THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT

Fifth Session

Thursday, 30th July, 2026 at 2.30 p.m.

PARLIAMENT OF KENYA

The House met at the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, at 2.30 p.m.

PRAYER

DETERMINATION OF QUORUM AT COMMENCEMENT OF SITTING

Order, hon. Members. Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe and Sen. Wambua, kindly take your seats.

(Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi and Sen. Wambua sat at their places) Clerk, you may call the first Order.

PAPERS LAID

THE 23RD NACADA EDITION OF BIANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATUS OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE CONTROL

The 23rd Edition of Biannual Report on the status of alcohol and drug abuse control in Kenya by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA). (Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi laid the document on the Table)

REPORT OF REGIONAL SEMINAR: AFRICAN PARLIAMENTS FOR CLIMATE ACTION ON REDUCING METHANE AND PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT

Report of the Regional Seminar: African Parliaments for Climate Action

on reducing methane and promoting development, held at Emara Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya, from 14th to 18th May, 2026.

NOTICES OF MOTIONS

RECONSTITUTION OF SELECT COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE

1. (a) Pursuant to Standing Orders No.197, 199, 228 and the Fourth Schedule to the Standing Orders, the Senate approves the following Senators nominated by the Senate Business Committee to serve in

Standing Committees of the Senate as follows-

1. (i) Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Sen. Edwin Sifuna, CBS, MP, to replace Sen Beatrice Ogolla, MP.
2. (ii) Standing Committee on Energy

Sen. Beatrice Ogolla, MP, to replace Sen. Moses Kajwang’, CBS, MP.

1. (iii) Standing Committee on Health Sen. Shakila Abdalla Mohamed, MP, to replace Sen. Joseph Githuku, MP.
   1. (iv) Standing Committee on Information, Communication and Technology Sen. Moses Kajwang’, CBS, MP and Sen. Beatrice Ogolla, MP, to replace Sen. Shakila Abdalla Mohamed, MP, and Sen. Hezena Lemaletian, MP.
   2. (v) Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and Regional Integration Sen. Godfrey Osotsi, CBS, MP, to replace Sen. Beth Syengo, MP.
   3. (vi) Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing Sen. Hamida Kibwana, MP, to replace Sen. Crystal Asige, MP.
   4. (vii) Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialisation and Tourism Sen. Enoch Wambua, CBS, MP, to replace Sen. Hamida Ali Kibwana, MP.

NOTING OF REPORT OF REGIONAL SEMINAR: AFRICAN PARLIAMENTS FOR CLIMATE ACTION ON REDUCING METHANE AND PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT

1. 2026.

QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS

Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.53(1). We will start with the Senator for Nairobi City County. I saw Sen. Sifuna here a minute ago.

Okay, Proceed, Sen. Essy Okenyuri. Those two statements are dropped.

WORKERS’ WELFARE AT HELA INTIMATES EPZ LIMITED

(Statement dropped)

(Statement dropped) Proceed, Sen. Agnes Kavindu.

PAYROLL IRREGULARITIES IN MACHAKOS COUNTY

1. (1) The progress of investigations into the anomalies identified in the audit.

The number of officers implicated, and the total amount of funds irregularly paid.

1. (2) The administrative, disciplinary, or criminal measures taken against the officers involved and those responsible for unauthorised alteration of payroll records.
2. (3) The amount of money recovered from irregular, duplicate or unsupported payments and the strategies for recovery of any outstanding amounts.
3. (4) The extent of implementation of audit recommendations. These include regular payroll cleaning, monthly audits and strengthened access control, including timelines for concluding all outstanding cases identified in the audit and measures put in place to prevent recurrence.

I have a second Statement. May I read it?

INSECURITY IN MACHAKOS COUNTY

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52(1) to make a statement on a matter of countrywide concern regarding the rising cases of brutal killings and discovery of mutilated bodies in Machakos. In recent months, Machakos County has witnessed a disturbing increase in incidents involving the brutal murder of persons. The victims are mutilated and their bodies abandoned in isolated locations. These heinous acts have instilled fear among residents. They have undermined public confidence in security agencies and raised serious concerns about the prevalence of violent crimes in the country.

Article 26 of the Constitution guarantees every person the right to life. Articles 28 and 29 guarantee the right to human dignity and security of the person, respectively. The continued occurrence of these killings is therefore a grave violation of these constitutional rights. It calls for urgent and decisive interventions by the relevant security agencies.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the latest incident occurred on 17th July, 2026 when mutilated human remains were discovered near Mukengesia River in Mukengesia Village, Kithioko sub-location, Masinga sub-county. The remains were recovered by officers from the National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and transferred to the Machakos Level 5 Hospital mortuary for identification and post-mortem examination. This incident has highlighted anxiety among residents and reinforced concerns regarding the apparent rise in brutal killings and the dumping of human remains in different parts of this country.

I strongly condemn these barbaric acts which have no place in the society founded on the rule of law and respect for human life and dignity. I call upon the Inspector General of Police (IG), the DCI and other relevant government agencies to expedite investigations into those incidences, identify and prosecute the perpetrators and strengthen security and surveillance measures to prevent further loss of lives.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I further urge members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with the security agencies by providing any information that may assist in identifying the victims and bringing those responsible to justice.

STALLED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN KIRINYAGA COUNTY

1. (1) A full account of all stalled or incomplete projects undertaken by the County Government of Kirinyaga between April, 2013 and June, 2026, specifying the allocation, implementing department or entity, contractor, contract sum, amount paid, percentage of works completed and estimated cost of completion.
2. (2) The reasons for the delay or stalling indicating the contractors, officers or entities responsible for delays or abandonment.

1. (3) Measures undertaken to recover public funds lost through abandoned projects, incomplete works, breach of contract or poor workmanship and actions against culpable contractors or public officers.
2. (4) Steps by the county government to complete or operationalise stalled projects, including funding arrangements, timelines and safeguards to prevent recurrence.
3. (5) The legal policy administrative measures in place to ensure that county governments give priority to the completion of ongoing projects and prevent the accumulation of stored projects.

TREE HARVESTING IN ABERDARE FOREST

1. (1) A comprehensive report on recent activities, including specific locations, acreage, volume of timber and the criteria used by the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) to justify harvesting of non-mature trees.
2. (2) Details of all the companies, contractors or license holders authorised to harvest, and the specific conditions attached to these authorizations.
3. (3) Immediate reforestation measures, seedlings, pesticides and quantities and timelines as well as monitoring mechanisms to ensure prompt restoration and prevent long-term degradation.
4. (4) Measures by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry and KFS to enforce sustainable practices and full adherence to the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016.

LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES IN KISUMU COUNTY

That statement is dropped. (Statement dropped) Sen. Mohamed Chute.

STATUS OF ONGOING CONSTRUCTION OF

1. (1) The reason and criteria that informed the exclusion of the four-kilometre Uran- Godha-Lataka section from the ongoing construction works in Sololo.
2. (2) The budgetary contractual technical or planning consideration behind the exclusion and the estimate cost of construction and whether there are plans to revise the project scope to include that section.
3. (3) Measures by the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the relevant road agencies to ensure construction of that section, including expected commencement and completion timelines.
4. (4) The broader safeguards in place to prevent similar exclusion in future road projects and to guarantee equitable infrastructure development across all regions.

STATUS OF LONG-SERVING CASUAL EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF SAMBURU

economic hardships. Many have dedicated years of service to the county government while living under constant uncertainty regarding their future despite faithfully discharging responsibilities critical to the functioning of the county government.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the matter is compounded by the findings and recommendations contained in the Special Audit Report of the Auditor-General on Payroll Management for the County Executive of Samburu, 2025 which highlighted concerns relating to payroll management, human resource compliance, staffing establishment, recruitment practices, employees' records management and adherence to applicable public service laws and regulations. These findings raise serious concerns regarding human resources, governance and accountability within the county government and necessitate urgent corrective action.

In the statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The exact number of casual employees currently serving the County Government of Samburu who have continuously served or worked for a period exceeding three years, indicating their respective departments, job designations, dates of engagement, remuneration and reasons for continued failure to regularise their employment status in accordance with the Constitution, the Employment Act, 2007 and applicable public service laws and regulations.
2. (2) The status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the Special Audit Report of the Auditor-General on Payroll Management for the County Executive of Samburu, 2025, particularly relating to payroll management, human resource compliance, staffing establishment, employee records management, recruitment procedure, staff regularisation and compliance with applicable laws governing public service employment.
3. (3) Whether the county government has developed a policy framework or an implementation plan for the absorption and confirmation of eligible long-serving casual employees into permanent and pensionable terms and if so, provide the timelines, eligibility criteria, budgetary allocations and administrative measures put in place to undertake the exercise.
4. (4) Measures being taken to address the adverse psychological, emotional, social and economic effects occasioned by the prolonged casual employment, including the denial of job security, pension benefits, medical cover, career progression opportunities and other employment rights guaranteed under the Constitution and labour laws.
5. (5) The total number of officers identified in the Special Audit Report as requiring regularisation, payroll clearing, corrective administrative action or compliance interventions, the progress made in implementing the audit recommendations and the timelines within which the county government intends to fully implement the recommendations and conclusively resolve the concerns of affected employees.

EXCLUSION OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS FROM EXTRANEOUS AND RISK ALLOWANCES

1. (1) The policy, legal and administrative basis for excluding health administrative officers working in public health facilities from the payment of extraneous and risk allowances.
2. (2) The cadres of healthcare workers currently eligible for the allowances and the criteria used to determine their eligibility.
3. (3) The findings of any occupational risk assessment conducted in respect of health administrative officers and the justification for the exclusion despite working in the same facilities and being exposed to risks comparable to those faced by other healthcare workers.
4. (4) The status and findings of any review undertaken by the Ministry of Health, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the county governments regarding the exclusion of health administrative officers in the payment of the allowances.
5. (5) The measures being taken to harmonise the payment of extraneous and risk allowances across eligible healthcare personnel, including plans and timelines for reviewing the existing policy framework to ensure equitable compensation.

LACK OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES IN KISUMU COUNTY

1. (1) The number of graduates entering the labour market annually over the last five years, disaggregated by level of qualification, field of study and employment status.
2. (2) Measures taken by the county government, national government agencies and the private sector to support employability, innovation and enterprise development,

as well as to expand opportunities through jobs, internships, apprenticeships and entrepreneurship.

1. (3) Whether the county government has assessed the alignment between university and college programmes with labour demands in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, technology, trade and services.
2. (4) Concrete steps and timelines to bridge the gap between rising graduation rates and available economic opportunities.

UKOSEFU WA HUDUMA ZA MAHAKAMA BAMBA, KAUNTI YA KILIFI

Kiongozi wa Walio Wachache katika Seneti (Sen. Madzayo): Asante, Bw. Naibu Spika. Nataka kusoma Kauli hii kuhusu ukosefu wa huduma za mahakama kwa wakaazi wa Bamba, katika Kaunti ya Kilifi.

Ninasimama kwa Kanuni za Kudumu 53(1) za Kanuni za Seneti, kuomba Kauli kutoka kwa Kamati ya Haki, Maswala ya Kisheria na Haki za Kibinadamu kuhusu ukosefu wa mahakama ya hakimu katika Wadi ya Bamba, eneo bunge la Ganze, Kaunti ya Kilifi.

Licha ya kwamba Bamba ni eneo kubwa lenye idadi kubwa ya wakaazi walio na mahitaji ya huduma za mahakama, wananchi wanalalamika kusafiri umbali hadi Kilifi, Malindi, Kaloleni au Mariakani ili kupata huduma za mahakama. Jambo hili linasababisha kuongezeka kwa gharama, kucheleweshwa kwa haki, na kuwakatishia tamaa waathiriwa wa uhalifu kuripoti matukio au kufuatilia kesi zao.

Katika Kauli hiyo, Kamati izingatie yafuatayo-

1. (1) Sababu zinazofanya Wadi ya Bamba kukosa mahakama ya hakimu, licha ya idadi kubwa ya wakaazi wanaohitaji huduma za mahakama.
2. (2) Ikiwa idara ya mahakama imefanya tathmini ya uwezekano wa kuanzisha mahakama ya hakimu Bamba, matokeo ya tahmini ya mazungumzo na Serikali ya Kaunti ya Kilifi kuhusu utoaji wa ardhi au miundombinu ya kujenga mahakama, au mipangilio ambayo imefanywa ili kuweza kujenga mahakama.
3. (3) Hatua zinazochukuliwa kwa sasa kuhakikisha wakaazi wanapata huduma kwa urahisi na kwa wakati, ikiwepo matumizi ya mahakama za mzunguko au huduma za mitandao ili kupunguza gharama ya usafiri na changamoto zinazowakabidhi wananachi wanaoishi sehemu za Bamba.
4. (4) Ichunguze kama kuna mipango ya kujenga mahakama ya hakimu Bamba, ieleze muda wa utekelezaji, pesa zitakazotengwa, na hatua zilizofikiwa kufikia sasa.
5. (5) Izingatie mikakati ya muda ya kuboresha upatikanaji wa huduma za mahakama Bamba na maeneo mengine yenye changamoto kama hizo katika Kaunti ya Kilifi.

Sen. Cherarkey is a faithful member of the Catholic Church, and if he indeed got married, then that marriage must be public. Secondly, you have seen---

(A Member spoke off record) Wait, I have not finished. You will get time to talk. You have seen his defender, the Kalenjin equivalent of Njuri Ncheke in this House, called Sen. Cheruiyot, had a ring while defending Sen. Cherarkey. My brother, Sen. Omogeni, also had a ring on his finger while he was defending Sen. Cherarkey. Sen. Cherarkey’s finger is similar to mine…

POLLUTION OF RIVER KUJA AND RIVER MIGORI DUE TO GOLD MINING

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is a request of statement on the pollution of River Kuja and River Migori due to gold mining in Migori County.

Mr. Deputy 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 on a matter of countywide concern regarding the degradation and pollution of River Kuja and River Migori, arising from artisanal and large-scale gold mining activities in Migori County.

These rivers are vital for their domestic use, irrigation, fishing, livestock and livelihoods, yet mine waste, tailings and chemical pollution continue to threaten the water quality, ecosystems, public health and socioeconomic well-being of the residents.

In the statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The extent of pollution in River Kuja and River Migori, based on water quality assessments by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Water Resources Authority, the State Department for Mining, and other relevant agencies over the last five years, including sources, nature of pollutants and compliance with national water standards.
2. (2) Measures taken to regulate mining activities and enforce environmental laws, including inspections, compliance with environmental impact assessment and audit

requirements, actions against illegal mining, restoration, orders, license, suspension or revocation and prosecution of operators responsible for pollution.

1. (3) Interventions to safeguard affected communities, including provision of safe alternative water resources by the county government, regular water quality monitoring, public health surveillance, advisories and support for farmers, fishermen and livestock keepers whose livelihoods have been adversely affected.
2. (4) The committee should address the government's long-term strategy for restoring and protecting the two rivers, including rehabilitation of degraded areas, reclamation of abandoned mining sites, management of mine waste and tailings, restoration of riparian ecosystems and enhanced coordination between the national and county government to promote environmentally sustainable mining.

STATE OF EMERGENCY OBSTETRIC CARE AT MIGORI COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have two more statements. My second statement is on the state of emergency obstetric care at Migori County Referral Hospital.

I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53(1) to seek a statement from the Standing

Committee on Health on a matter of Migori County-wide concern regarding the state of

emergency of obstetric care in Migori. This follows the tragic deaths of Mrs. Immaculate Wanjiru, a 24-year-old mother who died at Migori County Referral Hospital on 22nd June, 2026, after being referred from Osingo Dispensary in critical condition following a severe obstetric emergency.

In the statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Immaculate Wanjiru, including the timeline of the referral process from Osingo Dispensary to Migori County Referral Hospital and whether the emergency of the new-born care protocols were done and followed.
2. (2) The status and findings of the maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response investigations, including the recommendations and any administrative, disciplinary or legal action taken against persons found culpable.
3. (3) The preparedness and capacity of Migori County's maternal health care system to address such emergencies.
4. (4) The measures by the County Government of Migori and the Ministry of Health to reduce preventable maternal deaths, implementing the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) recommendations, and publicly report the findings and actions arising from the interventions into the deaths of Mrs. Wanjiru.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I had actually read this other statement. I do not know why it was approved again. I will leave it at that.

DECENTRALISATION OF MEDICAL ASSESSMENT SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

1. (1) The county-level figures vis-a-vis the national registered number of persons with disabilities in each county and the steps being taken to bridge the gap in statistics, including specific details on the following-
2. (a) any joint efforts between the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWDs) and other government institutions to decentralise and bring medical assessment services closer to PWDs, particularly in rural and marginalised areas;
3. (b) efforts by the government to undertake periodic outreach programmes to facilitate medical assessment for PWDs, especially those with mobility challenges in underserved far-flung areas and strategies to establish permanent medical assessment centres in the said areas; and,
4. (c) the steps being undertaken to simplify the registration process for PWDs.
5. (2) The measures to ensure that no PWDs are denied access to government incentives and reliefs accruing from PWDs for failure to obtain disability certificates, particularly where they have faced apparent challenges in the registration process.

Thank you, Speaker.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS FOR LONG-SERVING CONTRACT NURSES AT MATHARI NATIONAL TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL

I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53(1) to seek a statement from the Standing

Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on a matter of national concern regarding the

employment terms of long-serving contract nurses at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has over the years engaged nurses on contractual terms to support the delivery of specialised mental health care at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital. However, representations by affected nurses indicate that

a number of them have remained on successive three-month contracts since June, 2021, despite performing duties of permanent and continuous nature alongside permanent and pensionable nurses, with concern also being raised regarding disparities in remuneration and salaries.

In the statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The number of nurses serving on contract at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, the duration and terms of their respective engagements and the reasons for retaining them on successive short-term contracts.
2. (2) A comparison of remuneration, risk allowances, extraneous allowances and other benefits between contract nurses and those on permanent and pensionable terms, with justification for any disparities.
3. (3) The policy and criteria governing the absorption of long-serving contract nurses into permanent and pensionable employment, including recognition of their years of service for purposes of career progression and other employment benefits.
4. (4) The compliance of the current contractual arrangements with the Constitution, the Employment Act of 2007, the Labour Relations Act of 2007, and other applicable laws, including the measures to address identified gaps while protecting nurses from intimidation or victimization.
5. (5) The MoH, the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and other relevant agencies to resolve the employment concerns and establish a sustainable employment framework for long-serving contract health care workers in a national referral hospital.

PERSISTENT WATER SHORTAGE IN WAJIR COUNTY

I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53(1) to seek a statement from the Standing

concern regarding the persistent water shortage affecting the residents of Wajir.

Article 43(1)(d) of the Constitution of Kenya guarantees every person right to clean and safe water in adequate quantities. Despite this guarantee, the residents of Wajir County continue to face persistent water shortages, leaving many households without reliable access to clean water and exposing them to serious health and economic and social challenges. The crisis has disrupted livelihoods and raised concerns about adequacy of emergency intervention, sustainability of existing water supply systems and accountability in the use of public losses allocated to the water sector.

In the statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The extent of water shortage in Wajir County, including the number of affected households, the most affected sub-counties, wards and villages and the underlying causes of crisis.
2. (2) The immediate intervention by the national and county governments to provide affected residents with clean and reliable water and the long-term measures to ensure sustainable water access, including development and rehabilitation of water infrastructure, groundwater development, water harvesting and climate resilient water supply systems.

1. (3) The measures to mitigate by both the county and national government the humanitarian, health, socio-economic impact of water shortage, particularly on women, children, older persons and PWDs.
2. (4) The funds allocated and expended by the national and county governments on water supply and infrastructure projects in Wajir County over the last five financial years; 2021/2022, up to 2025/2026, by both the county and national government;
3. (5) The implementation status of each project and the measures taken to ensure transparency, accountability and proper utilisation of public funds, including any audits, investigations or corrective actions being undertaken.
4. (6) The mechanisms established to strengthen coordination between the national government and the County Government of Wajir in the planning, financing and implementation of water projects to prevent the recurrence of water shortages in the area.

I thank you.

Can you read the statement and then decide what to do? The Njuri Ncheke has decided, so members, you will agree with me.

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR

VISITING DELEGATION FROM THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EAST AFRICA

I wish to acknowledge, in the public gallery, the presence of the four elders and members of the PCEA Church in Nyeri County on the invitation of the Senator for Nyeri County. On behalf of the Senate and my own behalf, I welcome and wish them a fruitful visit to the Senate.

Let me also read this one.

VISITING DELEGATION FROM KITHINO HOUSING COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD IN MERU COUNTY

I would like to acknowledge the presence of a visiting delegation of committee members of Kithino Cooperative Society Limited from Meru County, who are seated in the public gallery. The delegation is visiting the Senate for an academic exposition and also to learn about the workings of the Senate. On behalf of the Senate and my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful visit.

I thank you. Hon. Senators, one of the delegations in the public gallery comes from my--- Not just Meru County, but this is the cooperative which made me go to school through the coffee society.

So, this is just from my village, where I come from. I want to welcome them and also the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, the elders who are here.

I will give the Senate Majority Leader and the Senator for Nyeri County an opportunity to welcome the delegations.

Let me start with Sen. Wamatinga.

I want to ask that these cooperative members give us a secret. I do not know why, but I have learnt something. Meru County has a very strong cooperative movement. I have seen this one; I also know the one in the milk sector, the best leading cooperative comes from Meru County. So, maybe later you will tell Sen. Cherarkey, Sen. Kinyua – who I am not sure has such a strong cooperative movement from their county – and I what the secret is. I do not know; I was just thinking. Is it because the Meru people do not allow anybody to joke with their money? If you go near, they administer instant justice the way they do to miraa thieves. Maybe if that is the secret, you need to tell us so that we know.

Lastly, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, when they go back home, they should tell the

people of Meru that this House is properly constituted. When a matter is brought before us, we consider the merits of the matter based on the evidence that has been brought before us. I know there is a lady who has been going around saying very bad things about you and this House.

They must go back and report that we have told them, based on the evidence that was presented by the County Assembly of Meru, it is for that reason that Hon. Kawira Mwangaza was impeached and not any other reason than those dramas.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. (Resumption of Statements)

BUSINESS FOR THE WEEK COMMENCING TUESDAY, 4TH AUGUST, 2026

as Motions. The Questions include Questions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.

In addition, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, yesterday you directed that the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy appear next week as well on Wednesday, 5th July, 2026, to respond to the statement they were supposed to respond to yesterday, when they requested that it be varied by one more week.

The tentative business for the afternoon sitting on Wednesday, 5th August, will also include business that will not have been concluded on Tuesday. There are various Bills, including the Agriculture and Food Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the County Government Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Kenya Health Product Technology, as well as many other Bills.

We have Motions that are before us. I wish to urge the Members who are sponsoring those particular Motions to avail themselves in the House for consideration of those Bills and Motions so that we can conclude.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Hon. Senators should recall that the Senate is scheduled to proceed on a month-long recess at the rise of the House next week on Thursday, 6th August, 2026, in accordance with the Senate Calendar. I therefore urge Hon. Members to be available in the House for the three days next week. This will allow us to conclude as much business as possible before we proceed for the long recess. The recess will enable us to attend to the more pressing needs of our constituents.

I thank you.

I also note the statement by Sen. Wakoli concerning allowances for health care workers. The same issue arises; allowances remain unpaid. It is high time the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare examined pensions and allowances in a broader perspective.

Lastly, I wish to raise the matter of permanent and pensionable employment for workers under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Programme. This House passed the County Government Additional Allocation Bill, 2026, which provided Kshs8.6 billion for UHC workers. The Senate fulfilled its role, but there has been a major outcry from these workers who seek permanent and pensionable terms. For a long time, they have remained on contract.

The issues affecting workers cut across many institutions and should come to an end. I urge the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare to expedite action.

With those remarks, I support.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you look at your gallery today, there are hundreds of children who have come to see how the Senate works. We must give them certainty and a promise that once they finish school, they will find jobs. However, I advise them that jobs will not necessarily come from the Government.

As a Senate, we must be the generation that laid the foundation for a private sector to thrive and grow for our children to be innovators and entrepreneurs in their own right. I, therefore, hope the Committee will broaden its enquiry and consideration and see how the Government can provide an enabling environment for job creation for our children.

members of this House misguiding the nation on… If you look at the SHA contributions, they are done by a few people, and the bulk of those people who are contributing are paying about Kshs500, but the registration has been open to many people beyond what NHIF used to do. You realise that without proper diagnostics done to these people with disabilities early enough to avoid chronic ailments, then you end up having these bigger bills that a normal person might sometimes struggle to raise money here and there; it could be a cancer situation or surgery situation to deal with.

However, someone with a disability who has no source of income, cannot do any kind of work. When they are found in a place where preventive care did not take place, they even get heaped into bigger problems. So, this is a very serious issue that I hope that this Committee will make sure that we make it easier to identify people from their houses, get them out from embarrassment that they sometimes face in society that they can come out and show their disability. Most importantly, even enhancing registration in those opportunities such as SHA. Therefore, I find this a very good statement. I hope that it will be fast-tracked to allow people with disabilities to get the right care that they need.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I support.

the kind of challenges that they are going through. Sometimes you go for a meeting and even transportation alone is a challenge, because some of them cannot even sit on the boda bodas. They cannot even afford the transport. Therefore, the Ministry should look into a way of making sure that these registrations are done at the grassroots level so that at the end of the day, we know the exact number of the persons living with disabilities. They should also segregate to an extent that we have the exact number of the most vulnerable, who are supposed to be assisted. Otherwise, I ask the Committee to act with speed and ensure that this issue is addressed.

Thank you.

MOTION

RECONSTITUTION OF SELECT COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE

THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING, the resolutions of the Senate made on 12th February, 2025, 2nd December, 2025 and 17th June, 2026, on the approval of Senators to serve in various Select Committees of the Senate. a) pursuant to Standing Orders 197, 199, 228 and the Fourth Schedule to the Standing Orders, the Senate approves the following Senators nominated by the Senate Business Committee to serve in Standing Committees of the Senate as follows –

1. (i) Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Sen. Edwin Sifuna, CBS, MP, to replace Sen Beatrice Ogolla, MP. (ii) Standing Committee on Energy Sen. Beatrice Ogolla, MP, to replace Sen. Moses Kajwang’, CBS, MP. (iii) Standing Committee on Health

Sen. Shakila Abdalla Mohamed, MP, to replace Sen. Joseph Githuku, MP. (iv) Standing Committee on Information, Communication and

Technology

Sen. Moses Kajwang’, CBS, MP, and Sen. Beatrice Ogolla, MP, to replace Sen. Shakila Abdalla Mohamed, MP, and Sen. Hezena Lemaletian, MP.

1. (v) Standing Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity and

Regional Integration

Sen. Godfrey Osotsi, CBS, MP, to replace Sen. Beth Syengo, MP. (vi) Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing

Sen. Hamida Kibwana, MP, to replace Sen. Crystal Asige, MP. (vii) Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism

Sen. Enoch Wambua, CBS, MP, to replace Sen. Hamida Ali Kibwana, MP. b) pursuant to Standing Orders 193, 194, 197 and 199, the Senate approves the following Senators nominated by the Senate Business Committee to serve in Select Committees of the Senate as follows –

1. (i) County Public Accounts Committee Sen. Joseph Githuku, MP, and Sen. Justice (Rtd.) Stewart Madzayo, EGH, MP, to replace Sen. Johnes Mwaruma, MP, and Sen. Edwin Sifuna, CBS, MP.

(ii) County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee

Sen. Johnes Mwaruma, MP, and Sen. Hezena Lemaletian, MP, to replace Sen. Eddy Oketch, MP, and Sen. Godfrey Osotsi, CBS, MP.

Hon. Senators, I want to reorganize the business as appearing in the Order Paper. Business appearing as No.9 to 16, all these need division, so they are deferred.

BILL

Second Reading

THE ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY BILL (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BILLS NO.61 OF 2022)

(Sen. Mumma on 11.6.2026)

(Bill deferred)

BILL

Second Reading

THE KENYA ROADS (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BILLS NO.34 OF 2025)

(Sen. Oketch Gicheru on 18.6.2026)

(Bill deferred)

BILL

Second Reading

THE REFERENDUM BILL (SENATE BILLS NO.3 OF 2026)

(Sen. Wakili Sigei on 23.7.2026)

(Bill deferred)

BILL

Second Reading

THE MINING (AMENDMENT) BILL (SENATE BILLS NO. 22 OF 2025)

(Sen. Karen Nyamu on 29.07.2026)

(Bill deferred)

MOTION

ADOPTION OF REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON DELEGATED LEGISLATION ON TRAFFIC RULES AND NTSA REGULATIONS

THAT, the Senate adopts the Reports of the Select Committee on Delegated Legislation on its consideration of the –

i)

The Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 11 of 2026; ii)

The Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 13 of 2026); and iii)

The National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of Commercial Vehicles) Regulations, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 14 of 2026); laid on the Table of the Senate on Wednesday, 10th June, 2026; and that pursuant to Section 18 of the Statutory Instruments Act, the Senate resolves to annul the Traffic (School Transport) Rules, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 11 of 2026; the Traffic (Motor Vehicle Inspection) Rules, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 13 of 2026); and the National Transport and Safety Authority (Operation of Commercial Vehicles) Regulations, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 14 of 2026).

(Sen. (Dr.) Mungatana, MGH on 11.6.2026)

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE THE PUBLIC FUNDRAISING APPEALS BILL (SENATE BILLS NO.36 OF 2024)

(Committee of the whole deferred)

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE THE STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BILLS NO. 3 OF 2024)

(Committee of the whole deferred)

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE THE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT DISPOSAL RECYCLING AND REUSE BILL (SENATE BILLS NO.5 OF 2025)

(Committee of the whole deferred) We go to Order No.17. I do not see the Majority Leader around, so we defer that business.

BILL

Second Reading

THE PUBLIC SERVICE INTERNSHIP BILL (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BILLS NO. 63 OF 2022)

(Bill deferred) Similarly, Sen. Dullo is supposed to move this business, but she is not here. So, I defer that business also.

BILL

Second Reading

THE STREET NAMING AND PROPERTY ADDRESSING SYSTEM BILL (SENATE BILLS NO. 43 OF 2024)

(Bill deferred) Sen. Mwenda Gataya, approach the Chair. Hon. Senators, business appearing as Order Nos.19 and 20 are deferred.

BILL

Second Reading

THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BILL (SENATE BILLS NO.4 OF 2026)

(Bill deferred)

BILL

Second Reading

THE CROPS (AMENDMENT) BILL (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BILLS NO.8 OF 2023)

(Bill deferred)

MOTION

ADOPTION OF REPORT ON CONFERMENT OF CITY STATUS TO THIKA MUNICIPALITY IN KIAMBU COUNTY

1. c) The Report of the Ad Hoc Committee constituted to consider and make recommendations on the conferment of city status to Thika Municipality.
2. d) The Report of the County Assembly Committee on County Planning and urbanization on its consideration and approval of the report submitted by the Ad Hoc Committee.

At its sitting held on Tuesday, 15th July, 2025, the Speaker of the Senate issued a communication by way of a Message to the House, pursuant to Standing Order No.48(3) of the Senate Standing Orders, transmitting the resolution of the County Assembly of Kiambu to confer the status of a city to Thika Municipality. The Speaker then referred the matter to the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations for consideration.

The Committee considered the provisions of the Urban Areas and Cities Act Cap 275 that guide the application for conferment of city status to a municipality, and analysed the reports submitted by the County Government of Kiambu to ascertain compliance with the provisions of the Act. The Committee invited the County Government of Kiambu to make oral submissions and to provide any additional information on the application for conferment of city status to Thika Municipality. The Governor of Kiambu County, accompanied by the Thika Municipal Board and the Ad Hoc Committee on the application for conferment of city status, appeared before the

The Committee also wrote to the Office of the Auditor-General to confirm the total revenue generated by Thika Municipality from Financial Years (FYs) 2018/2019 to 2024/2025. The Committee also wrote to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) to confirm the total population of the municipality. The Committee further wrote to the following stakeholders to seek their views on the matter; The National Land Commission (NLC); Thika Residents Association; Thika Small Traders Association; and, Kiambu County Poultry Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited, among others.

In addition to the aforementioned activities and in accordance with Article 118 of the Constitution, the committee published an advertisement in The Standard newspaper on 13th March, 2026, inviting members of the public to submit any representations they may have on the matter by way of memoranda. The Committee further invited members of the public to a public hearing that was held on Wednesday, 8th April, 2026, at Mount Kenya University Graduation Pavilion in Thika. A detailed matrix of all submissions, including concerns raised and recommendations made, is annexed to the report as Annex

1. 4. The Committee also conducted a guided inspection of the various amenities and services provided by the municipality to ascertain compliance with the requirements of the First Schedule of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, Cap 275. The establishments inspected included Gatitu Road, Rosary Early Childhood Development Education Centre (ECDE), Kiambu County Level 5 Hospital, Thika Stadium, Mama Ngina Peoples’ Park, Thika Water and Sewerage Company (THIWASCO) and Thika Fire Station. Additionally, the Committee benefited from a comparative analysis of similarly positioned twin cities across other jurisdictions, taking into account Thika’s position within the Nairobi Metropolitan Region. Following conclusion of these activities, the Committee subjected the application for conferment of city status to Thika Municipality to the procedural requirements under Section 8, and the substantive criteria for the classification of an urban area as a city under Section 5(1) of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, Cap 275. From the foregoing, the Committee finds that Thika Municipality has complied with the procedural requirements under Section 8 of the Act, and meets the substantive criteria for conferment of city status set out under Section 5(1) of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, Cap 275. The Committee observes that conferment of city status to Thika Municipality will provide an important platform for accelerated development, improved service delivery and enhanced local economic growth. Detailed observations of the Committee are captured under Chapter Three and Chapter Four of the report. The Committee, therefore, makes the following recommendations–
   1. (1) That the Senate approves the conferment of city status to Thika Municipality and the resolution of the Senate be transmitted to the President for issuance of a charter, pursuant to Section 7 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, Cap 275.
   2. (2) That noting the undertakings given by the County Government of Kiambu in the course of the committee’s inquiry to fully operationalise facilities and services within the proposed city, the Governor of Kiambu County submits to the Senate, within 90 days of conferment of city status, work plans for the following—
      1. i. full operationalisation of the public theatre and the museum or interpretive centre; ii. enhancement of infrastructure and services within residential estates, including road networks, drainage systems, flood mitigation, water supply coverage and solid waste management, in line with the matters raised by residents during the public participation process; and

iii. transition to a smart waste management framework, including full operationalisation of Kang’oki Sanitary Engineered Landfill. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I take this opportunity to commend Members of the committee for their diligence and commitment to duty throughout consideration of this application.

I also wish to thank the office of the Speaker and that of the Clerk of the Senate for the support extended to the Committee in undertaking this important assignment.

Lastly, I wish to thank the team from Kiambu County, comprising the Governor and all his team. They engaged the Committee at various stages and presented submissions on behalf of the County. They provided verifications of anything we wanted to verify.

I also thank all the stakeholders and members of the public who attended the public participation in large numbers. They engaged the Committee on this matter and shared their views.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is now my pleasure, pursuant to Standing Order No.228(4A), to present the Report of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on its consideration of the application for conferment of city status to Thika Municipality.

With those remarks, I wish to move that the House adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on the application for conferment of city status to Thika Municipality.

I request Sen. Eddy to second.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

VISITING DELEGATION FROM MOGORWA PRIMARY AND JUNIOR SCHOOL

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence of a visiting delegation of 17 teachers and 81 students from Mogorwa Primary and Junior School in Baringo County. They are seated in the Public Gallery. The delegation is visiting the Senate for an academic exposition.

On behalf of the Senate and my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful visit.

Thank you. I can see the Senator for Baringo is not here. So, Sen. Cherarkey, welcome the visitors. You have one minute. I know you can plan your wording within 30 seconds, but I want you to utilise a minute for this purpose.

welcome them. I saw there is a gag order, that if you do not come from that county, you are not supposed to speak about the county.

They are in the Report and in our interactions with the audit reports that we have had on Thika Municipality. To the extent that those good services have attracted a certain kind of population to Thika, if you were to look at what would make a city, Thika Municipality merits.

Under the Urban Areas and Cities Act, a Municipality needs to have at least 250,000 people in its population. Because of the good services in the Municipality of Thika, I can tell you that today, Thika has attracted a bigger population from Nairobi. These are people now working in the Municipality of Thika. They are to the tune of between 285,000 and 300,000. These are people who actually stay within the Municipality of Thika. I have not talked about people who commute from Nairobi, or Embu, or Karatina all the way to Thika to work. This is a Municipality that, if you add all those numbers, during the day, you are getting to about 600,000 people visiting Thika, both for work and for business. So, in terms of population capacity alone, the good services in this Municipality have created merit for it to be a city.

Another part of city status is sustainability. We look at whether it can be a revenue generator for that particular county, as an agency. We also look at whether it can have a plough-back mechanism. Every single resource that is raised by that Municipality can be ploughed back into the sustainability of the services of that Municipality, through the board of that Municipality.

The Temporary Speaker (Sen. Wakili Sigei) in the Chair] I am proud to say that other governors must learn from the Governor of Kiambu, Governor Wamatangi. Can you imagine that in the last four or five years, the Governor of Kiambu has pushed own source revenue of Kiambu County to nearly Kshs2.5 billion and upwards?

If you look at the spread, you find that Thika Municipality owns the bulk of this own source revenue to the tune of about 55 per cent. It is not only that. When you look at the data of Thika Municipality in the last seven years, it has been giving that county an average of about Kshs6.5 billion to Kshs7 billion in those particular years. So, it shows that this is a municipality that, if conferred upon the status of a city, with the good governance that we are seeing of Governor of Kiambu, Governor Wamatangi, then it goes without saying that, as a city, it will end up producing a lot of resources that can sustain the own source revenue fight that we are seeking for counties to keep on bolstering. This will be the engine that will give Kiambu County more revenues.

We know that with this kind conferment of a city to Thika Municipality, one thing that will happen – and it is already happening – is that it will have a booming manufacturing culture, and massive industries. You can imagine the kind of multiplier effect on the industry will happen there.

We just saw a Statement here from one of the Senators about the menace of joblessness among our youth. If we are going to bolster the element of manufacturing, industries and now the digital business space that is going to be in Thika, a swath of young people who are within the towns surrounding Thika will find a home for economic

empowerment and enrichment. So, I can see how we will be able to bolster the economic merit of this country through Thika City.

That said, apart from the amenities that have been shown in this Report, you just need to go to Thika Municipality and see the work that has been done in terms of reducing insecurity through proper lighting in the streets of Thika. If you look at the reports that we have interacted with in our own Committee, which supplement the report that Sen. Abass has put together with his Committee, the municipality of Thika has integrated more than 2,500 solar-powered streetlights, and allocated about Kshs500 million for urban walkways and non-motorised transport in a municipality. If this is not commendable, what is? What can a governor do? A governor has worked so hard, together with the board of Thika Municipality, to have 2,500 solarised and solar-powered streetlights, extended investment in walkways and in non-motorised transport, for example, bicycles better than Nairobi City. They deserve this conferment. If you want a city that will give us healthy living, where you can ride your bicycles or walk to work, and reduce life challenges of unhealthy living – that will be Thika City, because of what the board has done.

It also has the benefits of strategic placement. Of course, all of us here are well conversant with the element of the Thika Superhighway. The excellent connectivity that you get between the Northern Corridor and Central Kenya through Thika Superhighway which also connects Thika to one of the Africa's primary cities, Nairobi City, just makes it a timely report for us to consider.

Therefore, without any fear of contradiction or favour to Thika in particular, this is a very enriching report to our economic blueprint as a country. If we can work hard to adopt this report and go a mile further to confer city status to Thika, I can see how the merit of this country will go in empowering devolution.

If you look at utility expansions in Thika Municipality, I have actually been impressed, both by the agenda of the national Government, that is the administration of President William Ruto working hand in hand with my brother, Governor Wamatangi.

I have seen that in Kiambu, there is expansion of utility infrastructure. Karimenu Dam, which has storage capacity of about 70 million to 90 million cubic metres of guaranteed water supply, is in this particular municipality. I have also seen this in the reports in County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee. What that means is that if Thika Municipality has 300,000 households that are living there, 100,000 are connected to water services. Where do you get these numbers across our country?

If you look at some of our counties, like where I come from in Migori County, we have four municipalities – Migori, Rongo, Awendo and Kuria – and all those municipalities are struggling to access water. I have had to deal with a number of municipalities across this country in the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee. If you look at their status of water supply and Water Service Providers (WSPs), they are barely having 50 to 40 per cent of their revenue from water. This means that they are producing 60 plus non-revenue water, yet there is a municipality in this country called Thika, that has water connectivity to 100,000 households out of its population of about 300,000. Why would you delay this municipality from becoming a city?

I think that this is a timely and well-done report. Even if you look at the element of hospitals, which forms a basis for healthy living, Thika has got some of the most important hospitals that even the sick from Nairobi depends on. So, this is a good report. I hope that this House will appreciate the Committee by simply doing one thing; conferring that city status to Thika municipality.

You can imagine if we do this this year, and next year we have the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) played in this region, we would have empowered Kiambu County to be a good story of one of the counties through its city. Just like the way we did when we took sports to Eldoret, it bolstered the own source revenue income of Uasin Gishu County by over 15 per cent.

We can project the own-source revenue of Kiambu by probably even 30 per cent in the next one or two years. We must fight for this effort by the Senate to make sure that we advance these kind of conversations. Kajiado County is a metropolitan area of Nairobi City, and I would want to see something like that happening there.

This Committee should go to Machakos and Kajiado counties and do this kind of assessment. They should then empower the municipalities that are within Nairobi City County, and confer to them city status. They should be run autonomously by city boards. If we do that, we will see a booming economy through such effort as the Senate. We should not shy away from giving the Urban Areas and Cities Act some breadth and some life.

One of the biggest hallmarks of what we call water service agencies, the Athi Water Works Agency, is based in Machakos. Most of the water that is being used in Nairobi comes from Machakos and Kajiado counties. Most of the projects that we see in Nairobi are empowered by Kajiado, Thika, Kiambu at large, and Machakos. We must go to these places, Sen. Abass. We should do an assessment then give these places the city status that they deserve. If we do that, we will see a booming economy in the devolution infrastructure.

With that, I wish to second, support and appreciate the Governor of Kiambu County for the good work he has done in the running of this municipality. We, as a Senate, will hopefully respect, honour and appreciate the people of Kiambu County for their good effort of industry in Thika, by giving them a Thika City in our sitting, perhaps this particular year.

I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. (Question proposed)

cities areas. Section 5(vi) of the Urban and Cities Act provides for the criteria. One of the criteria for a place to receive the city status is that one must have at least a minimum population of 250,000. I have read the report tabled before the House by the Committee and in my own understanding, the only criteria that has been met under Section 5 of the Urban and Cities Act is on the population. The other criteria or yardstick provided by Section 5 of the Urban and Cities Act have not been met.

I appreciate that we still have challenges of cities and urban centres in this country. Nairobi City County is not a going concern. I know most cities struggle even though they celebrate when they receive city status. Nakuru and Eldoret were conferred city status by this House, and Kiambu County are now proposing that Thika should be conferred a city status.

Kiambu County does not need a city. They need to come up with two counties. If you look at the population and the capacity, that County should be split into two. If we ever get to review the Constitution, Kiambu County should be divided into two counties. That will ensure efficiency of service delivery.

Those of us who have been to Thika have noted that the town is so congested and dirty. The road that one uses to exit Garissa to join Thika Superhighway is so congested and the roads are narrow. I was there a few weeks ago. It is just like Waiyaki Way; there is litter all over. The reading of Section 5 of the Urban and Cities Act needs to be very clear. We just need not give city status for the sake of it. We must build cities that we should be proud of.

If you take a visitor to Thika today and tell them you want to upgrade Thika Town to a city, that visitor will wonder if the meaning of the word “city” has changed. We usually have a huge gridlock of traffic in that place. I am happy the President has noted that traffic, and he suggested that we might end up doing a dualling of the road to decongest Thika Town. When we visited that place, there was congestion, poor planning, litter and dirt everywhere.

I was there two weeks ago attending a meeting of students from the region where you and I come from. While there, one could see sewerage spill-over. We must be serious. To give a county a city status, we have to ensure that the county or town meets the threshold of Section 5 of the Urban and Cities Act. The issue of ambulances---

(Sen. Kavindu Muthama consulted loudly) Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you need to protect me from the distinguished Senator for Machakos County. I do not know why she cannot wait for her time.

I know Karimenu II Dam is supposed to supply water to Thika, but in this Report, we have not been told if the Dam has the capacity to serve the population that will be in Thika. The other thing is the fire ambulances. I am happy that you, a lawyer, who understands what I am saying under Section 5 of the Urban and Cities Act, is chairing this session. We must have fire ambulances. The Committee went and met the Governor in his office. We need to be told the number of fire station machinery available. We need to be told the number of public toilets and stadiums available in that place. You do not just give city status to a place for the sake of giving it. We need to be told if there are traffic lights.

I was there and I did not see traffic lights, unless Governor Kimani Wamatangi, who was advertising himself yesterday in Citizen TV, has put traffic lights today. A city will only be a city when some of these infrastructures are there.

Section 5 of the Urban and Cities Act states that there must be revenue streams. I know those financial Statements are coming to the County Public Investment Committee (CPIC). Sen. Kinyua might be worried, but we love the people of Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya begins at Githurai, and this is a special town for them. There are many industries in Thika such that they wanted to arm-twist Governor Wamatangi to join them in some outfit.

notice that even my brothers in Linda Mwananchi knocked over a cyclist when they were traversing Bungoma? That video has gone viral, and the Linda Mwananchi people have never apologised to that person or treated him. However, their argument will be that there is no place for a person to ride their bicycle from, and they will be right. If somebody knows that gentleman, they should contact me so that we can see how to assist, since Linda Mwananchi has failed.

(Sen. Kavindu Muthama spoke off record) Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I do not know what Sen. Muthama consumed today, because she is restless for nothing. I have seen her taking only water, I do not know what has changed.

Sen. Muthama, I will send you that information. I am arguing that we must have cycling lanes and pedestrian walkways, so that we do not have a case such as the one we had where during the Linda Mwanainchi forays in Bungoma, a cyclist was knocked down. No one has apologised to that person or treated them; we should know who that person is, so that some of us can assist them since the Linda Mwananchi team has failed to assist. That is why there should be cycling lanes in Thika and even Machakos.

We want to encourage the green city; that is why even the Kenya Urbans Support Programme (KUSP) has been funding some of these counties to create walkways and cycling lanes. Even in the Nairobi City, the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) is constructing foot bridges. Thika Town is congested; how many foot bridges, walkways and cycling lanes does it have? We need to protect our pedestrians and that is why, the requirement of Section 5 of Urban Cities Act is very clear.

My fourth point is that when you get city status, the land rates and rent will go up, just like it was in Eldoret. I know the people of Thika are watching; they should know that the value of everything will go up. Are they ready for these changes? Since revenue must be collected, it must be revised upwards because of the city status. I remember in Eldoret's situation, the businessmen were arguing that they be reverted to a town.

I know public participation was done and I have seen the report. However, we know how public participation is done. People are coached but when this conferment is done, they will be very hesitant because their rent, rates and access to services must commensurate to the payment of revenue stream of a city. We must look at this Section 5 and Article 184 of the Constitution.

Number four is on the issue of emergency response. Let me use Nairobi City as an example because my colleagues understand. For Nairobi, we had to create what we call boroughs in Embakasi, Westlands, Hurlingham and Kilimani for the city network.

They were arguing that there is a railway line; that railway line is from the colonial period. It is only passing through the City, it is not a tram that can be used to transport people within Thika and Nairobi. My prayer, is to see Thika become an industrial city, but not now. There are many missing boxes that are to be ticked. When you say there is a railway line, what is the functionality? This is on a lighter note because my brother from Laikipia County just came back from a gruesome byelection. We had to do a railway line between Nairobi, Ol Kalou and Nyandarua. The point I am trying to make is that we need to be told if these renovations being done are for a light rail.

We must be told about the issue of emergency transportation within Thika Town. We must be told about the bomberos. When you travel to Brazil and Portuguese, they call the firefighters bomberos. My condolences and empathy to the people of Spain for the wildfires. How many firefighters have been employed? The only thing that Thika qualifies for in Section 5 is population, they are below average on other things. How many people are employed for emergency response such as the bomberos? That is what we want to see as part of Section 5 of this Constitution before we process this conferment and the President confers the city status.

Since my time is spent, my conclusion is that; I know Thika is a very strategic town. I have argued that in future, Nairobi City should be a business city, even though it should be called a slum city. Eldoret should be a medical city, while Mombasa should be a tourism city and Isiolo a demonstrative city; Thika an industrial city and Machakos a capital city. We should build a State House so that as President Ruto serves a second term, he can reside in Machakos, and the Senator of that County will be Sen. Muthama and the neighbouring governor will be Sen. Peris Tobiko.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, what we are saying is that let us follow the law to the letter, looking at all those conditions, I would plead. I have not even gone to the performance of the County Government of Kiambu. I have sat in the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) and I have seen their financial statements. If you want to know the functionality of a county, look at the financial statement.

My sister, Sen. Kavindu Muthama, brought up an issue of payroll fraud in Machakos. It is happening. In Nandi, the EACC is investigating the payroll. In Bomet, you have a matter of human resources. I am aware that clinical officers are on strike. I am surprised; the Committee’s Vice Chairperson, Sen. Mumma and Sen. Karungo Thang’wa brought up a matter of striking medics and the Committee has not told us what became of it. We must be told.

In my county, the clinical officers are on strike. I have seen you have quoted a lot about Health, which is good. You have said there is Level 5. At Level 3, there are many hospitals within Thika Sub-County, and you think it is sufficient. However, the human resource that were captured in your Report have not been attached. You have just noted, through the Speaker and said it will be reviewed at a later date.

Those are reasons that will need to convince some of us, so that as we ensure this happens, we bring into this matter---

Mr. Temporary Speaker, what I am pleading to the Committee, and I have tremendous respect for my learned senior, Sen. Mumma. She has been working very hard, especially on this Committee. She has handled too many hot potatoes, including the matter of the partnership between Nairobi and the national Government. I have seen you have scheduled it for today.

I know the devolution has handled a lot of hot potatoes and you have always been in the seat. It is not too much to ask the county government to review their position, step down on this Report, and allow us to review. Let us review. Let us give them a chance. There is no problem. It is my aim. I believe that, if it comes the way it is, I am afraid that, with the report you have presented and the persuasion you have given us, I will decline and this is the first time Sen. Betty Montet is speaking in this House.

I yield back, and I oppose the Report, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Now, Sen. Kinyua, you have the Floor.

Sen. Mumma, ni mtu aliyebobea kwa kazi yake. Najua wameifanya kazi hiyo kwa uadilifu na uzoefu mkubwa.

Hapa hapana mambo mengi. Nimemsikiliza Sen. Cherarkey akiongea Kiingereza kingi, lakini ukweli wa mambo ni kwamba ili manisipaa iweze kupandishwa hadhi na kuwa jiji, ni bayana mambo ambayo yanapaswa kufuata na kuuliza iwapo mambo hayo kama yamefuatiliwa ni jambo rahisi.

Kwanza, sheria inasema kuwa ni lazima kuwe na watu laki mbili na nusu katika manispaa ile. Swali ambalo najiuliza ni kama jiji la Thika limekamilisha hilo, na jawabu ni ndiyo. Kwa hivyo kwa hayo, wamepasi.

Jambo lingine ambalo unapaswa kujiuliza ni ya kwamba ule mji wa Thika kifedha na mapato yake iko namna gani? Inajulikana wazi ya kuwa Thika ni kitovu cha viwanda katika Jamhuri ya Kenya. Unaweza kulinganisha na Birmingham. Kwa miaka saba iliyopita, Thika wamekusanya zaidi ya Shilingi billioni 6.4. Hicho ni kiwango cha kutosha kusema kwamba mapato yao yanaweza kujikimu.

Bwana Spika wa Muda, ningependa Sen. Cherarkey kutoka Nandi asikie kwamba Jiji la Thika litakuwa la sita, iwapo tutakubali. Kwa sasa hivi, kuna Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu na Eldoret. Tukifanya Thika iwe mji mkuu wakati tutapomfanya Rigathi Gachagua awe rais wa sita, itamaanisha mambo mengi.

hospitali ile. Hata shule za chekechea za Thika zimebobea. Hakuna sababu yoyote ya kutoipatia hadhi ambayo Thika inataka.

Manispaa ya Thika inapaswa kupandishwa hadhi, kwani vigezo vyote vinavyohitajika vimewekwa bayana na Ripoti ya Seneti kwamba imetimiza. Sen. Cherarkey kusema ya kwamba wapatiwe muda, sijui ni wa nini, kwani mambo yote wanayofaa kuzingatia wameyatimiza yote. Kwa hivyo, Thika inafaa kuungana na sehemu zingine ambazo tayari ni jiji; zile tano nilizozitaja, ikiwemo Nairobi. Idadi ya watu wanaohitajika ili kufanya Thika kuwa Jiji ni laki moja na nusu, lakini watu waliopo Thika ni laki moja na nusu pamoja na elfu thelathini juu yake. Kwa hiyo, hakuna jambo linalozuia Thika kuwa jiji ili iungane na wengine.

Sen. Cherarkey ameongelea mambo ya makafani. Makafani ya Thika ilitembelewa na Kamati ya Afya kitambo kidogo. Lakini Kamati ya Ugatuzi ilipozuru, ilipata mambo yamewekwa shwari. Kwa hivyo, hakuna jambo lolote linalopaswa kuzuia Thika kuwa jiji. Namrai Sen. Cherarkey atembee Thika mchana, kwani alivyoongea ni kama anatembea Thika usiku. Ukitembea usiku, utaona jinsi mataa yalivyo---

Nawapa heko, na waendelee na kazi hiyo nzuri. Pale ambapo hawajamalizia, kwani aliye mkamilifu ni Mungu peke yake, tuwape mda. Tukubali kupitisha Hoja hii, na ripoti ipelekwe kwa Raisi wa Jamhuri ya Kenya aweke sahihi ili Thika iweze kupata hadhi na kuwa jiji.

Asante.

note that I am a member of the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations. I am, therefore, in a better position to share our observations as a Committee.

I also serve in the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, which handles special funds and agencies in counties, municipalities included. We invited the Kiambu County Government to appear before the Committee to present their case for the conferment of city status to Thika Municipality.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I was more than convinced, but just to get facts on the ground, we, as the Committee of Devolution, visited Thika Municipality. We had a chance to go to several facilities and institutions of the County Government in Thika Municipality. One of the many engagements we did in Thika was the most attended public participation baraza in a stadium. I am yet to get a better public participation forum than the one we had at Thika. We had Kenyans of all walks of life, who came to present the case for establishing the smart city, the industrial city of Thika. The business people appeared before the Committee. The education institutions, and a lot of them are in Thika, appeared before the Committee. The market people and boda boda riders appeared before the Committee. Others in the transport sector also appeared before the Committee.

So, besides the County Executive of Kiambu County, ordinary citizens of Thika Municipality had a chance to talk to the Committee. We were convinced. We had a chance to see for ourselves the institutions and facilities in Thika. What impressed me most was the preparedness of Thika Municipality when it comes to firefighting. I was surprised that they even have an institution that trains firefighters. The equipment that Thika Municipality had in terms of firefighting are good. They even trained the Kenyan Army.

(Hon. Senators consulted loudly) I hope members are listening to me. Thika Municipality trains the Kenyan Army and other counties. Sen. Mumma can bear me witness. We were taken through the drills. Another thing that impressed me in that drill is that their systems are so automated so that from the system, you can see where each ambulance in Thika Municipality is at any time, and the speed it is moving at. I am yet to come across another county or municipality that is as prepared as Thika Municipality.

Thika Municipality has many academic institutions. Ask me because I come from Kajiado County. Sometimes even when you want to blow your own trumpet, you cannot. This is because when I want to meet university students from Kajiado County, I go to Thika. That is where all our children are in tertiary institutions in Thika, because Kajiado is yet to pull itself to that level.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we visited the water company. I hope I am getting it right. I am not reading this Report. I am saying what I saw. We went to the water company. Regarding the water storage, treatment, and catchment, I tell you, Thika is on another level. We visited Eldoret, and we conferred the city status, but if you were to ask me, maybe Thika should have come first. That is the truth. The organisation of the County Government of Kiambu in preparedness for the Thika Smart City is on another level. Give them their credit and applause, because they deserve it. They are ready.

They have the infrastructure, whether it is because of historical advantage or whether the County Government of Kiambu has worked extra hard, Thika is ready for city status. We even had people from the road agencies, including KeNHA. They convinced us and showed us work that will open more roads and greater bypasses in Thika. There is a partnership between the national Government and the County Government of Kiambu. There is concerted effort towards the conferment of city status to Thika.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I do not want to belabour. I do not want to take extra time. I saw it with my eyes. We heard from the citizens, the County Government of Kiambu, and national Government agencies that are working there. They are ready. Thika is ready to get the city status; Smart Industrial City of Thika.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

mwenyewe kwamba Mji ule umeimarishwa, taa zinawaka, usalama upo, na huduma zinapatikana.

Mimi pia ni Mwanakamati ya Kutathmini Masuala ya Fedha za Kaunti, zikiwemo za hospitali, makampuni ya maji na special funds. Mara nyingi tumemwona Gavana wa Kiambu akileta makadirio na hesabu zake za Mji wa Thika. Ukweli – na si kuongeza chaumvi – ni kuwa hesabu zake zimekuwa safi. Tumeona kweli wameongeza mapato yao. Nafikiri tukiangalia Ripoti hii, wameonyesha pale takwimu kuanzia mwaka wa 2019 mpaka sasa ambapo Mji ule wa Thika uliweza kukusanya takriban Shilingi milioni 800 kuanzia 2019, wakaja mpaka mwaka wa 2024 wakawa wanakusanya own source revenue.

Bwana Spika wa Muda, najua Kiswahili kinakukanganya kwa sababu wewe ni mtu wa Bonde la Ufa. Walikusanya Shilingi bilioni 1.1. Nikutaarifu kwamba hivi majuzi waliweza kukusanya Shilingi bilioni 6.5 kama Mji wa Thika. Kama kuna sababu yoyote ambayo tunafaa kuitilia pondo zaidi, ni kwa nini Mji huu unafaa kuongezwa hadhi yake, basi ni suala la kukusanya mapato yale. Shilingi bilioni 6.5 kwa mji mmoja ni fedha ambayo inatosheleza huduma zote katika Mji ule.

Vile vile niwapongeze wakaazi wa Mji wa Thika kwa kujitokeza kuja kutoa maoni yao, kama ilivyo mkabala na utaratibu wa sheria. Walikuja wakatoa maoni yao wakiunga mkono suala hili. Vile vile, wafanyibiashara wadogo wadogo walikuja kutoa changizo zao ni kwa nini Mji huu uweze kuongezwa hadhi.

Kwangu tu ni kuona wivu yakwamba natokea Mji wa Diani, pale Kaunti ya Kwale.

Bwana Spika wa Muda, nina imani kuwa wiki ijayo, mimi na wewe tutakuwa Diani kwa ile safari ya mawakili Kenya nzima. Ndugu yangu, wakili Sen. Omogeni, anafahamu kwamba tarehe saba wiki ijayo tutakuwa pale Diani katika kongamano la mawakili.

Mmejionea wenyewe pia Diani ya sasa imebadilika. Kwamba miundo msingi yetu vile vile imepigwa jeki, na Mji unapendeza. Mtajionea. Msijipige kifua kwa sasa. Wiki ijayo mtapata jibu lenu.

Niombe wale viongozi wenzangu kutoka Kaunti ya Kwale, halahala tufanye nafasi na haraka iwezekanavyo tuweke maombi pia sisi tupate Mji wetu wa Diani kupanda hadhi. Haya ni kwa sababu umekuwa mji ambao umetuletea mapato mengi zaidi kupitia utalii. Tunaona hali ya usalama pia imeimarika. Sura a Mji ule imebadilika. Wawekezaji wengi wa Kenya na wa kigeni wamewekeza ndani ya Mji wetu wa Diani. Ni ombi kwa unyenyekevu, si kiherehere, kwamba tukiketi kama viongozi na uongozi wa Kaunti ya Kwale, pengine tuna nafasi pia ya kuleta maombi ile Mji wetu vile vile upande hadhi na kuwa jiji ndani ya Kaunti ya Kwale.

Nisiwe mwingi wa maneno, nimpongeze Gavana huyu na watu wote wa Thika na Kaunti ya Kiambu. Niwarai sana kwa unyenyekevu ndugu zangu na Maseneta wenzangu, kwamba tuunge mkono Ripoti hii ili Mji wa Thika upate nafasi ya kuwa Mji mkuu, ili shughuli zote za huduma ziendelee vyema na kuboreshwa.

Asante sana Bwana Spika wa Muda, Mwenyezi Mungu akubariki.

long time ago, as it a big name in this country that is always associated with big industries, big factories, and it is strategically placed.

I am happy that the Committee did a very thorough job. You know to be a city, there are quite a number of issues that are supposed to be considered, and I am happy the Committee took its time to engage and comb through every aspect of what is required of a town to be a city.

I am happy that the Governor, who also happens to be a good friend of this House because he is a former Senator, has done a very good job. He has put in place all the incentives and all the institutions that are very much likely to make sure that Thika becomes a city.

As we create Thika to be a city, I request the Government and other institutions as well, to make sure that we promote other small towns in this country. Once a municipality becomes a city, it comes with many advantages. We are likely to have more job opportunities for our young people, and more services to our citizens. It will require the national Government and county governments to make sure that they promote small towns, like where I come from in Tharaka-Nithi County. We would like to see a town like Chuka becoming a city. There are towns in Tharaka-Nithi, such as Marimanti, Gatunga and other small ones. They should be provided with necessary facilities and arrangements to make sure that in future they also advance to cities.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I do not want to take much time, because time is limited, and I can see quite a number of Members who want to contribute. I do not see any reason this House should not adopt the report by the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations that has been tabled by my good friend, Sen. Catherine Mumma, that Thika Town joins the list of others that have been promoted to city status. I am sure that---

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have many county headquarters in this country that can work harder and get elevated to the status of cities. You and I have travelled to many countries out there. Many countries have more than two or three cities. So, I hope that in the fullness of time, we will shed this mentality that only big towns like Thika, Nakuru and Kisumu can have city status. What is wrong with Bomet, in the future, having the ambition of becoming a city? It can work.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, all that we need is to borrow from the recommendations of this Committee. There is infrastructure that needs to be put in place to attain the status of a city. I hope this recommendation we have here is not conclusive. I am looking forward to the great city of Thika having an airport. When you go to London, you can land at Gatwick, which is still within the City of London, or at Heathrow. We are getting congested in the City of Nairobi.

Governor Kimani Wamatangi should dream big. When people who live towards Thika Road travel out of the country, they should not need to cross the city to go to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). They are lucky in that they have very good topography and big land. So, let this recommendation not be conclusive. I hope Governor Kimani Wamatangi can have a dream of creating an airport in Thika, so that we have options; for international flights, you can land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or in Thika. I hope he will be ambitious enough to put more infrastructure in that city.

This will tell the future generation that this Senate did not make a mistake when it approved this Motion to confer city status to Thika Town. Other than the recommendation that has been made to improve infrastructure, let us also have Thika be famed for agriculture. If you travel abroad, you go to cities like Nashville in the U.S., which is famed for music. You go to California, it is famed for good singers, good actors and the rich people who live in Beverly Hills, California. Thika is lucky because many of us, for many years, have enjoyed receiving pineapples from Thika. So, I hope he can also enhance agriculture. Let him enhance daily farming, because his county has one of the best breeds of great cattle, and he can make it a hub for agriculture.

We do not need to think about turning our counties into concrete jungles. We can enhance and make our farmers put money in their pockets that can give them respect. You know the cries of tea farmers from your county and my County of Nyamira. That should not be the case. People who are doing farming should get income that is commensurate to people who sit in offices. We always say that a country that cannot feed its own population cannot claim to be secure. When you talk about the national security of a country, you must also address the issue of food security. For example, when we speak about tea, there has been a debate in this House whether it is time we introduced minimum returns for farmers. If we say, for example, that every farmer should earn Kshs100 per every kilogramme of green tea, that will be a decent income for our farmers.

In United States of America (USA) the Government guarantees farmers that even if there is an adverse weather, the government will always step in to compensate them. We have reached a level where in Nyamira, farmers are threatening to uproot their tea. I am sure that agitation has probably extended to our neighbouring counties of Kericho and Bomet. This is simply because we have not been able to put in place policies that will protect our farmers. We can turn Thika into a county that is famed for farming. I want to drive to Thika and find dairy, coffee, tea and avocado farmers that get decent income

from farming. We say that agriculture, especially tea, is a big contributor to our foreign earnings. So, how can we, as a Government, abandon our farmers?

Secondly, I have seen a recommendation that the governor should ensure that there is good water supply coverage within that city. I will go a step further and add that we need public safe drinking water. Many of us do not drink water that is supplied to our homes through the tap. We rely on mineral water. Why should this be the case?

I remember in 2009, when I was serving as the Chairperson of the Kenya Anti- Corruption Commission (KACC), the predecessor to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), where some scrupulous businessmen acting in collusion with officers in the then City Council of Nairobi were charged in courts of law. I do not know whether they were finally acquitted, because I left the organisation before the case was concluded. The charge was that they supplied chalk to the city of Nairobi instead of a detergent that is supposed to give you clean water. You can imagine how heartless people can be.

You have travelled to cities like Geneva, where you take tap water. You do not need to buy mineral water. The government assures you that the water you are taking from your tap is safe drinking water. So, I would like Governor Wamatangi not to just tell us that he will comply with the recommendation of this Committee. He should not just tell us that he will have enough water supply within the city. A time has come for Kenyans to open their taps and take water that can be described as safe drinking water. We cannot continue buying mineral water, yet we are taxed heavily.

If you have a property in Nairobi, you must have seen what my good friend, Hon. Sakaja, has done. When he was here, we were all trying to survive. He has now increased rates in Nairobi. We are being squeezed by the Governor of Nairobi City County. The rates have really increased. Where I live, I do not enjoy public garbage collection. We use a private company, and we pay a lot of money. If you go to other cities like Melbourne, you will get that the residents pay the rates, and they are entitled to what I have seen recommended here – good roads and infrastructure. When most of us drive out of our homes, we are met by potholes, yet we pay huge rates. We are warned that the water is not safe for drinking yet we are paying rates. We are now also being forced to look for security, because you are told your safety and security is not guaranteed unless you make private arrangements. That should not be the case.

When I was a law student, we were taught at Law School that the Karen Langata Residents Association (KARENGATA) had filed a case in court and obtained an injunction against the then City Council of Nairobi not to collect rates from Langata. That was because they were not providing garbage collection, and they were not maintaining public roads within Langata. They were also not providing them with water. Those people were drilling boreholes. The residents got an injunction stopping the City Council of Nairobi from collecting rates until those services were extended to the residents of Karen and Langata.

I am challenging my good friend, Hon. Sakaja, that it is good to increase the rates. However, we should get services in return. That is why we say that if our Government is taxing us, then our people should get good health care, and not what is happening with the cancer patients.

There is a pastor from Nyamira who travelled to India to receive treatment on a disease that we did not have the expertise and facilities within the country.

We are being told that Apollo Hospital in India has declined to accept the Social Health Authority (SHA) insurance because there is no contract signed between SHA and Apollo Hospital. I hope the announcement that was made from the Floor of this House by the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Duale, that cancer patients can get this benefit when they travel to India, can be achieved. I am appealing to the Cabinet Secretary to make a follow-up on this. Kenyans who travel to India should not turn back to raise funds back home, yet a pronouncement was made by the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Ministry of Health that SHA will cover for their treatment when they go to India.

I want the people of Thika to welcome this elevation of Thika into city status with open hands. I have no doubt that once Thika gets the status of a city, we will attract international investments. We will also be able to improve infrastructure. The Governor of Nairobi City County has rolled out a very good railway network to transport people from their estates to the city. It will be so good if that dream sees the light of the day. I wish my former colleagues, Sen. Sakaja and Sen. Wamatangi, all the best and success in their work as governors.

I hope that they can link the railway network to the city of Thika. That is the only way of making sure that those who will come after us will find a better country and infrastructure than what we had. If I am in the City of Nairobi, I should take a train in the morning and be in Thika in 30 minutes. If I have business there, I transact and, in the next one hour or so, I take another train back to the city. That is what we want; to improve infrastructure.

It does not mean that if Mzee Kibaki, the late – may the Almighty God bless his soul wherever he is – did Thika Road, should be the end. Many countries have made movement very easy by using the radio network, where they take people underground. If you go to some countries, you will not see people but they are doing business underground because of the railway network.

I support this Report done by the Committee, but I hope and trust that Governor Kimani Wamatangi will walk the talk. I am waiting to see the reality of attaining a smart waste management framework. If he manages to do it, other counties will go there and benchmark. I am really looking forward to see how this smart waste management will be attained. I also want to see how the drainage system will be extended to cover all the residential estates. Some of us are a bit unlucky. In my County of Nyamira, we do not have a sewage drainage system. In fact, we do not even have piped water connection in the entire county, not even within the town itself.

This is a very progressive report. Let us join hands and support Governor Kimani Wamatangi. Once he gets the approval of the Senate, he should not disappoint. Let him do the best he can, and be a shining example of what devolution can do. We will all be happy to say that we have created our Zurich in the great country called Kenya.

With those remarks, I fully support.

in Thika. It also hosts higher learning institutions; we have Mount Kenya University there. Thika hosts the Kenya Medical and Training College (KMTC) Thika Campus and other big learning institutions. Therefore, conferring this status to Thika will just be confirming an existing reality, and it does not come as a surprise.

The Committee has given the County Government of Kiambu 90 days to catch up on the pending undertakings that I heard my colleague, Sen. Cherarkey, complaining about. It is not always going to be perfect. As Nairobi City is the biggest city, we are still grappling with sewerage and waste management. So, give it to them, and within the 90 days, they will bring the improvements and the conditions that the committee has given them.

I also want to tell all other counties that wish to have city status that city status comes with a greater responsibility. You need to up your game; you need to have good road networks; you need to have a good water supply, and all those characteristics that are necessary for a city.

With those few remarks, I support and want to congratulate the county government of Kiambu in advance.

I urge honourable Senators to read the Report in detail. If we do so, we will see that Thika is ready to be a city. We wish the people of Kiambu County well, and hope that they will enjoy the status after Thika has been conferred city status.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

one of the most seriously, thoroughly and properly done exercise that we have done, as the Committee on Devolution and International Relations.

Even as people are talking about my leadership, when I requested to stand on a point of information, I wanted to inform the House that the Chair of our Committee is Sen. Abass. The only reason I moved the Motion is because I led the team that went to the field, because our Chair was out of jurisdiction during that time.

As I led the team, I assure you that as a human-rights-approaches practitioner, I am one of the people who is always keen on the type of public participation that is carried out. The public participation exercise that was carried out in Thika over this issue is one of the best that I have had and witnessed. We had in excess of 3,000 people attending, and different sectors were represented. You can tell when participants have been coached to say something. These participants were speaking about their own issues.

The boda boda people wanted to know how their operations within the proposed city would be secured; whether they would be pushed out of the city. They were supporting the granting of the city status, but they wanted to know how they were going to be included in that. The mama mbogas wanted to know how their markets would be situated strategically. The industry people were there, and we were discussing even issues about industrial pollution and what they were going to do.

I feel having participated in this issue at the centre of it, this is an exercise that was done with outmost professionalism. I would urge my colleague, Sen. Cherarkey in particular – not because I do not want him to oppose, it is his right if wishes – to oppose from an informed point of view. He can do so by first reading the Report before engaging in disinformation about what this Report was all about. As we move forward next week, it is my hope that the House will see it fit to grant the city status to Thika municipality of the Kiambu County.

I beg to reply and request that the putting of the question be deferred to later date, pursuant to Standing Order 66(3).

ADJOURNMENT

1. 2.30pm. The Senate rose at 6.33 p.m.