Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
The Senate adopted the 2024 Budget Policy Statement and renewed the mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating compensation for the 1998 embassy bombing. Question Time collapsed after multiple Cabinet Secretaries cited scheduling conflicts, prompting Senator Kathuri to criticize the lack of timely communication and respect for the House. Procedural notices and motions continued amid a mix of constructive approvals and expressed frustration. Senators criticised the repeated absence of Cabinet Secretaries from committee and plenary sessions, demanding immediate appearances and invoking constitutional provisions. The debate also touched on the two‑thirds gender rule in the NADCO report and proposals to impose automatic fines on absent ministers under Rule 51(d). Senators debated the need for targeted infrastructure, education, and water projects in marginalized counties to curb insecurity and promote development, urging affirmative action in employment and public service recruitment. They also highlighted concerns over the allocation and use of devolved funds, community development agreements in mining, and called for stronger county oversight. The discussion combined constructive proposals with sharp criticism of current implementation gaps.
Clerk, do we have a quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, I am informed that we now have quorum. You may stop the Quorum Bell. Hon. Senator, whose ‘child’ is that?
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(An Hon. Senator’s phone rung)]
[(Laughter)]
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Apologies on behalf of the Chairperson of Finance and the whole Committee. We have been in session from 7 a.m. We have just ended the meeting. I rise to give notice of the following Motion on the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the 2024 Budget Policy Statement - THAT, the Senate, adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Bud…
The Chairperson ad hoc Committee on the compensation to the Kenya victims of the 1998 bombing. Sen. Kavindu or any member of that Committee may proceed to give notice.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion - THAT, AWARE THAT, at the Sitting of the Senate held on 29th June, 2023, the Senate, resolved to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the compensation to the Kenyan victims of the 1998 bombing of the United States of America Embassy in Nairobi and report back to the House within three months of its establishment; FURTHER AWARE…
NOW, THEREFORE, the Senate resolves to renew the mandate of the Ad Hoc Committee for a further period not exceeding 100 days from 11th March, 2024, and to table its final report in the Senate on or before 19th June, 2024.
Next Order.
Hon. Senators, we had scheduled seven questions for response by three Cabinet Secretaries today this morning. These are: The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning and the Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage. However, at a sitting yesterday of the Senate Business Committee (SBC) , we considered two letters,…
Question No.012
Question No. 025
Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for that communication which I am not contesting. However, you know this is a House that has a lot of work to do. When scheduling this business, there is a lot of considerations that are done, especially at the SBC. When a Cabinet Secretary (CS) postpones appearing before the House this very morning when we have scheduled already scheduled business, to me, I think that…
Sen. Sifuna?
Bw. Spika, nilikuwa nimekinoa Kiswahili changu kwa ajili ya ujio wa Waziri Aisha Jumwa ili tuweze kupatana moja kwa moja. Kwa hivyo, utaniruhusu nizungumze Kiswahili hicho ili kisiende bure hata kama hajafika.
[(Laughter)]
Seneta wa Nairobi
Bw. Spika, namaliza.
Hoja iliyo mbele ya Seneti kwa sasa ni kutokuwepo kwa Mawaziri. Waliyoyafanya wiki iliyopita ama mwezi uliopita hayaambatani kamwe na hoja ambayo iko mbele yetu.
Sen. Mandago, tumia Kiswahili sanifu. Hakuna neno kama ‘nominetiwa,’ ni ‘ameteuliwa.’
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I will make my contribution to this Motion on the declaration of cattle rustling and banditry as a national disaster and the establishment of special funds for victims. I support this Motion because it is long overdue and because of the menace we have in the country as a result of cattle rustling which has changed from the previous thinking that it was a cultural beha…
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I will make my contribution to this Motion on the declaration of cattle rustling and banditry as a national disaster and the establishment of special funds for victims. I support this Motion because it is long overdue and because of the menace we have in the country as a result of cattle rustling which has changed from the previous thinking that it was a cultural beha…
I believe this is a very serious matter. The issue of pastoralism is a way of life and livelihood for so many people. Unfortunately, in our country, we feel that there is no serious effort put into place to make sure the issue of cattle rustling is dealt with.
[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]]
Sen. Dullo, you were to second the Motion.
I second.
Thank you.
[(Question proposed)]
Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey?
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I support this Motion that was brought by Sen. Cheptumo, the Senator of the great people of Baringo County. We have been waiting for this Motion because of the current occurrences. The other day, an MCA was killed in Samburu. The same incident happened in Baringo. I put it to the nation that this issue of cattle rustling is not only in Nor…
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I support this Motion that was brought by Sen. Cheptumo, the Senator of the great people of Baringo County. We have been waiting for this Motion because of the current occurrences. The other day, an MCA was killed in Samburu. The same incident happened in Baringo. I put it to the nation that this issue of cattle rustling is not only in Nor…
Sorry, I forgot to mention Meru County. I saw the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Prof. Kindiki, with some colleagues over the weekend. Meru has also been affected. Sometimes Nandi and Kisumu are also affected. So, it is crosscutting issue. I am told we also have cattle rustling in Western Kenya. People are forced to sleep with cows in their rooms because of livestock …
all the way to Turkana by a tarmacked road and other county roads, I assure you that area will be civilized. What does that mean? The issue of cattle rustling or insecurity in that region will reduce. Many people have taken advantage of the ignorance of our people in those areas and use it to transform it into a criminal enterprise. Apart from roads, we need to look at education. We need to impr…
Where I come from, East of Karebe Goldmine, we had problems where a community in Chemase was not getting anything through community development agreement, where you have communities through 70 per cent to national Government, 20 per cent to county government and 10 per cent to the local community. I challenge county governments to ensure the money that we devolve is used for the intended purposes…
[(Applause)]
Sen. Cherarkey, you have proposed several amendments to the Motion. This Motion is now a property of the Senate of Kenya. It no longer belongs to Sen. Cheptumo alone. So, what you are proposing, you can also go ahead and amend this Motion to suit your thinking. Nothing is stopping you from making those amendments yourself in agreement with the Mover of the Motion. Next is Sen. Okoiti Andrew Omtat…
[(Interruption of debate on Motion)]
Sen. Cherarkey, you have proposed several amendments to the Motion. This Motion is now a property of the Senate of Kenya. It no longer belongs to Sen. Cheptumo alone. So, what you are proposing, you can also go ahead and amend this Motion to suit your thinking. Nothing is stopping you from making those amendments yourself in agreement with the Mover of the Motion. Next is Sen. Okoiti Andrew Omtat…
[(Interruption of debate on Motion)]
When this Motion resumes,