Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Order, hon. Senators. Kindly take your seats. I am informed that we do have quorum now. We shall proceed with the afternoon business. Clerk, kindly proceed to call the first Order.

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

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Senators, I wish to report to the Senate that I have pursuant to Standing Order No.46 (3) , received the following Message from the

Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the decision of the National Assembly on the Senate amendments to the Water (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 33 of 2023). The Message, dated Friday, 3rd May, 2024, was received on Tuesday, 7th May, 2024, in the office of the Clerk of the Senate. Pursuant to the Standing Order Standing Order No.46(4), I now report the Message- PURSUANT to t…

Hon. Senators, I wish to report that, pursuant to Standing Order No.46 (3) and (4) , I received the following Message from the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the passage, by the National Assembly, of the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Bill (Senate Bills No. 9 of 2022) . The Message, dated Friday 3rd May, 2024, was received on Tuesday, 7th May, 2024 in the office of the Clerk of…

Hon. Senators, I also wish to report to the Senate that, pursuant to Standing Order No.46 (3) and (4) , I received the following Message from the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the Passage of the Independent

Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 10 of 2024). The Message, dated Friday, 3rd May, 2024, was received on Tuesday,7th May, 2024, in the office of the Clerk of the Senate. Pursuant to the said Standing Order, I now report the Message- PURSUANT to the provisions of Standing Order No.41(1) and No.142 of the National Assembly Standing Orders, I hereby c…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table of the Senate today, 8th May, 2024 - Report of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources on its consideration of the National Rating Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 55 of 2022)

I beg to lay.

The Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Health.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following paper on the Table of the Senate today, 8th May, 2024- Report of the Standing Committee on Health on its consideration of the Maternal, New Born and Child Health Bill (Senate Bills No. 17 of 2023)

[(Sen. Mandago laid the document on the Table)]

Clerk, next order.

Thank you, 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 Working Session on Advancing Free Movement of persons in Africa organized by the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) in collaboration with the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) . Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am honoured to be a Member of the Trade Comm…

aimed to build knowledge, assess key issues and formulate actionable strategies for mobilising support for the FMP Protocol. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the objectives and expected outcomes of the Working Session included-

for Africans wishing to enter Kenya. Therefore, as far as that one is concerned, we are way ahead. Article 29 of the Free Movement of Persons (FMP) Protocol defines the AUC’s role in evaluating the implementation of the Protocol through collaboration with Regional Economic Communities (RECs), which include the East African Community (EAC), in order to harmonize free movement policies, migration a…

Statements pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) , the hon. Sen. Alexander Mundigi. That statement is dropped.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement on a matter of national and general topical concern on the current status of the Mai Mahiu flood disaster that has claimed over 62 people. On Monday, 29th April 2024, at about 2.00 a.m. early in morning, the people of Mai Mahiu were awoken by a horrific loud bang of sound that caused a lot of pa…

inspection reports for all the dams across the county, indicating the measures taken to avoid further disasters. I wish to call for speedy investigations into the effectiveness of existing early warning systems and whether they are being heeded by county authorities and the public. We also need, as a House, to question the capacity of personnel and management who are tasked with assessment of ris…

Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Pursuant to Standing Order No.56 (1) I beg to make a Statement relating to a matter for which the Standing Committee on Health is responsible, namely the grave allegation of unethical transplant activities at Mediheal Hospital, Eldoret.

The attention of the Standing Committee on Health has been drawn to a press release by the Kenya Renal Association, dated 3rd May 2024, regarding unethical transplant activities at Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret. The statement from the Kenya Renal Association has raised serious concerns about the reported commercialization of transplants and transplant tourism at Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret. The al…

The attention of the Standing Committee on Health has been drawn to an alarming press report on the presence of toxic Benylin paediatric cough syrup in the Kenya market. Benylin cough syrup is widely used to alleviate cough, chest congestion, hay fever and allergic reactions in children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old. On 11th April, 2024, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board issued a public ale…

Hon. Members, we are way beyond the Statement Hour. As a consequence, I will not allow any comment on these three statements that have just been read out; the first one by Sen. Tabitha Keroche under Standing Order No.52, and two by Senator Mandago, under Standing Order No.56. I will, therefore, call the Next Order.

(Order for First Reading read - Read the First Time and ordered to be referred to the relevant Senate Committee) Next Order, please.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it would not have been my wish to stop the trail of thought of my leader, Sen. Wambua. However, I am a bit confused with the way these two clocks are working. On this clock, it is 6.12 p.m. and on the other, it is 6.13 p.m. I do not know which one the House is using at the moment. Therefore, I do not know which side of the hemsphere this Senate is operating from. I wan…

Sen. Wambua, you may continue with your contribution as that aspect that has been brought to the attention of the Speaker is dealt with. Proceed, Sen. Wambua.

[(Loud consultations)]

[(Laughter)]

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. The Senator of Kilifi is developing habits that are not very good. Thank you for protecting me. You can hear he is shouting at me. I thank Sen. Ogola for sponsoring this very well-thought-out Bill. I also join my colleagues in underlining the fact that access to timely, affordable and appropriate

healthcare, is a right that is enshrined in the Constitution. As the saying goes, a right delayed is a right denied.

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Hon. Senators, it is now 6.30 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, 9th May, 2024, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 6.30 p.m.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it would not have been my wish to stop the trail of thought of my leader, Sen. Wambua. However, I am a bit confused with the way these two clocks are working. On this clock, it is 6.12 p.m. and on the other, it is 6.13 p.m. I do not know which one the House is using at the moment. Therefore, I do not know which side of the hemsphere this Senate is operating from. I wan…

Sen. Wambua, you may continue with your contribution as that aspect that has been brought to the attention of the Speaker is dealt with. Proceed, Sen. Wambua.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Thank you, Sen. Methu for being so vigilant. I will be guided by the clock that I am facing.

[(Laughter)]

The national Government, in terms of taking operations, is responsible for the teaching, research and referral hospitals, and should not meddle in the operations of the other health facilities from Level 5 or 6, going down to dispensaries and health centers. However, this law that is proposed by Sen. Ogola, who is my friend, seeks to assign responsibilities to the national Government in Clause 12,…

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, what do you do with that category of people because they are there and they are many? If you pass a law that says in order for every child to get treated, the doctor must obtain express authorization from a parent or guardian and they do not believe in medical care, what is going to happen to those children? They will then be exposed to suffering. It would be better if …