Thursday, 20th March, 2025 Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum.

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.

Order, Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.

Hon. Senators, I wish to report to the Senate that, pursuant to Standing Order No.46 (3) , I received the following Message from the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding the passage by the National Assembly, of The Public Audit (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bills No.4 of 2024) . The Message dated

Services, Senate. Wednesday, 19th March, 2025 was received in the Office of the Clerk of the Senate on Thursday, 20th March, 2025.

Pursuant to Standing Order No.46(4), I now report the Message. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No.41(1) and 142 of the National Assembly Standing Orders, I hereby convey the following Message from the National Assembly-

“WHEREAS the Public Audit (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bills No.4 of 2024) was vide Kenya Gazette Supplement No.28 on the 2nd April, 2024 to align the Act with the Constitution following a declaration issued by the High Court and clarify provisions on the recruitment of the Auditor-General;

AND WHEREAS the National Assembly considered the said Bill and passed it with amendments on Tuesday, 11th March, 2025 in the form attached hereto;

NOW THEREFORE, in accordance with the provisions of Article 110(4) of the Constitution and Standing Orders No.41 and 142 of the National Assembly Standing Orders, I hereby refer the Bill to the Senate for consideration.

Hon. Senators, pursuant to Standing Order No.163, which requires that a Bill which originates in the National Assembly be proceeded with by the Senate in the same manner as a Bill introduced in the Senate by way of First Reading in accordance with Standing Order No.144, I will at the appropriate time direct the Clerk to read the said Bill a First Time.

I thank you.

Services, Senate.

Hon. Senators, pursuant to Standing Order No.163, which requires that a Bill which originates in the National Assembly be proceeded with by the Senate in the same manner as a Bill introduced in the Senate by way of First Reading in accordance with Standing Order No.144, I will, at appropriate time, direct the Clerk to read the said Bill a First Time.

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Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) . The Senator for Nyandarua County, please proceed.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement on a matter of national concern, namely, the Abduction of four Chiefs, an Assistant Chief and a Civilian in Mandela County.

Mr. Mohamed Adawa, Chief Wargadud East, together with his daughter, eight years; Mr. Abdi Hassan Suraw, Chief, Qurahmudow, Mr. Abdi Hassan Kulumia, Chief Wargadud Town; Mr. Mohamednur Hache, Chief Chachabole Location; and, Mr. Ibrahim Gabow, Assistant Chief Wargadut Town, were abducted in Wargadud Town, in Wargadud area, in Mandela County on 3rd February, 2025, and have been missing for the past 44 days.

The chiefs and assistant chief were on official duty traveling to Elwak Town to join the Deputy County Commissioner for the security meeting in preparation for His Excellency President William Ruto's week-long development tour of the North and Eastern Region.

Such abduction has prolonged profound impacts---

Order, hon. Senators. There is a lot of movement in the Chamber. Kindly, take your seats.

The good Professor, kindly. Proceed, Sen. Mariam.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Such abduction has a prolonged profound impact on the emotional, psychological and financial well-being of affected families. Children, in particular, may end up suffering from depression and behavioural changes due to the sudden disappearance of their parents.

Affected families may face financial hardships and find it hard to navigate lives and afford daily household needs, medical care and other essential items, where those

Services, Senate. abducted were the primary breadwinners. The impact is even more devastating in this Holy Month of Ramadhan, where the affected families have to fully engage in prayers and fasting in the midst of the uncertainty of the whereabouts and wellbeing of their loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the abducted leaders play an important role in administration and local governance, maintaining peace and security, upholding the rule of law in Mandera County. The abduction has deeply affected the local community, distracted local governance and also threatened fragile security situation in Mandera County, which is likely to terrorize the region generally. The abduction is indication of the growing risk faced by the local leaders, especially in Mandera County.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, as we condemn these tragic incidents, I call for thorough investigation to identify and bring to justice those responsible for abductions. The Government, through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, must urgently take measures to ensure that all the available resources are deployed to secure an immediate and safe release of the chiefs, assistant chiefs and civilians. The Kenya Defence Forces and National Police Service must intensify operation in the area to locate and rescue these leaders and neutralize the threats posed by the abductors.

More specifically, I urge the Government to-

civilians.

civilians.

reduce the number of the persons likely to be coerced by militant groups.

programme to help the affected families cope with their trauma and uncertainty of their well-being and whereabouts of their loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, I also call upon the Ministry of Interior and the National Administration to provide regular and comprehensive reports on the efforts being made to rescue the abducted leaders to restore the security in Mandera County.

Thank you.

Sen. Methu, your Statement is reinstated. You may proceed now to read the same.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, Sir. This is a Statement on an issue of national concern.

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Hon. Speaker, Sir, J.M. Kariuki's advocacy for the common Mwananchi shook the very foundations of power. He was a man who spoke truth to authority, unafraid to expose the widening gap between the wealthy elite and the struggling masses. His famous words, “Kenya is a country of 10 millionaires and 10 million beggars,” still ring true even five decades later.

Today, despite Kenya's independence and economic progress, we find ourselves in a situation where a small elite controls the vast majority of wealth, while millions of citizens continue to struggle under the weight of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

Born in 1929 in Kabati, Nyandarua County, J.M. Kariuki came from humble beginnings. Despite financial hardships, he pursued education, attending King's College Budo in Uganda, an opportunity that broadened his political awareness. Inspired by Jomo Kenyatta's speeches, he became an ardent critic of colonial rule. J.M. Kariuki played an active role in the Mau Mau movement, serving as a liaison officer, organizing logistics for freedom fighters. This commitment led to his arrest in 1953, and he spent seven years in detention camps under the British rule.

Upon his release in 1960, he remained steadfast in his advocacy for justice, land reform and economic equality. After Kenya's independence in 1963, he served as President Jomo Kenyatta's private secretary, before becoming a Member of Parliament for Nyandarua North Constituency. His legacy was defined by his outspoken critique of corruption, economic exploitation and social injustice.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, J.M. Kariuki's courage made him a target. On 2nd March, 1975, he was last seen at Hilton Hotel in Nairobi in the company of state security officials. Days later, his mutilated body was discovered in Ngong Forest, sparking a national outrage. A Parliamentary Committee implicated senior police and Government officers, yet no one has been held accountable, making his assassination one of Kenya's darkest political injustices.

As we commemorate 50 years since his passing, we must ask ourselves, how have we upheld the ideals that he fought for? How have we made Kenya a land where all can thrive, not just survive? Sadly, his warnings remain a reality. While we may no longer speak of 10 million beggars, today 50 million Kenyans still face economic hardship, struggling to afford basic needs, access to health care, and secure decent employment.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, J.M. Kariuki stood for universal and accessible healthcare, yet today, millions of Kenyans are trapped in a failing Social Health Authority system, unable to get medical treatment when they need it most. He spoke against economic oppression, yet today, the cost of living is suffocating Kenyans, with unfulfilled promises of relief and rising unemployment.

This anniversary should not just be another ceremonial remembrance. It must be a moment of reflection and rededication to J.M. Kariuki's vision. We must demand greater accountability from ourselves, fellow leaders, champions of economic policies that uplift the poor, and work towards a Kenya that truly serves all its people, not just the privileged few. We cannot afford to let his sacrifice be in vain.

May his soul continue resting in peace. May we never forget the lessons he left us.

I thank you.

Services, Senate.

Statement pursuant to Standing Order 53 (1) . Sen. Beatrice Ogola, please, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I understand the import of the Statement by the Hon. Sen. Methu and the difficulty you would have if you were to accept my request, being that, given who J.M. was, and given that this is 50 years later, and given that J.M. spoke in this House, could you please allow us to say one word to comfort the family and encourage them that J.M. will never die?

I will, at the appropriate time, give guidance on that. Sen. Beatrice Ogola, please, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir. This is a request for a statement on the poor living conditions of police officers living quarters in Ndhiwa Police Station in Homa Bay County.

I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Défence and Foreign Relations regarding the poor living conditions of police officers in Ndhiwa Police Station in Homa Bay County.

In the statement, the Committee should address the following-

Sen. John Methu.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I seek your indulgence because I have four statements. I would like to read them at a go.

Yes, you may proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a request for a statement on inequitable distribution of fertilizer by the National Cereals and Produce Board.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries regarding the inequitable distribution of fertilizer in the highland regions of Kenya, as reflected in the latest report

Services, Senate. from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) on fertilizer dispatch as of 11th March, 2025.

The highland regions of Kenya, known for their high agricultural productivity, rely heavily on fertilizer to sustain food security and economic growth. However, a review of the fertilizer distribution data reveals significant disparities, with some counties receiving disproportionately large quantities while others, equally dependent on agriculture, receiving far less.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, for instance, Uasin Gishu County received 413,103 bags, accounting for 20.99 per cent of the total fertilizer distribution, whereas counties such as Murang’a received 7,650 bags, Nyeri received 8,760 bags, and Kirinyaga received 280 bags, which is significantly lower allocations despite their agricultural potential.

Nakuru County received 204,764 bags, nearly 10 per cent of the total allocation, while counties like Meru received 12,910 bags and Tharaka-Nithi got 5,940 bags, which are significantly less. Some agricultural counties such as Marsabit and Samburu did not receive any fertilizer allocation, raising questions about regional balance in the distribution.

In the Statement, therefore, the Committee should address the following-

National Cereals and Produce Board, NCPB, in determining the fertilizer allocations to various counties.

agricultural counties despite their critical role in national food production.

subsidies and to prevent the marginalization of key farming regions.

were considered in the allocation process, and clarification on any inconsistencies identified.

ensure that all farmers have fair access to fertilizers.

I thank you.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the continued delay in the disbursement of Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds, which has left thousands of university students stranded and unable to meet their basic needs. Despite assurances from the Government that HELB funds would be disbursed by Friday 15th March, 2025, many students are yet to receive their financial aid.

Students require immediate and tangible action, not verbal commitments that do not translate into actual disbursements. The failure to release funds in a timely manner has exposed thousands of young Kenyans to evictions, hunger, mental distress and inability to attend classes due to unpaid fees.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

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immediate disbursement of HELB funds, including a clear and accountable timeline for payment.

breakdown to assess the scale of the crisis, specifying the interventions in place to prevent future delays and guarantee timely and predictable disbursement to all students going forward.

academic year, to the total disbursement disbursed so far and the outstanding balances.

rising cost of living, ensuring students receive adequate financial support.

delays, including clarity on whether the National Treasury has released the required funds to HELB.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism regarding the culpability of the management of the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (KUSCCO) following financial losses suffered by Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) in Kenya.

This matter is of national concern and it has shaken the confidence of many Kenyans in the SACCO sector, which for a long time has been a safe haven for members' hard-earned savings. Therefore, this management must be queried and those responsible must face the full force of the law.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Order, hon. Senators. May the Senator for Nyandarua be heard in silence.

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Thank you for your protection, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I see my colleagues are excited that I am now very busy. I am no longer a Chairman, so I have a lot of time.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget regarding the rapid increase in Kenya's public debt and its implications for the economic stability, financial sustainability and service delivery.

Kenya's total public and publicly guaranteed debt has surged to Kshs11.02 trillion as of January, 2025, accounting for 65.7 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) . This level of indebtedness exceeds the 55 per cent GDP threshold recommended under the Public Finance Management (PFM) framework. The rapid accumulation of debt is compounded by ballooning debt servicing costs, persistent fiscal deficit and reliance on external borrowing.

Of particular concern is that bilateral debt stands at Kshs1.09 trillion, of which China holds 62.6 per cent. The country now faces the risk of being trapped in a debt cycle that threatens national sovereignty, economic growth and service delivery.

In the Statement, therefore, the Committee should address the following-

Order, hon. Senators. For the convenience of the House, allow me to rearrange today's Order Paper.

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We will come back to the remaining Statements. However, we will now proceed straight to handle Order No.11, all the way to Order No.19. Thereafter, we will resume the normal flow of today's Order Paper.

Clerk, you may proceed.

Hon. Senators, kindly take your seats. Debate was concluded for Order No.11. What was pending was for the Chair to put the question, which I will proceed to put.

Next Order.

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Now for Order No.12, this is division. Therefore, ring the Division Bell for one minute.

Hon. Senators, Sen. Methu and Sen. Ogola, we have a crucial exercise to undertake that touches on our core mandate. I beseech you to stay inside the Chamber instead of exiting. You can do that once we are done with the division.

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly close the Doors and draw the Bar.

Hon. Senators, please take your seats, so that we can proceed. We will start with Order No.12 which has already been called out.

(Question put)

Clerk, is the system up and running?

Voting is going to be done electronically. At this juncture, hon. Senators, just log out. Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly remove unattended cards.

Serjeant-at-Arms, once you are done, let me know. Are you done? Okay. Hon. Senators, kindly log in and proceed to vote either “Yes”, “No”, or “Abstain”.

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Hon. Senators, we move to Order No.15. Since it has already been called, I will proceed to put the question.

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Clerk, is the system ready?

We move to Order No.16. Hon. Senators, I will proceed to put the question on Order No.16.

I will proceed to put the question on Order No.17.

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Hon. Senators, we now move to Order No.18.

(Question put)

I will now put the question. You may proceed to vote.

Clerk, are we ready with the next Order? Is the system ready?

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

You cannot rise on a point of order.

I can.

No, the Standing Orders are very clear on points of orders. What do you want to say, Sen. Ledama? You seem to be struggling.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I do not know whether you are allowing me now. However, you have allowed me.

I rise under Standing Order No.66 to request that the next Order be deferred until another time.

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Are you requesting that putting of the question be deferred until the next sitting?

Yes, putting of the question be deferred until the next sitting.

It is so granted. Putting of the question on Order No.19 is hereby deferred to a later date.

Hon. Senators, we have the results of the Divisions.

Services, Senate. County; Sen. Kavindu Muthama, Machakos County; Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Kakamega County; Sen. Kisang, Elgeyo Marakwet County; Sen. Korir, Bomet County; Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi, Samburu County; Sen. Lomenen, Turkana County; Sen. Madzayo, Kilifi County; Sen. Mariam Omar, Mandera County; Sen. Munyi Mundigi, Embu County; Sen. Murgor, West Pokot County; Sen. Mwaruma, Taita Taveta County; Sen. Ogola, Homa Bay County; Sen. Oketch Gicheru, Migori County; Sen. Okiya Omtatah, Busia County; Sen. Olekina, Narok County; Sen. Osotsi, Vihiga; Sen. Seki, Kajiado County; Sen. Sifuna, Nairobi City County; Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda Odhiambo SC, Kisumu County; and, Sen. Wamatinga, Nyeri County;

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

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Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

NOES: Sen. Abass, Wajir County and Sen. Okiya Omtatah, Busia County.

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

Services, Senate.

(The Bill was read a Second Time and committed to a Committee of the Whole tomorrow)

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

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Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

Services, Senate.

Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows-

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Hon. Senators, the results of the Division are as follows -

Serjeant-at-Arms, you may now draw the Bar and open the Doors.

Services, Senate.

Hon. Senators, we will resume the natural flow of today's Order Paper. That means, we will go back to Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.53(1).

Sen. Faki, please proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the operations of Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa County.

The Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa County is a regional center of excellence for maritime skills development in the blue economy. However, in recent times, the institution has faced several challenges, including delayed salary payments for the lecturers, irregular fee payment structures and the absence of a clear framework for placing students in industrial attachment.

These challenges, if not resolved, impact the Academy's operations and daily status as a learning institution.

In the statement, the Committee should address the following-

Sen. Hamida Kibwana, please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have two Statements.

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In May, 2019, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), issued a circular directing all county governments to cease paying rent for governors, deputy governors and county assembly speakers. Additionally, the SRC mandated that these counties ensure the construction of official residences of these officials by 30th June,

expenditures for top officials, specifying the amount of public funds spent beyond the establishment limits.

2019, which required the completion of official residences of governors, deputy governors and county assembly speakers by 30th June, 2022.

counties where such projects have stalled or have not commenced despite budgetary provisions.

Controller of Budget (CoB) and the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and ensure compliance with SRC guidelines to prevent further misuse of public funds.

directives and authorized excessive rent expenditures, contrary to established guidelines.

I thank you.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the second one is on the shutdown of the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS) and the impact on health data management.

I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the shutdown of Kenya Health Information System, formerly known as the District Health Information System (DHIS) , and its implications to health data management in Kenya.

The Kenya Health Information served as a central nationwide health reporting database, playing a crucial role in collecting, analyzing and disseminating health data to inform decision-making in the healthcare sector.

The system was hosted by the Health IT Department of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) , which provided both technical and financial support. Its recent shutdown raises significant concerns about the continuity of health data tracking, disease surveillance, and healthcare resource planning.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

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ensure the long-term sustainable and national ownership of health data management systems, along with the associated costs.

surveillance and policy planning, particularly in tracking outbreaks and managing national health programmes, and how these crucial services will be managed, given the time-sensitive nature of disease surveillance.

accessed by unauthorized parties following the KHIS shutdown.

of the KHIS, and what measures are in place to safeguard the nation's health data sovereignty in the future.

I thank you.

Sen. Richard Onyonka had three Statements. Any Senator holding brief for Hon. Onyonka? May I have your written authorization, Sen. Omtatah?

I have allowed hon. Senators to transact businesses that are not theirs, only later for the hon. Senator whom you are holding brief for walks to my office complaining. That is why I made that Communication the other day, that for you to transact any business for and on behalf of a colleague, at least let us have a written authorization. Even a text, I will go with it.

I do not want Sen. Onyonka to storm my office and distance himself from your good gesture, Sen. Omtatah. Then we will drop those three Statements.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, regarding the non-settlement of insurance policy maturity claims by the Corporate Insurance Company Limited.

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In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Insurance Company Limited, including the duration for which these claims have remained unpaid and the number of affected policyholders.

resolving the issues.

including whether the company is stable enough to guarantee the security of existing insurance policies.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I want to take the second Statement.

I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the delay and failure to remit capitation funds to public schools currently amounting to Kshs64 billion in arrears.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Now, we move to Sen. James Lomenen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise personally to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding the status of retrieval of bodies of Kenyan fishermen that were killed by suspected militiamen from Ethiopia in Todonyang area along the Kenya-Ethiopia border on 22nd February, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, during a visit to the area on 24th February, 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration made several commitments, including-

Sen. Omtatah, you may now proceed to read the three Statements by Senator Richard Onyonka. I have seen the text authorizing you to do so.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, regarding ghost workers in the public service.

In the statement, I request that the Committee addresses the following-

I do not have the authorisation. If you give me the authorisation for Sen. Mumma, I will look at it and make a determination. Yes, you may proceed.

So, that is a Statement by Sen. Catherine Mumma, MP, nominated Senator, dated 19th March, 2025.

Sen. Onyonka had three statements. Sen. Omtatah, you may proceed to read Sen. Onyonka's Statements. I have seen the text.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of Sen. Catherine Mumma, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing

Services, Senate. Committee on Health regarding the availability, accessibility and affordability of rehabilitation services across counties to address substance and alcohol abuse.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Health, comprising the Council of Governors, Committee on Health and the Ministry of Health on facilitating access to rehabilitation services for Kenyan youth struggling with substance and alcohol abuse and the strategies being adopted by the national and county levels, at the national and county levels to address this crisis.

between public and private facilities, their bed capacities and whether they have sufficient personnel, including medical professionals, caregivers, and counsellors, to cater to the rising demand for rehabilitation services.

for the campaign against drug abuse, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), and other oversight bodies to ensure that rehabilitation centres comply with operational standards and quality care requirements.

and accessible, particularly for vulnerable groups, minors, and low-income individuals.

whether there is a coordinated approach among key stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector actors, and community organisations.

centres and interventions in place to address these challenges.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the decision by the Ministry of Education to remove Mathematics as a compulsory subject for senior school pupils under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) .

This decision has sparked widespread debate and raised serious concerns about its potential impact on educational quality, career readiness, and national development. Mathematics is not just a subject. It is a fundamental skill essential for daily life, from finance and business to engineering, construction and analytical problem-solving. Removing it as a core subject risks producing a generation that is ill-equipped to compete in a technology-driven global economy.

This move threatens to reverse Kenya's progress in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) , education, which is crucial for industrialisation, innovation, and economic growth.

Mathematics plays a pivotal role in fostering critical thinking, innovation and informed decision-making. If implemented, this policy change would have far-reaching consequences for learners and the country's future workforce.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

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subject and its projected impact on students' competencies and career prospects.

development goals that prioritise STEM, education and industrialisation.

including parents, teachers, education experts and employers, before implementing this policy change.

competitive, particularly in STEM-related fields.

This Statement has been signed by Senator Richard Onyonka, MP, Senator for Kisii County, dated, 18th March, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations regarding the fate of Ms. Margaret Nduta Macharia, a Kenyan citizen who has been sentenced to death in Vietnam over a drug-trafficking offence.

In the Statement, I request the Committee to address the following-

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education regarding the governance concerns and leadership transitions at the Kenyan Literature Bureau (KLB) .

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In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

contracts for publishing and supply of various books, including the merits of each award as well as the nature and extent of involvement of the Ministry of Education in the processes.

printing and binding machines in the Financial Year 2024/2025, including whether due diligence was undertaken and where it was not, whether disciplinary actions have been undertaken against the responsible officials.

including whether due process was followed.

corrective actions taken to address the issue.

promotion and salary reviews adhere to principles of equity and fairness.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, SC!

Before, you take to the Floor, Professor, we have Sen. Gloria Orwoba at the Bar. Now, Sen. Gloria Orwoba, when you last appeared and sat at the Bar, you were unable to fulfil conditions for you to be readmitted to the Chamber. Those conditions were pursuant to a resolution of this House.

You are back today. You may proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Indeed, I was unable to fulfil the conditions. However, after being guided by the Senate Majority Leader and seeking counsel within and outside the House, I am going to read the apology without any omission. I am going to fulfil it because that is a procedure of the House. However, allow me to issue the disclaimer as advised-

“I, Senator Gloria Orwoba, on this day, 20th March, 2025, I will tender the prescribed apology herein as a requirement and a fulfilment of the Senate resolution with a disclaimer that these are not my words and in no way does it infer a confession or any admission whatsoever of liability on my part. It shall not

Services, Senate. prejudice my case in court where I have been sued by Jeremiah Nyegenye, the Clerk of the Senate.”

I proceed to read the prescribed apology. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I, Sen. Gloria Orwoba, hereby tender my unreserved apology to this Senate, honourable Senators, Clerk of the Senate and the Secretariat of Parliament for having acted in a manner which pursuant to Section 16(e) and Paragraph 7 and 8 of the Fourth Schedule to the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017 constituted a breach of Parliamentary privilege that reflected adversely on the dignity and integrity of Parliament and its Members and was contrary to the best interests of Parliament and its Members.

I undertake that I shall abide by the responsibilities of leadership as set out in the Constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017.

I therefore beseech to be admitted to the Chamber. I thank you and submit. (The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) consulted with the Senate Majority Leader (Sen. Cheruiyot)

Sen. Gloria, you are hereby admitted back to the Chamber.

Sen. (Prof) Ojienda, you may proceed to read your Statement.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have several Statements. I will quickly start with the first one. The first statement is on the state of media freedom and working conditions of journalists in Kisumu County.

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regulatory bodies have taken any steps to address the grievances of journalists at KALA- TV and other media houses facing similar difficulties.

organisations and media regulatory bodies are currently underway regarding the working conditions of journalists in Kisumu County.

stability of local media houses, especially in light of economic challenges affecting the industry.

aimed at safeguarding rights and welfare of journalists in Kenya, particularly in Kisumu County.

Services, Senate. regarding the financial sustainability, relevance and future of Postal Corporation of Kenya in the digital era.

POSTA was once a vital communication and logistics hub in Kenya. However, in today's fast-paced digital economy where emails, SMSs and private courier services have replaced traditional mail, serious concerns arise.

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

Hold on, Sen. Ojienda. What is your issue, Senator for Kakamega?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, keeping with my calling as the Senate Majority Whip, I wish to appeal to you to allow me to briefly move a small Procedural Motion regarding the issue of the Chair.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion- THAT, pursuant to Standing Order No.107 (1) (c) of the Constitution and Standing Order No.18 of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate elects Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi, MP, to preside over the sitting of the Senate for the remainder of the day, today, Thursday 20th March 2025, in the absence of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Members of the Speaker’s Panel.

I request Sen. Korir to second me.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As led by my able leader, Hon. (Dr.) Lelegwe is up to the task. I second.

Hon. Senators, as you are aware, the Chair is human. It is on record that the Deputy Speaker and Sen. Veronica Maina have just been called to a very important State meeting. Sen. Mumma is in New York. Sen. Abdul Haji just left today for Umra. Therefore, the presidium has been left to only one person, the Speaker.

Now, the Chair is human. I cannot take a break even for a minute before adjourning this House. If you will, I can adjourn this House for half an hour. You allow me to respond to natural calls of nature or we do not interrupt the flow of today's business by allowing Sen. (Dr,) Lelegwe, MP, to preside. He has been on this Chair previously and is extremely familiar with the dealings of the Chair to take over here till the very end.

This being a Procedural Motion, it need not be put to debate. Therefore, I will proceed to put the question.

Services, Senate.

Proceed, Professor.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, Posta was once a vital communication logistics hub in Kenya. However, in today's paced digital economy where emails, Short Message Services (SMSs) and private courier services have replaced traditional mail, serious concerns arise as to whether continued Government investment in Posta is a prudent use of public resources.

The Corporation has faced several financial distresses with a debt burden of Kshs9 billion and consistent dependence on Government bailouts. While there have been recent reports of modest profitability, these gains remain marginal compared to the institution's financial obligations and operational inefficiencies.

In the Statement, the Committee should-

Services, Senate. domestic and international, have disrupted travel plans, undermined confidence in the airline and raised serious concerns regarding its capacity and management.

It is imperative that thorough scrutiny is conducted to establish the root causes and provide a sustainable framework for corrective action.

In this regard, the Committee should-

KQ, their deployment for domestic and international routes and the extent to which the available fleet meets the demands of air travel.

ownership, the terms and duration and financial implications of leasing arrangements for aircraft and related operational equipment.

domestic and international flights, with a focus on recent disruptions, while examining KQ's existing partnerships, code-sharing agreements and interdependencies with other carriers, assessing whether these agreements, contribute to service disruptions and outline the immediate and long-term strategies in place to rectify these issues.

personnel to efficiently execute its flight schedules and outline any ongoing or planned measures to bridge any human resource gaps.

service recovery when flights are delayed or cancelled and evaluate whether these measures align with international best practices.

regulations and any penalties or corrective directives issued due to operational shortcomings.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security and Defence, regarding the adequacy of administrative units in Kisumu County and their capacity to effectively serve the growing population.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the establishment of well-structured administrative units is vital for efficient governance, security and equitable resource distribution. As Kisumu County continues to grow, it is imperative to assess whether the existing administrative framework is sufficient to meet the needs of the people.

In the Statement, Mr. Speaker, the Committee should-

Services, Senate.

Administration to determine the adequacy of units and whether Kisumu County meets these thresholds, alerting any plans to establish new units in Kisumu County.

of existing units to effectively address issues of security, development and public service.

Sen. Kavindu Muthama.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee of Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding the operations of Katelembo Athiani Muputi Farming and Ranching Cooperative Society in Machakos County.

In the Statement, the Committee should-

Services, Senate. and to address the claims of forced relocation of the land owners and individuals by land speculators colluding with the officials of the Cooperative Society.

compensation of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in respect of the Miwongoni River Dam project in order to ensure rightful compensation of legitimate land owners and long- term inhabitation of the Miwongoni Dam area.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have another Statement.

Sen. Mutinda, proceed.

Services, Senate.

Sen. Chute. Those two Statements are dropped.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a Statement pursuant to Standing Order No.57 (1) .

I present the business for the week commencing Tuesday, 1st April, 2025, when we resume from recess.

As Hon. Senators are aware, at the rise of the House today, the Senate will proceed on recess until Tuesday, 1st April, 2025 pursuant to the Senate Calendar. Consequently, the Senate Business Committee (SBC) has not scheduled any business for next week.

The status of legislative business pending before the Senate is as follows- There are 57 Bills pending conclusion in the Senate, out of which 45 are at the Second Reading stage and 12 at the Committee of the Whole stage. There are 30 Motions pending conclusion. There are 26 Petitions pending conclusion, out of which 18 are due for reporting by the respective standing committees and 532 Statements pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) pending conclusion by the respective standing committees.

Upon the resumption of regular sittings on Tuesday, 1st April, 2025, the SBC will meet to consider the business for the week. The tentative business for that day will include business not concluded from today's Order Paper as well as business indicated in the Notice Paper.

Services, Senate.

The tentative business for the Morning Sitting on Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025, will include the schedule of questions to the Cabinet Secretaries as approved by the Senate Business Committee as well as Motions.

The questions include- Question No.2 to the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs; Question No.7 to the Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Small, Medium Enterprises Development;

Question No.42 also to the same Cabinet Secretary; Question No.34 to the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning;

Question No.35 to the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning;

Question Nos.48 and 37 to the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forest.

The tentative business for the Afternoon Sitting on Wednesday, 2nd April, 2025 will include business not concluded from Tuesday's Order Paper and the following-

Bills with a Statutory Instrument (Amendment) Bill; the County Wards Equitable Development (Amendment) Bill; the County Statistics (Amendment) Bill; the County Governments (State Officers' Removal from Office) Procedure Bill; the Creative Economy Support Bill; The Livestock Protection and Sustainability Bill; and the County Government's (Amendment) Bill.

The Bills at the Committee of the Whole include- The County Public Finance Laws; the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood) Bill; the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill; the Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill; the Establishment of the National Teaching and Referral Hospitals in Kenya; Consolidation of bursary funds for equitable access to education in Kenya.

The projected business for Thursday, 3rd April 2025 will include business not included in the Order Paper for Tuesday, 1st April 2025, Wednesday, 2nd April 2025, and any other business scheduled by the SBC.

In conclusion, as Hon. Senators will note from today's Order Paper, Orders No.9 to 15 are scheduled for Division, with two of them relating to critical business, which, I am glad to report that we have since considered, albeit late and out of time, which is rather unfortunate, but glad nonetheless that we have done so.

Finally, I want to thank you and hereby lay the Statement on the Table of the Senate.

I thank you.

Services, Senate.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Maybe I would wish to know whether you agreed to comment on the general statement that Sen. Methu gave on the 50th Anniversary---

Yes, pursuant to Standing Order No.1, I will allow comments on that particular Statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for that consideration. I might not be conversant with very many of the events then, but then, as a student of History, I read a lot about the late JM Kariuki and most of the activities that influence our politics currently.

Of notable intent that I would want to mark out is that the late JM Kariuki defended the poorest of the poor in society and on the issue of land that we are currently battling still to date. As we mark 50 years since his demise, I want to send my sympathies to the family and I wish that we still look deeply into issues he fought about then so that we move forward as a country.

I also want to comment on the Statement by Sen. Methu and Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, SC on Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) . I am a beneficiary of the HELB Loan. So, once students miss the HELB Loan, it affects them in terms of accommodation, and meals. We have students who come from very poor backgrounds who are relying on these monies to support them. Imagine a situation where students who are not able to get this money, they are not able even to report back to their universities and places of study.

On that note, I would also wish to encourage beneficiaries of the HELB Loans to pay back. Once you have been able to successfully get a job, make it a point of urgency to pay back that money so that other students from very needy areas can benefit from this loan.

Finally, I want to support the Statement by Sen. Sifuna on delayed capitation to schools. Heads of schools are having a very hard time. I do not even know how they are going to prevent strikes. We are not going to expect heads of schools to use their own money to run the school. I want to implore the Government that we prioritize sending capitation to schools, so that heads of schools can pay support staff money, and provide food for the students so that we can keep our students in school.

I thank you.

Sen. Maanzo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to comment. I wish to begin with a Statement by Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda concerning delayed flights of KQ.

Kenyans indeed travelling can get very inconvenienced. This happens when something goes wrong with an aircraft or it fails to take off from another destination and,

Services, Senate. therefore, disrupts the rest of the events of the flight. Also, a flight takes off, develops problems airborne, and comes back.

That happened one time with a flight to New York. People were stranded at the airport, although efforts were made to make them comfortable for many hours. This eventually messed up the whole schedule of the New York flights, which was a big favour from the American Government, so that it could make travel easy. Therefore, there is a need to make sure that the management is assisted by this House to make sure that our destination is reliable and people wish to use our branded aircraft.

The second issue by Sen. Mariam Omar is on the abduction of chiefs. It is very surprising that up to today, chiefs who are security people, and who are usually accompanied by police officers who are armed, and who had gone to plan an event which the President was attending, got abducted. This is a very serious issue. To date, they have not been found either by the armed forces or the police. That means if a chief who is well secured in an area in the north eastern can be abducted, then any Kenyan in Kenya, can easily be abducted and find themselves outside their jurisdiction.

This is a very important Statement. We should do our level best as a House to make sure, first and foremost, these chiefs are found alive and safe, and to make sure that Kenyans are safe in the country. The biggest responsibility goes to the President, the Defense Forces and the Minister in charge of Interior and National Administration. Every effort should have been made by now to make sure they are back. However, abductions are not a new thing in the country. We have battled with quite a number recently.

We had an MCA who was abducted eight months ago and was released recently. The circumstances have not yet been explained. Even our own Sen. Okiya Omtatah had a huge squad at his house, ready to abduct him one of the evenings, but luckily, he had left the place. Therefore, anyone of us can be in trouble.

The final one is the one by Sen. Kavindu Muthama concerning the farmers cooperative SACCO, where land is being stolen right, left, and centre, and even where there is a dam called Mwongo. I had an opportunity to visit with my sister, Sen. Kavindu, and I realized, for those who are about to be compensated, those parcels of land have been interchanged with others.

The Government is about to compensate the residents so that they can have a huge dam. However, scrupulous people have exchanged the plot numbers and want to benefit while the real owners go away without benefit. This House needs to rein in hard on that, so that justice is done to the people.

I thank you and support.

Sen. Boni, please, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to join the Senator of Nyandarua County, the family of Josiah Mwangi Kariuki, his friends and relatives in celebrating the 50th anniversary of his passing on. As I do so, I would like to affirm that we have a unique opportunity as Government to refuse a repeat of what led to the death of JM Kariuki. The best way to do it is to end the culture of abductions and extrajudicial killings because it was in exactly the same manner that Josiah Mwangi Kariuki was picked from Hilton Hotel, went and met his death in Ngong Forest.

Services, Senate.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this House should be a part of the pain the family went through, because we brought shame. It is in this House that the then Vice-President announced that J.M. Kariuki was alive and had gone to Zambia. It is also in this House that the Commission of Inquiry was ordered by the then-President that they expunge the names of the people who had killed JM Kariuki.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, borrowing a leaf from what has happened in the United States of America, in reference to the truth surrounding the killing of John F. Kennedy, has now come out clearly, we have an opportunity now for the truth to come out about these senior officers in Government who killed Josiah Mwangi Kariuki.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is good we guide Sen. Methu to see what we can do so that we push for this truth to come to light. Integrity is everything. I know, not many might know, but a Member of the Cabinet, Henry Pius Masinde Muliro, former Member of Parliament (MP) of Kitale East Constituency, quit his job as a minister because he said he could not sit in a Government that the probe had indicated had a part in the killing of Josiah Mwangi Kariuki.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, my second comment is on the matter raised by Sen. Onyonka about the position of mathematics in our new education system. I would like to appeal to us, politicians and the rest of the Kenyans that this matter must be left to professionals.

Those of you who are old enough know that in our “O” and “A” level system of education, Mathematics was mandatory for all of us from primary up to the end of “O” level in the fourth year in secondary school. However, when we were specializing at “A” level, there was no need for us to be given further Mathematics, unless you are pursuing a pathway that was scientific. Therefore, I would like to support those people who are thinking that at senior secondary, it might not be necessary to teach people Mathematics. Let Mathematics be taught up to and including junior secondary.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, my last comment is on the Statement sought by Sen. Onyonka. He has raised the issue of drug trafficking, and in particular, the unfortunate incident of the arrest of Margaret Nduta.

Services, Senate.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I was seated on that chair, when Prof. George Saitoti was standing here, and he read to this country the top 10 drug traffickers in this country. They are on record. Some of them are in the Government and others are very loud in the opposition. The drug traffickers were named. Some say that it is after George Saitoti had chosen to take them on that, that he lost his life.

Thank you.

Sen. Gloria, please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I would like to comment on Sen. Hamida Kibwana's Statement about the shutdown of the Kenya Health Information System owing to the departure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from the country.

It is unfortunate that we are living in difficult times. This is an example to show that as much as we are accepting aid, and saying that it is okay to have donors and all these international organizations supporting us in one way or another, as you are aware, this is a very vital system. The Kenya Health Information System is a system that was holding medical or health data of Kenyans.

It is that same system that is used to even have a foresight or focus on outbreaks and all sorts of sensitive things. Owing to the departure of USAID, you can see now the system has been shut down. The questions that Sen. Hamida Kibwana is asking should actually open our eyes in terms of who are we trusting, our systems or some of our development projects with, even if it is international organizations. One of the questions that is being asked, and that is why I want to highlight this so that Kenyans can understand, is that she is seeking to find out whether the Ministry of Health had an exit strategy or a handover process to ensure the continuity of the health data management.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have always spoken about resilience plans in terms of our programmes, systems, Information Technology (IT) or otherwise. Right now, we are in a situation where we do not even know if our health data has been accessed by third parties. We are in a situation where we do not have a resiliencee plan. That can only mean that, God forbid, if we have an outbreak today, we might not even be able to do what is necessary to curb that outbreak and put in measures to ensure that Kenyans are safe.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as we are seeking to find out what is happening with that system now that USAID has left, it is also imperative that our Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy ensures that we are in control of some of these sensitive dockets, programmes or projects, as much as we accept the funding.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to also add my voice on Sen. Richard Onyonka's Statement in terms of the policy on the decision to remove Mathematics as a compulsory subject.

We all say and joke that we never use algebra in life. We are always saying that some of the mathematics that we learned all the way to high school has never been applicable to our day-to-day life. However, we have to appreciate that as we are moving to CBC, mathematics is an essential part of our lives. For us to even start this session

Services, Senate. here, we always have to count if we have quorum. As much as we are saying that at one point we do not need mathematics, this decision has been hasty and a lot has not been put into real thought in terms of what we are removing. Furthermore, it has never hurt anyone to study mathematics all the way, even to college.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I did not like mathematics, I have never liked it, but once in a while, I start to appreciate why I was in some of those very complicated classes. This is because, sometimes you never get to appreciate the applications of the basis and the themes that we learn in mathematics, until you are out there in the industry, whether in communications, engineering, architecture or whatever. You are then forced in a situation where you have to apply some level of thinking that we acquired during those mathematics classes.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I believe that was a hasty decision. I hope that as we are seeking inquiries on what led to this policy and how we can further make our curriculum efficient, I would like to say that we must appreciate that we do not apply algebra everywhere, but some of the things that we are taught in mathematics are actually applicable in life. It is also a basis of our day-to-day lives in the different forums that we are in.

I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Senator Beatrice Ogola.

I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I will start by supporting the first two Statements under Standing Order No.52 (1) . As we remember J.M. Kariuki on the 50th anniversary of his death, I want it to go on record that I also want to remember, in a special way, one outstanding man we have had in this country, the late Tom Mboya who came from Homa Bay County.

Just like J.M. Kariuki had outstanding deeds in this country, the late Tom Mboya equally had very remarkable things that we can remember. He was a Cabinet Minister for Economic Planning and Development in this country. In my County of Homa Bay, we attribute a lot of great things to Tom Mboya. Part of them are the Homa Bay Referral Hospital, the Homa Bay High School and the stadium that we have today. All these are attributed to the planning that Tom Mboya did while he was the Minister for Economic Planning and Development Ministry.

Along with J.M. Kariuki and Tom Mboya, I want to remember also the doyen of devolution, the late Odhiambo Mbai who equally comes from a sub-county that I have a history with, Homa Bay Town Sub-county. The late Odhiambo Mbai’s successes were not limited to the devolution that we now enjoy. This Senate came with a new Constitution and all that is attributed to one scholar called the late Odhiambo Mbai. Along with the personalities we remember in this country, there is the late Minister Robert Ouko. These are the people who did a lot in this country.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as we remember J.M. Kariuki, and the few we have mentioned, there are many others in this Republic, like Tom Mboya, Odhiambo Mbai and Robert Ouko. It is important to note that there is something in a name that all of us must guard. That is why we must all protect our names and build on to these names.

Services, Senate.

Very few people can remember who physically Tom Mboya was. A few of us here can remember physically who J.M. Kariuki was and who Odhiambo Mbai was. They do not even know how physically they looked, but we remember those names. That is why we say we must protect our names. That is why we say we can never ever allow people who discredit other people’s names, because names are built over years. People take years to build their names, some of it professionally and for some, even their families rely on these names. That is why we call upon everybody to respect each other, to honor each other and to never ever discredit names that people have built over centuries.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I come to the second Statement and which I support, by the nominated Sen. Mariam Omar. The Senator talks about abductions, but on the same note, I want to remind this House of a lie that I heard here some few weeks ago.

One of us came here to say that Raila Amollo Odinga did not mention the issue of abductions until we held prayers, a few days to his going for elections in Addis Ababa. I would like to put this record straight. That statement was made by the Senator for Kiambu, Senator Thang’wa. He said that at no time, did Raila talk about abductions.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want it to be recorded here, that right in December, 2024, when Governor Gladys Wanga was hosting the finals of the Genowa Cup in the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County, Raila Amolo Odinga came out publicly to talk against abductions and in the presence of the President of this country. Therefore, it is a lie to say that Raila Amolo Odinga did not talk about abductions.

As I correct that, I also want to say that we should never encourage issues like abductions. In this country, we should encourage diverse thinking and when people speak out their mind and that is in the Constitution, 2010, they must be heard and abductions should be treated as a criminal offense.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also support the statement by the Senator for Kisii, Sen. Richard Onyonka, on his statement about the policy decision that was made by the Government to remove mathematics as a compulsory subject. I support the sentiments that have been brought up here over the same by my sister, Sen. Gloria, that mathematics and languages have skills that we refer to as life skills. We all know that we all need mathematical skills, whether you are a hustler or a boda rider, we need to sharpen these skills in school.

Therefore, I will not be one person who will support this policy decision. Mathematics and languages form the foundation of the skills upon which people build the professions that they have. I have been a teacher of languages, and I know the basic skills that language builds are listening, speaking and writing, and these are core. Somebody might underrate them, but throughout all our lives and even today, if you are a Member of Parliament, you need those skills. That is why they are referred to as basic skills.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like to say that for mathematics, there must be a re-thinking of the fact that we can remove mathematics as a compulsory subject. For such a decision, there should be public consultation even before that is implemented.

I will go to the Statement by the Senator for Nairobi County. This is a Statement regarding the delayed remittance of school capitation by the National Treasury. A few weeks ago, Sen. Catherine Mumma made a Statement stating that the Union of

Services, Senate. Secondary School Principals was proposing an increase to school fees. However, you know the economic status of our people. In that Statement, two factors were considered; the late disbursement of funds from the National Treasury and a review of school capitation. Success is not instant coffee. There must be an investment in the success that we require in our schools.

Many head teachers and teachers in general take their time in educating our children. As I remember, the Government must contribute a big percentage even as parents also subsidize school payments. We have often seen monies allocated to our school in the budgets of the Ministry of Education. All we are saying is that these monies must be disbursed in time if we want success and our students to learn in time. The schools can only be efficient and effective if some of these funds are disbursed to them in time.

We all know that schools have a calendar. They have a calendar that must be followed, even their term dates. All the activities that happen in school happen because of certain resources that are given to the schools.

Schools use part of this money to pay certain teachers where there are shortages. Some of this funding is also used to build some of the infrastructure in schools. The laboratories where the children learn must be funded. We cannot expect success if the Government does not invest in these schools.

Lastly, I want to support the statement by the Senator of Machakos regarding the acute shortage of blood in the country. Look at the number of accidents reported on our roads every other day. These are unplanned occurrences. The Government must plan well in advance. We should have blood bank centres across the regions in this country. There must be not only adequate blood, but blood that hospitals and members of the public can reach at any time and speed. The need for blood is not only limited to the accident victims that we have. We also have sick people who need blood to be sustained. We have often heard of people who lost their lives because blood was not available. This must be discussed by the Committee when you finally give your direction, and we should never see a situation where there is a lack of blood in this country.

Lastly, I support the Statement by the Senator of Kisumu. This one regards the adequacy of administrative units in Kisumu County and their capacity to serve the growing population effectively. We have often said that we must bring services closer to our people. These administrative units provide structures that bring these services closer to the people. We have talked about decentralization and devolution of services. This must not be limited to Kisumu County.

In the sub-county where I come from, Ndhiwa, our people are crying for more administrative units. Through the effort of leadership and some delegations that met with His Excellency, the President of this country, we divided the Ndhiwa sub-county into two sub-counties. However, if you look at the length and population of that sub-county, we need that sub-county to get further subdivisions, and we propose to have three sub- counties out of the single sub-county that we have in Ndhiwa today.

This is an effort to get services closer to the people. This is why all of us applaud devolution: We wanted services to come from Nairobi and to be devolved up to the county headquarters. Those services must not be limited to the county headquarters. They

Services, Senate. must go down past the sub-county headquarters, up to the wards, and even up to the villages. I support this Statement in the spirit of efficiency, availability and equity of services to our people.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity.

Sen. Orwoba, proceed.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I was not here when we were honouring the late Sen. Cheptumo. I was hoping that you could give me two minutes to honour him because I was not in the House.

Proceed, Senator.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Having been in this House for a short period and being a first-timer, I know that one of the people who mentored me and gave me advice is Sen. Cheptumo. He used to sit behind me.

When he passed away, it was very sad for me. I wanted to take this opportunity to honour him and let the public and particularly his family know that, indeed, in this Senate, he was a light to some of us who needed legal counsel, counsel from ranking members and someone with experience in the House. Therefore, I wanted to take this time to honour him.

I hope that, as we always ensure that we have public records here, his submissions in the House and the work that he has done will not be forgotten by the people of Baringo and Kenyans at large.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Next order.

Services, Senate.

First Reading

Next order.

Proceed, Sen. Beatrice Ogola.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this Motion. I especially applaud the leadership of this country, that is the two leading lights; His Excellency the President and the former Prime Minister.

It is not for any reason that I indicate that I am proud of these two gentlemen. This is a discussion that came from the NADCO Report from a group that was constituted by the President and the former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, because of their charisma and patriotism for this country. Yesterday we had a delegation of Homa Bay County leadership, led by our performing Governor, Hon. Gladys Wanga, that met the Head of State. That is a right of any leader in this country.

Something that I must applaud from that visit is that the Head of State was categorical and made a statement that touched my heart. He indicated that Kenya is big enough for all of us. He added that in this country, no community needs to leave for the other to come into leadership. That is why we are saying that everybody must reconsider

Services, Senate. their decision. Let us all be part and parcel of this country. Let us be part and parcel of running this country. Let us be part and parcel of all the initiatives in this country.

It was very critical when the Head of State made that statement. I realised that we do not even need outrageous thinking of shareholding that we have had in this country after elections. There is a notion that there are people who must be in and must own this country in certain percentages. I want to declare that Kenya is for all Kenyans and we must all be part of running of this country.

We want to tell anybody who thinks that they can only be there alone. We want to convince everybody that we do not need some communities to leave the Government for some to get in. We need everybody in this country. Possibly that is the reason this country is still holding up.

After meeting the Head of State, as the leadership of my county, we also met the Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. In our discussion, the former Prime Minister told us that we all belong to this country, we can all be comfortable in this country, and that we all need each other. He went ahead to say that nobody should be uncomfortable because somebody is part of this Government. After all, we all belong and we all have some space.

Going back to the NADCO Report, I want to state here that I support it. In this country, we must implement the two-thirds gender rule. In our discussion with the President, he was very emphatic. I saw a man who has a vision for this country; a man who wanted to carry everybody in this country; a man who does not want to leave the youth behind; a man who does not want to leave women behind; a man who does not want to leave any quarter behind because he believes that in this country, we are all equal and we all belong to Kenya. The President promised that delegation that one thing he will see to its fruitful end is implementation of the two-thirds gender rule.

Why do we want a country where we have women being over 55 per cent, but we do not want them to have an equal measure of seats in leadership at all levels and structures of decision-making? We are not specific that the gender rule will only affect---

When people talk about the gender rule, they go very fast to point at elective seats. Let us embrace the two-thirds gender rule, whether in appointive or elective positions. Since the Senate guards and protects the interest of the counties, the Senate must ensure that in the formation of structures in the counties, they adhere to the two- thirds gender rule.

I have been a County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in a county government. All appointing authorities, even in the national Government, run to the minimum of not more than two-thirds. We have counties where people only go for only three women out of 10 appointive positions. Why do we not have even five-five? Why do we not have six women against four men? Why not the other way around? I am not saying that gender is only about women. I am mentioning women because it is the women who have not been considered much. As a country, let us include everybody in decision-making. Let us get women into seats.

We are not only getting women into seats because we want to see the physical women. It is not just physical women that we are looking for. We are looking for the gender and the thinking of women to be brought up at the decision-making table. I am

Services, Senate. here because I was nominated on the gender platform. As we discuss here and make decisions, we are doing so with the thinking of other women outside the Houses in mind. As I support this Motion, I encourage the leadership of this country to give us the goodwill so that we solve this problem once and for all.

This country called Kenya is admired in this continent because we lead and others follow. How can it be that when it comes to an important issue such as the gender rule, then we are backtracking? I challenge all the men in Parliament, be it in the Senate or the National Assembly. Let us show that we are charismatic, passionate and patriotic. You cannot live with people as your wives, sisters or daughters, but you do not like them getting into those positions.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support this Motion and all that was discussed in the NADCO Report. As I rest, I want to appreciate the two leaders who saw to it that it is through negotiations that we can solve a lot of conflicts.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, as we break for recess, our people down at the counties are looking forward to their leaders visiting them and sharing with them the challenges that they go through. Let us go down to the ground and share with our people the confusion that is in the Social Health Authority (SHA) and issues of delayed disbursement of funds.

I support.

Proceed, Sen. Orwoba.

Thank you, Mr. Temporay Speaker, Sir. I rise to support this Motion on the two-thirds gender rule and this report that was tabled.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am a beneficiary of affirmative action in the sense that I have been nominated in the Senate based on an affirmative action that was passed, to ensure that we have equal representation for both men and women in spaces such as the National Assembly and the Senate.

I have read through the reports on the two-thirds gender rule and what has been submitted. While I have a contrary opinion to some of the proposals that are in there, I generally support that we must have equal representation of both genders in all the spaces, be it the Cabinet or Parliament, where decisions are being made about lives; that influence our actions in our society.

Additionally, in the proposal to amend Article 98 of the Constitution to have additional seats in the Senate to represent women, I hope that this will be considered. While we are having what we call nominations, we also have to consider that you are not just being nominated because you are a woman. It is because you are first of all a leader, actively participating in the political space and interested in changing the lives of Kenyans, so that they can see you as someone who is representing the public in all these spaces.

Therefore, while we are looking at additional seats or putting more affirmative actions to ensure that we reach the two-third gender rule, we also have to consider where we are sending these women. Are we sending them without a vote in the Senate?

I sit in the Senate as a specially nominated Senator and you do know that my vote when it comes to matters that deal with devolution is carried by my delegation chair, who is the elected Senator for Kisii County. There are times when I sit in the House and I can

Services, Senate. represent women in this House by adding my voice through debating. When it comes down to the power of the vote specially elected Senators who are here to represent either the gender or working groups, do not have a vote. This is something that we have to consider so that we do not just have specially nominated Senators who have no power to influence decisions where it matters.

I know that there has been a discussion on whether or not we need women in leadership. It is very unfortunate considering what has happened recently. We have lost the G7 Members to G6 Members on the impeachment of Governor Kawira Mwangaza. We must understand that as we are making strides in terms of gender representation and women empowerment, there are many things that need to be dealt with in these spaces. One of them is looking into policies on how we approach matters from a gender lens.

We have to understand that it is not just about nominating or pushing women into the spaces of politics, but ensuring that we can be mentored and guided. Therefore, we can also be able to positively impact this politics or governance and also sustain those seats. It was very sad to have watched the several Impeachment Motions of Governor Kawira and participated in some of them that were in Plenary. The matters that came up in all those Impeachment Motions that were tabled, you could see what was lacking was that there was no gender lens even in the submissions of the impeachment.

I do not want to stand in this “Upper House”, this very prestigious House, to say that most of the things that are happening are because of patriarchy. Nonetheless, allow me to say that in the Kenyan or African culture, we have inculcated a very patriarchal tradition in the ways that we live, communicate and conduct business. You can tell that we still have a long way to go.

I speak this in the background of what is happening in New York. We have seen that the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is pushing the agenda of women empowerment and representation of women that we keep talking about. Consequently, in line with the theme of the International Women's Day which is Accelerate Action, we have to start actioning the policies and proposals that we are tabling.

We have to start being intentional in terms of, do we want to have women in these spaces of representation. If we do, we have to be intentional, starting from this country. I have just seen that we have had many changes in the Executive. There has been a memo that has been circulated in terms of change in office for principal secretaries, ambassadors and all those changes that have happened. I was holding my breath hoping that we, as the women of Kenya, had been given a Cabinet Secretary for Gender. It has not happened yet. That is why I say that we have to be intentional.

At the background of everything that is happening, we also have to hold ourselves accountable. I am specially nominated under my party, which I remain loyal to, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). I am pushing the agenda of the Kenya Kwanza Women Charter, which I was leading in drafting and presenting. Our President put his signature and promised the women of Kenya that he was going to do certain things. He was going to ensure that the women of Kenya will feel represented and even feel the impact of this Government in terms of certain matters that just touch on our lives as women in this country.

Services, Senate.

I cannot belabour the point of what has been happening on the front of femicide and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) reports, and those that have not even been reported. We have lost so many women when it comes to gender-based violence. We have spoken about the things that we need to do. We have given reports and recommendations in this House. We have brought Statements and summoned the Cabinet Secretaries.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we had the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration who is now the Deputy President, Hon. (Prof.) Kithure Kindiki. We have even had pronunciations being made by the President. As a country, are we intentional in terms of ending all forms of GBV, be it the violence that is meted out during intimate partner violence situations, female genital mutilation and online cyberbullying that is meted out on women? What have we done as a Government that signed a women's charter and promised to stand and make sure that the women of Kenya are represented?

As I support the Motion on adoption the Report of NADCO, I look forward to seeing this being executed. I remain hopeful, but I am also very cautious that we are not going to end up as a talk show. One of the things that I always tell the President, who happens to be my party leader as well, is that I am stubborn. I speak up and appear to be very arrogant and adamant on certain issues. This is because I understand the promises that we put on paper and promised the women of Kenya.

I promised myself when I got nominated to this seat that in my time in this Senate, I will ensure we deliver whatever we were selling during the campaigns. We talked about free sanitary towels to all schoolgirls and women in the vulnerable communities. In my day-to-day activities, these are some of the things that I hold dearly and push for in my legislative agenda.

We promised the women of Kenya that we are going to have proper maternal health care. In the background of the confusion in the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the challenges with the Universal Health Care (UHC) system that we are proposing to revolutionize that space, I keep asking myself, where is the maternal healthcare? What are we doing about Linda Mama? That is why even as I get the backlash of being part of this Government, we are working behind the scenes because I hold dearly some of the things. I am well aware that, being a beneficiary of an affirmative action seat, I have to make sure my voice is heard every time we are talking about these issues.

Aside from the femicide, the GBV, representation in the National Assembly, the Senate or the Cabinet, I highlight that there are certain economic programmes in this country that we have to intentionally put a gender lens. When we are proposing an economic programme for the vulnerable, startups and the youth, where are the women of Kenya in these programmes? One of the programmes that has been very successful in the Kenya Kwanza Government is the fertilizer programme. It has yielded a lot of positive results in the harvest we have had in coffee and tea production. However, every single time I see any executive or a representative of the executive talking about the fertilizer programme, I want to always ask, where are the women in that fertilizer programme? How are we ensuring that in the politics of the local distribution of fertilizer, how are the women farmers, who are also hard-working Kenyans, benefiting from this programme?

Services, Senate.

When it comes to the Hustler Fund Programme, I am always keen to look at the statistics of how women are faring. How are they borrowing? If they are paying back, is it beneficial to their businesses? How are the women faring in every single programme, including the diaspora jobs which have been introduced?

I see the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection going around campaigning and telling the youth to go for the jobs. I am always asking, how are the women of Kenya being represented in those programmes? Are we just looking for drivers and manual labourers, which is exclusive to the male? Are we saying that we want to line up all the young men because we want to be manual labourers because they are strong and have muscles? Where are the women of Kenya in that programme?

As I stand here today as a beneficiary of the affirmative action, I support this latest move to ensure that we execute the two-thirds gender rule. I am also cautiously observing if we are going to be intentional in seeing the execution of this report from the amendments, proposals, all the way to its fruition.

When it comes to matters of the women agenda, we are known to just talk. In fact, I have stopped accepting invitations by all the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) who call us for breakfast. I have told them that we have had so many breakfasts. We have been drinking tea and having lunch. We like coming together as women and say this should happen. We must now get down to business and action on the things that we have been proposing. Therefore, I want to support this.

I conclude by saying that in 2025, the two-thirds gender agenda might be about having more women in office. Many years ago, we did not even have one woman governor. Maybe in the next 10 years, the two-thirds gender rule will be about having more men or equal representation of men in these spaces. Let us not think that this is just a women's affair because once we get to the balance where we are 50-50, definitely at one point, we are going to be talking about ensuring that both the men and the women have equal representation. We might surprise ourselves and by having nominated Members of Parliament in the Senate who are men coming because of the affirmative action.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I submit.

Hon. Senators, I defer putting of the question to Order No.20.

Next order.

Services, Senate. 15th to 17th September, 2023 laid on the table of the Senate on Tuesday, the 5th of March, 2024.

(Sen. Methu on 19.3.2025 - Morning Sitting) (Resumption of debate interrupted on 19.3.2025 - Morning Sitting)

Hon. Senators, I defer putting of the Question to this Motion.

Next Order.

Services, Senate.

Services, Senate.

THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Health on the inspection tour of health facilities in West Pokot, Trans Nzoia and Turkana Counties, laid on the Table of the Senate on Thursday, 5th December, 2024.

Services, Senate.

Hon. Senators, there being no other business on the Order Paper, the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 1st April, 2025 at 2.30 p.m.

The Senate rose at 6:08 p.m.