National Assembly · Morning Sitting

Members highlighted the inadequacy of current climate‑monitoring systems, citing recent drought‑related livestock losses and severe floods, and urged the development of robust policies, satellite‑based data collection and a supporting legal framework. While criticism was directed at government preparedness, there was also acknowledgment of the President’s focus on climate issues and a call for concrete programmes to protect agriculture, livelihoods and security. Members praised the proposed cotton Bill, highlighting cotton’s potential to boost incomes and create jobs in Kenya’s arid and semi‑arid regions. They called for a dedicated cotton authority, subsidies, seed provision and stronger national‑county partnerships to revive processing factories and make locally produced cloth affordable. The debate was largely supportive, emphasizing economic revitalisation through cotton farming. The Temporary Speaker deferred the question to a later sitting before Hon. Abdul Haro moved a motion urging the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry to develop a policy for using satellite technology to monitor climate and weather patterns. He highlighted Kenya’s recent launch of the Taifa‑1 satellite and the need for accurate, timely data to combat droughts, floods and other climate‑related risks. Hon. Malulu Injendi seconded the motion, praising the satellite as a Kenyan achievement and emphasizing its potential for disaster management, environmental monitoring, and agricultural resilience.