Senate · Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Senators, I hereby report that a Petition has been submitted, through the Clerk, by Mr. Laban Omusundi regarding the matter of branding public projects with images of governors and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and branding of county vehicles. As you are aware, under Article 119 (1) of the Constitution- “Every person has a right to petition Parliament to consider any matter within its …

to use publicly funded projects to promote and brand themselves for personal political gains without adequate checks and balances. THAT Article 231(4) of the Constitution disallows the use of individual portraits on currency, but allows images that depict or symbolise Kenya or an aspect of Kenya. This principle should also be applied to public projects. THAT the County Government vehicles have b…

Let us move on to the next Order. Sen. James Lomenen, proceed. Sen. Lomenen, did you bow at the bar?

Yes, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

From the Chair, I saw you walking straight on. It is okay, Sen. Lomenen. Proceed, but next time abide by rules of procedure.

[(Sen. Lomenen spoke off record)]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I stand to give notice of the following Motion- THAT AWARE THAT, the livestock sector plays a crucial role in the economic well-being and cultural identity of many communities, particularly in Arid and Semi-Arid (ASAL) regions of Kenya; FURTHER AWARE THAT, cattle rustling has become a major hindrance to economic development, severely affecting pastoralist communities…

the menace of cattle rustling and provision of livestock insurance to protect farmers in case of loss; CONCERNED THAT, despite Government efforts, cattle rustling continues to thrive, driven by organized crime syndicates, political interference and cultural practices, which severely undermines the economic stability and social cohesion of affected communities, thereby contravening the right of pa…

Let us move on to the next Order. That is statements pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) . Senator for Nandi County, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for your indulgence. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No 52 (1) to make a statement on an issue of general topical concern and national importance, namely; the complete shutdown of medical services in Nandi County due to the ongoing health workers' strike, starting from Kapsabet County Referral Hospital. Nandi County is faced with a serious health crisis occasioned b…

harmonising promotion of staff, poor working conditions, non-remittance of statutory deductions, non-remittance on SACCO loans and union dues, yet they have been deducted on the pay slip and the lack of medical cover for staff. Mr. Speaker, Sir, other issues by the health workers include the illegal mass sacking and staff removal from the payroll in an exercise that the Governor himself bloated t…

The investigations of the fraud in the payroll should be handled by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters, noting that during the interview in Nandi County, the County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO) stated that the Governor was not aware of this illegality yet investigations are still ongoing and up to now, no one has been arraigned in a court of law. Mr. Speaker, …

Statement pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) ; Sen. Richard Onyonka, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the Integrated Health Information Technology System (IHTS) , Project of the Social Health Authority (SHA) , which aims to digitise Kenya's health infrastructure by interconnecting patients, doctors, hospitals and health services…

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, hon. Senators. May Sen. Onyonka be heard in silence, please.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Haji Abdul, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget regarding the financial operations of county public service boards. In the statement, the committee should-

What is your point of order? Certainly, it cannot be a point of order, Sen. Fatuma, unless you are seeking a clarification or intervention.

Clarification, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Yes, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have had several statements on the Floor of this House; I think there are about seven or eight regarding matters of Isiolo County.

Number one, the Governor of Isiolo County has completely refused to respond to the statements. Number two, we have about three summonses before various committees of the House, which he has refused to honour. There is a summon before the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. There was a summon before the Committee on Public Accounts, where he was charged and has refused to pay the fee. He has r…

Thank you, Sen. Dullo. I will give my directions on the Isiolo matter on Monday before proceeding with the Kericho Governor impeachment. Sen. Wakili Sigei, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to request a statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare regarding the withdrawal of the Health Service Allowance for certain health sector staff in Bomet County. This withdrawal has occurred on various dates throughout 2024. These allowances, which were duly budgeted for by the county and granted to t…

In the statement, the committee should-

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the loss of security documents used to print title deeds by the Government Printer. This incident poses a significant threat to the integrity of land ownership documents in our country and could potentia…

Sen. Chimera, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources concerning the reported cases of lions roaming along Mackinon Road in Kwale County. In the statement, the Committee should-

Next is Sen. Lomenen.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Energy on persistent power blackouts and electricity rationing in Lodwar and other major towns in Turkana County. Despite being home to the Turkwel Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station, which generates 106 megawatts of electricity, major towns in Turkana County remain unconnected to the na…

[(Loud consultations)]

Sen. Shakila and Sen. Abdul Haji, let the Senator for Turkana be heard in silence.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. In the statement, the Committee should-

Proceed to read the three Statements.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding failure by both county and national governments to manage the flood control project on River Kawalase in Turkana County, leading to significant damage of property and displacement of residents in several villages. Despite signi…

Proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding health and environmental impact of exploration of oil and natural gas by Tullow Kenya BV in Block 10BB, 13T and 10BA in South Lokichar Basin in Turkana County. Communities living near the drilling sites have expressed serious concerns r…

Next is Sen. (Prof) Tom Ojienda.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have several statements, but I will begin with the first one.

Mr. Speaker Sir, Section 110(1) of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act provides that a county government executive committee may establish county government Emergency Fund which shall consist of monies from time to time appropriated to the county assembly to fund by an appropriation law. Further, Section 110(2) of the PFM Act provides that the purpose of the Emergency Fund is to enable paymen…

Next Order. Proceed, Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I was beginning to get worried. You know this is the season of “by way of” you cease to be. This is the Statement of the week.

Following the defeat of a Motion for the establishment of a special committee pursuant to Article 145(3B) of the Constitution, the Speaker gave directions that the hearing of the proposed removal from office, by impeachment, of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya would be held in plenary on Wednesday, 16th October and Thursday, 17th October, 2024. Mr. Speaker, Sir, remember, you gave fu…

Majority Leader, can you stick to your Statement?

It is in my Statement, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I am reading it off.

Are you questioning the Chair?

Not the Chair. It is in my Statement that even Sen. Hezena needs to be careful of where she goes this weekend. At its meeting held on Tuesday, 8th October, 2024, the Senate Business Committee (SBC) approved the next set of Questions to be scheduled in the Order Paper for Wednesday, 16th October, 2024. However, given our schedule for the aforementioned hearings, we will reschedule the Questions to…

I thank you.

Next Order.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to move the following Procedural Motion on alteration of the hours of meeting for Wednesday, 16th October, 2024, and Thursday, 17th October, 2024- THAT, notwithstanding the Resolutions of the Senate made pursuant to Standing Order No.32 on 15th February, 2024; 26th June, 2024; 19th August, 2024; and 17th September, 2024; on the approval of the Senate Calendar (Regul…

[(Question proposed)]

Now, the Floor is open. This is a Procedural Motion. With your concurrence, you may allow me to put the question. The voting is by voice, so that we dispense with this Motion. I will now proceed to put the question.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Now, the Floor is open. This is a Procedural Motion. With your concurrence, you may allow me to put the question. The voting is by voice, so that we dispense with this Motion. I will now proceed to put the question.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

So, let this resolution then make us be in the Chamber at 9.00 a.m., so that we do not have to ring the Quorum bell. If you do that, I believe that the two days will be adequate to cover the hearing on this particular matter. Next order, please. (The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Speaker) Now, hon. Members, for the convenience of the House, allow me to invoke Standing Order No.45 to re-ar…