Wednesday, 23rd July, 2025

Clerk, do we have quorum?

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

Hon. Senators, we now have quorum. Clerk, kindly call the first Order.

Services, Senate.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports the following Question-

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may now proceed to respond.

The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir and Members of the Senate for the opportunity to come back here and give a statement on the state of the Wote Stadium in Makueni. Allow me to read my Statement.

I am honoured to provide the Senate Business Committee (SBC) with a statement detailing the causes for delay in the completion of Wote Stadium in Makueni County. Further, I will elaborate on the specific measures implemented to address this matter in accordance with the letter referenced, dated June, 2025.

The mandate of the State Department of Sports is guided by the Executive Order No.1 of 2025. The department is mandated to undertake the following: development, management and implementation of the sports policy, enforcement and the implementation of World Anti-Doping Code and Convention against doping, promotion and coordination of sports training and education, regulation of sports, expansion of the sports industry for sustainable livelihoods, development and management of sports facilities and establishing and managing of sports academies to nurture talents.

Services, Senate.

The Ministry's infrastructure priority for stadia development categorizes projects based on international standards capacity and the requirements for hosting various sports events.

The development and refurbishment of 57 projects have been prioritized in four categories as follows: There are infrastructure earmarked for African Nations Championships (CHAN) and African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Then we have executive directives, we have regional, county and community training grounds.

Towards readiness for the Africa Nations Championship and AFCON 2027, final inspections of the facilities designated for CHAN 2024 were completed and now have been cleared. Further, the facilities earmarked for AFCON 2027 are ongoing with completion anticipated between December 25 and June, 2026. These include the construction of the 60,000-seater Talanta City Stadium, which is now at about 45 per cent completion; the renovation of Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, which has now been completed; refurbishment of Nyayo and upgrade of other facilities like Kipchoge Keino.

The Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, with a seating capacity now of 55,000 will serve as the primary competition venue for CHAN, 2024 matches. Associated training facilities comprise Nyayo National Stadium, Ulinzi Sports Complex, Police Sacco and Utalii Sports Ground.

The State Department, through the Kenya Academy of Sports, is also undertaking the first phase of establishment of 37 constituency sports academies. The academies are earmarked to promote the identification and development of sports talent at the grassroots level. The sports academies target various learning institutions and community grounds as centres for talent search and development.

The protection of athletes' fundamental right to participate in doping-free sports, promoting good health, fairness and equality remains an ongoing priority. The Government, through the Anti-Doping Agents of Kenya, is committed to this by implementing an enhanced programme for testing, education and enforcement. The Ministry is engaged in a comprehensive review of the national sports policy and the Act, and consultative engagements with stakeholders were finalized in June. Efforts are now concentrated on the validation of these instruments prior to their official approval.

Following the completion of these stages, the Ministry intends to proceed with the formulation and adoption of our national sports strategy to inform the long-term implementation of programmes within the sports sector.

Wote Regional Stadium in Makueni County is a national Government project and it was envisioned to be a FIFA Category three stadium. It was designed to accommodate 15,000 spectators and the stadium was to be constructed in phases.

Phase One scope was constructed at a cost of Kshs299 million. The Makueni County Government has collaborated with the Ministry to monitor the stadium's progress, which currently stands at around 70 per cent of its original scope. The County Government has provided five acres of land as annex to the stadium.

The initial scope targeted key features that included a standard football pitch, VIP pavilion, perimeter wall, eight-lane track field, administration field, administration block,

Services, Senate. a borehole for pitch irrigation, water storage and associated electrical, mechanical and civil works.

Despite a successful launch of construction in January, 2017, the stadium project has subsequently encountered delays towards its completion stemming from the following issues-

One, the Makueni County Government changed the original site of the project, causing delays in commencement. Two, the new site had topographical challenges, which necessitated undertaking and mitigating factors to stabilize the ground on the western side and adjust the 1,500-seater pavilion design. Boulders were used to stabilize the ground below and a retention wall is being erected to stabilize the running track pitch at the pavilion.

Four, non-allocation of budgets in Financial Year 2018/2019 and Financial Year 2019/2020 resulted in delays, payments to contractors and project consultants.

Five, contractual management challenges arose after the contractor was asked to vacate the site in December 2021 due to slow progress, but later appealed and was reinstated. Six, subsequent to its groundbreaking in May 2017, the project timelines have undergone several extensions, shifting from initial target of June 2018 to October 2020, February 2022, February 2024, January 2025 and now September 2025.

Despite significant delays and challenges, the Ministry has prioritized the completion of the stadium's construction. The current measures specifically target pending works on the laying of the athletics track, players' changing rooms and a public ablution block, completion of the perimeter walls, gates, drilling of the borehole, installation of the pump for the irrigation system and the pump house.

These measures also include continuous monitoring of the project to resolve outstanding issues and ensure its completion, continued collaboration with the County Government, which has allocated for the stadium's completion as a vital investment in supporting local sports.

Due to the topographical challenges, the Ministry is reviewing the scope to make it a functional training facility to feature a football playing pitch, athletics track, players' changing rooms and a public ablution. The project is then expected to be completed by December, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, Sir and Members of the Senate, I visited Wote Stadium in Makueni. Just to explain on the topographical challenges is that normally when you do a 15,000- seater, you do a VIP terrace and pavilion. The current piece of land where this project is located has a lot of challenges. The contractor tried to put boulders, but the original design will not be achieved because if you look at the ground level where the boulders are being put and the base where you have the pitch, you are talking about a height of between 3.5 to 4 metres. This means that if we go ahead to put the boulders and other material, we are likely to spend more than the amount of money earmarked for the stadium.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have directed that the technical team reviews the design to see how we can accommodate some of the facilities I have mentioned here and then make it just good for sports, but then that design can be achieved in another site. That is where we are Rt. Hon. Speaker and Members of the Senate.

Services, Senate.

I thank you for this opportunity.

Sen. Maanzo, you may ask your supplementary question.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Cabinet Secretary confirms that the work is very advanced; it is up to 70 per cent. Wote being under two hours' drive, could it not be one of the stadiums you could use for AFCON training during the sports in 2027?

Secondly, he has not answered part (b) of the Question on what his budgetary allocation is for this year and when he intends to complete the stadium.

You may proceed to respond, Hon. Cabinet Secretary. Sen. Maanzo, I thought the Cabinet Secretary said he intends to complete it by December 2025, unless you were not alert.

Proceed, Hon. Cabinet Secretary. The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Mr. Speaker, Sir and Hon. Members, as I said earlier, we are working on the stadium and we now intend to complete this facility by December, 2025. However, the original design that we do for 15,000-seater cannot be achieved on that site.

I have visited that site. If we have to fill that hole up to four metres, we are likely to spend more. That is why we directed Public Works and the team in Sports Kenya to flex the design to accommodate the components that we can accommodate; those mentioned in my Statement, then we see how we can manage the other components, possibly, with a new site that we can redesign.

Originally, this Stadium had been earmarked for a flat area. However, the land was allocated to another project and the stadium was moved to this topographically challenging area.

In terms of the budget for this, we do not have a National Treasury allocation. However, through Sports Kenya, we pay the certificates as we arise because we have a total of around Kshs5 billion of stadium investment that we normally flex within. It is part of the priority projects in our list and we have earmarked it to be paid through the Sports Fund.

In terms of resourcing, we will give it priority. However, we need to resolve the technical issues and we are.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, the third question was; now that Wote is under two hours from Nairobi, would you have it as one of the training grounds during the AFCON 2027?

The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: In terms of being a training site for African Nations Championships

(CHAN)

; as of now it is not one of the fields that have been identified for AFCON. However, depending on the progress that we will make and the assessments that we will be making going forward, we will see whether that will be a possibility.

It is not earmarked for CHAN or AFCON because is not just about the distance from Nairobi; there are other issues that we look at for a training field for these kind of tournaments. They include issues of accommodation for players and other standards provided by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) . Right now, Wote Stadium has

Services, Senate. not been assessed for these kind of tournaments. However, we want to speed up completion, resolve the technical challenges and make it ready for other sporting activities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Boni, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, His Excellency Mvurya gives a fresh breadth to the Cabinet because wherever he has been, he has performed.

Cabinet Secretary, the country was very happy to see you when you were handing over the Kasarani Stadium. The country truly appreciates the role of sports in our lives. With the flexible Kshs5 billion, why is it that Bukhungu Stadium, which was part of the centres that were earmarked for CHAN and AFCON stalled?

In fact, this morning, the people of Kakamega were waiting for you to explain why you went and destroyed the upgrading of the stadium that had been done by Governor Oparanya and now, even little things like school sports cannot take place in Bukhungu Stadium?

Sen. Wambua, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to go back to Wote. The Cabinet Secretary has said on record that they are not going to achieve the original capacity of the stadium. Could he tell me and the people of Wote the capacity of the finished stadium that they are going to do? Now that the capacity will be smaller, has that had an impact on the final budget for that project? Does it mean then that we will spend less to achieve that project?

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Cheruiyot, the Majority Leader, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also want to ask the Cabinet Secretary a supplementary question.

About two years ago, the people of Kericho hosted the national celebrations at the Kiprugut Chumo Stadium. There was a promise by the Government that though it was not completed due to the exigencies of time and budgetary constraints at that time, at a particular point in time, that stadium will be built to the expected standard.

It has now been two years since the contractor left the site and no improvement works have been done on that particular stadium. It is a stadium named after Kenya's first Olympic Medalist in 1962 in Mexico. We find that to be completely unfair, given that when the Government visited Kericho, we played a very good host.

Could the Cabinet Secretary tell us if there is any mistake that we made while hosting them that has made the Government flee from that stadium and has never come back again? If there was no mistake, then when do they intend to come and complete the stadium?

I thank you.

Sen. Faki, proceed.

Asante, Bw. Spika, kwa kunipa fursa hii. Bw. Waziri, je, kuna stadium yeyote ambayo inaweza ku-host hata mechi ya Gor Mahia na Abaluhya Football Club (AFC) Leopards katika Mombasa na Pwani kwa jumla? Walijaribu kujenga Mombasa

Services, Senate. Municipal Stadium katika Kaunti ya Mombasa mwaka wa 2018 na 2019, lakini ikakwama vile janga la COVID 19 ilipoingia.

Hapa Senate, tulipitisha resolution mwaka jana kwamba Kaunti ya Mombasa ipewe conditional grant ya Kshs1.2 bilioni ili kufanikisha ujenzi wa Mombasa Stadium. Mpaka leo, hatujapata mwelekeo wowote wa hizo pesa. Hatujui kama zitatolewa kwenye Sports Fund na kama hazitatolewa huko, Serikali ina mpango gani wa kuhakikisha kuwa Mombasa inapata stadium ya kimataifa inayoweza kusaidia kuinua vipaji vya vijana na vile vile kuandaa michezo ya hali ya juu ambayo itasaidia kuinua uchumi wa Kaunti ya Mombasa na Pwani kwa jumla? Na pia kukuza vipaji vya vijana wengi ambao wanatarajia kupata fursa ya kucheza mpira ya kimataifa lakini kwa kuwa hakuna stadium katika maeneo yao, hawawezi kumarisha vipaji vyao ama kufikia ndoto zao.

Asante, Bw. Spika.

Sen. Seki, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Kajiado, specifically Kajiado North in Ngong’, has been a training site for many athletes in this Republic. Being very close to Nairobi, we thought it would be a very good thing for Kajiado to benefit with a stadium, or even a sports academy. Could the Cabinet Secretary tell this House if there is any plan for Kajiado County, particularly Kajiado North, being a site for training for athletes in this Republic to benefit?

Sen. Sifuna, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As you know, I am an unacknowledged patron of the Kenya Lionesses 15s Team. We saw the Cabinet Secretary taking photographs with that Team with a dummy cheque of Kshs2 million. Up to today, that team has not received that money. Can he confirm why that cheque has not been cashed up to today?

Thank you.

Sen. Wakoli, proceed.

Asante, Bw. Spika, na karibu Waziri wa Michezo. Swali langu ni; Siku ya Madaraka, miaka miwili iliyopita, Serikali nzima ilitua katika uwanja wa michezo wa Masinde Muliro kule Bungoma. Kenya nzima ilipashwa na mbwembwe na hoihoi. Leo, kiwanja bado hakijakamilika. Kwa niaba ya mabanati wa Kaunti ya Bungoma, ningependa Waziri anyanyuke na atueleze ni siku ipi uwanja utakamilika.

Jinsi ndugu yangu, Sen. Boni, ameeleza, tulitaraji mkoa wa Magharibi, eneo la chemichemi ya talanta, tungeweza kuwakaribisha Wakenya na Afrika nzima katika mkoa wa Magharibi. Leo, tunatazama tu kwa runinga huku tukijiuliza tulimkosea Mungu nini.

Sen. Mbugua, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Cabinet Secretary, you indicated that you give priority to the stadia which will host CHAN. You have done well to conclude on them. Can you take this opportunity to tell the House and the country how prepared our team is for the competition that is just a few weeks away?

Thank you.

Sen. Alexander Mundigi, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. To the Cabinet Secretary; you have indicated that AFCON will come in 2027 and the number of counties that will

Services, Senate. benefit from the exercise. Is it possible to include Embu County in those counties, so that the money can help the county’s economy?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know we have a very small stadium in Embu County. This is the Kenya Kwanza Government county number 1. The Cabinet Secretary know that the Njukiri Stadium can benefit Embu County in sports. When will he implement it, so that the people of Embu County can benefit from it?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, sir.

Sen. John Methu, proceed.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Mine is also a follow-up question on a stadium. The people of Nyandarua have had aspirations of having their own Ol Kalou Stadium. The three times the President visited Nyandarua, he promised that we shall get a stadium. There was even a handover of the Ol Kalou Stadium to the military.

Cabinet Secretary, what timelines are you working with now that you are working together with the military? What comfort do you give the people of Nyandarua of when the Ol Kalou Stadium will be ready?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may now proceed to respond to those questions.

The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

I must say that the inspiration from the Senate to work with the Ministry on matters sports and infrastructure development is amazing. That is why I can see that even though I came here for only one question on Makueni, there has been now enthusiasm to have and share information across the board.

Number one, I want to say this for the record, that for the CHAN we have currently handed over Kasarani. Kasarani now, for those who have been there before, is a completely new facility with changing rooms, canopy, seats, a good pitch, screens and many other facilities that had been earmarked as part of the standard.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, we have fully completed this. In addition, we have two training grounds annexed to Kasarani. We have Annex 1 and Annex 2, which are training grounds for CHAN. We have equally taken over Nyayo National Stadium, which is now complete as per the CHAN requirements. However, after CHAN, we will embark on doing a canopy at Nyayo National Stadium and complete the other work related to athletes.

We have equally handed over Ulinzi Sports Complex and Police SACCO Stadium for training, which we will also upgrade immediately after CHAN for other activities. We have also Utalii College grounds, which will also be part of CHAN. Therefore, that is the package that we have completed for the tournament in August.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am aware that outside Nairobi, we also have other facilities that we are upgrading, and even though I did not come with a full statement, you will allow me also to respond as it is. Number one, there were issues in Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega.

Then we visited and had a meeting with the county government and the technical team. As I speak, we have resolved the issues around Bukhungu and the contractor is on site. Part of the problem was a pending bill of Kshs627 million by the county government. We agreed that the county government will be settling that one. We also

Services, Senate. managed the Kshs1.5 billion, for part of the pending work that we will do in Kakamega. So, for Bukhungu Stadium, the contractor is on the ground. In fact, I just saw a certificate last week and we have paid. Therefore, he should continue. We will be monitoring. We will hasten implementation so that this becomes part of the AFCON grounds in 2027.

Let me come back to Makueni. What the field now will accommodate is around 5,000 people. This is because of the other challenges I mentioned. It cannot hold 15,000 people. Therefore, in Makueni we will also find another place where we can do a 15,000- seater stadium, but because this is a project which was started in 2017, we will endeavour to complete it to accommodate football and other track events with the capacity of 5,000, just to make sure that we accommodate. We found challenges on the ground.

I also know that in Kericho, we have Kiprugut Chumo Stadium, which had been done for celebrations. It is a field with a capacity of also 5,000. When we checked the other standards, we realised that other standards cannot be accommodated, especially matters athletics. Therefore, we are doing Kapkatet Stadium in Kericho, which will have a 10,000 capacity. One contractor has already been identified.

The other issue is about Mombasa. The proposal that came was that Mombasa County Government had proposed that we do a securitisation process for around Kshs1.5 billion, which they suggested how that money was going to be paid. We cannot do that securitisation. Therefore, we have decided that we will still work with the County Government on our different arrangement, but still achieve an international stadium in Mombasa. I assure the House that we have put priority for Mombasa to have an international stadium and that is part of what we are working now. Last week, we were assessing Kilifi. We have already agreed with the County Government to do a 10,000 seater and we have agreed on the arrangement for partnership.

In Kajiado, we are making an assessment. We have already identified a team that will work with the County Government to identify a site. Once the technical assessments are concluded, I will make a comprehensive statement on the same.

The other question was from Hon. Sifuna. He asked about the rugby lionesses and acknowledged that we have the pictures. I assure the House that we now have Kshs70 million that we will be giving to athletes, those who won matches. They have not been honoured and part of this money will be given to the rugby team and the other teams. So, in the next few weeks, we will call them and give them their awards. I can see Mhe. Sifuna nodding, but that is the plan. We will implement it because that is what we have set aside as government, to ensure that we honour our achievers.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, for clarity, the Kshs2 million demi cheque is part of the Kshs70 million, which you intend to use to honour athletes?

The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Mr. Speaker, Sir, that day we gave them Kshs3.2 million in that demi cheque and there should be no cause for alarm. I am sure we will also give others who may not have benefited. So, the Kshs70 million is the package, including the Kshs3.2 million that we had given earlier, because we also have athletes who won, who broke records. Some were honoured, some were not. So, in total we have set aside Kshs70 million and we will be giving this soon. You will see the ceremony and confirm. Therefore, I do not want to belabour on this point because I know we have committed

Services, Senate. and we will deliver. Maybe Mheshimiwa and Sen. Sifuna would have wanted it differently, but this is the arrangement that we have done in the Ministry.

The other question is about Bungoma. In Bungoma, we have paid that Kshs6 million for the canopy and the contractor is on the ground doing the canopy.

In terms of preparation for Harambee Stars, we are very confident the team is already in the camp. We have supported them. They have a good technical bench and a good head coach. Therefore, preparation for the team is ongoing. We are in touch to ensure that we do whatever we can do to support them.

I want to use this opportunity to rally the Senate and all Kenyans to ensure that we support our team, Harambe Stars. In Embu, I know we have a stadium there. We are now doing the changing rooms in the Embu Stadium, which was done for celebrations, but now we are embarking on making sure that it can comply for matters sports.

On the other one of Njukiri---

You have already stated that. The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Yes. So, in Embu, we are doing the changing rooms and that is the current situation on the ground.

In Nyandarua, the Ol Kalou Stadium has now been advertised. It will be done by the Ministry of Defence.

I think I responded on the Embu one. Njukiri is at the planning stage, it is still at assessment and design, but I think it is going to be a 10,000-seater stadium. So, the Moi Stadium in Embu is done, changing rooms are ongoing.

Cabinet Secretary, please finish. The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Madam Temporary Speaker, I have finished the supplementary questions that arose from the Floor. Away from the first question, we had an official statement. We also decided to respond on the ones that have come from the Floor.

Hon. Senators, we are moving to the next Question.

I have ruled. Please, give Sen. Wambua the Floor.

Services, Senate.

Madam Temporary Speaker, my question was very specific and it was actually arising from Wote. The Cabinet Secretary said that they have cut down on the size of the stadium. I asked what will be the new capacity of the stadium and whether that had an impact on the budget from the original design.

Sen. Methu, which bit has not been answered?

The Cabinet Secretary has just said the stadium has been handed over to the Ministry of Defence. He has said that the stadium has been advertised; that is what I have said. As he handed over the Ol Kalou Stadium to the Ministry of Defence, what timelines is he working with? When can that stadium be ready? That was a very specific question. The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me to restate my points as follows. Number one, I said the new capacity in Wote will be 5,000. I also said that we will identify a new ground where we will do a bigger stadium of 15,000 capacity.

I also said in Nyandarua, Ol Kalou has been advertised by the Ministry of Defence and that size of stadium takes about 12 months to complete. Maybe I should also add that Kitui is now at 15 per cent of implementation and is going to be handed over to us by the contractor on the 6th October for Mashujaa Day celebrations.

Thank you, Hon. Cabinet Secretary. Hon. Senators, we will now move to Question No.067 by Sen. Joyce Korir. I am informed that Sen. Miraj will ask the Question on behalf of Sen. Joyce Korir. Hon. Miraj, you may proceed to ask the Question.

Question No. 067

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise on behalf of Sen. Joyce Korir to ask Question No. 067 to the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports the following Question No.069.

Services, Senate.

support into youth-oriented sports and arts programmes and how can they access these services?

Health and other mental health organisations aimed to raise awareness on mental health issues faced by the youth, and if so, could the Cabinet Secretary highlight them?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may now proceed to respond.

The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own---

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, just to save on time, start from page three with the last paragraph, so that we can go direct to the Question.

The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Okay. The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, in collaboration with key stakeholders, has rolled out several programmes aimed at promoting mental health and overall well-being among young people, particularly those engaged in sports and the creative economy.

These measures include the establishment of youth safe spaces within the operational youth empowerment centres, which offers mental health therapeutic services, amongst other related matters, such as sexual reproductive health. The Ministry has a programme on the initiative of leveraging on technology to offer counselling services to the youth through utilisation of an online counselling application developed by a youth, Kelvin Njoroge.

This intervention is preferred by the youth for the reasons that, if used, it is easy, convenient, confidential, cheap and accessible from a personal phone. This initiative has since seen increases in the number of the youth accessing counselling services, which help to mitigate mental health challenges. Through collaboration between the Ministry and International Youth Fellowship, Korea International NGO, with presence in 105 countries worldwide, currently based at Kasarani and operates satellite campuses across the country offers mindset changes training, which integrates mental health leading through weekend academy programme.

Through Kikao Initiative and outreach activity in which the Ministry, in collaboration with other MDS-organised sensitisation programmes, where mobile health clinics are organised for the youth, the Ministry, through State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, has lined up a myriad of collaborative programmes with Mathari Hospital, Youth in college, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to offer mental health sensitisation, screening and referral to the youth in college who may not wish to use the in-college counselling facilities.

The Ministry also uses the services of the officer in charge of employee wellness to provide on-the-spot guidance on matters of mental health to the youth who come to the office seeking information on mental health services.

Services, Senate.

On sports and arts therapy programmes, initiatives such as sports for development and creative therapy workshops are designed to foster mental well-being through engagement in sports and the arts; promoting resilience, teamwork and emotional expression.

Partnerships with mental health professionals. The Ministry collaborates with psychologists and counsellors to offer tailored mental health services during youth sports camps and creative arts events.

On public awareness campaigns, initiatives like ‘End the Stigma’ and Mental Health Awareness Week target young people to promote open dialogue around mental health, de-stigmatization and encourage help-seeking behaviour. These initiatives are customized to address challenges such as anxiety, depression, peer pressure and identity crisis commonly faced by the youth.

The Ministry also has adopted a multi-faceted approach, including embedding mental health services in youth centres and sports federations. One hundred and twenty operational youth empowerment centres now integrate mental health sessions, including counselling, in their daily activities. The sports federations too have integrated counselling and mental health screening in their programmes.

On training coaches and instructors, capacity building for coaches and arts instructors on mental health first aid to identify early signs of mental distress among participants.

On referral systems, the Ministry established referral pathways for young people requiring specialized mental health services to public and private health care providers.

On wellness programmes for national teams, the Ministry supports the Kenya Academy of Sports to include mental health modules in athlete development programmes, including psychological preparation and past event counselling.

With regard integrated service delivery model, the Ministry is piloting integrated sports and arts programmes with in-built mental health support services. These are accessible at county youth empowerment centers and during national events like the Kenya Youth Inter-County Sports and Cultural Association Games.

On mobile counselling units, the Ministry in partnership with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the Ministry has deployed mobile mental health units to reach young people in remote areas during sports and arts events.

With regard to access channels, youth can access mental health services through referrals from coaches and youth officers, direct contact with on-site counselling during events and toll-free mental health helplines.

The other part of the question on the National Multi-Sectoral Mental Health Action Plan 2021-2025. The Ministry is a key partner in implementing the plan, which is led by the Ministry of Health. It prioritizes youth mental health through joint campaigns and community outreach programmes.

On collaborative awareness campaigns, joint initiatives with organizations like Basic Needs Kenya and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) focus on mental health awareness during sports tournaments, training peer education in mental health literacy.

Services, Senate.

The National Sports Safety Framework developed with input from the Ministry of Health. This framework includes mental health as a critical component of athlete safety and wellness.

On specific campaigns, mind our youth campaign is a joint programme promoting mental health awareness in schools and community sports hubs.

I beg to submit, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Hon. Miraj, you may ask your two supplementary questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I thank the Cabinet Secretary for the elaborate feedback from the questions by Sen. Joyce Korir. For the supplementary, I would like to put to his attention on the many land-grabbing issues from our region and many youth facilities, especially the grounds.

Which is your region, Sen. Miraj?

Coast region.

You have to state your region.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. It is from the coast region. We have grounds like Kishada in Kisauni, Mende in Likoni and Vekzula in Likoni, where land- grabbers are taking away those grounds from the youths. This is increasingly adding the numbers of our youths who are mentally unstable right now.

He has spoken on the matter of sports in our schools to help in curbing the mental crisis that we are having from our youths. The Cabinet Secretary should know that most of the schools do not have playgrounds for them to do for sports. What measures is he taking because I can remember that the President had put a task force and a fund to repossess grabbed land from the land-grabbers?

As a Ministry and mental health in the picture, what are the measures he will take to safeguard the grounds that are being affected by major infrastructural programmes by the Government and the land-grabbers in our region?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may respond. The Cabinet Secretary for Youth affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Mr. Speaker, Sir. I acknowledge the question that has been put to me by Sen. Miraj on matters land. The Ministry is working very closely with county governments, Ministry of Lands and the Ministry of Education, where schools are concerned to ensure that, firstly, the grabbed land is repossessed and, secondly, to protect other pieces of land from land grabbers. That is the effort that we are doing.

Part of the programme we are doing on sports academies is that, part, once we identify a place where we are doing an academy in a school, we also work with the other agencies to ensure that land is reclaimed, repossessed and protected from grabbing. We are working with other agencies of the government on that matter.

Sen. Catherine Mumma.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity to ask the Cabinet Secretary a question. I also thank the hon. Cabinet Secretary for his elaborate response to Sen. Korir’s Question.

What the Cabinet Secretary said sounded good, but I would like to know where it is being implemented. I would want to know what programmes he has in Nyakach Sub-

Services, Senate. county, where I have been for the last one month. Nyakach in 2023 had teen and child pregnancy to the extent of 3,816.

We have child-mothers and young boys with a lot of mental health issues and we do not have any programmes in that Sub-county community. We do not even have any interventions. I am trying to work with one Community Based Organization (CBO), trying to intervene for child mothers who cannot access counselling services and so on. Where are these programmes and why are they not reaching Nyakach Sub-county?

Sen. Gataya Mo Fire.

I have a supplementary question to last year's sports concerning a stadium.

Hon. Gataya, kindly take your seat.

What is it, Mr. Speaker, Sir?

Just take your seat. Sen. Maanzo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I had the opportunity to be a secretary in the then Ministry of Youth and Sports. I would like to ask the Cabinet Secretary in relation to the mental illness of young people.

A youth fund was set to help those who wanted to set up businesses, so that they could be self-employed. I have seen an initiative where people are fundraising for the youth. What happened to the Youth Enterprise Fund (YEF) and are we implementing it to make sure that we reduce mental illnesses, depression of the stress of young people by making sure that they secure their future through self-employment?

Sen. Veronica Maina.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I welcome the Cabinet Secretary together with his Principal Secretary for Youth affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.

My question is with regard to promotion of mental health among the youth, what measures and efforts has the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports put in place to facilitate conversation and dialogue to reconcile emerging issues that have been raised by the youth who are dissatisfied and have been demonstrating, using the medium of sports and creative economy to enhance intergenerational conversations? What measures has your Ministry put in place to intervene on emerging issues that affect the youth as they demonstrate on the streets?

Proceed, Sen. Wambua.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have sought this opportunity to clarify an issue because this is a House of record. The Cabinet Secretary has indicated to us in the previous question that Kitui Stadium is being renovated.

Sen. Wambua---

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is important.

Senator, however, important it is, we have our rules.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, Sir. The people of Kitui County are online and they are saying the stadium is not being renovated.

Sen. Wambua, I gave you an opportunity.

When he responded---

Services, Senate.

We have dealt with that question. We are now on the Question on mental health. Anything that is not related to mental health cannot be---

Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is the same meaning.

Take your seat, hon. Senator.

Sen. Wambua, you are defying the ruling of the Speaker and you know the consequences.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am representing my people. The stadium is not being renovated. That is the truth. What is being renovated is the State Lodge where the President will spend the night.

Sen. Murgor, you may proceed.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. I would like to know from the Cabinet Secretary the measures that the Ministry is taking towards drug use among the youth that enhance mental problems, therefore, creating difficulties when it comes to talents and, so on and so forth.

Proceed, Sen. Kavindu.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to know from the Cabinet Secretary what he is doing in Machakos about mental health of the youth. Do you have any programmes in Machakos in particular to deal with the issue of drug addiction affecting the youth?

Yes, Sen. Mandago.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, my question to the Cabinet Secretary is on the programmes he has said are running. Unfortunately, we have not heard about them in the counties. What is the Cabinet Secretary and the Ministry doing to ensure that these programmes reach the youth at the lowest administrative unit, which is the ward, to ensure that sensitisation and the programmes benefit the youth?

Concerning the issue of sports, why do we have tournaments being funded by Members of Parliament (MPs) ? Why can the Ministry not run all sports tournaments for the youth across 1,800 wards in this country, so that the programmes can have a higher penetration in terms of reaching out to the youth?

Proceed, Sen. Beatrice Akinyi.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I needed to get this from the Cabinet Secretary. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, do you think last year we handled the Gen Z issues well? In your opinion as a Ministry, what are some of the innovative ways in which we could have attended to their outcries?

Yes, Sen. Nyutu.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, my question to the Cabinet Secretary is on mental health of the youth. How does the Ministry identify the youth with mental health challenges? I am asking question this because what the youth have been going through in the past few months must have caused most of them challenges seeing most of them being killed and others abducted. That must have caused a lot of mental stress and anguish.

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As a Ministry, how do you identify the youth with mental issues because prevention is better than cure?

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, mine is a follow-up on the issue of mental health among the youth. Bw. Waziri, there were allegations that most of the young people who went to demonstrate on the streets were using hard drugs and got involved in substance abuse.

Sen. Wambua, you know the rules. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you need to protect me. There were allegations that most of young people, including criminals and goons who were sponsored by people known by Sen. Wambua, were using hard substances and drug abuse.

Senator for Nandi, proceed to withdraw and apologise to your colleague.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I said known by him. However, I withdraw and apologise so that we make progress.

I would like to find out from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports whether addressing grievances raised by young people is part of making sure there is mental wellness because we passed the Mental Health Bill on the Floor of this House.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may now proceed to respond.

The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I must agree that the questions are very many. However, I want to assure you that I will respond to all of them, including the one I had already responded to by the Senator for Kitui.

I was in Kitui last Wednesday---

Proceed, Cabinet Secretary. The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I was in Kitui on Wednesday last week. What we are doing in Kitui County is not renovation. We are doing a fresh 10,000 capacity stadium at Ithookwe. The contractor known as Milcon’s Limited is on the ground. I want to confirm that by 6th October, we will go back to take over that facility for Mashujaa Day celebrations.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, proceed to respond to the questions.

The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to proceed to respond to the other questions because I had to set the record straight on that matter.

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Hon. Cabinet Secretary, could you proceed to respond? Senator for Kitui, you are out of order and I am giving you a first caution.

Hon. Wambua, kindly leave the Chamber. Senator for Kitui, if you do not leave the Chamber in the following five seconds--- Serjeant-at-Arms, help the Member to leave the Chamber.

Proceed, hon. Cabinet Secretary. The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports

: Mr. Speaker, Sir, on matters of mental wellness which in most questions have been combined with other general issues, I want to state as follows:

We are not working alone on these matters, we are working with other Government agencies. For example, on matters to do with drugs and substance abuse, we are working with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. Together, we are identifying and establishing remedies to address these matters.

Secondly, there was an issue regarding Nyakach. The Hon. Member wants to know what we are doing in Nyakach Sub-County on matters teenage pregnancies and mental health. I did not come with data for Nyakach. However, I want to confirm that we will work with the agencies in that area to get to know the statistics, then we will address those issues. So, we are flagging out this issue and we will prioritise it in our next intervention.

There was a question about YEF by Hon. Maanzo. The YEF still financing businesses for the youth when they apply for loans. I also want to add that, currently, we are supporting the Labour Mobility Programme. We support youths who get jobs outside the country through the YEF. We take care of the initial costs as they proceed to work abroad.

Most of the other questions related to mental health. We have Kenya Academy of Sports that engages youth on matters of mental health. We are also working with an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) from Korea. Last month, we had about 15,000 youths graduating from the weekend sessions that happened in Kasarani. Those youths came from across the county.

The main topics dealt with in those forums have to do with wellness and mental health. We are working together with that international NGO and it reaches almost all counties. We have monthly sessions which bring on board youths from different counties. So, you might not see it on the ground because they do it in Kasarani. It is fully funded

Services, Senate. by that NGO and my Ministry. We have agreed to extend this programme to the lower levels in our counties.

The other issue was on what is generally happening to the youths in this country. There was a specific reference to what is happening now and the Gen Z. As a Ministry, we have initiated a dialogue programme called Wazo and Kikao which brings on board youths for an engagement. The programme is ongoing. The only challenge we are facing is the fact that we are resource constrained, but we keep expanding those programmes. The Wazo and Kikao Programme is a dialogue model where we discuss with the youth the issues that they are facing in their lives.

We are also working with the World Bank, as partners, in a programme called Nyota. This programme also brings on board youths for recognition for prior learning. It brings on board youths for business grants and youths in skills development. Currently, there are youths who have applied. This programme is targeting 800,000 youths in the country and we will be launching these grants and benefits in the month of August. The applications have been processed online. All they need to do is to dial *254# and they will be able to apply for this programme.

At the end of the training, the youths who will participate in the business training will be funded Kshs50,000 to initiate their businesses. Those who will do the skills component will equally be funded to inspire their skills. They will be paid Kshs6,000 stipend a month for six months to make sure that they stay in this programme and benefit. This programme is running across the country. It is part of what we are doing to enhance their capacity. I think I have handled all matters to do with the mental health.

On the matter of identification, we have the Kenya Academy of Sports that trains community referees and other coaches at the community level. Identification is done at school level and community level to ensure we bring them on board for training. Every training done for coaches, referees, the community technical people and the youth takes care of a mental health session. That session handles most of the issues.

There was a Senator who wanted to know if I think that the Gen Z were handled well last year. This is a matter for discussion for all of us. I do not think I have a personal opinion on the handling of the Gen Z. However, my opinion and the position of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports on matters youth is that the youth of our country are an opportunity. We can work together with them to transform our nation.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, for that to happen, youths have to be connected to the strategic interventions because they have a career and a dream. I am sure their dream is not to necessarily act negatively. The dream is for them to use their potential and skills to inspire their livelihood. Therefore, all interventions, Government and non-government, should focus on working with young people to help them realise their potential and create an enabling environment for them to achieve their dreams. Anything else away from that will negate their success.

Most of the mental challenges faced by the youth had to do with financing. It is for that reason that we have reviewed the award for athletics. We approved new rates from April this year. For example, a youth participating in Olympics and wins a gold medal will receive Kshs3 million instead of Kshs750,000. One who gets a silver medal

Services, Senate. will get Kshs2 million up from Kshs500,000. An athlete who wins a bronze medal will get Kshs1 million up from Kshs300,000.

Those who will participate in the Commonwealth Games and earns a gold medal will now receive Kshs2.5 million instead of Kshs500,000. An athlete who wins a silver medal will receive Kshs1.5 million up from Kshs300,000 and one who earns a bronze medal will get Kshs1 million instead of Kshs200,000. So, these are the new rates.

Those who will participate in Youth Olympics and win gold will receive Kshs500,000 instead of Kshs300,000, a silver medalist will receive Kshs350,000 instead of Kshs200,000 and a bronze medalist will receive Kshs150,000 instead of kshs100,000. These are some of the measures that we are using to inspire athletes, address hopelessness and mental challenges.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker, Sir. I thank you more sincerely for giving me this opportunity to address the Senate.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, Sir, there was one issue about tournaments. One Member wanted to know what we are doing on matters tournaments. We have designated a concept and we will be soon launching Government-funded tournaments from the ward level to the national level.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is also working with all of us to see how we can regulate and support the youth on the ground. We will be running a league from the ward level to the national level where then participation of youth will be very key.

I am sure this will address some of the issues that you are facing where you are hosting individual tournaments. They are very expensive and unsustainable. Therefore, we will be working with you in this new arrangement.

Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. You are now free to leave to attend to other duties.

Clerk, you may now usher in the Cabinet Secretary in charge of environment and climate matters.

[The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry (Hon.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, welcome to the Senate. You are here to respond to Question No.086 by the Senator from Murang’a County and also Question No.091 by the Senator from Marsabit. We will proceed with Question No.086.

Hon. Senator from Murang’a, kindly ask your Question.

Services, Senate.

Question No.086

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through the NEMA, has issued several advisories to all the

county governments and the Council of Governors (CoG) on sustainable waste management. Some of the advisories include on 19th July 2024 where NEMA wrote to the county governors through CoG advising counties to remove all wastes in undesignated sites and submit a zonation plan for waste collection and disposal areas.

This is Annex IV, Management of Illegal Dump sites. A reminder on the same was done on 30th August 2024, Annex V, Reminder on Illegal Dumpsites.

On 19th July, 2024, a letter was sent to all county secretaries requesting them to ensure all waste is segregated, collected and transported to designated waste handling facilities, Annex VI, an Advisory to the county governments.

Specifically, the advisory requires the county governments to-

and designated as per Section 7 of Environmental Management and Coordination Waste Management Regulations of 2024;

collection, reuse and set up material recovery facilities as per Section 9 of the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022;

dump sites to ensure they are separate reception areas for organic, general waste, residual waste from material recovery facilities and landfill for unrecoverable waste.

The reorganization will assist in reducing waste contamination and enable recovery of valuables from waste. A reminder letter to all county governments was done on 18th June, 2025, asking them to report to the NEMA on progress made in reorganization of current dumpsites to receive waste as per National Colour Code, that is, Annex 7-Reminder Letter on Waste Segregation.

A public notice and letter to all waste transporters was done on 18th June 2025, requiring them to adhere to the National Waste Colour Code and not to transport mixed wastes, that is, Annex 8 - Letter to Transporters on Waste Segregation.

the Ministry has put in place a number of waste

management and monitoring strategies to prevent degradation and public health risks in residential areas. These include the following-

waste transporters as well as waste treatment and disposal facilities as per Environmental Management and Coordination Waste Management Regulations of 2024. The issued licenses have conditions used to monitor the status of licensed facilities and transportation vehicles in order to maintain the set standards.

(ii) Awareness programme, where NEMA collaborates with county governments, including Murang’a County Government, on awareness aimed at changing public behaviour with respect to management of waste at the household level, proper waste handling by waste handlers; that is transporters, aggregators, among others and development of material recovery facilities.

(iii) NEMA is actively involved in promoting and regulating material recovery facilities as required by the Sustainable Waste Management Act, 2022.

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(iv) NEMA has developed guidelines for establishing Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and is working with counties, including Murang’a County, to implement the guidelines.

separate different types of recyclables, like paper, plastics, metals and glass, in order to ensure they are clean and ready for processing.

(vi) Another way is the Extender-Producer Responsibility where the Sustainable Waste Management; that is Extender-Producer Responsibility Regulations, 2024, requires all producers to take care of the products introduced on the Kenyan market and waste arising therefrom.

(vii) Using the Extended-Producer Responsibility (EPR) law, counties shall only be expected to be directly in charge of organic waste management as the synthetic waste shall be managed by the producers.

(viii) NEMA has started to educate and register producers of EPR. The producers are being held accountable for the environmental impact of their products throughout their life cycle.

(ix) Producers, including manufacturers, importers, and brand owners, are obligated to register with NEMA and implement EPR schemes for designated products

continued to engage county governments on an improvement programme for solid waste dumpsites through monitoring of the 10 minimum points. The 10 minimum points ensure the dumpsites are adequately managed. This is Annexed 1.

Implementation of regulations of plastic waste was identified as a very hazardous stream of waste that requires special attention. Hence, the enactment of the Environmental Management and Control of Plastic Packaging Materials Regulations,

are several. We have challenges with counties which are attempts adamant to undertake environmental impact assessment and annual environmental audits, making it very hard for NEMA to regulate. Counties are adamant to license their waste transportation trucks with NEMA, dumpsites are neglected and have poor road networks. This encourages illegal dumping.

Counties are slow to embrace waste segregation at source and enforcement of the same. There is lack of appropriate waste management infrastructure such as material recovery facilities, recyclers, incinerators and landfills.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I submit.

Madam Cabinet Secretary, I will allow hon. Members who have supplementary questions to ask.

Sen. Esther Okenyuri, please proceed.

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Sen. Nyutu, you will have your moment to do so. I appreciate that this is your Question. I am in the process of highlighting the Members who have made requests to ask ssupplementary questions. Take your seat, Senator.

We have Sen. Catherine Mumma, Sen. Tabitha, Sen. Kajwang’, and lastly, Sen. Beatrice Akinyi in that order. Before I allow, Sen. Esther Okenyuri, I will ask the Questioner, Sen. Nyutu, to ask your two ssupplementary qquestions, then I will go to Sen. Esther Okenyuri.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I would like to seek further clarification from the Cabinet Secretary, because from her response, one of the solutions that I have for monitoring of environment and waste management is through licensing. If this is done, I believe, on an annual basis. So, what we do in the interim, Hon. Cabinet Secretary, through the Speaker, because when things start going wrong and we only confirm at the time we are issuing the license for the following year, then in between, there could be challenges.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the other issue I have with the response by the Cabinet Secretary is; I have gone through the response and seen that NEMA wrote to the County Secretary, Murang’a County Government, regarding this matter. However, what happens if compliance is not achieved is spelt out in Section 143 of Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act. It says that whoever does not comply is liable to a fine or imprisonment--- Let me not go into the details.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in the interim, if the County Secretary does not comply, what happens to the residents of Kangema because they are exposed to health risks, other than the imprisonment and a fine that may be liable to the County Secretary? What happens then to the residents?

Thank you.

Madam Cabinet Secretary, before you respond to that, I will allow one Senator, Sen. Esther Okenyuri, so that you cumulatively respond to the two questions.

Sen. Cherarkey, I had called you out, but you were out of the Chamber. Sen. Esther Okenyuri, please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I would like to seek a further clarification on how deliberate the Ministry is in tackling the issue of residential waste management. The other time I was watching a clip on TikTok where the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) of the Nairobi City County, Geoffrey Mosiria, was trying to talk to residents in Pipeline Estate who are using waste and just dumping it right in front of their households. What can the Ministry do deliberately so that it is not just on the part of county governments, but also on the part of the households in those residential areas? Her responses are quite theoretical, but not in action. I have cited the case of Pipeline Estate.

Thank you.

You may respond to those three supplementary questions, then we will progress to the others.

Give the Cabinet Secretary the microphone, please.

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The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry (Hon. (Dr.) Deborah Barasa): Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Senator for Murang’a County asked a question regarding licensing on annual basis and what do we do in the interim. We have asked counties to do environmental impact assessment and in the absence of environmental impact assessment, we also, again, issue improvement plans to the counties.

As you are well aware, waste management is a devolved function and so we can only issue the improvement notices and await the impact assessment to see how we can move forward.

For non-compliance, we continue to engage the counties. However, as I have said earlier on, we have had multiple interventions. One of them that has recently come in is the Extended-Producer Responsibility (EPR), which again, will support us in ensuring that we have “the polluter pays” principle. Again, this is the answer to Sen. Esther Okenyuri’s question.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when we have the producer paying principle, then we can have resources and after segregation, we will be ensuring that the recycling occurs, say, for instance, the recycling of plastics among others and we can improve waste management in that aspect.

Additionally, through the EPR, we intend to support the waste pickers in terms of creating green or clean jobs and working together with the county government, we believe that implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility will support in terms of human resource who will, again, supporting segregation of waste and ensuring that our environments are clean and we are not exposed to health risks.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Even as I ask the question, please, allow me to welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry to the Senate. I also want to bring to her attention that whereas waste management is a county function, the national Government has the responsibility to develop policy, develop standards, provide technical support and ensure that the enforcement of national standards in this matter.

So, I am not particularly happy that everything is being thrown to counties, even though it is their responsibility. My question is how active is the intergovernmental relations committee for the environment sector? What are the issues you have agreed on with county governments? What are you working on particularly for toxic waste like asbestos roof?

I thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Allow me also to take this opportunity to welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry. The last time she was here, she was the Cabinet Secretary for Health. Welcome to Senate.

My question to the Cabinet Secretary is that in 2017, the Government banned plastic in this country, both importation and local manufacturing. However, as I speak, you realize that the NEMA gives exemptions, especially to the potting bags in this country that are still being manufactured.

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The reason we still continue to have blocked drainage is because of the illegal manufacturing of the polyethene bags, because NEMA still allows for manufacturing of potting bags or seedling bags in the agricultural sector.

What is your plan as the Cabinet Secretary in regards to ensuring that Kenya now focuses on the alternative of the biodegradable potting bags in this country so that we completely eradicate the production and importation of the raw materials for plastic bags in this country?

If you continue giving these exemptions, then when will we have the maximum alternative of the plastic bags in this country?

I submit, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I also welcome the Cabinet Secretary to the Senate. I look forward to further collaboration with her in my other capacity as the Chairperson of the Climate Caucus.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Parliament played its role by passing the Sustainable Waste Management Act in 2022. Under the Act, the Cabinet Secretary was given certain responsibilities.

The Act established a council. I would like to find out from the Cabinet Secretary, whether this Waste Management Council has been established, whether it is working and what it has been able to achieve.

Under the Sustainable Waste Management Act, the Cabinet Secretary was also required to bring regulations to the House and was also required to publish model laws for county governments.

I want to find out from the Cabinet Secretary, which regulations have been brought to Parliament, whether the Cabinet Secretary has published the model laws and how many counties have been able to successfully implement or enact those laws.

Finally, waste is gold in certain jurisdictions. When we went to Dubai, we found that they were converting solid waste into energy. We have seen countries where recycling is a big part, the circular economy is huge.

Could the Cabinet Secretary tell us what the policy position of the Government is with regards to conversion of solid waste into energy and the size of the circular economy in Kenya and the challenges that it faces?

I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Moses Kajwang’, you noted that you asked more than two supplementary questions. I let you do so intentionally by virtue of your position as the Chairperson of the Climate Caucus. Otherwise, ordinarily the Standing Orders allows you to ask only one supplementary question.

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.

We should amend the Standing Orders to include Climate Caucus as part of our committees.

Mr. Temporary Speaker Sir, with your indulgence, I want to also welcome Cabinet Secretary. We were in Kaptagat and she did a good job. She is also sitting next to my voter. Therefore, I will support her naturally because she is sitting next to my voter.

Services, Senate.

I want to ask the Cabinet Secretary, we have agreed there are many policies on waste management. Our cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kapsabet, Homa Bay, all the towns, including Bomet and urban centres are choked by waste.

I think I have seen the Director General of NEMA seated here. What are they doing about illegal dumping and solid waste management in this country? Whenever you drive, you see waste all over. In fact, Nairobi is the worst. I think the county government and the Governor of Nairobi City County have left the waste to be all over.

Even in terms of the estate solid waste management, you and I know that you pay for your waste to be taken from your house wherever you live. Of course, I know where you live, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, but I will not say it on record. We have to pay, yet we have all these policies.

What is the Ministry doing in fighting against illegal dumping in solid waste management? As the Chairperson of the Climate Caucus has said, this solid waste management can be turned into gold.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, could the Cabinet Secretary give us a silver bullet on how to address this issue of illegal dumping and solid waste management? Is there a possibility of county governments partnering with other partners to ensure we transform solid waste into something that we can use for the value of the economy?

I thank you Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Beatrice Akinyi, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for accepting that my head of delegation asks more than one question. I will ride on the privilege he has as his delegation.

That is a preserve of the Chairperson, Sen. Beatrice.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I start by welcoming the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Deborah Barasa, whom we have worked with before. In the delegation, I also see a former Director General of NEMA, Mr. Ayub Ayman, whom I worked with. He was an officer who was very passionate about environmental issues then. I hope he still is.

How often does the Cabinet Secretary engage with the counties as an intergovernmental forum as envisaged in the Constitution of 2010? I notice a number of these issues also touch on counties. If the Cabinet Secretary was engaging the counties on this meeting, a number of them would be thrashed out.

I also want to know from the Cabinet Secretary whether the county environment committees are in place and working since NEMA is a member of that. How staffed are their decentralised offices at the counties? You will only see one or two officers, which is not proportionate to the members we have and to the service we want offered.

I thank you.

Sen. Maanzo, proceed. Sen. Maanzo: Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, to implement what is in the long- term waste management and monetary strategies, what budgetary allocation is in this financial year? Without a budget, it will not be possible.

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Sen. John Kinyua.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I am thrown off balance by the questions that my colleagues are asking on waste management. This is because in the Waste Management Act, 2021, the mandate is given to the county governments, unless these functions have been taken back to the national Government.

I thank you.

Did you ask a question to the Cabinet Secretary?

No, I am seeking clarification from the Cabinet Secretary whether these functions have been taken back to the national Government.

Very well, thank you. Lastly, Sen. Onyonka.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. This matter is so weighty that I wish we had more time to interrogate it. However, I believe we may have to at some point.

Cabinet Secretary, in a nutshell, all the issues that have come up from the 1980s and 1990s to now are about municipal councils, county councils, and now counties. Of course, all these matters have been devolved.

In Nairobi City County, as people who are intelligent and reasonable, why are we not able to have a system that is self-sustaining and reasonably designed, like other countries do, so that we can manage our garbage? Is it not because many of us in this House and elsewhere are the ones collecting the garbage and making billions of shillings out of it instead of setting up basic infrastructure?

There are donors who want to give us some of this infrastructure for free yet every time an idea comes about how we are going to fix the issue of garbage in Nairobi, it dies. Why are we not able to have---

Sen. Onyonka, kindly be specific in the question you want to ask the Hon. Cabinet Secretary.

Can the Cabinet Secretary tell us whether the reason why Nairobi cannot collect its garbage and manage it is because of the corruption which is endemic in our Government, county governments and all the Government departments involved in this? That is why we cannot move.

Services, Senate. the pollution. These are the resources that we intend to use in order to improve waste management and, as Sen. Onyonka has mentioned, review the sustainability.

I also want to inform the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources that one of the things that we are also looking into is Financially Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA). county governments are being given resources in order to implement FLLoCA. One of the areas that they can also review is waste management. We will be supporting and guiding them in terms of establishing the material recovery facilities. This will ensure we have circular economy implemented at the county level.

We have written advisories to the counties and we continue engaging with them. A meeting is scheduled in the coming weeks where we will be meeting the governors to explain to them the EPR and see how we can implement it. One of the neglected and so- called vulnerable people are the waste pickers. We are looking at how we can incorporate them into these cooperatives so that we can ensure that there is sustainability. We are empowering them and creating green jobs for Kenyans.

These are the deliberations we will have with the governors. We also have the county directors routinely meeting. I believe there was a meeting two weeks ago where they met with the NEMA team. We continue supporting them in matters of implementation. However, they are the key implementers of waste management.

Regarding the question of tackling residential waste management, as I had said earlier, it is about convening the polluters. Behavioural practises vary in communities. We cannot say, Hon. Esther, that we can tell everyone to change their behaviour. However, we can talk to the polluters. We can also capacitate human resources that can support us in training, whether it is at the school level, the community level, among others, in matters of waste segregation and matters of hygiene and reduction of health risks.

We are looking into engaging the polluters to see how they can support in improving the behavioural practises. Ultimately, it is about having the human resource capacity. When we talk of sustainability, we need the human resource that will ensure that the environment is clean. This will be done through resources from the EPR, FLLoCA and those that have been given to county governments. They should be able to allocate some of the money for waste management, establishment of material recovery facilities, human resource and implementing the rest.

The other question was by Sen. Mumma. I believe we have answered that. That we have strategy, regulations and enforcement. Intergovernmental relations are strengthened and we have routine meetings. We sent a Gazette Notice for asbestos; that is safe removal and safe disposal of asbestos in Kenya, but then cognisant of the fiscal space, some have been able to do that while others have not. The national Government and county governments, again, are unable.

Mr. Tempporary Speaker, Sir, we are engaging the National Treasury to support us in allocation of resources that will support in implementation of this. Equally, we are engaging partners who can support in one way or another. However, step by step, we are looking into the safe removal and disposal of waste. We have come up with guidelines to support in the implementation of the same, as well as the strategies.

Services, Senate.

The next question was regarding banning of plastics. NEMA provides exemptions for essential users of food packaging. However, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) again should deal with the authorised bags; that is, the pollutants in the EPR regulations. You will notice that we are enforcing that they need to look at the waste that is being produced in matters plastic and ensure that a waste management recycling of the same is done.

We have developed a circular economy strategy, of which we are really finalising and implementing courtesy of our partners as well as the African Union. Once it is passed, we will be encouraging circular economy in Kenya.

Recycling of plastics will again be addressed in that area. However, for the potting bags, we are encouraging use of biodegradable bags that will meet the standards of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS). So far, we are still reviewing which one would be best suited for our environment. We will be working with the KFS and the State Department of Forestry to ensure that we move to the biodegradable bags. So far, we have not had the one that meets optimum standard. If you could give us time, then we can give a comprehensive report of the bags that we have had, so far. We have tasked the foresters as well as NEMA to support in the same.

The Waste Management Council will be established very soon. Regarding the laws, we have developed modern laws for the counties. They should be able to use those laws. For us, it is regulation and policies. The county is for implementation since waste management is devolved.

Sen. M. Kajwang’, talked about circular economy. It is critical to note that; for us, 60 per cent of the waste that we produce is organic waste, of which some can be utilised as fertiliser. A proportion can be used for methane production and energy. Of the comprehensive waste, only five per cent can be used for energy. So, conversion to energy is a limited amount. The focus should be mostly on fertiliser because that incorporates 60 per cent and then around 30 per cent is for plastics and recyclable materials and only five per cent of the waste goes to energy.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, based on the analysis that has been done in terms of the waste that has been produced in Kenya, then we are looking at the circular economy and what we can do in terms of recycling this waste based on that. I think we have answered all the questions.

I highlight Sen. Onyonka's question on self-sustainability. It is all about us looking inwards. We have EPR, which we believe is a sustainable solution for Kenya. Again, for the county governments to address the other issues of corruption and cartels, as we enforce as NEMA, the implementation of waste management.

Thank you.

Services, Senate.

The next question was regarding banning of plastics. NEMA provides exemptions for essential users of food packaging. However, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) again should deal with the authorised bags; that is, the pollutants in the EPR regulations. You will notice that we are enforcing that they need to look at the waste that is being produced in matters plastic and ensure that a waste management recycling of the same is done.

We have developed a circular economy strategy, of which we are really finalising and implementing courtesy of our partners as well as the African Union. Once it is passed, we will be encouraging circular economy in Kenya.

Recycling of plastics will again be addressed in that area. However, for the potting bags, we are encouraging use of biodegradable bags that will meet the standards of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS). So far, we are still reviewing which one would be best suited for our environment. We will be working with the KFS and the State Department of Forestry to ensure that we move to the biodegradable bags. So far, we have not had the one that meets optimum standard. If you could give us time, then we can give a comprehensive report of the bags that we have had, so far. We have tasked the foresters as well as NEMA to support in the same.

The Waste Management Council will be established very soon. Regarding the laws, we have developed modern laws for the counties. They should be able to use those laws. For us, it is regulation and policies. The county is for implementation since waste management is devolved.

Sen. M. Kajwang’, talked about circular economy. It is critical to note that; for us, 60 per cent of the waste that we produce is organic waste, of which some can be utilised as fertiliser. A proportion can be used for methane production and energy. Of the comprehensive waste, only five per cent can be used for energy. So, conversion to energy is a limited amount. The focus should be mostly on fertiliser because that incorporates 60 per cent and then around 30 per cent is for plastics and recyclable materials and only five per cent of the waste goes to energy.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, based on the analysis that has been done in terms of the waste that has been produced in Kenya, then we are looking at the circular economy and what we can do in terms of recycling this waste based on that. I think we have answered all the questions.

I highlight Sen. Onyonka's question on self-sustainability. It is all about us looking inwards. We have EPR, which we believe is a sustainable solution for Kenya. Again, for the county governments to address the other issues of corruption and cartels, as we enforce as NEMA, the implementation of waste management.

Thank you.

Services, Senate.

On that one, Hon. Cabinet Secretary, when you will be responding to the next question, please, respond to the question as to whether you have any budgetary allocation in the current financial year on the question by Sen. Maanzo.

Hon. Members, the next question is No.091. Sen. Mohamed Chute has authorised Nyutu to ask it on his behalf. I will proceed to allow Sen. Nyutu to proceed to ask Question No.091 on behalf of Sen. Mohamed Chute.

Question No.091

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. As you have rightly stated, I am standing in for Sen. Chute, the Senator for Marsabit County. I bed to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry the following Question No.091.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. As you have rightly stated, I am standing in for Sen. Chute, the Senator for Marsabit County. I bed to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry the following Question No.091.

Services, Senate.

family Leguminosae, specifically the subfamily Mimosoideae. The genus has four genera and 44 species and several varieties, of which 40, including Prosopis Pallida, are native to the mainly South American. In contrast, one is native to Africa, Prosopis Africana, and three are native to Asia, Prosopis cineraria, Prosopis Farcta and Prosopis Koelziana.

Prosopis Pallidum was first introduced in Kenya in 1948 by the colonial government workers and planted in Taveta Township. It was a popular species and was widely planted in the larger Taveta County, then Taita Taveta District and other parts of arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya, mostly in the 1960s to 1980s.

Services, Senate.

family Leguminosae, specifically the subfamily Mimosoideae. The genus has four genera and 44 species and several varieties, of which 40, including Prosopis Pallida, are native to the mainly South American. In contrast, one is native to Africa, Prosopis Africana, and three are native to Asia, Prosopis cineraria, Prosopis Farcta and Prosopis Koelziana.

Prosopis Pallidum was first introduced in Kenya in 1948 by the colonial government workers and planted in Taveta Township. It was a popular species and was widely planted in the larger Taveta County, then Taita Taveta District and other parts of arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya, mostly in the 1960s to 1980s.

Services, Senate.

Baringo was used as a pilot site between 2005 and 2008. Members were drawn from key Government Ministries like Environment, Agriculture, Livestock, Education, including universities, lands and international agencies such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Centre for Agriculture Biosciences International (CABI), International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and several Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs), representatives of the six affected counties, then districts, were also included, namely Baringo, Garissa, Mandera, Tana River, Turkana and Taita Taveta.

The Government is undertaking the following initiatives in the management of Prosopis Juliflora species. For short-term interventions in 1999 to 2001, we conducted a national survey to determine the status and impact of Prosopis species on livelihood and the environment. The first sensitisation workshop at the national level on integrated management and control of Prosopis species was held in October, 2003 and followed by a second one in 2007 and a third one in 2015. Several others at the county level in all the affected counties have been carried out in 2016 to 2024.

Between 2004 and 2006, the Government secured technical support from development partners such as FAO to undertake a pilot integrated management and control of Prosopis Juliflora. Activities included mechanical control through thinning and pruning, killing stamps, producing various products and biological control. Expanded Prosopis Juliflora management skills from Baringo to other affected counties, starting with the most impacted such as Turkana, Garissa and Tana River and in 2009, piloted the production and marketing of Prosopis Juliflora charcoal in Garissa, Tana River and Baringo counties, leading to the formation of Charcoal Producer Association.

The activities included facilitation of the formation of Charcoal Producer Association in affected counties to support sustainable production and trade in Prosopis Juliflora charcoal. Existing associations include Tana River, Baringo, Garissa, Kajiado, among others. This is annex two.

Strengthened community capacity to manage Prosopis Juliflora spread through training, field days, exposure visits and establishment of the East Africa Center of Excellence in Prosopis research in Marigat and developed value chains on Prosopis Juliflora utilisation in sawn timber, animal feeds and human foods, biomass, energy, construction poles, charcoal, biocarb, briquettes, wood, cave carvings and honey production, among others.

Charcoal production is the most popular value chain with an estimated annual value of Kshs54 billion. In the Financial Year 2024/2025, a draft Prosopis strategy was developed through a series of workshops and meetings involving the largest stakeholders, including the Ministries of Finance, Energy, Devolution, Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. It is now in the process of being finalised by end of Financial Year 2025/2026 by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry in 2025. The list of activities has been annexed in annexture 3.

The long-term interventions in Financial Year 2024/2025, a draft national Prosopis Juliflora Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2035 has been developed through a

Services, Senate. series of workshops and meetings involving the largest stakeholders, including the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Devolution, Office of Attorney- General and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, FAO, ICRAF, CABI, Council of Governors and community associations. It is now in the process of being finalised by end of Financial Year 2025/2026 by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry in 2025.

The Ministry has also facilitated the interim piloting of the national Prosopis strategy through the development of the county Prosopis spatial management plans in Baringo, Isiolo, Marsabit and Tana River counties. The County Prosopis Management Plan aims at confining the invasion from further spreading while clearing invasion around key community assets that are endangered by the invasions. These include grazing areas, irrigation schemes, roads, livestock, watering points and areas of high conservation values.

The cleared areas are restored using pasture seeds or grass, cropping where irrigation is possible and growing multi-purpose trees to prevent reinvasion of Prosopis. The county Prosopis management plans for other affected counties such as Turkana, Samburu, Garissa, Kilifi, Kajiado, Taita-Taveta, Wajir, Mandera, among others, will be developed as soon as the national Prosopis strategy is formally launched.

Regarding alternative uses, the Ministry reviewed the scientific assessment on the viability of Prosopis Juliflora for alternative uses and the findings demonstrate a significant value in various areas. They include fuel wood where Prosopis Juliflora wood is an excellent source of firewood, offering a readily available energy option. Charcoal, where Prosopis charcoal has a high calorific volume ranging from 7.7 to 7.8 kilo calls, making it an efficient fuel source. The charcoal can also be processed into briquettes, providing a cleaner and more sustainable energy alternative.

For commercial energy, the wood can be chipped and used for industrial steam, for electric power generation and other heating needs. With the right technology, the species has potential for commercial exploitation for power generation. A Prosopis Juliflora-based power generation plant using gasification technology was established in Baringo County in 2015, but failed at the piloting stage due to the impurity of the gas produced; that is methane. The investor overlooked the technical guidance required to remove impurities associated with high levels of tannins and other chemicals in Prosopis biomass.

Briquettes and biochar - these two products can be produced from two processes as a by-product of charcoal and commercial energy production and from carbonizing the small diameter trees, twigs and branches, where Prosopis is being eradicated by mechanical means. The carbonized materials can be reconstituted into briquettes for fuel or used as biochar for soil conditioning and carbon storage.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on construction materials, the strong and durable wood of Prosopis Juliflora can be used for various building materials, including fence posts, construction poles and furniture. Communities can utilize Prosopis wood for constructing shelters and fences. Prosopis produces very nutritious pods with high

Services, Senate. contents of proteins, carbohydrates or sugars and minerals that can be a viable substitute for cereals as raw materials for the commercial production of livestock feeds.

Prosopis Juliflora pods are also edible by humans and do not have any anti- nutritional attributes. Mild Prosopis-based pod meal can be mixed with wheat at a proportion of one to three and baked to produce cakes, mandazis and chapatis. Prosopis trees are evergreen and flower twice every year. Its flowers are rich in nectar and the honey produced is of high quality. However, the super high levels of sugar lead to frequent crystallization of honey, thus making it appear adulterated.

On-going plant community projects that align with ecological restoration, there is ongoing capacity development of registered charcoal producer associations in the management and sustainable utilisation of Prosopis tree biomass. This includes the introduction of modern charcoal making technologies to reduce gas emission and land restoration methods, among others.

Through the framework of collaboration with partners, there are ongoing activities geared towards rehabilitation of degraded landscapes affected by Prosopis through the rollout of the county Prosopis Juliflora management plan. The National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy of 2023 – 2032, which underpins the 15 billion tree growing initiative, incorporates the management and control of the spread of Prosopis, green jobs on Prosopis Juliflora clearing and value addition of wood and non- wood product creation by the ILO-supported community projects, which are being implemented in Turkana, Garissa, and Tana River counties as in Annex Four.

The Ministry and partners are also implementing other projects that are partly addressing the management of Prosopis Juliflora in some of the affected counties. This includes the FLoCCA and the Kenya Watershed Service Improvement Project, among others.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I submit.

Services, Senate. contents of proteins, carbohydrates or sugars and minerals that can be a viable substitute for cereals as raw materials for the commercial production of livestock feeds.

Prosopis Juliflora pods are also edible by humans and do not have any anti- nutritional attributes. Mild Prosopis-based pod meal can be mixed with wheat at a proportion of one to three and baked to produce cakes, mandazis and chapatis. Prosopis trees are evergreen and flower twice every year. Its flowers are rich in nectar and the honey produced is of high quality. However, the super high levels of sugar lead to frequent crystallization of honey, thus making it appear adulterated.

On-going plant community projects that align with ecological restoration, there is ongoing capacity development of registered charcoal producer associations in the management and sustainable utilisation of Prosopis tree biomass. This includes the introduction of modern charcoal making technologies to reduce gas emission and land restoration methods, among others.

Through the framework of collaboration with partners, there are ongoing activities geared towards rehabilitation of degraded landscapes affected by Prosopis through the rollout of the county Prosopis Juliflora management plan. The National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy of 2023 – 2032, which underpins the 15 billion tree growing initiative, incorporates the management and control of the spread of Prosopis, green jobs on Prosopis Juliflora clearing and value addition of wood and non- wood product creation by the ILO-supported community projects, which are being implemented in Turkana, Garissa, and Tana River counties as in Annex Four.

The Ministry and partners are also implementing other projects that are partly addressing the management of Prosopis Juliflora in some of the affected counties. This includes the FLoCCA and the Kenya Watershed Service Improvement Project, among others.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I submit.

Thank you, Madam Cabinet Secretary. I will now allow two supplementary questions from Sen. Joe Nyutu, if you do have. Thereafter, the Members who requested to ask supplementary questions will be given an opportunity.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. As you had communicated, these are questions that came from the Senator for Marsabit, Sen. Chute. I may not have a good understanding of Prosopis Juliflora, but could the Cabinet Secretary say something about water hyacinth? It is also another type of plant that is affecting our water bodies and I believe it is under her Ministry.

Sen. Veronica Maina.

Services, Senate.

This is so that the Ministry can enhance an approach that helps in the creative industry and creates jobs in the course of searching for those bags. This then will go to the cottage industries as opposed to concentrating on biodegradable bags which may be produced by one big factory. That energy and resources can be channeled towards generating employment or income in counties like Murang’a, Kitui and Makueni where baskets are weaved, or in counties like Turkana. What is the approach the Ministry is taking towards that?

Services, Senate.

This is so that the Ministry can enhance an approach that helps in the creative industry and creates jobs in the course of searching for those bags. This then will go to the cottage industries as opposed to concentrating on biodegradable bags which may be produced by one big factory. That energy and resources can be channeled towards generating employment or income in counties like Murang’a, Kitui and Makueni where baskets are weaved, or in counties like Turkana. What is the approach the Ministry is taking towards that?

Sen. Catherine Mumma.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I request you to indulge me to ask two questions since the supplementary questions did not come.

The hon. Cabinet Secretary’s answer is confusing to Kenyans. On the one hand, she says that there is a strategy on management and control of Prosopis Juliflora, the Mathenge plant and on the other hand, she has given a litany of the value of this plant, suggesting it is a good plant.

Since introduction of this plant, I have not heard her say the mess it has caused in terms of the health of humans. When the thorns of the Mathenge plant prick a human being and the animals, the wounds get inflamed very much. It has caused a lot of chaos and I did not hear her speak to that bit.

The reason this question was put is because the communities do not see the value. All the good things that she said are not happening in any of these counties. All that production is not happening in any of these counties. From 1999, it is 26 years since the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was done, during Moi's time.

I would have wanted to hear why the report of that EIA is not being implemented 26 years later and if her Ministry is doing something about it. I would like to hear, that in their time plan, are they are intending to clear the Mathenge plant by a certain time, following the programme. I have not heard that.

Kenyans from those counties will not be clear on what exactly the Ministry is doing to manage, control or eliminate the Mathenge plant, which is causing chaos in those counties. Can she give a real timeline-related answer on what she is doing to ensure that the Mathenge plant is moved away?

Sen. Maanzo.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I would like to ask the Cabinet Secretary whether the Mathenge tree is a scientifically manufactured tree. If so, what will they do to eliminate it? Luckily, I have not seen it in Makueni. However, I know when animals eat it, they lose their teeth. Is it a natural tree and what will they do to eliminate it?

Services, Senate. others. As I had said, research is ongoing to see which is the best in terms of acting as seedling after planting that is biodegradable at the right time. Therefore, we welcome all the options as the Ministry looks at and evaluates the various porting bags.

Regarding Sen. Mumma’s question on Prosopis Juliflora, first of all, it is important to note that it was introduced to address desertification. However, while addressing desertification, what we have noticed is that the invasion has increased and it is proliferating and affecting various areas. Getting rid of it absolutely will again reintroduce deserts within our country. What we are doing is looking at the commercial value and managing it so that it does not spread.

On Sen. Maanzo’s question, a lot of scientific research has been conducted. Some of the researches looked into utilisation of pests or insects to manage it. However, that can also have a ripple effect. Therefore, we need to be careful even as we look at management. Right now, what has worked is what we had talked about. That is pruning among others to control and manage Prosopis Juliflora as we look at the commercial value and improve the value chains. This is also as we improve the communities and livelihoods by utilising the same. Again, we are looking at reviewing other scientific interventions, which can be contextualised to our setting without affecting the environment.

Services, Senate. others. As I had said, research is ongoing to see which is the best in terms of acting as seedling after planting that is biodegradable at the right time. Therefore, we welcome all the options as the Ministry looks at and evaluates the various porting bags.

Regarding Sen. Mumma’s question on Prosopis Juliflora, first of all, it is important to note that it was introduced to address desertification. However, while addressing desertification, what we have noticed is that the invasion has increased and it is proliferating and affecting various areas. Getting rid of it absolutely will again reintroduce deserts within our country. What we are doing is looking at the commercial value and managing it so that it does not spread.

On Sen. Maanzo’s question, a lot of scientific research has been conducted. Some of the researches looked into utilisation of pests or insects to manage it. However, that can also have a ripple effect. Therefore, we need to be careful even as we look at management. Right now, what has worked is what we had talked about. That is pruning among others to control and manage Prosopis Juliflora as we look at the commercial value and improve the value chains. This is also as we improve the communities and livelihoods by utilising the same. Again, we are looking at reviewing other scientific interventions, which can be contextualised to our setting without affecting the environment.

Yes, Sen. Maanzo.

I asked whether it is a natural tree or scientifically manufactured.

Proceed, Madam Cabinet Secretary.

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry (Hon. (Dr.) Deborah Barasa) : Sen. Maanzo, it is a natural tree.

You have heard the Cabinet Secretary respond to the question by Sen. Maanzo.

Madam Cabinet Secretary, do you have a specific timeline on the action plans you have, as a Ministry, in response to the question by Sen. Mumma?

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry (Hon. (Dr.) Deborah Barasa) : Yes, we will have that by October.

Services, Senate.

Sen. Veronica Maina, kindly approach the Chair. (Sen. Veronica Maina consulted with the Temporary Speaker) Hon. Senators, for the convenience of business of the House, I will rearrange the Order Paper.

Clerk, please call out Order No.11.

Services, Senate.

Sen. Veronica Maina, kindly approach the Chair. (Sen. Veronica Maina consulted with the Temporary Speaker) Hon. Senators, for the convenience of business of the House, I will rearrange the Order Paper.

Clerk, please call out Order No.11.

Services, Senate.

The hearing was an opportunity for parliamentarians to take stock of what ails the world today and the respective nations and to commit to actionable solutions for the international community and national actors.

Some of the recommendations that were developed within this conference are-

the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies in military and security contexts. This should include measures for transparency, accountability and protection of civilians.

reaches the most vulnerable countries and communities, while integrating climate security into international peace and security agenda to address the root causes of climate-related conflicts.

such as reserved seats and transparent selection criteria to ensure the meaningful participation of women and youth in peace negotiations, and additionally to support civil society organizations, particularly those advocating for women and youth rights with adequate funds and resources.

facilitate dialogue in conflict regions, foster regular engagement with international parliamentary organizations and support initiatives that promote peace and conflict resolution.

outlined in the new agenda for peace at the 2024 Summit of the Future, focus on reforming global governance structures, particularly the United Nations (UN) Security Council, to make them more representative and effective in addressing contemporary security challenges.

global governance chapter of the pact for the future.

as part of their negotiation, emphasising the critical role they play in addressing contemporary global challenges.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the delegation that attended this important activity, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for the support and for ensuring that Kenya was duly and variably represented at this meeting. Article Seven of the IPU statutes mandates Members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to submit the resolutions of the IPU within their respective Parliament in the most appropriate form to communicate them to the Government, to stimulate their implementation and to inform the IPU secretariat as often and fully as possible, particularly in its annual reports of the steps taken and results obtained.

In accordance with Article Seven of the statutes of the IPU, it is my pleasure and very humble duty to submit this Report highlighting the full discussions of the Joint UN and the IPU 2024 Parliamentary Hearing to Parliament for noting and for taking the necessary action.

Services, Senate.

Let me also take this opportunity to commend the then Ambassador, Amb. Kiboino who received the Kenyan delegation very well. He was at advance stages of negotiating the country's position on the new agenda for peace. He welcomed the delegation very well and was able to brief and support the delegation throughout the process that we had.

Some of the other key points that I would want to highlight that were subject of discussion during this process was the financing for peace building, enhancing the role of peace building commission and reforming the global peace and security architecture. The other key issues are looking for good offices, mediation for nuclear armed states, building peace and capabilities from the ground up, managing diversity in state building and peace building, disengagement and reintegration of violent extremism. We also looked at peer review mechanisms for conflict prevention and transition, strengthening regional organizations that then support in maintaining of international peace and security and developing standards for new technology.

The mission proposed the development of the UN-driven treaty or standards to guide the responsible use of artificial intelligence in military and security applications. This would ensure transparency, accountability and protection of civilian and effective implementation of disarmament instruments. The mission urged the implementation of existing disarmament treaties and obligations to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

It also called on nuclear weapon states to adopt new security doctrines devoid of nuclear weapons and calibrated application of sanctions, which was a call for smart, objective, targeted and context-specific sanctions that avoid unintended socioeconomic and humanitarian consequences. It also emphasised on the need for review to ensure effectiveness of sanctions and minimize adverse impact.

To consider the future of peace and security, the good intentions of implementing such a Report are very critical for Parliament. It is my very humble duty and pleasure to present this Report and submit it. It will be available for the Members for its full content and application of the full text.

I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I move the report.

Services, Senate.

Let me also take this opportunity to commend the then Ambassador, Amb. Kiboino who received the Kenyan delegation very well. He was at advance stages of negotiating the country's position on the new agenda for peace. He welcomed the delegation very well and was able to brief and support the delegation throughout the process that we had.

Some of the other key points that I would want to highlight that were subject of discussion during this process was the financing for peace building, enhancing the role of peace building commission and reforming the global peace and security architecture. The other key issues are looking for good offices, mediation for nuclear armed states, building peace and capabilities from the ground up, managing diversity in state building and peace building, disengagement and reintegration of violent extremism. We also looked at peer review mechanisms for conflict prevention and transition, strengthening regional organizations that then support in maintaining of international peace and security and developing standards for new technology.

The mission proposed the development of the UN-driven treaty or standards to guide the responsible use of artificial intelligence in military and security applications. This would ensure transparency, accountability and protection of civilian and effective implementation of disarmament instruments. The mission urged the implementation of existing disarmament treaties and obligations to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

It also called on nuclear weapon states to adopt new security doctrines devoid of nuclear weapons and calibrated application of sanctions, which was a call for smart, objective, targeted and context-specific sanctions that avoid unintended socioeconomic and humanitarian consequences. It also emphasised on the need for review to ensure effectiveness of sanctions and minimize adverse impact.

To consider the future of peace and security, the good intentions of implementing such a Report are very critical for Parliament. It is my very humble duty and pleasure to present this Report and submit it. It will be available for the Members for its full content and application of the full text.

I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I move the report.

Services, Senate. and read it. It is very informative. The discussions that go on in IPU are mind-blogging and set the stage towards legislating on matters that have a global effect and the agenda on our people.

With those many remarks, I beg to second.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I thank Sen. Chimera for the opportunity he has taken to second this Motion. Matters of peace are very crucial. It is important that Sen. Chimera, in seconding this report, also represents the youth in this nation.

We cannot talk of any peace or security for the future without mentioning the youth. In fact, the future of peace, security and stable communities is in the hands of the youth. At this crucial time in the republic of Kenya, these reports become a focal point which should be read by everybody even beyond the Senators who are within the House.

The youth must be able to engage with the processes that are being done at a global, continental, regional and local levels even up to mashinani because without familiarising themselves with the efforts that are being made globally to secure peace, our future will be at risk.

I thank Sen. Chimera and the delegation that represented our nation ably at the UN. I pray that we all maintain peace in our Republic and know that without it, nothing can be done to foster development.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply and request that putting of the question be deferred pursuant to Standing Order No.66.

Hon. Senators, Order No. 8 is deferred since Sen. Mandago is not in the House.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I thank Sen. Chimera for the opportunity he has taken to second this Motion. Matters of peace are very crucial. It is important that Sen. Chimera, in seconding this report, also represents the youth in this nation.

We cannot talk of any peace or security for the future without mentioning the youth. In fact, the future of peace, security and stable communities is in the hands of the youth. At this crucial time in the republic of Kenya, these reports become a focal point which should be read by everybody even beyond the Senators who are within the House.

The youth must be able to engage with the processes that are being done at a global, continental, regional and local levels even up to mashinani because without familiarising themselves with the efforts that are being made globally to secure peace, our future will be at risk.

I thank Sen. Chimera and the delegation that represented our nation ably at the UN. I pray that we all maintain peace in our Republic and know that without it, nothing can be done to foster development.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply and request that putting of the question be deferred pursuant to Standing Order No.66.

Services, Senate.

Services, Senate.

Hon. Senators, there being no other business on the Order Paper, the Senate stands adjourned until later today, Wednesday, 23rd July, 2025 at 2.30 p.m.

The Senate rose at 12.39 p.m.

Hon. Senators, there being no other business on the Order Paper, the Senate stands adjourned until later today, Wednesday, 23rd July, 2025 at 2.30 p.m.

The Senate rose at 12.39 p.m.