributions. Sen. Mandago, proceed. Sen. Maanzo, procced.

[(Sen. Mandago consulted with the Clerk-at-the Table)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As the Senator for Uasin Gishu familiarises himself---

[(Sen. Mandago crossed the bar without bowing to the Chair)]

Sen. Mandago, you are out of order. You do not cross that way.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a very important matter. It is not only occurring in cases in World Bank funded projects, but similar cases have occurred elsewhere. In fact, projects funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, instead of being devolved to the counties are often implemented directly by the Ministry. These projects, funded by various bodies, are presented as county i…

Even if the projects are World Bank funded, the county plays a great role in water function. Water, land and agriculture are devolved. Therefore, the ministry handling these projects must ensure delivery on the ground. Failure to deliver and abandoning projects discourages future partnerships and undermines public trust. This particular case ended up as a petition before the House under the Commi…

Sen. Faki, you may proceed to reply, having moved the Motion. My dashboard is clear. Well, the Mover has already taken to the Floor.

[(Sen. Olekina spoke off record)]

Mheshimiwa Spika, Sen. Olekina alikuwa amenidokezea kwamba angependa kuchangia. Kwa hivyo naomba umpe fursa.

Kindly give him the microphone. Proceed, Sen. Olekina.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for your magnanimity. Sen. Faki has allowed me to comment on this very important Motion.

The role of the EACC in Kenya has been misunderstood. In most cases, you will find that when projects are investigated, where there is either misuse of public funds or a collusion, the people who end up suffering are the citizens. This is because whatever is discovered is maintained in the EACC offices and projects which are supposed to benefit individuals, end up just being white elephants. As I…

[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair]]

[[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]]

Sen. Faki, you can now reply. Had you donated your time?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, first of all, I want to thank all the Senators who have contributed. They include Sen. (Dr.) Murango who was a Member of the Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources; Sen. Cherarkey who has been

very passionate and who has contributed to all the reports that have tabled in this House; Sen. Maanzo and Sen. Olekina. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, earlier when Members were contributing to the Statement by Sen. Sifuna, on the alleged grabbing of Jamhuri Park land, several issues were raised. Our Committee only gets seized of the matters when they are referred to us by this House. Last week on Mon…

Your request is granted.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move-

THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on a Petition to the Senate by Mr. Francis Wainaina Njuguna Mbogo concerning historical injustices and illegal alienation of

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I second.

Hon. Senators, I now propose the question. I want to give an opportunity to Senators to contribute to the Motion. So far, none is on my dashboard. Proceed, Sen. Olekina.

[(Question proposed)]

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me appreciate Sen. Faki for the good work he has been doing. In fact, when people are awarded medals or honours, they should look at the kind of work that these Senators are doing here. This petition is important and I am happy that the Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources has made recommendations. Sometimes, it is difficult for the Senate to make reco…

commissioners who are being vetted. I hope that the President will move expeditiously and appoint new commissioners. I believe there are about three. It is very interesting that at times there are changes in terms of commissioner’s terms coming to an end. However, when we have big cases, like the one surrounding the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), some commissioners go to court to challenge their r…

I now call upon the Mover to reply.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This is a matter that squarely falls under the mandate of the NLC. We are aware that the Commission's term of office are about to expire. However, they have done a lot under the stewardship of Mr. Gershom Otachi. They have assured us that they are willing to work extra hard to conclude the reports that they have been working on. We further recommend that the Commissio…

Very well noted. The putting of the question has been deferred. Let us move on to the next Order. The Chairperson, Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, Sen. Mohamed Faki, proceed.

[(Putting of the question on the Motion deferred)]

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to move- THAT the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on a Petition to the Senate by Mr. James Mwaura Njoroge and other Nyandarua Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) , concerning the delayed compensation and occupation of parcels of land laid on the table of the Senate on Tuesday, 7th October 2025. …

Sen. Murango, proceed.

Asante Bw. Naibu Spika.

Utapata ya kwamba, wale IDPs wanakaa katika mazingira mabaya sana. Hakuna vyoo na maji. Kwingine, hata hakuna shule. Kwa hivyo, magonjwa yanawapata kila uchao. Kwa hivyo, ni vizuri waweze kuangaliwa. Wizara ya Ardhi, Mazingira na Mali Asili waache kuzembea kwa sababu shamba lina watu ambao wanahangaika. Ni vizuri kila mtu apewe mahali pake ili aweze kukaa na kulea watoto. Tukizingatia zaidi, weng…

Sen. Ledama Olekina.

Thank you Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Let me, once again commend the Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources for doing its job. However, as I do so, it is a bit perplexing and confusing that for 18 good years, from 2007, children are now graduating from high school and yet, their parents are still living as IDPs. Those children will soon be getting ID cards. Where will that child indic…

to be realistic and ask, what do we do? I compare the issue of compensation with the issue of land being forcibly acquired by the Government or the issue of way leaves. Even those people who do not qualify end up joining the queue. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, five years ago if you drove from Maai Mahiu to Naivasha, the land was virtually empty. You could probably count two, three or four houses, but…

I now call upon the Mover to reply.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Once again, I thank Sen. (Dr.) Murango for seconding this Motion. I also thank my Whip, Sen. Olekina, for contributing to the Motion. The contributions by Sen. Olekina are well thought out and we undertake to incorporate them in our implementation matrix, so that we can resolve this matter once and for all. This issue of IDPs needs to have a closure. The land w…

land which has already been bought by the Government to settle the IDPs. What the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development does not have is funds to subdivide and allocate this land to the people. I see there is money in the Hustler Fund which can be used to settle these people and it can be recoverable as a loan to these people. I know most of them have Safaricom …

The Chairperson of the Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, I also want to appreciate your work. In the Liaison Committee, we have been toiling on the petitions that have surpassed three years without conclusion. I thank you and your Committee and request that you to keep the spirit on because most of the Petitions and Statements are usually on land issues. Keep up the good work.…

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to move- THAT the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources on a Petition to the Senate by Wananchi Self- Help Group regarding the land ownership dispute of Mwananchi Settlement

Scheme in Mwatate Constituency in Taita Taveta County laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 7th October, 2025. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the disputed land is located in Taita Taveta County and we visited it sometime in April. This Petition was brought to this House on 18th February and it was read by the Speaker on the same date. This land was acquired by the Government and they came up with…

The owner of the land came to realise that people had settled on his land and he went to court and sued the Government. Unfortunately, the Government did not file a defence in time and the residents were not aware of the pendency of this case. As a result, an ex parte judgement was given and they went back to the court to be given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I believe the…

Asante sana Naibu Spika. Ninaunga mkono ripoti iliyosomwa na Mwenyekiti wa kamati husika. Kitu cha kushangaza ni kwamba tunapotaka kujua mbivu na mbichi wakati wa kununua shamba, sisi huenda kwa ofisi ya Serikali ambayo iko katika wizara ya mashamba. Ile wizara ndiyo hugawa mashamba na hupeana hati miliki. Jambo ambalo sielewi ni vile wizara inayohusika na stakabadhi iliuziwa shamba na wakora. Na…

[(Question proposed)]

Sen. Ledama Olekina.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me briefly do my job and congratulate the good Senator for Mombasa County, once again, for supporting the citizens and petitioners who have come to this House seeking refuge and settlement. It becomes very difficult when the Government carries out a transaction and the landowner proceeds to court. These matters, which are of public interest, are often not publicised, …

I urge the Judiciary, that whenever a matter touches on public interest or land, is brought before them, the first question should be whether the petitioner has notified the public. There should be a requirement to publish an advertisement in all major dailies, including vernacular radio stations and platforms accessible to where the affected people live. It should also be posted online. The pract…

I now call upon the Mover to reply.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I thank Sen. (Dr.) Murango for seconding this Motion. I also thank Sen. Olekina for his contribution. By the time the petitioners came to this House they had reached a dead end. The court had already issued a decision to cancel their title deeds and the Government, through the Office of the Attorney General, was reluctant to pursue an appeal to set aside that j…

Court of Appeal. That is how the appeal came into being. They were granted leave and a stay of execution and the matter is now pending before the Court of Appeal. Regarding this Petition, we were able to forestall the eviction of 1,322 people who had already settled on the Mwananchi Ranch. In doing so, we have assisted the petitioners in ensuring their case is heard before the Court of Appeal. I…

Very well. The putting of the question has been deferred. We will go to the next Order.

[(Putting of question on the Motion deferred)]

Yes, Sen. Murango.

Naibu Spika, naona kwamba akidi haijatimia ili tuweze kuendelea na kikao.

Sen. (Dr.) Murango, just hold your horses. I want to--- Clerk, do we have the quorum? Can you confirm? Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell for five minutes.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell for another five minutes.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina) in the Chair]]

Clerk, could you confirm if we have the quorum?

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

We can now proceed. It has been confirmed that we have quorum. Sen. Kathuri Murungi, could you, please, approach the Chair?

I have already confirmed that. Therefore, we are not repeating that confirmation. Hon. Senators, I am deferring Order Nos.8 to 17.

Let us have the Chairperson of the Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration. Sen. Kamau, are you the Chairperson or you are a Member?

Madam Temporary Speaker, I am a Member of the Committee. Therefore, I am standing on behalf of my Chair.

Proceed.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration on implementation of the

Senate Resolution on the Current State of the Nation made on Wednesday, 24th July, 2024, laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 3rd June, 2025. Madam Temporary Speaker, I call upon Sen. Cherarkey to second.

Sen. Kamau, could you, please, approach the Chair? Please give the report to the Senator.

[(Sen. Githuku consulted with the Temporary Speaker)]

Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration on implementation of the Senate Resolution on the Current State of the Nation made on Wednesday, 24th July, 2024, laid on the Table of the Senate on Tuesday, 3rd June, 2025. Madam Temporary Speaker, at the sittin…

[[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Veronica Maina) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Mumma) in the Chair]]

Who is your seconder?

Madam Temporary Speaker, I wish to call upon Hon. Sen. Cherarkey to second.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I commend Sen. Githuku for giving the House elaborate details on what the report entails. As I rise to second, you and me were on the Floor of the House when, under the guidance of the Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Minority Leader, the House came up with a joint Motion to discuss the state of the nation. This was a precursor of the Gen Z protest that ha…

I want to inform you and the House, that some senior officials within the Ministry of Interior and National Administration are eating that money. If you ask them of the number of IDPs who have been settled, given land or given money, they cannot tell you. That is why he was giving a story that is neither here nor there. We need to be told the truth. If it is 1,000 families, we should be told how …

saying he loves women yet he does not. The performance on this report does not reflect that. The report on the PWDs is embarrassing. In fact, if the former Vice-President, Moody Awori, gets to hear that 32 county governments have not complied on the issue of PwDs, he will be very mad. I am happy you mentioned Hon. Moody Awori on the Floor of the House in Busia County. I saw him the other day and …

On thematic area number two regarding the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), it is unfortunate that many counties have failed to comply. However, I commend Lamu County for its impressive efforts. Taita Taveta, Wajir, Turkana and Nandi have also complied. In fact, this may be the only time Nandi has gotten it right on the five per cent inclusion of PwDs. I must appreciate Uncle Moodi Aw…

Tinderet, has gone missing. We hope Government agencies will trace him. However, this incident reflects a growing intolerance and abuse of the law in our country. Yesterday, when my constituents attempted to demonstrate at Maraba Centre in Tinderet Sub-County, live bullets were used, near Kisumu, where you come from. A few weeks ago, two people were killed in Kimwani under similar circumstances. …

Proceed, Sen. Ledama.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. As I rise to contribute on this Motion from the Committee on Cohesion, Equal Opportunities and Regional Integration, my views are completely unorthodox. I do not believe that I support the report of the committee in its entirety. I have listened to my colleagues contribute. I am baffled because I wonder when my colleagues say that county governments must comply…

because we have hit the threshold of 70 per cent. I beg to differ. If we have Luhyas in Kakamega who are fully educated and can be able to occupy 100 per cent of jobs in that county because they are the predominant community in that county, absorb them. I am not saying that we should not promote regional integration. We must. Can we first of all, consider the people who are there? Where do you th…

which I think we need to move further on to see that we have more women. In fact, we should have 50-50. In any county government, we should have 50 per cent women and 50 per cent men working there. That is the only thematic area that I think the recommendations by this Committee are worth being discussed. However, when it comes to the issue of tribal lines that you cannot now employ a Luo child to…

On a point of order, Madam Temporary Speaker. I am rising under Standing Order No.41. We are only two Senators in the House. Therefore, we do not have quorum.

Clerk-at-the-Table, please, confirm whether there is quorum. We do not have quorum.

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.