Senate · Morning Sitting

Clerk, do we have a quorum? Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Hon. Senators, please, take your seats. Sen. Chute! I hope I have pronounced your name correctly, Sen. Chute.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

[(Sen. Chute stood up in his place)]

Yes, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Hon. Senators, we now have a quorum. I will allow the Clerk to call the first Order.

Honorable Senators, I wish to report that I have, pursuant to Article 150 (2) of the Constitution, as read with Article 145 (2) of the Constitution, and Standing Order No.46 (3) of the Senate Standing Orders, received a Message from the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the approval of a Special Motion for the removal from office by impeachment of His Excellency, Rigathi Gachagua, EGH, De…

[(Several Senators walked to their seats)]

The Message, dated Tuesday, 8th October, 2024, was received in my office on Wednesday, 9th October, 2024 and indicated that the National Assembly had resolved, with the support of 281 Members, being at least two-thirds of all the Members of the National Assembly, that, pursuant to the provisions of Articles 145(2) as read with 150(1)(b) and (2) of the Constitution, His Excellency, Rigathi Gachagua…

[(Loud consultations)]

committee. Should the Motion be carried, the special committee will investigate the matter and report to the Senate on whether it finds the particulars of the allegations against the Deputy President to have been substantiated. In the event that the Motion for the establishment of a special committee does not pass, the Senate will proceed to investigate the matter in Plenary. Consequently, I will…

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give Notice of the following Motion- THAT, WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 150 (1) (b) and (2) and Article 145 of the Constitution and the National Assembly Standing Orders 64 and 65, on 8th October, 2024, the National Assembly approved a Special Motion for the removal from office, by impeachment, of H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya…

AND FURTHER, WHEREAS by letter Ref: NA/DLP/TBO/MTS/2024/(025) dated 8th October, 2024 and received in the Office of the Speaker of the Senate on 9th October, 2024, the Speaker of the National Assembly informed the Speaker of the Senate of the approval of the Special Motion, by the National Assembly, and further forwarded to the Speaker of the Senate, documents in evidence of the proceedings of the…

Let us go to the next Order.

Senate Majority Leader. Let us make progress, Sen. Fatuma Dullo.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the following Motion for the Senate to hold sittings on Monday, 14th October, 2024 and to alter the hours of meeting on Tuesday 15th 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 (Reg…

[[The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) in the Chair]]

Therefore, a lot of energy is required from Senators next week. So, all the Senators, including the young ones, like my kid brother, Sen. Eddie Oketch, need to spare energy this weekend, so that next week they have a lot of energy in the House. Finally, it is just to note that this is a simple Procedural Motion, which I do not expect a debate about. It is just agreeing on the times, so that we ca…

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I Second the Motion by the Senate Majority Leader and Senator of Kericho, my neighbour. I agree that the matter is weighty and the Senate is in the spotlight. This is the time we need to demonstrate to the country that we are fair. We can discharge our functions impartially, without fear and favour. I second the Motion.

[(Question proposed)]

Hon. Senators, I can see a few Senators lined up here on my screen.

[(Loud consultations)]

Put the question. So, is that the mood of the House? Now, let me hear the wisdom of Sen. Wakili Sigei.

Mr. Speaker, you may proceed to put the question.

Sen. Dullo. Sen. Kinyua, you have the Floor. Senate Majority Leader, do not teach me how to chair this House.

[(Senator Cheruiyot spoke off record)]

Asante, Bw. Naibu Spika. Mimi ninasumbuka kwa sababu, tayari tumejitia kitanzi kwa kutenga siku za kujadili Hoja hii. Vile vile tutakapokuwa katika Hoja ile halafu kuweko na masuala mengine nyeti, tutajipata katika ile sehemu ya kwamba, hatuna muda wa kutosha kuyaangazia masuala yale kiundani. Hatuwezi kuendelea siku ile nyingine ambayo ni Jumatano kwa sababu tayari tumeitenga kwa shughuli nying…

Sen. Kinyua, Hoja tuliyonayo ni wazi kwamba Jumanne, tarehe 15, tutakaa mpaka tumalize shughuli - the business listed in the Order Paper on that day.

So, that is why the Senate Majority Leader advised Sen. Oketch Gicheru to reserve more energy over the weekend, so that you can sit even up until 6.00 a.m. on Wednesday if that is the time we will clear the business listed on the Order paper. It is not specific on the day, but until the business listed on the Order paper is concluded. It is not specific to midnight. So, you can also familiarize y…

Next Order.

Sen. Methu was to move this Motion, but I do not see him around. Therefore, the Order is deferred until the next time that it will be allocated. Next Order. Proceed, Sen. Mumma.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to move the Motion on the reports of the Kenya delegation to the 147th and 148th Assemblies of the International- Parliamentary Union (IPU) and related meetings that were held in Luanda, Angola from 23rd to 27th October, 2023 and in Geneva, Switzerland from 23rd to 27th March, 2024. I beg to move- THAT, the Senate notes the reports of the Kenya delegation to the 14…

Odhiambo, who is the President of the Committee on the Human Rights for Parliamentarians and then we have Hon. Rebecca Tonkei, who is a member of the Committee on the United Nations (UN) Affairs. In the meeting in Luanda, I was appointed to be a member of the Working Group on Science and Technology. The key activity in Luanda was the appointment of the Rt. Hon. Speaker Ackson Tulia from Tanzania …

Sen. Mumma, you should say you beg to move and then also get a seconder.

Apologies, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I wish to ask Sen. Omogeni to second.

Just pronounce yourself that you beg to move then you request him to second.

I beg to move and ask Sen. Omogeni to second.

Proceed, Sen. Omogeni. Members, the reports are on our gadgets, so you can just check and get something to speak on.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I stand to second the reports on the 147th Assembly of the IPU meeting and related matters that was held in Rwanda, Angola, that has been tabled by Sen. Catherine Mumma. We live in a community of nations and this initiative is very important among parliaments. It does a very good work, because we cannot live in an island. We need to measure what we are doing wi…

I watched a debate on a TV station this morning and the Senator for Kisii was disclosing that there are governors who have bought eight flats in a country in Europe called Spain. He was appealing to the EACC to ensure that issues dealing with corruption are dealt with decisively and the money that is sent to our counties is used for the benefit of the people who reside in counties. On issues deal…

Order, hon. Senators. Please, wait or should I give you one minute to close the door?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate the Report of the IPU that was held in Luanda, Angola, from 23rd to 27th October, 2023. As you have correctly said, there is a very big role that parliaments all over the world play in terms of cooperation, coordination and ensuring that the representatives of the people around the world come together and discuss issues t…

[[The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Abdul Haji) in the Chair]]

During those discussions in Angola, a total of 22 delegates took to the floor to share their experiences and insights concerning the pressing issues of ensuring a stable and sustainable food supply for the world's population. Concerns were given from the global north, global south and all the delegates explained their experiences. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have given the general challenges we…

As we increase our own production, within our families, villages, wards and constituencies, we will become food secure and the country as a whole will become secure. This is the message that Parliamentarians are sending to the Government of Kenya, when we met here. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I beg to support this Report.

Hon. Senators, there being no other Senator wishing to contribute, I call upon the Mover to reply. Sen. Mumma?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I thank Sen. Mungatana and Sen. Omogeni for contributing to this Motion. As we participate in international conversations with other Parliaments around the world, I would like to bring it to the attention of this House that these spaces are important. This is because we get to learn what is happening around and borrow from each other, develop and strengthen …

trafficking. Kenya had six amendments to this resolution, and we managed to get five of them taken up. When I came back home, I am happy to report that with the support of the legal department, we are drafting an amendment to our Child Trafficking Act. In that Act, we never contemplated trafficking that happens around the orphanage. A lot of child trafficking is happening. You will be amazed or s…

Thank you, Senator. This Motion will be deferred to a later date. Next Order.

[(Putting of the Question on the Motion deferred)]

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to move this Motion- THAT, the Senate notes the Report of the Kenya Delegation to the Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) held at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, South Africa from 20th to 27th March, 2024, laid on the Table of the Senate on Wednesday, 24th April, 2024.

This will be brief and, I will request Sen. Mumma to second me. We had the session of the Pan-African Parliament in South Africa. The Pan-African Parliament is important because it is where all African nations come together to discuss the issues that affect Africa. Previously, those Presidents who held a vision to bring Africa together and create a united Africa; the likes of Kwame Nkrumah and Jul…

We signed a bilateral agreement that allows favourable trade, so that Kenyans who go to South Africa to do business are never disturbed. Kenya also reciprocated by not requiring visas, just like we are not required to have visas when we go to South Africa. So, we have opportunities for those who think they can make a living by going there. Aside from the PAP meetings that we had, we also visited …

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise to second the Motion on the report of the Kenya delegation to the extraordinary session of the sixth Parliament of the PAP, held at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Midrand, South Africa, from 20th to 27th March, 2024. As I said in an earlier conversation, these meetings are important because they add to expanding our knowledge as parliamentarians and coming …

[(Question proposed)]

Sen. (Prof.) Kamar, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity to support the Motion on the report from the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) . As has been mentioned by our Chair and able leader of the delegation the Hon. Sen. Mungatana, MGH, I am a Member of this delegation. I really appreciate the work that goes on in the PAP. It is out of the coming together of the African nations that we can realise t…

were established by colonialists and not by ourselves. Families were separated due to this. These boundaries are either roads, rivers, or lakes. They make absolutely no sense. One good example is the river that divides Uganda and Kenya which divided the Awori family. We had our own former Vice-President Moody Awori on the Kenyan side. At the same time, he was Vice-President, there was a Minister …

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have a modern law that has come on agriculture. I hope as a House, we will be able to adopt and cause our own laws to be changed. We are happy that Esther Passaris, a member of the PAP is also a member of the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development. She will table the modern law and transmit it to this House. Once it comes to this House,…

With those remarks, I beg to support.

Thank you, Se. (Prof.) Kamar. Sen. Esther, Okenyuri, you have the Floor.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. First, I wish to support this report by Members of the Pan-African Parliament who represented us in South Africa led by the able Senator of Tana River, Sen. Danson Mungatana. Sen. Mungatana has been very consistent, especially anytime he represents this House in international fora. He quickly comes back and shares lessons lear…

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me conclude by saying that this is also a very good opportunity, not just for senior citizens who are very much abled economically, but for the young people. Young people are very quick, especially in this digital era, to connect across the continent. This can therefore boost their networking skills, especially in business, by not selling in Kenya alone, but across …

Thank you, Senator. Proceed, Sen. Ogola.

I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. From the onset, I want to applaud the very senior delegation led by Sen. Mungatana, the leader of the delegation. The delegation is composed of very senior legislators and we are happy to also benefit from their wisdom and their institutional memory of the legislative arm of our Government. Sen. Mungatana has a rich history, both from his profession and fr…

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I look forward to an Africa that will collectively address the challenges we are facing on climate change. Last year, some of us attended the Conference of the Parties (CoP28) and are looking forward a world engagement on CoP29. As I rise here to support this report, I look forward to an Africa that will have one stand, collectively engage and push the agenda on climate…

Sen. Ogola, you will have a remainder of seven minutes when this Motion resumes.