Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 6 May 2026
Senators questioned the government’s handling of compensation for communities affected by transmission line, dam and Konza City projects, and challenged the decision to invest in an oil refinery in Tanzania while leasing the historic Mombasa refinery to a foreign firm. The Cabinet Secretary responded by explaining the roles of KETRACO, the National Land Commission and budgetary processes, and pledged continued efforts to resolve compensation and project feasibility issues. The exchange reflected both criticism of perceived delays and a constructive attempt to obtain clarification on policy and budgeting matters. Senators questioned the Ministry on solar‑energy policy, the status of electrification projects in Isiolo and other counties, and asked for detailed household‑connection statistics. The Energy Cabinet Secretary responded by outlining Kenya’s progress toward universal electricity access, the growing contribution of solar to the grid, and the role of the National Infrastructure Fund in financing energy projects, while promising to supply the requested data and accelerate pending works. Senators debated the commercial viability of the Changamwe refinery and announced upcoming crude production from South Lokichar, while questioning the adequacy of output to support a local refinery. The chamber also scrutinised electricity connectivity figures, asking for county‑level data and the role of the infrastructure fund, with occasional tension over perceived political bias.
Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Serjeant-At-Arms, please ring the Quorum Bell for a further 10 minutes.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Order, Honourable Senators, let us take our seats. We have quorum now. Clerk, you may proceed to call out the first Order. Order, Sen. Mandago.
[(Sen. Mandago consulted loudly)]
Honourable Senators, before we start the business of the day--- Sen. Beth Syengo--- Just to remind you of the Kamukunji today at 1.00 p.m. So, purpose to be present so that we are taken through the details of the system we are using because as you may recall, last week, so many concerns were raised touching on the system. Therefore, kindly avail yourself so that you raise all those concerns with t…
[(The Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum (Hon. Opiyo Wandayi)]
Thank you, Honourable Speaker. I think we also have Question No.040. I will start with No.041, and then I go to 040 later, as you have guided.
Yes, honourable Senator, you may start with Question No.040. Question No.040
Give the microphone to Sen. Eddy.
Mr. Speaker, Sir, I wish to express my concern. This is a very delicate matter, since I would never wish to be in the bad books of the Speaker by appearing to vary your decision in this House. However, in the interest of the House, once a Member has asked a question, it ought to become the property of the House. Some of these questions affect many of us variably. Indeed, you have seen that the que…
I appreciate the concerns raised by Sen. Eddy. Unfortunately, the application of Standing Order No.1 is limited to circumstances where there is no express provision in the Standing Orders as to what action can be taken by the Chair. In this case, the Standing Orders are clear; a Member must nominate someone to act on their behalf in their absence. The same principle applies to statements and even…
[[The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Wakili Sigei) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Abdul Haji) in the Chair]]
Hon. Senators, the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry is here. Bw. Waziri, karibu to the Senate. We will go straight to the Question by Sen. (Prof.) Ojienda.
Question No.024
agriculture, but just one particular variety because it takes a bit of infrastructure, planning, aggregation and extension officers to make sure that a particular commodity succeeds. Therefore, this is well in order. Since driving of the economic agenda of a county is the responsibility of a governor, that is why we need to co-operate, so that when we say we want to have like five counties as key…
So, it is time for leaders to come together, get the right varieties and infrastructure. We also have a company that is coming to set up here in Kenya that will be buying most of the fruits for sale into the European market. It is one of the biggest market connections to some of our retail outlets there. Lastly, from Sen. Nyutu, is on training of farmers. We do it, sometimes on requests specifica…
Sen. Eddy, there are no interventions. What clarification are you seeking?
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Cabinet Secretary will be leaving and I know the House might be rising soon. However, he has talked about a scientific issue that he tried to navigate very skillfully from Sen. Okiya Omtatah. Does that same navigation apply to the decision that the Ministry made recently on fuel? The Ministry made a decision to actually increase sulphur levels in our fuel from 10 mi…
agriculture, but just one particular variety because it takes a bit of infrastructure, planning, aggregation and extension officers to make sure that a particular commodity succeeds. Therefore, this is well in order. Since driving of the economic agenda of a county is the responsibility of a governor, that is why we need to co-operate, so that when we say we want to have like five counties as key…
It is, but you have raised it a bit late. We are already out of time, Eddy.
If you do not mind, could he just give us---
He does not have time even to respond.
Could he give us the impact assessment, perhaps not now, he can commit to you whether he had done an impact assessment on the damages this might have in the economy in terms of pollution and damages on our vehicles, so that we just know that these standards will not have impact in the country.
Very well, Senator. We have understood you. Cabinet Secretary, maybe you can just make a commitment that you will respond in writing. The Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry : Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I was just responding to Hon. Mandago that our inability to attend yesterday's session is because we were part of the Presidential delegation. We had already writte…
[(Hon. Lee Kinyanjui)]
It is, but you have raised it a bit late. We are already out of time, Eddy.
If you do not mind, could he just give us---
He does not have time even to respond.
Could he give us the impact assessment, perhaps not now, he can commit to you whether he had done an impact assessment on the damages this might have in the economy in terms of pollution and damages on our vehicles, so that we just know that these standards will not have impact in the country.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.03 p.m. 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 later today, Wednesday, 6th May, 2026 at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.03 p.m.
Tanzania is a key trading partner with Kenya. As you know, we have had many trading issues with Kenyans having challenges there. So, it was not possible for us not to attend and a letter to that effect had already been sent. Lastly, on the Uasin Gishu stalled CAIP, I want to assure the hon. Member that a substantive question has already been asked. I will be able to present it as early as next we…
Cabinet Secretary, I will give you one minute to conclude because we have to rise. The Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry : Thank you. We will be able to provide both the evidence, pictorial and otherwise. Also, to confirm that working with the EACC, we will also be doing an audit for all the CAIPs to ensure that there is good use of public resources. With respect to the last…
[(Hon. Lee Kinyanjui)]
Thank you very much, Cabinet Secretary.
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.03 p.m. 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 later today, Wednesday, 6th May, 2026 at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.03 p.m.