Senate · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 9 April 2025
Senators questioned the Cabinet Secretary on ownership, timelines and compensation for airstrip projects, particularly the Isiolo International Airport. The Minister outlined the phases, costs and funding needs, while acknowledging delays, unresolved compensation claims and the need for further budget allocation to make the airport fully operational. The exchange combined constructive detail with criticism over unanswered questions and implementation gaps. Senators discussed the strategic importance of the Isiolo International Airport within the LAPSSET development corridor, emphasizing Kenya's role as an anchor state for regional trade with Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda. While highlighting the economic and logistical benefits, they also acknowledged challenges of airport sustainability and the need for coordinated funding with county governments. The debate called for collaborative leadership to ensure the corridor’s full development and operational viability. Senators discussed upgrades to several airports, including Mombasa International, Eldoret and Baringo, with the Cabinet Secretary outlining plans to improve runways, lounges and address infrastructure challenges. Questions were raised about airstrip obstructions, dumping, and the need for multi‑agency coordination, while procedural reminders about supplementary questions were made. The debate was largely constructive but featured some tension over question formats.
Clerk, confirm whether we have quorum. Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Let us get 10 more minutes. Clerk, are we okay now? Order, Senators. Let us now transact business. We are properly constituted this morning. Clerk, read out the first Order.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Deputy Speaker)]
Hon. Senators, today being a Wednesday, morning session, we have Cabinet Secretaries coming to respond to questions by Senators. This morning we were expecting three Cabinet Secretaries. However, I am told we only have two who are ready to engage the Senate. We have the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry whom I am told is in the precincts of Parliament ready to answer t…
Sorry, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I just want to confirm whether the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Roads and Transport is available. I can also see that Sen. (Dr.) Murango is not here. Is there a possibility of interchanging the Cabinet Secretary, so that he comes when Sen. (Dr.) Murango is present? You cannot ask a Cabinet Secretary a question when the Senator is not available.
No---
Or maybe he had sent somebody to ask the Question on his behalf- --
You know Sen. (Dr.) Murango is very organised. He has assigned Sen. Wakili Sigei to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kindly confirm whether the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Roads and Transport is also available.
You should be listening to the Chair when I am communicating. Had you been attentive, you would know that I addressed the matter about the three Cabinet Secretaries. I said the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry is within the building ready to engage the Senate. The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning is not available. The Cabinet Secretar…
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think we had agreed on certain basic rules of the quorum when Cabinet Secretaries are asking for an adjournment of their appearance. First, I did not hear you giving the reason why the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning is not coming in the letter that you have referenced. Did I hear you correctly saying that the letter came in this morning? I…
Sen. Sifuna, I clearly explained the reason and I had eye contact with you when I was giving the communication. The letter says- “However, given other pre-arranged official engagements, I will not be in a position to attend the Senate Plenary as scheduled.” That is the explanation that I have in this letter. Unfortunately, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry is her…
Mr. Deputy Speaker, it is good that she hears what we have to say because she is a colleague in the Cabinet. This very fate might befall her one day.
So that she can also know what will befall her in case she does not respond.
To also communicate to Cabinet. Many of us are football fans; we stayed up very late last night to watch a game, but still had the fortitude to wake up very early to come and---
What game was that and what were the results?
It was an Arsenal versus Real Madrid game. By some fluke, Arsenal scored three goals inexplicably.
[(Loud consultations)]
Now I can even give you three more minutes if you talk nice of Arsenal.
[(Laughter)]
I would rather just sit down; I really have nothing nice to say as a Chelsea fan myself.
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the point I was making is the point of communication. It is critical for us as a House to set down a marker. That if there were prior engagements at the moment the Cabinet Secretary received the letter, it is only fair that he notifies the House that, that day clashes with prior arrangements. Secondly, what you have read is not an explanation. If you tell somebody that th…
Hon. Senators, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry has only one Question. Let us engage her on it. Once she exits, then as we transit to the time that was allocated for the Cabinet Secretary National Treasury and Economic Planning; I will give you some minutes to ventilate on that matter. Madam Cabinet Secretary, you are at the far corner, kindly, move a bit closer.…
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport the following Question No.004-
Hon. Cabinet Secretary, respond to the issues raised, simultaneously. The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport : Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, and Members of the Senate. I am happy to be here this morning. Good morning? Thank you for the question by Sen. Chute, the Senator of Marsabit County. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me go straight to answer the first question without reciting it…
[(Hon. Davis Chirchir)]
with key findings outlined. The airstrip perimeter fence has been vandalised, leading to unrestricted access by both people and animals thereby compromising operational safety. With respect to the runway, the pavement has experienced significant erosion and the presence of overgrown vegetation poses a hazard to aircraft operations. Additionally, gullies and shrubs have encroached the runway strip…
Any such decision will be based also on provision of alternative land by the County Government of Marsabit, site reconnaissance, including aeronautical studies of the alternative proposed land, geotechnical and environmental impact studies. Consultation with stakeholders, including KAA, KCAA, Kenya Meteorological Department, the County Government, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and security…
the runway with a 50-millimetre asphalt, which is about a two-inch asphalt, installation of runway markings, drainage improvement, including line drainage with side slabs or stone pitching, and installation of airfield lighting and communication equipment. Phase Three will involve acquisition of additional land to extend the runway from
Sen. Mohammed Chute, do you have any supplementary question? Please have a seat, Waziri.
I do, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I would like the Cabinet Secretary to tell this House what he means when he talks about the airstrips not being under the management of KAA. At the same time, he is contradicting himself, on the last page 5. He is talking about investment of up to Kshs61 million while the last paragraph talks about completion of the same project and handed over to KAA. If these airs…
Hon. CS, please proceed. The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport : Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the supplementary question from Hon. Chute. Let me clarify that in Kenya today, we have a total of about 440 airstrips, falling under the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and KA…
[(Hon. Davis Chirchir)]
So, when we have an arrangement to run a maintenance and do a tender as KAA, we supervise the construction and the contractor will then hand over a certificate of completion. That is basically why I said it was handed over to the client. We are the client when we are in charge of the construction. However, those two airstrips belong to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. So, we …
Hon. Senators, before I give you an opportunity to ask more supplementary questions, on Question No.046, Sen. Fatuma Dullo, has the related subject matter on the airport in Isiolo County. So, I would like to request you to also ask that Question, so that the CS can handle all the interventions together. Thereafter, we shall go back now to the other areas on loans. Sen. Chute, do you have an inter…
Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I asked two supplementary questions. Question number one was on who the airstrips belong to. Second, he should give us the deadline on when to start and finish the project. He did not answer that question.
CS, if you have that capacity to answer, proceed and give the time range? The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport : Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I am sorry about that. I thought I was repeating myself because I had indicated that this is the vastest county in Kenya. Therefore, we will pay attention to make sure that budgetary provisions are provided. I will pay personal attention. I…
[(Hon. Davis Chirchir)]
Proceed, Sen. Dullo. Question No.046
The next question is by Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, SC. Question No.023
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise to ask Question No.23 on the Order Paper. The Question is in three parts. I am alive to the fact that we have a competent Cabinet Secretary who will address all these questions. I have also seen the responses, some of which we will need brief highlighting.
The next Question is by the Senator for Makueni, Sen Daniel Maanzo. Question No.040
Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport the following Question No.040-
Thank you, Senator. The last Question is by the Senator for Isiolo, Sen. Fatuma Dullo. Question No.045
Hon. Senators, it is now 1.14 p.m. Having concluded the business for which I extended the hours of sitting pursuant to Standing Order No.34 (2A) , the Senate stands adjourned until later today, Wednesday, 9th April, 2025, at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 1.14 p.m.