Wednesday, 2nd August, 2023 Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum?

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

Serjeant-at-Arms, I am informed that we do have quorum now. Kindly stop the Bell.

Clerk, call the first Order, please.

Hon. Sen. Okiya Omtatah, please proceed.

Senate.

Is there anyone holding brief for Sen. Okiya Omtatah? That Petition is dropped.

Next Order.

I am made to understand that hon. Lemaletian is out on official duty, in Kampala. Therefore, that Statement will be deferred until she gets back.

Hon. Wambua, please proceed.

We are going to come back to hon. Wambua because the Statement is yet to be brought to the Clerk.

Statement pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , Hon. Chimera please proceed.

Hon. Sen. Ogola, please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) , to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources regarding pollution in Lake Victoria.

In the Statement, the Committee should -

Senate.

lake.

into Lake Victoria considering the transnational nature of the lake

the lake, furnishing the Senate with compliance report of measures taken to protect the Lake.

Sen. Kibwana has three Statements. Sen. Kibwana, proceed to present your three Statements.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Health regarding the status of medical care at Mathari Mental Hospital.

In the Statement, the Committee should-

Senate.

In the Statement, the Committee should-

Referral Hospital, where the pregnant woman tragically lost her unborn baby due to alleged negligence by health and medical practitioners and the hospital.

against the medical staff involved.

services, particularly for pregnant women in public hospitals across the county, giving an assessment of staffing levels, training programmes and protocols for handling emergency cases.

woman and her family, as well as any measures in place to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in future.

including the allocation of resources, infrastructure development and recruitment of qualified medical personnel.

Order, Senators. May the Hon. Senator be heard in silence.

Mr. Speaker Sir, I will repeat number five.

Senate.

recommendations outlined in the National Plan of Action to tackle online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Kenya 2022 /2026.

Thank you.

Proceed, Sen. Mwaruma.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I stand pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources concerning mining in the Kishushe Area of Taita-taveta County.

In the Statement, the Committee should-

There is a Statement that we had dropped earlier by Sen. Chimera. Sen. Chimera has since approached the Chair and explained the reason why he was not in the Chamber when the Statement was called out. He had a very valid reason. Therefore, I will allow the hon. Senator to proceed to make the Statement.

Proceed, Sen. Chimera.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare regarding the status of registration of the Universities Academic Staff Union, commonly known as UASU.

In the Statement, the Committee should –

Senate.

Unions, identifying the specific reasons for the denial, if any, and indicate whether any attempts have been made by UASU officials or relevant parties to address the said reasons.

academic staff welfare, rights and overall labour relations within the higher education sector.

fair and transparent registration processes in strict compliance with the law.

Thank you.

Hon. Senators, I will allow limited comments on these Statements that have been made pursuant to Standing Order No. 53 (1) .

Hon. Sen. Wambua, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have a comment on the Statement requested by Sen. Ogola on the pollution of Lake Victoria. I appreciate the central role played by that water body in not just offering transportation but also that it is a source of fish for domestic and international consumption.

Over the years, that Lake has experienced a lot of pollution. It will not be long before we start receiving further bans on export of fish and other water foods from that Lake. As the Committee looks into that matter of Lake Victoria and the pollution thereof, I urge it to also extend that investigation into the pollution of major rivers in this country.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will give the example of Athi River which has been seriously polluted by industries letting raw affluent flow into that River. The section of Tana River water passes through Ukambani, has turned green. That water is used to irrigate vegetables, which are consumed locally in the Lower Eastern Region and in the city.

That Committee needs to take that matter very seriously so as to take care of the health of our Nation. I thank Sen. Ogola for bringing that Statement.

Sen. Kinyua.

Asante, Bw. Spika, kwa kunipa fursa hii. Naunga mkono Taarifa iliyoletwa na Sen. Hamida, kuhusu kuzembea katika hospitali ya Kiambu. Hili jambo la madaktari pamoja na wauguzi wale wengine kuzembea katika kazi yao imekuwa donda sugu katika hospitali zetu.

Kuna yule mtoto ambae Kamati yetu iliingilia na kuchunguza. Alikuwa amegongwa na jembe kwa kichwa, akazungushwa mahospitalini na mwishowe akaaga dunia. Wale madaktari walikua wakiangalia na hakuna jambo lolote walifanya.

Bw. Spika, tumeripotiwa jambo lingine lililotendeka pale Kiambu. Kamati inayohusika inapaswa iangalie haya maswali kwa undani na waangalie ni jambo lipi linalosababisha mambo kama hayo. Je, ni ukosefu wa vifaa vya kutosha, uchache ama upungufu wa wauguzi ama ni ile watu kutojali wenzao?

Bw. Spika, vile vile, nachangia Taarifa iliyoletwa kuhusu hospitali ya Mathare ambayo inashugulikia watu walio na shida za kiakili. Ukitembelea hospitali ile, utapata ni ndogo sana ili wagonjwa ni wengi sana.

Senate.

Maswali aliyouliza Seneta huyo ni mazuri sana. Ni madaktari wangapi wanaoshugulikia mambo ya akili wako pale. Wakati mmoja, ilipatikana kwamba hospitali yenyewe ilikuwa ni chafu, wagonjwa wamewachwa na uchafu umetapakaa kila mahali katika hosptali ile. Kwa hivyo, Kamati hii ya Afya ina jukumu muhimu ya kuzingatia ya kwamba hospitali zetu zinatekeleza mambo ambayo yanapaswa kutekelezwa kwa njia ambayo Wakenya watafurahia.

Bw. Spika, sio hiyo pekee yake. Ukitembelea hospitali zingine kama ya Laikipia, utapata hospitali hazina dawa na watu wanaandikiwa dawa. Wagonjwa wanaambiwa hata ijapokua wana kadi za National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), hospitali hazina dawa. Wagonjwa wanaohitaji kupiga picha, wanaelekezwa mahali fulani. Inakaa wale madaktari wanapata mlungula kwa sababu wanakuelekeza kwa duka fulani ya kununua dawa.

Watu wanakisia ya kwamba hospitali zikipatiwa dawa na Serikali, dawa zinauzwa na kupelekwa pale nje kisha wananchi wanaambiwa waende kununua dawa hizo huko nje. Kwa hivyo, Kamati inayohusika iangalie haya mambo kwa undani na kuleta mapendekezo ya kudumu.

Sen. Madzayo, you may proceed. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo) : Asante, Bw. Spika. Nampa kongole dadangu Sen. Kibwana kwa kauli aliyoleta Seneti. Tunaelewa ya kwamba, Wakenya wenzetu walio na akili punguani wanaenda hizo hospitali za akili punguani ili kupata matibabu. Lakini, tukiangalia zile sehemu zao za matibabu na vifaa vinayotumika kuwaweka katika yale maeneo, hali ya usafi na hali ya chakula, Serikali inafaa itafakari zaidi na kuhakikisha kuna madaktari wa kutosha ambao wana ile taaluma inayotumika kufanya hayo matibabu.

Nilitembelea hospitali ya Port Reitz, eneo la Pwani. Matokeo tuliona kule yalikuwa hayafai hata kidogo. Hali ya usafi imepungua. Hali wanavyokaa wakati wanapokea matibabu, haiwezi changia watibiwe na kupona. Mtu, hata kama ana akili kidogo, akifika pale anazidi kuharibika. Bw. Spika, inatikikana tupate madaktari wenye taaluma ya kutosha, madaktari wa hali ya juu ili wakienda kukagua au kutibu wagonjwa wawe ni madaktari wanaweza kabisa kukabiliana na magonjwa kama haya ya akili punguani.

Pili, ni upande wa malazi. Katika mahospitali haya yote tumeona, hata kule Mathare nimetembea na kushuhudia kwamba malazi yao yanakua mabaya sana. Hali ya afya na mazingira inakua ya kupungua kabisa. Saa zingine hata wakiitwa akili punguani, sijui kwa sababu gani, matibabu na hali yao ya kuweza kujikimu pale ndani inakua hali ya kusikitisha sana. Bw. Spika, naunga mkono kauli hii. Kauli iliyoletwa ni safi na inaweza pia kusaidia. La muhimu ni kwamba, majukumu kama haya au kuwa na hospitali za watu wenye akili punguani, inaweza pelekwa mahali kama Meru, kule kwa yule ndugu yangu, Naibu wa Spika.

Huko kunahitaji pia. Mimi ninajua watu kama hao wenye akili punguani wako sehemu kama hizo.

Senate.

Watu kama hawa wanapatikana katika nchi nzima, katika kila kaunti. Wanastahili kuwekwa katika hali nzuri.

Senate.

Watu kama hawa wanapatikana katika nchi nzima, katika kila kaunti. Wanastahili kuwekwa katika hali nzuri.

On a point of order Mr. Speaker, Sir.

What is your point of order Sen. Kathuri?

Bw. Spika, huyu Kiongozi wa Walio Wachache ametaja jambo la huko Meru akisema kuwa hospitali ya wale watu walio na akili punguani ipelekwe huko. Najua anajua Meru vizuri. Visa vya watu walio na akili punguani ni vidogo sana huko Meru. Kwa hivyo, sioni kama ni vizuri vile umepeana mfano wa Meru. Mimi nikiangalia pale Kilifi, ukitembea hata Mtwapa peke yake unaweza hesabu wengi sana ambao wanahitaji huduma kama hiyo.

Kwa hivyo, ungepeana mfano wa kwako ili hiyo hospitali ipelekwe Kilifi lakini sio Meru.

Asante Bw. Spika.

Hon. Senator, I think this is healthcare and it is needed across the country. So, let us leave it at that. Proceed,

I can speak very good Swahili. Naweza kuzungumza Kiswahili

Wacha nitumie Kiswahili basi. Bw. Spika, nina hoja ya nidhamu kwa kiongozi mwenzangu. Wewe unajua vizuri kwamba mke wake anatoka sehemu zile za Meru. Na ukiwa umeoa mahali fulani, katika desturi zetu na mila zetu sisi kama Waafrika, unawatakia mambo mazuri.

Unawapangia mashemeji zako mambo makuu ambayo yatawasaidia. Mimi nimekuwa naye katika Bunge hili karibu miaka kumi na tano. Sijamsikia hata siku moja akitaja jambo lolote ambalo angependa lipelekwe Meru. Jambo ambalo amelitaja siku ya kwanza ni kwamba anataka kuwapelekea hospitali ya wendawazimu.

Hiyo ni heshima kweli kwa shemeji zake?

On a point of order Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Cheruiyot, Hoja yako ya nidhamu ni gani?

I can speak very good Swahili. Naweza kuzungumza Kiswahili

Wacha nitumie Kiswahili basi. Bw. Spika, nina hoja ya nidhamu kwa kiongozi mwenzangu. Wewe unajua vizuri kwamba mke wake anatoka sehemu zile za Meru. Na ukiwa umeoa mahali fulani, katika desturi zetu na mila zetu sisi kama Waafrika, unawatakia mambo mazuri.

Unawapangia mashemeji zako mambo makuu ambayo yatawasaidia. Mimi nimekuwa naye katika Bunge hili karibu miaka kumi na tano. Sijamsikia hata siku moja akitaja jambo lolote ambalo angependa lipelekwe Meru. Jambo ambalo amelitaja siku ya kwanza ni kwamba anataka kuwapelekea hospitali ya wendawazimu.

Hiyo ni heshima kweli kwa shemeji zake?

Sen. Cheptumo, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for giving me a chance. The issue raised in this Statement is really important. I think the challenge we have now in our country is the state of our hospitals. Recently, in my county, two doctors were arrested. They were found stealing medicine from the very hospital they are serving in, in Baringo County.

It is unfortunate that those given the responsibility to take care of our sick people in our hospital are participating in activities that do not help in the process. The situation in this county where there is some element of negligence on the part of the doctors is unfortunate. It is important that those in charge should take appropriate action against these doctors.

The whole issue of the medical condition in our hospitals across the country is a challenge. Even when we do the devolvement of health facilities to the counties, the county governments should focus on the counties. The Governor of Mombasa said that he would like to convert that hospital into a parastatal.

The doctors from the Ministry do not give appropriate focus in our referral hospitals in the administration, management and control. I think that measures should be taken in so that these hospitals have legal instruments that can employ qualified people to manage the hospitals. The Baringo situation is also wanting. I would like to say that even when they receive this Statement, it is good for them to look at other hospitals in a country like Baringo and others.

I support.

Proceed, Sen. (Dr) Oburu.

Bw. Spika, naomba nimjibu kwa sababu message ambayo amepeleka ni mbaya. (Laughter)

Sen. Madzayo, let us not have this generate its own debate. I think I made a very clear indication on this particular matter that such hospitals are needed across the country. Let us leave it at that. It could be in Kilifi, Meru, or Kitui. So, proceed to prosecute the point you wanted to put across and conclude, please. The Senate Minority Leader (

Senate. important. I come from the lake which is a shared resource between three countries; Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

The lake is a source of livelihood for millions of people living around it. However, there is a report from the United Nations (UN) that states that the lake is dying because of pollution from factories like the sugar mills around it, hospitals and other sources of pollution including the raid of the lake by hyacinth menace.

If no steps are taken to control the pollution of the lake, it is estimated that within the next 50 years, the lake will be dead. So, this Statement which is sought by Sen. Ogola is important. Let the committee fully investigate the lake and find out exactly how it can be revived so that the fish stocks which are diminishing including those that I used to eat when I was young and have disappeared--- This is because of pollution.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, you know that Kenya is the one which contributes most of the rivers which drain into Lake Victoria. I think it is only Kagera, which is the other major Lake getting into Lake Victoria. Fish like breeding in warm waters. When they breed in these warm waters, they migrate to Tanzania and Uganda. When our fishermen go to look for fish around there, they are arrested and heavily fined. The lake is a source of livelihood. It is the kahawa, the tea and the gold for those people living around the lake.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I hope this Committee will come up with a very good report which will help brighten the future of this very important resource for the people living around the riparian land near the Lake.

Thank you.

Wakati mwingine watu kama akina Sen. Wambua wakichangia, tunasema pia hospitali kama ipo, iko huko Kitui. Lakini la kumalizia ni kwamba, taarifa hii ni nzuri na iko na mwelekeo mzuri. Tunaomba kabisa itakapopelekwa kwa Kamati itakayo shughulika nayo, ionelee ya kwamba katika kila eneo katika kaunti arobaini na saba, kuwe na hospitali kama hizi. Asante.

Sen. Cheptumo, you may proceed.

Senate.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I wish to support the Statement by Sen. Kibwana on mental health. I request that we take mental health seriously. The exchanges that we have had by in-laws, just shows how stigmatized the matter of mental health is in this country. It has taken a long time.

This country only had Mathare as the only hospital dealing with mental health and it is not well equipped to carry out this function. The issue that is being raised is so serious, that I request the Committee to look at it as a need for all of us. It is a need for a service that is required for our children in schools. We have lots of suicides. It is a need that is required even for Members of Parliament (MPs) and everybody.

Mental health is about depression and other issues. It is not a disease to be stigmatized. I must say I was a bit disappointed at the little exchange we have had about people worrying whether a mental health hospital should or should not be in their county. It is a serious issue and we need the Government to invest heavily in mental health care for all cadres and ages of people. I request the Committee to take that seriously.

I thank Sen. Ogola for the Statement on the issue of Lake Victoria. I request the Committee that will look at this issue, to go further and require that the blue economy counties within western Kenya, those around Lake Victoria, should actually be asked to come together and possibly come up with an inter-county arrangement that can help them.

I can see them work together and have cooperation with the national Government to ensure that Lake Victoria, which is a very important resource in this country, is taken care of. Lake Victoria is not just about the people and counties that live near Lake Victoria; it is a national resource that we need to care for seriously.

I ask that the vision of the country on the blue economy looks beyond the Indian Ocean and looks at Lake Victoria and other lakes as well. The vision should get the counties near these lakes to take responsibility and ensure that we care for these waters, including rivers, so that we are able to secure this nation.

I support.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This matter that we are canvassing is very serious. I have listened to comments by colleagues on the need to properly place and advance the issue of mental health in our communities.

I note with concern the very comments made by Sen. Mumma, who may misconstrue the exchange that we had earlier, to think that we do not give this space the seriousness that it deserves. For her comfort, I wish to assure her that mental health matters. As leaders, it is in our place to advance and advocate for its proper placing in society, ensure that we have facilities available for the victims of mental health challenges in whatever format.

I wish to challenge Sen. Kibwana to take up the mantle that was left by a former colleague, Sen. Kasanga. During her tenure here in the Senate last Term, she distinguished herself and spoke and reminded us on World Mental Health Awareness Day and pushed many policies. Unfortunately, many of those policies have not come to fruition. By way of Motion, she had a Bill on the same.

Senate.

I would wish that, apart from the question that Sen. Kibwana has brought, that this is a space that she takes keen interest in and lead us in seeing ways in which we can help our county governments.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the truth of the matter is that mental health facilities are in such scarce nature. We need them in each of our 47 counties. I have been to Mathare Mental Hospital many times because I had a childhood friend who would be admitted there on many occasions. Each time I visited; you could see the want in terms of support. The institution continues to suffer rundown with under-investment over the years.

That was more than 10 or 20 years ago. I can imagine how it looks now and perhaps it is the only known public institution publicly. You can imagine what people have to do in the far-flung counties that many of us come from.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, we need to have this conversation around the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as we move towards its realization and its roll-out in all the 47 counties.

This is a time that we need to question as we speak about the changing policy and investments that need to be done in our various referral hospitals in our counties; that at least some funds are set a side and that there is training and good facilities to take care of fellow Kenyans.

This is something that I believe the Committee of Health - and if I am not mistaken Sen. Kibwana is a Member of that committee - can lead this Senate into pushing for that positive change from the Ministry of Health when they come to respond so that we know what is the long-term plan specifically for the country but more importantly for the individual counties that we represent in this House. Therefore, I hope that can be done.

I thank you.

Proceed, Sen. Faki.

Senate.

Senate. Reitz, iangalie kwa makini ni vipi watu wale wanaangaliwa kwa sababu matatizo ya akili sasa yameingia katika kila jamii ya Kenya.

Vile vile, maswala ya mazingira ni muhimu sana. Kule Mombasa tumeona uchafuzi wa mazingira umeingia katika Bahari la Hindi. Ukienda katika ufuo wa bahari, kwa mfano, ukitoka Nyali Bridge ya zamani uzunguke mpaka Statehouse, utapata uchafuzi wa mazingira umekithiri sana. Utapata kwingine hata maji machafu yanayotoka kwenye nyumba zetu yanaingia moja kwa moja katika bahari ambapo yanaharibu mazingira ya samaki kutaga mayai na pia kuzaana. Vile vile, wale samaki watakapovuliwa hawatakuwa halali kuliwa na binadamu kwa sababu mazingira yao yamechafuliwa.

Utupaji wa plastiki na takataka nyingine ambazo kwa kizungu wanasema “they are not biodegradable” inamaanisha kwamba samaki akila takataka zile, zikiingia katika mwili wake, baadaye tukikkula wale samaki, tutakuwa tunadhuru afya yetu. Ndio maana visa vingi vya saratani ya mwili vinatokana na mazingira na kukula vyakula vinavyoathiriwa na mazingira kama hayo.

Bw. Spika, ningependa pia Kamati ya Mazingira itakapokuwa inaangalia swala hili, pia wazuru Mombasa kwa sababu ile mchafuko inayoendelea katika Bahari Hindi yanaathiri pakubwa uzalishaji wa samaki, uvuvi na maisha yetu sisi katika eneo la pwani.

Asante kwa kunipa fursa hii.

Hon. Senators, we have expended quite sometime on comments. Therefore, we will leave it at that and move to Statement that we had deferred under Standing Order No. 52 (1) by Sen. Wambua.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.52 (1) to make a Statement on a matter of countrywide and general topical concern, namely the missing link in the list of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment centres in Kitui County.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I applaud the KDF as it prepares to recruit servicemen and women to keep our borders safe.

The list of the recruitment centres in all the 47 counties in Kenya is out. I wish our young people across the country well as they compete for the available slots. May the very best get the coveted opportunity to secure our borders.

I have keenly gone through the list of recruitment centres in the great county of Kitui. In view of the sensitivity and importance attached to this national exercise, I have consulted widely on this list. My office has consulted the office of the Kitui County Commissioner, including the County Commissioner himself, Mr. Erastus Mbui and the Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) in Mumoni Sub-County.

I have personally but unsuccessfully attempted to get in touch with the Cabinet Secretary of Defence, Hon. Adan Duale. I pray that he shall find time and reason to return my call.

Proceed, Sen. Faki.

Asante Mhe. Spika kwa kunipa fursa hii kuchangia Statement mbili ambazo zimeletwa Bungeni; moja ya Lake Victoria na nyingine ya matatizo ya akili, yani mental health na maswala ya madhara ya mental hospital.

Nikianzia hii ya pili ni kwamba ni ukweli matatizo ya afya ya akili imekuwa kidonda sugu. Utapata kwamba kama Maseneta waliotangulia walivyosema, vituo vya matibabu katika Kenya viko viwili pekee yake: Mathari na Port Reitz katika Kaunti ya Mombasa.

Lakini hakujakuwa na uwekezaji wa kutosha katika taasisi hizi kiasi ambacho wengi wanaoenda pale wanateseka baadala ya kuangaliwa na madaktari ama wauguzi walio katika hospitali zile.

Bw. Spika, tatizo kubwa pia ni kuwa kuna unyanyapaa katika familia za wale ambao wameathirika kwa sababu mtu wa akili pungwani mara nyingi huwa hausishwi kwa jambo lolote mpaka aanze kufanya fujo na kupigana ndiyo anapelekwa hospitali. Akifika hospitali, anawekwa huko na hapati matibabu ya kisawa sawa.

Juzi nilibahatika kuenda katika hospitali ya Port Reitz. Cha kusikitisha ni kwamba mgonjwa wa akili akifika pale lazima kwanza alipe Kshs10,000 ndio aweze kupokelewa na ahudumiwe. Kwa hivyo, ningependa hii Kamati ya Afya pia izuru hospitali ya Port

Senate. Reitz, iangalie kwa makini ni vipi watu wale wanaangaliwa kwa sababu matatizo ya akili sasa yameingia katika kila jamii ya Kenya.

Vile vile, maswala ya mazingira ni muhimu sana. Kule Mombasa tumeona uchafuzi wa mazingira umeingia katika Bahari la Hindi. Ukienda katika ufuo wa bahari, kwa mfano, ukitoka Nyali Bridge ya zamani uzunguke mpaka Statehouse, utapata uchafuzi wa mazingira umekithiri sana. Utapata kwingine hata maji machafu yanayotoka kwenye nyumba zetu yanaingia moja kwa moja katika bahari ambapo yanaharibu mazingira ya samaki kutaga mayai na pia kuzaana. Vile vile, wale samaki watakapovuliwa hawatakuwa halali kuliwa na binadamu kwa sababu mazingira yao yamechafuliwa.

Utupaji wa plastiki na takataka nyingine ambazo kwa kizungu wanasema “they are not biodegradable” inamaanisha kwamba samaki akila takataka zile, zikiingia katika mwili wake, baadaye tukikkula wale samaki, tutakuwa tunadhuru afya yetu. Ndio maana visa vingi vya saratani ya mwili vinatokana na mazingira na kukula vyakula vinavyoathiriwa na mazingira kama hayo.

Bw. Spika, ningependa pia Kamati ya Mazingira itakapokuwa inaangalia swala hili, pia wazuru Mombasa kwa sababu ile mchafuko inayoendelea katika Bahari Hindi yanaathiri pakubwa uzalishaji wa samaki, uvuvi na maisha yetu sisi katika eneo la pwani.

Asante kwa kunipa fursa hii.

Hon. Senators, we have expended quite sometime on comments. Therefore, we will leave it at that and move to Statement that we had deferred under Standing Order No. 52 (1) by Sen. Wambua.

Hon. Senators, in the Public Gallery, we have 108 students accompanied by seven teachers from Arap Moi Junior Secondary School in Kajiado County, who are in the Senate on an education tour.

In our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them. On behalf of the Senate and my behalf, I wish them a fruitful visit.

I thank you.

I will allow the Senator for Kajiado, Sen. Seki, under one minute to welcome the delegation.

Senate.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, there is a missing link in the list of recruitment centres in Kitui County. Mumoni Sub-County in Mwingi North constituency of Kitui County has been left out of the list.

In this Statement, I am making a legitimate case for the residents, especially the youth of Mumoni Sub-County in Mwingi North Constituency of Kitui County. For many years, the youth of Mumoni have been recruited to join our national disciplined forces at Katse Primary School in Katse Town.

However, to the dismay of the residents of Kitui County, Mumoni Sub-County has been left out in the list of recruitment centres. Emotions are running high in the Sub- County, arising from the unfortunate omission.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I spent a greater part of my formative years as a child and youth in the army barracks when my father served in the then Kenya Army before he retired into the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am a responsible leader and would be the last person to unnecessarily politicize the recruitment exercise by the KDF.

In the year 2017, a new Sub-County called Tharaka Thagicu was created. It was administratively hived off from Mumoni Sub-County. Before this new Sub-County was created, which I seriously celebrate because I took a front role in pushing for it, Tharaka Ward was administratively under Mumoni North Division.

In the list of recruitment centres, I fully support the inclusion of Nthangani recruitment centre for Tharaka Thagicu Sub-County. However, to avoid visiting the same inequality on the people of Mumoni Ward which we cured for the people of Tharaka, I implore the KDF to quickly reconsider the list and include Katse primary school as the recruitment centre for Mumoni Sub-County.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Hansard will show how consistent I have been in fighting for the issuance of a Sub-County code for Tharaka Thagicu Sub-County. This was always guided by a strong conviction that the people of Tharaka who have been marginalized for long time need to access government services closer to home and not compete for opportunities with your brothers and sisters in Mumoni.

The idea was to bring to an end the suffering visited on our people in Tharaka Ward as they seek national Government services including the upcoming KDF recruitment.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, requiring the youths from Mumoni and Tharaka to compete for the same opportunities at Nthangani would be rendering the entire effort of creating a new Sub-County and exercise in futility.

Last year, the KDF recruited service men and women from both Nthangani and Katse and this should be the natural thing to do. Merging the two recruitment centres denies the youth of Kitui County opportunities for recruitment to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

The KDF slots available at Thangani Recruitment Centre should be left for the youth of Tharaka to compete for. The youth of Mumoni should compete for their own KDF slots at Kasee Primary School as the tradition has been.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the eligible young people of Kitui County in general, and specifically the youth of Mumoni and Tharaka Sub Counties, I submit that

Senate. the Kasee Recruitment Centre be reinstated and a date given for this year's KDF recruitment exercise in Kitui County.

May our best youth in Tharaka, Mumoni and all the recruitment centres in Kitui County and the country at large be successfully recruited to join the ranks and file of the KDF. It shall be well.

I thank you.

Senate.

Hon. Senators, in the Public Gallery, we have 108 students accompanied by seven teachers from Arap Moi Junior Secondary School in Kajiado County, who are in the Senate on an education tour.

In our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them. On behalf of the Senate and my behalf, I wish them a fruitful visit.

I thank you.

I will allow the Senator for Kajiado, Sen. Seki, under one minute to welcome the delegation.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I take this opportunity to thank the teachers and pupils from Arap Moi Junior Secondary School. The school is located in Nkoroi Ward, Kajiado North Sub County, in Kajiado County.

I thank you for choosing the Senate as an institution to come and learn from. I believe you came at the right time and you have seen quite a number of activities in the Senate. I am sure you will take a lot of knowledge back home. Definitely, we will continue to interact at home.

On behalf of my colleagues, I welcome you to the Senate. God bless you as you go back home.

Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism, you may proceed.

Senate.

Senate. on Thursday, 25th May, 2023 and considered a response from the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage regarding the Statement.

The Committee identified various gaps in the response and resolved to invite the Chairperson of the National Museums of Kenya, who apprised the Committee on the following supplementary issues -

museums;

handed over to the counties; and,

conserve the environment within which Ahmed the elephant lived and whether the artifact, Ahmed the elephant, can be handed over to Marsabit County.

It was resolved that the National Museums of Kenya will facilitate the casting of Ahmed the elephant to be handed over to Marsabit County. The Committee will undertake further engagements with the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Relations Technical to unbundle the museum function for the benefit of the counties. The Statement was concluded.

Produce in Foreign Countries. The Committee vide letter dated 13th April, 2023, received a response from the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry. The response was considered by the Committee and the Statement concluded.

Senate.

The Committee has further scheduled a meeting with the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) to address the competition issues raised in the Petition and a meeting with the Group Managing Director of the EABL before it proceeds to prepare a report.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, in following up on the emerging issues raised in the Statement sought by Sen. Agnes Kavindu Muthama, regarding the Status of the Revocation Notice of Drumvale Farmers’ Co-operative Society Limited in Machakos County, the Committee undertook a factfinding visit to Drumvale Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Machakos County on 9th June, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, during the period under review, the Committee considered 23 Statements as follows. I shall try to scale them into three-

What is your point of order, Sen. Madzayo? The Senate Minority Leader (

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee is scheduled to consider the following business in the next quarter -

Sen. Miraj and Sen. Orwoba, you have now come of age. We have taken you through a lot of training and teachings on the Standing Orders. You now know how to conduct yourselves when you are in this Chamber.

At this juncture any breach of the Standing Order will be deemed deliberate and will attract some kind of punishment. You all know that if you need to cross from one side of the House to the other, you need to walk all the way to the Bar, bow to the Chair and then proceed to the other side.

Sen. Orwoba, there is a time you did the same and I reprimanded you. I did not send you out of the Chamber. I am going to use the same words. In this House unlike a chicken banda, you cannot move freely. You move pursuant to our Standing Orders. Sen. Orwoba and Sen. Miraj, I call you to order and give you a first caution of the day.

Sen. Seki, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Senate. on Thursday, 25th May, 2023 and considered a response from the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage regarding the Statement.

The Committee identified various gaps in the response and resolved to invite the Chairperson of the National Museums of Kenya, who apprised the Committee on the following supplementary issues -

museums;

handed over to the counties; and,

conserve the environment within which Ahmed the elephant lived and whether the artifact, Ahmed the elephant, can be handed over to Marsabit County.

It was resolved that the National Museums of Kenya will facilitate the casting of Ahmed the elephant to be handed over to Marsabit County. The Committee will undertake further engagements with the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Relations Technical to unbundle the museum function for the benefit of the counties. The Statement was concluded.

Produce in Foreign Countries. The Committee vide letter dated 13th April, 2023, received a response from the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry. The response was considered by the Committee and the Statement concluded.

Hon. Chair, you have one minute to go.

Senate. was apprised on the challenges that the petitioners experienced as a result of lack of a public ferry plying the Mbita-Mfangano route.

We met with the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Roads and Transport, where the Committee was informed that Kenya Ports Authority had made a budgetary provision of Kshs300 million in the Financial Year 2022/2023, for acquisition of the ferry to ply in Lake Victoria and another Kshs300 million in Financial Year 2023/2024 for acquisition of a second ferry.

The Committee sought information on the status of acquisition of the two ferries to ply Lake Victoria route. Once the information is received, the Committee will retreat to write the report in this month of August.

The second Petition concerns eviction and demolition of the Buxton Estate, Mvita Constituency in Mombasa County by former residents of Buxton Estate. They were evicted and their houses demolished to pave way for redevelopment of the estate. The Petition was committed to the Committee on 1st March, 2023. The Committee has undertaken the following steps in consideration of the Petition-

24th March, 2023.

on 20th May, 2023.

has received submissions from the County Government of

Mombasa, the developer of the estate, State Department for Housing and State Department for Lands.

The Committee is retreating this month to compile the final report. The third Petition concerning access to title deeds for properties bought at Jamii Bora Estate, Kisaju, Kajiado County was committed to the Committee on 14th March,

has undertaken the following steps in considering the Petition-

on 4th May, 2023.

on 15th May, 2023.

of Jamii Bora Charitable Trust on 18th May, 2023 and 8th June,

for Lands and Physical Planning.

satisfied with the responses and sought further information.

Hon. Chair, I am going to allow you an extra meeting to conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee is scheduled to consider the following business in the next quarter -

Senate.

Cooperative Society Ltd in Machakos County;

muguka cargo transporters;

Nairobi, Mombasa and Garissa;

evaluate the status of regional trade and the Kenya -Uganda trade flows; and,

mandate of the Committee.

Hon. Chairpersons, kindly note that any Statements that are made pursuant to Part 12 of our Standing Orders can only be made within 10 minutes, unless with leave of the Speaker. Therefore, as you prepare your Statements, please, abide by that Standing Order.

If you feel the 10 minutes are not adequate, then make prior arrangements to seek the Speakers’ permission, so that we do not have to do what we have just witnessed today.

The Chairperson Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, please, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 56 (1) (b) to make a Statement on Activities of the Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing for the period commencing 1st April, 2023 to 30th June, 2023.

During the period under review, the Committee held 17 sittings and one joint sitting with the Standing Committee on Land, Environment and Natural Resources.

Regarding Bills, the Committee considered a legislative proposal on The Motorcycle Public Transport Service Bill, 2023, which seeks to provide for the regulation of the boda boda industry that was sponsored by Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, CBS, MP.

The Committee considered the legislative proposal on 8th June, 2023 and had an engagement with Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, CBS, MP on 20th June, 2023. The Committee resolved that it be published with amendments that were agreed upon by the sponsor and communicated to the Speaker on the decision for publication of the proposal with amendments on 11th July, 2023.

It is good to note that our Committee is aware of Standing Order No.131 (1) (b) that no Committee has vital power to kill anybody’s Bill. Bills are killed on the Floor of the House, but not at the Committee level.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on Petitions, three Petitions have so far been referred to the Committee and are at various stages of consideration as follows-

One is the Petition concerning public transport in Lake Victoria between Mfangano Island in Suba Central Sub County and Mbita, Homa Bay County. We invited the petitioners and met with them on Tuesday, 8th November, 2022, where the Committee

Senate. was apprised on the challenges that the petitioners experienced as a result of lack of a public ferry plying the Mbita-Mfangano route.

We met with the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Roads and Transport, where the Committee was informed that Kenya Ports Authority had made a budgetary provision of Kshs300 million in the Financial Year 2022/2023, for acquisition of the ferry to ply in Lake Victoria and another Kshs300 million in Financial Year 2023/2024 for acquisition of a second ferry.

The Committee sought information on the status of acquisition of the two ferries to ply Lake Victoria route. Once the information is received, the Committee will retreat to write the report in this month of August.

The second Petition concerns eviction and demolition of the Buxton Estate, Mvita Constituency in Mombasa County by former residents of Buxton Estate. They were evicted and their houses demolished to pave way for redevelopment of the estate. The Petition was committed to the Committee on 1st March, 2023. The Committee has undertaken the following steps in consideration of the Petition-

24th March, 2023.

on 20th May, 2023.

has received submissions from the County Government of

Mombasa, the developer of the estate, State Department for Housing and State Department for Lands.

The Committee is retreating this month to compile the final report. The third Petition concerning access to title deeds for properties bought at Jamii Bora Estate, Kisaju, Kajiado County was committed to the Committee on 14th March,

has undertaken the following steps in considering the Petition-

on 4th May, 2023.

on 15th May, 2023.

of Jamii Bora Charitable Trust on 18th May, 2023 and 8th June,

for Lands and Physical Planning.

satisfied with the responses and sought further information.

Senate.

On the fourth Petition concerning the construction of a pedestrian bridge at Chiromo, we were unable to trace the petitioner. The Committee has, of course, received the response to the Statement and will proceed to write a report in this month of August.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have 23 Statements, so I will jump them. I have met so many Senators who have appeared before the Committee and have requested for supplementary information. That is the information we are waiting from the various departments. Those are 23 Statements awaiting.

We also have one message from you. We were to sit down with the Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Environment, so that we can look at the Petition that was brought by the County Assembly of Nyandarua.

We are in the process. We visited the roads in Nyandarua County and are waiting for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study from National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). Once they bring that, we are going to expedite.

Finally, if you can allow me one minute to read the recommendations, I wish to highlight just a few challenges that the Committee and Members have experienced during the period under review as follows-

sought to invite one of the petitioners to a meeting, but could

not trace the Petitioner as he did not submit his telephone or email contacts. In light of this, the Committee recommends that Standing Order No. 232 (3) be reviewed to make it mandatory that both email and/or telephone contacts of petitioner(s) are provided as a requirement for approval of petitions.

delayed by the unavailability of Senators who requested the Statements when invited to appear before the Committee for consideration of their Statements.

In order to avoid a backlog of business, the Committee has since resolved to proceed to consider responses to Statements even where Senators are unavailable.

I thank you.

The Chairperson Committee on County Public Accounts, please, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 56 (1) (b) I rise to make a Statement on the Activities of the County Public Accounts Committee for the period commencing 1st April, 2023 to 30th June 2023.

During the period under review, the Committee held a total of 31 sittings, in which it interrogated reports of the Auditor-General on financial statements of 15 County Executives and 11 County Assemblies.

The Committee adopted 15 reports for County Executives and nine for County Assemblies and will be tabling them in the current session.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, during our deliberations, an issue arose regarding the potential conflict of interest where a sitting Senator was the Governor, Chief Executive Officer or

Thank you, Senator. Proceed, the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Cheruiyot.

Senate. cent threshold under the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act, 2012. In some cases, assemblies have received as much as 13 per cent of a county’s revenue, while on the other hand some assemblies still receive less than seven per cent, for example the Mombasa County Assembly.

The Committee recommends that the relevant Committee undertakes a thorough analysis on the needs of county assemblies, so as to ensure uniformity in allocations and compliance with the PFM Act, 2012.

The Committee also recommends the fast tracking of legislative and administrative measures that will afford county assemblies financial autonomy.

During the period under review, the Committee scheduled a visit to the Coast Region for audit review and project inspection. The visit was postponed to early July, where the Committee interrogated audit reports for Mombasa and Tana River County Executives.

The Committee also carried out physical inspection of the Mombasa Stadium and Early Childhood Development Centers that had been cited by the Office of the Auditor- General for lack of value for money. The Committee is grateful to Mombasa County Assembly for offering their Chambers and hospitality for the meetings.

Pending bills continue to be a financial burden for most county governments. The Committee shall convene a meeting in the next quarter with relevant entities; Office of the Auditor-General (OAG), Controller of Budget (COB), Council of Governors (CoG), the National Treasury and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), to define actionable measures to ensure the integrity and completeness of accounts payables across the counties.

There is lack of uniformity in the accounting policies used in county entities. Whereas financial statements of county funds and corporations are prepared on accrual basis, those of county executives and assemblies are prepared on cash basis. This has made it impossible to obtain consolidated financial statements for county governments and has further amplified the problem of pending bills and returned County Revenue Fund (CRF) issues.

The stakeholders meeting proposed above will also propose a timeline for all county entities to migrate to the accrual basis and for the preparation and audit of consolidated financial statements.

In conclusion, I wish to thank the members of the Committee and the dedicated secretariat that usually sits for long hours to ensure we reduce the backlog of audit reports. The Committee will use various strategies, including sub-committees and merger of financial years to shift to a more proactive mandate and ensure that the Senate is current in its interventions.

I thank my Vice Chairperson who has chaired various subcommittees, and that has helped us to be up to date. Sen. Methu calls himself the “assistant chairman of the Committee,” the same way he calls himself “assistant majority leader”. Nonetheless, all Members of the County Public Accounts Committee have done an excellent job for us to be up to date.

Thank you.

Senate.

Senate. protect investments. Nonetheless, she asked a question that we must ask ourselves. Is it corporates that need protection or citizens that need protection from corporates in this world, knowing the power and influence that certain corporations wield?

Sen. Seki read before this House a Petition that was brought by a citizen on the operations of Diageo in Kenya. Perhaps, only Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale was in Parliament in

that Petition to this House is alleging is true. Therefore, the fears of Kenyans at that particular time have been confirmed.

The Kenya Breweries Limited used to be a very successful company. It had depots and transportation facilities across the country, and was employing more than 6000 Kenyans. It had a football club and so many things that you could celebrate. Moreover, all the profits remained in this particular country.

That Petition, as you---

Would you wish to be informed by Sen. Faki?

Senate. Floor of this House because the Committees will die. Therefore, there is no agenda to be processed in this House.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I hope that this issue of the budget will be addressed with the finality it deserves. I also want to commend the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) for the good work that they are doing.

We as CPIC are also following in your footsteps. We are ensuring that the governors or the officials and the officers who work under governors are accountable for the decisions they make.

It is important for this House to take serious steps in ensuring that financial management in our counties is enhanced, so that we are able to protect the resources that we send to the counties.

Madam Temporary Speaker, with those few remarks, I want to further thank the Committees for the good work that they are doing.

I thank you. (Applause)

Thank you, Senator. Proceed, the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Cheruiyot.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for this chance. You have given us this opportunity of 20 minutes to listen and celebrate the work of our various Committees.

We have listened to the reports of the CPAC on the good work that they are doing. We have also listened to the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing and the Committee on Trade and Investments. I am impressed by the reports that have been brought by the Chairpersons.

When we began the campaign a few days ago, we sounded like lonely voices when we said that Chairpersons must read and perhaps re-read Standing Order No. 56 (1) and (2) , to understand what this Standing Order provides.

This is because we felt that the report that was being brought to the House was completely underwhelming. However, I must commend that later, after that discussion, I see there is a change in how the reports are presented before this House.

Madam Temporary Speaker, they are more updated and it is not just about quoting the statistics, but some of them speak to issues that are alive to the society. These are things that the members of the public can identify and give us the standing that we need as a House.

The citizens of this country do not pay the amount of money that they pay to keep us in Nairobi so that we just enjoy a good AC in this House. I will perhaps take a short time because I do appreciate that it is only 20 minutes allocated to all the Senators. Therefore, maybe everyone of us should perhaps take two or three minutes only and be able to compress our comments and thoughts on what has been said.

Unfortunately, Sen. Thang’wa has left. The only thing that I noted is that one of the questions that we talked about last week is that each Chairperson must ask themselves: if you were to go to a public participation forum and say that ‘I am here on

Senate. behalf of the Senate representing the Road, Transportation, and Housing Committee,’ what questions will you be asked?

Out of five questions that the members of the public will ask you is what is likely to take a center stage? I think any public meeting today on transport-related issues will not end. At least, each of the three first five speakers will speak on this topic of road safety.

The fact that we continue to lose almost 5,000 Kenyans each and every year in a civilized society, is completely unacceptable. The statistics continue to grow.

I expected this Committee to tell us what we can do even as we build better roads, without changing our ways and without the Government giving us the proper response on what we can do, so that we stop losing lives of our citizens on the road.

I hope as they retreat to continue and carry on with their duties, that they will update this House and the country on how specifically they are holding the National Transport and Safety Authority and their Cabinet Secretary to account, so that we can reduce on the statistics.

Each and every civilized country has succeeded by way of technology, road signages and so many other things to bring down the statistics. It is only in the developing world, Kenya being one of them, that we continue to see this problem.

I have a strong feeling that more needs to be done. I hope the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, who are here this afternoon are listening. Consequently, in the next quarter, as they do an update, they will tell us what measures have been put in place.

I have seen policy pronouncements by Hon. Murkomen, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Transport. However, as a House that is charged with the mandate of oversight, we should hold this Cabinet Secretary to action. Compare what they say in public to what is actually happening, so that we know for sure that a lot is being done.

I say this because last month, the people of Kericho were visited by a heavy tragedy. We lost more than 50 Kenyans in one go due to a traffic accident. I hope that this Committee, in honour of such victims and many other Kenyans that continue to lose their lives through no fault of their own, just because we have not been properly organised around the road safety topic, can ensure that Kenyans feel that their Government understands the challenges that they are going through.

Finally, there is a very interesting case that the Committee on Trade and Investments has presented to this House. This must be the Senate or the Parliament that breaks the new barriers in legislation. One of the things I enjoy doing is sometimes watching other parliaments on the kind of work that they do. I enjoyed watching the post- COVID-19 trials that used to happen in the Senate of the United States in 2021.

Perhaps, I took a particular interest in Sen. Elizabeth Warren taking on bank Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), specifically the Wells Fargo CEO. The kind of exchange that they had was holding them to account for what they were doing to individual citizens during the COVID-19 period and pre-that period.

At that particular time, the bank executives tried pleading with the all-mighty quoted phrase by corporates. They were saying that their Government should be able to

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Of course, I am a proud Member of two of the committees that have made presentations this afternoon.

First, I congratulate the Chairs and Members of the Committee on County Public Accounts (CPAC) and the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, of which I am a Member. Being a Member of these two committees, I must admit that I have learnt a lot. We have many challenges in our counties. They have become apparent in the sessions that we have held with the CPAC.

There could be some challenges that we face as Committees, in terms of our effectiveness to deliver real time solutions to the problems facing our counties. Sometimes, arguments are made that Committees such as the CPAC, are morticians that deal with matters that are historic. However, in my view, there are things that we have achieved in that Committee that I want to point out, which have made me extremely proud to be a Member of that Committee. The first one was the question of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) levying penalties on late payment of statutory deductions by county governments.

I remember it was during a session of CPAC that we asked the rationale. I think it was in the presence of the leadership of KRA and the National Treasury, when we asked; what sense does it make for you to levy these penalties on late releases of payments for those statutory deductions when we know that it is occasioned by late exchequer releases by the National Treasury?

I have seen the light come on. I do not understand why because I do not think I have spoken for even a minute. I saw my colleague here, the Senate Majority Leader ---

Would you wish to be informed by Sen. Faki?

I do not mind Madam Temporary Speaker.

Yes, I want to inform my colleague, the Majority Leader, that Kenya Breweries Limited still supports Kenya Breweries Football Club.

I thank you.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I am not very sure how useful that information is. Sen. Faki will know that I personally have an interest in one of the local football clubs. Unfortunately, we were relegated last season.

However, the Tusker Football Club (FC) of 2023 is nothing to write home about compared to Kenya Breweries Limited of the 1990s. If you are a good fan of football, you will know that.

Not to lose my point, this Petition challenges us, as a House, to look into the operations of big corporations that come into this country pretending that they are investing, but in the real sense, all they are doing is stripping the assets of big corporations that have been built by the sweat of Kenyans and repatriating the profits out of the country. There is nothing exceptional about brewing beer that warrants investors from other parts of the country or globe, to come and do the kind of things that we are reading about in that particular Petition.

Madam Temporary Speaker, of course, I have listened to the Chair mention that Capital Markets Authority (CMA) appeared before us and they are coming back one more time, to look and respond to the questions being raised in that Petition regarding the operations of the East African Breweries Limited (EABL) . Non-competitive practises to shrink other players out of the market and so many other things are being alleged in that Petition.

Senate.

Many of us should follow that Petition. There are many corporations that invest in this country and we feel happy about it and yet in the real sense, what they get vis-à-vis what Kenya enjoys for hosting and providing them with an opportunity to invest in this country, are not compatible. It is a well-known patriotic philosophy across countries nowadays, that even as you negotiate in trade deals, you first look out for your national interests vis-à-vis that of those who are investing in the country. Therefore, we will be keenly following this Petition that is before that Committee.

Madam Temporary Speaker, with those many remarks, I support the reports that have been tabled. We will continue to keenly follow the works and operations of our committees.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker.

Senate.

Your time is up, Sen. Sifuna. Sen. Methu, you are either a Christian fundamentalist or a regular consumer like your colleague.

I will reorganise the Order Paper. I request the Clerk-at-the-Table to call out Order No. 8.

Senate.

Madam Temporary Speaker, perhaps, I can be given directions on how much time I have.

Hon. Senator, the light means that you are remaining with five minutes. It is for the 20 minutes which was allowed for comments.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I think I was confused by the amount of time that the Senate Majority Leader took. I guess it is because of his position in the Senate but let me proceed.

Madam Temporary Speaker, our Committee has also been faced with a spectre of pending bills. For instance, I was happy that the leadership of the former Nairobi Metropolitan Services

(NMS)

admitted that they were not going to load the Kshs15 billion pending bills that were on NMS books to Nairobi City County Government. In fact, that money was going to be paid from State House. I can see that there are current issues which we have addressed in CPAC. I feel very proud and privileged to be a Member of that Committee.

We have also tried to explain to counties that we are actually friends and partners in the success of devolution. Therefore, there should not be an adversarial relationship between the Committee and county governments.

I was very happy when the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing visited Mombasa County to discuss the question of re-development of Buxton Estate. Here in Nairobi City County, we have many old City Council estates earmarked for re- development. However, because of hue and cry in Buxton Estate, we have made a resolution as a Committee, that we would never allow what has happened in Buxton to happen in any other place in the Republic of Kenya. We have, therefore, asserted ourselves as a Committee.

I am very happy that when I wrote, as the Senator for Nairobi City County to the Committee Chair, Sen. Thang’wa, to look and take up the issues in Ofafa, Jericho and California estates; the action by the Committee has led to institutions that are responsible for this re-development – especially the County Government of Nairobi City – to listen to these residents. As we speak today, I received a message from the Chairman of Ofafa Jericho, Mr. Mungonda, saying that they have now been formally invited to have a conversation with the County about re-development of Jericho. This is a positive product of their engagement with the Committee.

I have attended those public participation fora. I have heard the Senate Majority Leader allude to them. It is clear that there is an effort being made by the Nairobi City County to engage the residents. I continue to laud the Governor and his people for finding an opportunity to hear the residents who are going to be affected by these developments.

Finally, is the Petition on EABL that the Senate Majority Leader has spoken about. Indeed, the Petition that has been brought regarding the issues of EABL is a

I beg to table the letter from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.

Senate.

Your time is up, Sen. Sifuna. Sen. Methu, you are either a Christian fundamentalist or a regular consumer like your colleague.

I will reorganise the Order Paper. I request the Clerk-at-the-Table to call out Order No. 8.

What is your point of order, Sen. Cherarkey?

Senate.

Sen. Cherarkey, now that I had already directed that you table the letter, it is before the House. We will look at it and give a finding as to whether it is sufficient.

Clerk, next Order. Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, you had a balance of 58 minutes. We hope you can do it in less than 58 minutes. She had moved the Motion.

I beg to table the letter from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I had started moving this Motion yesterday.

Article 202 (1) of the Constitution provides that revenue raised nationally shall be shared equitably among the national Government and county governments. This is a requirement that is after the enactment of the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) , pursuant to Article 218 (1) of the Constitution.

Following the enactment of the DORA, Parliament is required to process the County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA) pursuant to Article 218. This is an Act whose mandate is to share monies to the 47 counties. This is a very important point of this Senate. It is one of our key roles as a Senate where we ensure that counties get their money on time. The Standing Committee on Finance and Budget ensures that we pass these Bills on time and that this Schedule is also tabled in this House on time.

In the allocation of these funds to the different counties, there are different parameters and indexes that are used. They range from the agricultural services index, which is about 10 per cent, the equal share at 20 per cent, the urban services 5 per cent and health services at 17 per cent. Other county and population matter at 18 per cent. Land space at 8 per cent, road index 8 per cent and the poverty index at 14 per cent. The parameters that I have mentioned are what we use to determine allocation for the

Madam Temporary Speaker, I think it will be right for the letter to be tabled when Sen. Oketch Gicheru is around for him to confirm the allegation that he made and whether that letter substantiates those allegations.

What is your point of order, Sen. Cherarkey?

Senate.

In preparation of the Cash Disbursement Schedule, the National Treasury informed us that it is an annual schedule for each county allocation for Financial Year 2023/2024, which spreads across the 12 months of the year. The 12 months begin from 15th July to 15th June. Disbursements are usually quarterly. So, the expected disbursement for this financial year should be in September.

As I said earlier, it is good to note that in this financial year, the total amount we passed in the Division of Revenue Bill, which is now an Act, is Kshs385.425 billion. That is what we will be distributed to the 47 counties considering different parameters that we have stated.

I would like the House to note that the parameters are for Financial Year 2019/2020 because the law says they apply for five years. As a Committee, we will propose a new formula that will determine different amounts of funds for different counties.

As I stated, on 15th of every month, allocation of funds will be disbursed to the counties. It is good to note that the total amount of disbursement per month is about Kshs32.1 billion. It is calculated at around 8 per cent. However, in the final part, we rounded off to 9 per cent of the total allocation.

I thank Members of the Committee on Finance and Budget because it is one of the busiest committees. We have many Bills and they are always prioritized. I thank the House for that.

Our core mandate is to ensure that counties have funds which they should also receive on time. We are also guided by timelines of each and every Bill assigned to us because if timelines are not considered, then we will not be abiding to the Constitution.

I thank Members of my Committee because they are committed. We have the Senate Majority Whip, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Sen. Onyonka, Sen. Faki, Sen Shakila Abdalla, Sen. Oketch Gicheru, Sen. Ali Roba who is the Chairperson, Sen. Korir and Sen. Tabitha Keroche. They are committed to ensure timely responses on Bills.

There are stakeholders who walk with us. They include the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning and the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA). They ensure that we get their input on Bills tabled and directed to the Committee on Finance and Budget. I do not want to forget the input of the Council of Governors (CoG), led by their Chair, the Governor of Kakamega, Hon. Barasa, his deputy and other governors such as Hon. Simba Arati. They have actively supported our committee, something that we appreciate.

Our secretariat is usually on top of all that needs to be done to ensure that we table our Bills on time. We also applaud them.

Regarding the processes, there are observations we have made as a Committee. One of the observations is that there is need to align the timelines for submission of the cash disbursement schedule and the passage and assent to the CARA.

Senate.

Madam Temporary Speaker, there is some noise. I would like to concentrate when talking about funds.

Could the Senator be heard in silence? Sen. Cheptumo is the one behind that noise because now it has dissipated.

Proceed, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I had started moving this Motion yesterday.

Article 202 (1) of the Constitution provides that revenue raised nationally shall be shared equitably among the national Government and county governments. This is a requirement that is after the enactment of the Division of Revenue Act (DORA) , pursuant to Article 218 (1) of the Constitution.

Following the enactment of the DORA, Parliament is required to process the County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA) pursuant to Article 218. This is an Act whose mandate is to share monies to the 47 counties. This is a very important point of this Senate. It is one of our key roles as a Senate where we ensure that counties get their money on time. The Standing Committee on Finance and Budget ensures that we pass these Bills on time and that this Schedule is also tabled in this House on time.

In the allocation of these funds to the different counties, there are different parameters and indexes that are used. They range from the agricultural services index, which is about 10 per cent, the equal share at 20 per cent, the urban services 5 per cent and health services at 17 per cent. Other county and population matter at 18 per cent. Land space at 8 per cent, road index 8 per cent and the poverty index at 14 per cent. The parameters that I have mentioned are what we use to determine allocation for the

Senate. different counties. This is because different counties receive different allocations based on the different parameters that I have mentioned.

Madam Temporary Speaker, once CARA has been assented to as it was assented to by the President, pursuant to Section 17(6) and (7) of the PFM Act 2012. It is required that we prepare and submit to this House the equitable share disbursement schedule. As I table this Report, I note that the Schedule is in place. It is signed by the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning, Hon. (Prof) Ndung’u. It is part of this Report that I am tabling.

Section 17(6) of the PFM Act provides that the National Treasury shall disburse monies to the county governments at the beginning of every month and not later that 15th of every month. Therefore, this is a Schedule of how much is going to be disbursed to each county each and every month. The calculation and the tabulation has been done. This is what we passed in DORA. That is the Kshs385.425 billion.

A case in point is Nairobi City County which is going to receive over Kshs20 billion this financial year. Calculation of how much the funding will be for each and every month has been done. This Schedule helps the counties to do budgets depending on the funds that they are supposed to receive in every quarter of every year. These funds move from the Consolidated Fund to the County Revenue Fund (CRF) Accounts for the different counties.

The disbursements help the counties to deliver their services to the citizens as they promised during their public participation. This is one of the key schedules that really helps them to set their budgets correctly. The Schedule operationalization ensures implementation of Article 219 of the Constitution, which provides that county equitable share shall be transferred to the counties without undue delay.

Madam Temporary Speaker, at times, we have experienced National Treasury delaying funds to the county governments. This is something that we have noted. I am happy because at the moment, all funds for the financial year 2022/2023 have fully been disbursed to the counties. The last one was just last week when I witnessed the Permanent Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning, Mr. Kiptoo, disbursing the final batch of Kshs32 billion. This is something that we also laud the Kenya Kwanza Government for. In our manifesto, one of the key goals was to ensure that counties receive their monies on time.

This Schedule is very key to the counties because, if it is approved by this House, the counties will plan better. It also gives the National Treasury the opportunity to disburse the funds on time. If we delay passing this Schedule, it only delays funding to the counties.

Following the enactment of the County Allocation of Revenue Act (CARA) No.8 of 2023, which provides individual county allocations for FY 2023/2024, the National Treasury submitted the Cash Disbursement Schedule to the Senate on 6th July, 2023, for consideration and approval. As I stated, the Schedule was tabled in the House on 18th July, 2023, and committed to the Committee on Finance and Budget, pursuant to Standing Order No.189(2).

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, hold your thoughts there. I have a communication to make then you will proceed.

Senate.

Madam Temporary Speaker, there is some noise. I would like to concentrate when talking about funds.

Could the Senator be heard in silence? Sen. Cheptumo is the one behind that noise because now it has dissipated.

Proceed, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda.

Much appreciated, Madam Temporary Speaker. This is one of our core mandate where, as a Senate, we talk about how much we have given to the counties, while at the same time, we oversight in regards to services that have been rendered. We establish whether funds have been used well. This report is about the Cash Disbursement Schedule, which concerns all the 47 counties.

I have given an example of Nairobi City County, which I represent. We will receive over Kshs29 billion in Financial Year 2023/2024. I urge all the elected 47 Senators to familiarise themselves with the amount of money that their respective counties will receive, so that when they go to mashinani, they will be able to observe whether projects requested by citizens are worth or whether they passed budgets in line with the Schedule.

The Cash Disbursement Schedule is available. It is important for them to know the amount of money that will be disbursed to different counties.

I want to talk about what we observed as a Committee. That is in regards to timelines and when the Cash Disbursement Schedule is supposed to be brought to the House.

There is need to align the timelines for submission of the Cash Disbursement Schedule to the passage and assent to the CARA. Article 218 (1) (b) of the Constitution requires that the introduction of the County Allocation of Revenue Bill in Parliament should be done by 30th April every year. Once the Bill is passed, preparation of the Cash Disbursement Schedule, which is what we have done, follows. Hence, if the assent to the CARA delays, the Cash Disbursement Schedule cannot be prepared for approval and publishing in the Kenya Gazette by 30th May. That means that county governments cannot receive their funding on time, hence occasioning delays. The delays affect citizens who wait to enjoy the services of the devolved governments. Therefore, the time factor is important.

With regard to remittance of money to the County Revenue Fund (CRF) accounts, most of the time, the National Treasury has failed to adhere to the approved cash disbursement schedules. That causes delays and it is against the law.

The Committee feels we should relook at the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act and make some adjustment as far as timelines are concerned. That will give the National Treasury ample time to publish and table disbursement schedules on time, so that disbursement of funds is also timely.

Madam Temporary Speaker, as I stated earlier, different programmes and projects by counties are delayed. Some time back, governors and county assemblies indicated that they would go on strike, simply because of the delay in disbursement of funds.

Senate.

As the Committee on Finance and Budget, we have encouraged governors. We continue to encourage county governments to maximize on what we call own-source- revenue.

These are areas that we feel have not been tapped so much by the county governments. If the emphasis is also put by us, the Senators, who oversight them, apart from them waiting for the Kshs385 billion, they need to also ensure that they maximize their collections within their different counties.

As a Committee, we also note the delay of projects that have started including projects that have stalled. There are also infrastructural projects that are in place but are not operational because of the equipment that is supposed to be in these institutions, for example, hospitals.

In Nairobi, you find that Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) put up hospitals but they are not functioning because the other facilities and equipment needed to be in that infrastructure are not in place. So, the disbursement of the funds and the whole ideology of funds at the county governments is very key at all times in this House.

Having considered this Cash Disbursement Schedule, the Committee has also made some few recommendations including that the Senate approves that the county governments equitable share Cash Disbursement Schedule for Financial Year 2023/2024be tabled, which is what we are on right now.

Also, in the disbursement of the funds to the counties, the National Treasury should adhere to the approved cash disbursement schedule and Article 219. Yes, I applaud the National Treasury. Last week, they were on time and were able to disburse the funds on time.

We ask them that they ensure that it was not just the final figures that they have issued for the last Financial Year 2022/2023 but to have the same kick start for the Financial Year 2023/2024 and to progress on the same.

We are very optimistic as the Committee on Finance and Budget. We are always meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning, and they are optimistic about their tax and revenue collection. They are looking at even surpassing set targets. Right now, they have shared that they are at past 95 per cent.

If that is going to be surpassed, we expect that counties will be able to receive their funding and monies on time so as to execute all their plans, projects and budgets.

However, for emphasis, so much is whereby we have seen pending bills. These have been brought about by the narrative of lack of funds and that the National Treasury has not disbursed funds. That is why the governors should know the reason why this Schedule is in place. Equally to the Senators of all the counties.

The reason they need to inform and share these schedule is that the County Assemblies and the county governors need to plan with the funds that they are going to receive or project to collect. They cannot keep on having pending bills in place and then planning becomes a problem yet these schedules are public for them to see and plan well.

We need to get out of the issue of the pending bills. As a Committee and as a House, we have been able to share and indicated that this is what is in place. There is no way you know very well that your salary is amount X and you want to spend X squared.

That is a big honour. I have never been to that school but unlike many of you who are struggling to have children, I want to speak on behalf of people who have children. Children, we love you very much. Welcome to the Senate.

On a point of order, Madam Temporary Speaker.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.98 and 105. Did you hear what Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale said?

Which specifically?

Senate. to be. If you keep determined and resilient in your studies and disciplined, you can one day, one time be in this position that we are.

I also appreciate the girls. You see the person chairing the Senate is Sen. Veronica Maina. It is possible for our girls someday to sit on that Chair which is now being occupied by our Temporary Speaker today.

So, I want to wish you well as you go back home, take my greetings. I will, however, have a moment with you outside here.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker.

Thank you very much, Sen. Cheptumo.

Sen. (Dr) Khalwale, can you welcome the students? They come from a special zone having gone through some difficulties with security.

That is a big honour. I have never been to that school but unlike many of you who are struggling to have children, I want to speak on behalf of people who have children. Children, we love you very much. Welcome to the Senate.

On a point of order, Madam Temporary Speaker.

What is your point of order, Sen. Cherarkey?

Senate.

He should say facts. If he wanted to talk about it, he should have said that in some of the years, I have more than one child. This is because I have the gene of twinning, and I am so proud of it.

Madam Temporary Speaker, these children who are here have parents. As we congratulate them for this momentous occasion to come to the Senate. I wish that they will all succeed. There is nothing greater for a woman or man, than to see their own child succeed.

Today, I had an occasion where I met a parent accompanied by her daughter. This daughter studies in London and she has been away for almost a year. When the mother was introducing the daughter to me, I saw tears in her eyes because I have been intimidating her elsewhere that she does not have children.

Children are a very good thing. My dear children, boys and girls, welcome. Teachers, take care of our children. Please, say no to drugs and alcohol. Leave alcohol for adults like us.

Thank you, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale.

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, you can resume the Floor.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. As I conclude, I am happy with how the two leaders have given warmth to our children. Also, as a mother, I am very proud of them.

I continue to encourage them that if I am here, they can also be here. This space is not limited to anybody. It is open to any Kenyan.

As I conclude, I was just discussing the issue of the pending bills that are rampant in most of the counties. With this Schedule in place, the county should be able to plan better.

We encourage governors and the county assemblies to have proper budget guided by the schedules. I also ask my colleague, Senators, to understand the amounts that have been allocated each and every month for each county so that there is proper planning.

As I have said earlier, I appreciate Members and the secretariat led by clerk, Gitonga, Beverlyn, the legal team, Lucy Makina and all the other members that are in the Committee on Finance and Budget.

At this time, Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to move and request my colleague, the Senate Majority Whip, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, to second.

Thank you Sen. Tabitha Mutinda.

Proceed, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to second this Motion as moved by my vice-Chair.

I will have no much to add because she has said everything. I only emphasize that I could not agree with her more. As Senators, we need to own the figures.

Sen. Cherarkey, point well noted.

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, proceed and make sure you address that point appropriately.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Sen. Cherarkey never ceases to amaze. He is now misleading the country that every year, I never miss to have a child.

Senate.

He should say facts. If he wanted to talk about it, he should have said that in some of the years, I have more than one child. This is because I have the gene of twinning, and I am so proud of it.

Madam Temporary Speaker, these children who are here have parents. As we congratulate them for this momentous occasion to come to the Senate. I wish that they will all succeed. There is nothing greater for a woman or man, than to see their own child succeed.

Today, I had an occasion where I met a parent accompanied by her daughter. This daughter studies in London and she has been away for almost a year. When the mother was introducing the daughter to me, I saw tears in her eyes because I have been intimidating her elsewhere that she does not have children.

Children are a very good thing. My dear children, boys and girls, welcome. Teachers, take care of our children. Please, say no to drugs and alcohol. Leave alcohol for adults like us.

Thank you, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale.

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, you can resume the Floor.

Senate. counties. Each and every county has previously been sending out list of pending bills, not because of anything, but because funds have been allocated and not yet disbursed.

With this particular schedule and with the latest experience and pronouncement that was made; that all the funds to all the county governments were disbursed, it is going to ensure that no county government should exhibit any pending bill because no funds will be held once the schedule is approved.

We definitely do not also expect to experience the delay in payment of salaries of employees of the county governments. Once these disbursements are made available, there will be no reason why service delivery cannot be felt across all the counties.

The role of this particular House is to ensure that devolution works. Once we are able to do the oversight, the services to the people will definitely be seen and felt.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I noticed that in the schedule that has been given, all the county governments have been given the specific benefit that they are going to get in the funds. In this case, the parameters equally for this particular disbursement is given.

We are talking about agriculture at 10 per cent and equalization fund at 20 per cent. It, therefore, means that all the services which each county government is expected to deliver for the people will not be limited because of failure to have the disbursements.

In this case, the county government that I represent, Bomet County, it has got an allocation of Kshs6.9 billion for the Financial Year 2023/2024 with disbursements scattered for the months beginning July, Kshs593 million; August, Kshs558 million; September, Kshs593 million; October, Kshs558 million; November, Kshs593 million; and December, Kshs558 million.

We expect as the Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale said, that there will be no excuse by any governor or county government for their failure to deliver to the people on the services which have already been given the funds. In this case, the entire county government machinery should be able to run and roll out the services to their people.

We also call upon Members of the County Assembly who in this case are the first port of call for purposes of ensuring that services to the people are delivered. This is an opportunity for them to ensure that the executives of the county government do not give excuses for their inability to ensure that roads are done and hospitals are supplied with medicine. Any other service that is devolved, particularly in every other sector should be delivered to the people of the country.

Madam Temporary Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to appreciate the Committee for their immediate submission of this Motion. This is because having passed the County Allocation Revenue Act (CARA), this is the opportunity then for the county governments to ensure that they receive the disbursements in their accounts for the services to the people of our respective counties.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I support as I thank you for the opportunity.

Proceed, Sen. Onyonka.

Thank you very much, Madam Temporary Speaker for this opportunity to contribute to this very important issue.

First, I would like to thank my Chairperson, Sen. Ali Roba, and my Vice Chairperson, Sen. Tabitha Keroche; the two individuals who have been extremely

Senate. hardworking individuals. They have tried to summon us when we are late; they have always consulted us; they have always talked and told us about the responsibility we have been carrying.

As I contribute to the issue of the Disbursement Schedule that is being done by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget from where I sit; honestly, the way the Vice-Chairperson spoke, the truth is that we have been banning the midnight oil to make sure that these reports are completed on time. This is because we, as Committee, can present our Schedule and ensure that devolution does not collapse.

One of the things that I would like to discuss is that, first, I am happy that most of the committees now, after 10 years of devolution, are beginning to understand their responsibility. Our major role is to have our committees act, or indeed the Senate acts as a secondary oversight role in making sure that we follow up on the amounts of money that the national Government releases to the county government.

Again, we are supposed to follow up with the primary oversight authority, which is the county assembly, to make sure that resources that they get are used and channelled directly to the county governments that we represent.

My major responsibility has been to follow up and do my job; accept what my mandate and my responsibility is. That mandate is to act as the oversight officer, follow up on the detailing that the Kenyan public is listening to and how this money is released where it goes, and how it is spent.

To a large extent, what normally happens is that there is confusion, which is created deliberately. We have heard some of our colleagues here mentioning that it is very common and obvious to hear some governors saying how money has not been released by the Government. In fact, the Government is the one that is not paying salaries.

I have been telling my colleagues in the opposition where we belong that at some point when a Government is in office and it participates in doing something that is appreciated, we should give them credit.

Senate.

The second issue that I have discovered or experienced since coming to the Senate and being in this Committee and many of the other committees like the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), is that the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, which we are talking about now, and the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution, has been quite amazing.

First, I have understood that unless we protect devolution fiercely, there is a possibility that even by default, not by design, devolution can fail. We must take responsibility as the Senate, which is the body that is mandated to make sure that we oversight and make sure that the resources that are raised from our people are used well, effectively, and openly without any corruption or wastage.

This is the message we sent to the governors and also, indeed, to the national Government because the two governments as we are observing, seem to be having many of these issues. You will hear everybody talking about wastage, wastage, wastage.

It is the same way I saw President William Ruto asking why we have Cabinet Ministers traveling to Seychelles. You find 17 people on a flight going to the Seychelles. They do not even know that Seychelles is one of the largest countries that produces sugar in Africa. They just go and stay on holiday for two weeks and come back, paid the per diem, which we all get, and assume life is normal.

We have the same county governments. I am shocked that Kisii County is one of the county governments where the governor has just taken about 40 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to China on holiday, and they are using public money.

Can you imagine what 40 individuals will consume when they travel abroad? I can tell you that it is not less than Kshs2 million. A sum of Kshs2 million multiplied by 40 individuals is Kshs80 million and yet Kisii Level 6 Hospital does not have medicine. Kisii Level 6 Hospital and other peripheral health centres do not have enough nurses. Can you imagine what Kshs100 million can do in a year in terms of providing community healthcare workers, who are paid kshs5,000 a month, and they are 1,000 in Kisii? If you multiply with the amount of money that we are using to take a trip to China---

I would not say that Kisii’s case is particularly unique. This is what all the county governments are doing. They say that they are going to benchmark about growing something, or that they are going to benchmark about the construction of our roads. We have all the blueprints in the Ministry of Public Works.

If you want to do a road in West Pokot and you want the Bill of Quantities (BQ), it is there. What you have to factor in is only the inflation and you know what the figures are. However, MCAs and indeed this House suffers from that disease.

That is why I am so happy that President William Ruto has said that Cabinet Secretaries should travel with only three people. All the Members of the National Assembly (MPs) should only take two or three trips.

Let us try and save our people the pain, anger, and annoyance of electing us every five years. These people are being taxed heavily because we are to catch up with the past mistakes of misuse and abuse of public funds.

I want to plead with my colleagues that let us be careful and let us understand that our people expect better from us. That our people want us to make sure that our counties

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to support the Motion. I begin by appreciating the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee for elaborately taking us through the Motion and also the seconder of the Motion, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale.

Madam Temporary Speaker, devolution is the heart of service delivery to the people of Kenya. It is, indeed, the one that ensures that the lowest level of leadership in this country feels the service delivery by the Government of the day.

We can only then support that devolution by making sure that resources are availed to the county governments. This disbursement schedule ensures that the resources, which have been shared by all the county governments, are disbursed for their utilization. I would like to support the disbursement schedule that has been shared.

We have been notified in this Motion that when it is fully complied with, there will be facilitation of service delivery by all the county governments and that they will have no excuse at all as to any delay in the service delivery.

County governments are able to execute on their mandates when funds are made available. These funds can only be available when these schedules have been adopted and the National Government ensures that the same is fully complied with for the period that it is aimed at.

Madam Temporary Speaker, cash disbursement in terms of this particular schedule enables the county governments to be able to predict and plan on the services that they have for their people. In this case, I would expect, therefore, that we will not be having the long list of pending bills that we have been witnessing across almost all the

Senate. counties. Each and every county has previously been sending out list of pending bills, not because of anything, but because funds have been allocated and not yet disbursed.

With this particular schedule and with the latest experience and pronouncement that was made; that all the funds to all the county governments were disbursed, it is going to ensure that no county government should exhibit any pending bill because no funds will be held once the schedule is approved.

We definitely do not also expect to experience the delay in payment of salaries of employees of the county governments. Once these disbursements are made available, there will be no reason why service delivery cannot be felt across all the counties.

The role of this particular House is to ensure that devolution works. Once we are able to do the oversight, the services to the people will definitely be seen and felt.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I noticed that in the schedule that has been given, all the county governments have been given the specific benefit that they are going to get in the funds. In this case, the parameters equally for this particular disbursement is given.

We are talking about agriculture at 10 per cent and equalization fund at 20 per cent. It, therefore, means that all the services which each county government is expected to deliver for the people will not be limited because of failure to have the disbursements.

In this case, the county government that I represent, Bomet County, it has got an allocation of Kshs6.9 billion for the Financial Year 2023/2024 with disbursements scattered for the months beginning July, Kshs593 million; August, Kshs558 million; September, Kshs593 million; October, Kshs558 million; November, Kshs593 million; and December, Kshs558 million.

We expect as the Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale said, that there will be no excuse by any governor or county government for their failure to deliver to the people on the services which have already been given the funds. In this case, the entire county government machinery should be able to run and roll out the services to their people.

We also call upon Members of the County Assembly who in this case are the first port of call for purposes of ensuring that services to the people are delivered. This is an opportunity for them to ensure that the executives of the county government do not give excuses for their inability to ensure that roads are done and hospitals are supplied with medicine. Any other service that is devolved, particularly in every other sector should be delivered to the people of the country.

Madam Temporary Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to appreciate the Committee for their immediate submission of this Motion. This is because having passed the County Allocation Revenue Act (CARA), this is the opportunity then for the county governments to ensure that they receive the disbursements in their accounts for the services to the people of our respective counties.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I support as I thank you for the opportunity.

Proceed, Sen. Onyonka.

Senate.

I request this House to come up with a solution on how to solve the problem of the pending bills. I am also proud of this Committee. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale and my friends who are here, when you look at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and all the other audit reports from the Auditor General; we are now two years away from breaking even.

I believe that by 2024, we shall be able to audit all the reports being presented from county governments. This means we shall not be morticians any more, colleagues. We shall now audit and oversight State and county resources on a yearly basis because we shall get the reports on our tables.

That is the way you introduce prudence and proper management of public resources. Finally, on the other issue my colleagues have mentioned; we went through it. Nairobi City County was a case. We looked into on-source revenue collections. By the time Hon. Sakaja became Governor, it was collecting close to Kshs1.6 billion a month. This is why I wanted to mention to my brother, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, that I respect him tremendously. However, when you make an allegation, verify your facts.

Nairobi City County and Hon. Sakaja’s revenues have been declining for the last nine months. That is not his problem. We discovered that within the structures that were set up, there were three to four companies, that were running the outfit for collecting revenue within the county government. At the same time, the same people that the previous Governors – hon. Sonko and hon. Kidero – had, are the same ones collecting the revenue.

We are happy that Hon. Sakaja came in and stopped what was going on. I am very proud. Last week when he met our Committee, he said that the revenue has now picked up. The City County might end up collecting close to Kshs26 billion this year alone. That is the management and leaders that we want.

Our people do not want excuses of why we are at a Kshs3 trillion budget, yet we have no medicine or water in the hospital and doctors are not being paid on time. They do not want excuses of having unpaid Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers, medical practitioners, community health workers and technical vocational training teachers. We must be the people to come up with deliberate decisions of how to change the direction of our country.

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, I hope since you belong to Kenya Kwanza Government, they shall surprise me. That they shall come up with a proper and structured way on how to make sure that the nonsense going on in our country – where leadership has always taken for granted the Kenyan population with the assumption that whatever they take shall not be questioned – stops.

Right now, Kenyans are demanding good governance and proper utilization of resources. We want to change the direction our people are taking. We want to lift our people from poverty. It has been done in other countries and we can do it in Kenya too.

With those few remarks, I support the Motion. I thank you.

Senate. hardworking individuals. They have tried to summon us when we are late; they have always consulted us; they have always talked and told us about the responsibility we have been carrying.

As I contribute to the issue of the Disbursement Schedule that is being done by the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget from where I sit; honestly, the way the Vice-Chairperson spoke, the truth is that we have been banning the midnight oil to make sure that these reports are completed on time. This is because we, as Committee, can present our Schedule and ensure that devolution does not collapse.

One of the things that I would like to discuss is that, first, I am happy that most of the committees now, after 10 years of devolution, are beginning to understand their responsibility. Our major role is to have our committees act, or indeed the Senate acts as a secondary oversight role in making sure that we follow up on the amounts of money that the national Government releases to the county government.

Again, we are supposed to follow up with the primary oversight authority, which is the county assembly, to make sure that resources that they get are used and channelled directly to the county governments that we represent.

My major responsibility has been to follow up and do my job; accept what my mandate and my responsibility is. That mandate is to act as the oversight officer, follow up on the detailing that the Kenyan public is listening to and how this money is released where it goes, and how it is spent.

To a large extent, what normally happens is that there is confusion, which is created deliberately. We have heard some of our colleagues here mentioning that it is very common and obvious to hear some governors saying how money has not been released by the Government. In fact, the Government is the one that is not paying salaries.

I have been telling my colleagues in the opposition where we belong that at some point when a Government is in office and it participates in doing something that is appreciated, we should give them credit.

Senate.

The second issue that I have discovered or experienced since coming to the Senate and being in this Committee and many of the other committees like the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC), is that the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, which we are talking about now, and the Senate Standing Committee on Devolution, has been quite amazing.

First, I have understood that unless we protect devolution fiercely, there is a possibility that even by default, not by design, devolution can fail. We must take responsibility as the Senate, which is the body that is mandated to make sure that we oversight and make sure that the resources that are raised from our people are used well, effectively, and openly without any corruption or wastage.

This is the message we sent to the governors and also, indeed, to the national Government because the two governments as we are observing, seem to be having many of these issues. You will hear everybody talking about wastage, wastage, wastage.

It is the same way I saw President William Ruto asking why we have Cabinet Ministers traveling to Seychelles. You find 17 people on a flight going to the Seychelles. They do not even know that Seychelles is one of the largest countries that produces sugar in Africa. They just go and stay on holiday for two weeks and come back, paid the per diem, which we all get, and assume life is normal.

We have the same county governments. I am shocked that Kisii County is one of the county governments where the governor has just taken about 40 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to China on holiday, and they are using public money.

Can you imagine what 40 individuals will consume when they travel abroad? I can tell you that it is not less than Kshs2 million. A sum of Kshs2 million multiplied by 40 individuals is Kshs80 million and yet Kisii Level 6 Hospital does not have medicine. Kisii Level 6 Hospital and other peripheral health centres do not have enough nurses. Can you imagine what Kshs100 million can do in a year in terms of providing community healthcare workers, who are paid kshs5,000 a month, and they are 1,000 in Kisii? If you multiply with the amount of money that we are using to take a trip to China---

I would not say that Kisii’s case is particularly unique. This is what all the county governments are doing. They say that they are going to benchmark about growing something, or that they are going to benchmark about the construction of our roads. We have all the blueprints in the Ministry of Public Works.

If you want to do a road in West Pokot and you want the Bill of Quantities (BQ), it is there. What you have to factor in is only the inflation and you know what the figures are. However, MCAs and indeed this House suffers from that disease.

That is why I am so happy that President William Ruto has said that Cabinet Secretaries should travel with only three people. All the Members of the National Assembly (MPs) should only take two or three trips.

Let us try and save our people the pain, anger, and annoyance of electing us every five years. These people are being taxed heavily because we are to catch up with the past mistakes of misuse and abuse of public funds.

I want to plead with my colleagues that let us be careful and let us understand that our people expect better from us. That our people want us to make sure that our counties

Thank you. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale what is your point of information?

An Hon. Senator: What?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, how then do you expect me as the Senator for Kisii County, to look at it? It is an injustice and unfair. We know cartels came and did some ghost projects. However, there were genuine Kenyans who did works. They can produce certificates from the same officers in the county governments who will then confirm that they completed the works and ask them to collect their cheques. However, the money was paid to somebody else.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for the indulgence. I am referring to January, 2023. The person in office was Hon. Sakaja. Am I lost?

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale and Sen. Onyonka, that is fine. As far as ---

Senate.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I apologise. I will follow the rules of the House.

Thank you. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale what is your point of information?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. This is a House of record and I have just consulted quickly. The revenue collection for Nairobi City County did not decline. It increased by 16.4 per cent between January and March, 2023. They collected a total of Kshs3.44 billion. I am still right that the Kenya Kwanza were collecting. Allow me to table the information I am reading.

Senate.

Under this arrangement, we are now going to see our people get services. We are going to see contractors paid. Stalled projects will be revived and many salaries paid. We have had a lot of issues with salary payments as you can remember.

We have had very many departments which have gone for months without salaries. Under this arrangement, away from these governors getting money, I call upon all the oversight committees, including the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) where I sit and the County Public Investments Committee (CPIC), which is chaired by my brother Sen. Osotsi, to make sure that we play our key role of keeping governors on their toes. If we play our role of oversight effectively, these people can make proper use of the resources that we devolve to them.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have had a lot of issues where people have taken counties as their personal property. As a Senate, we should be very vigilant regarding such an arrangement because it might cause quite a number of issues. You find that money has been used and yet two or three years down the line we are unable to make a follow up.

Under this arrangement, I concur with what Sen. Onyonka has said because quite a number of times, as oversight committees we have been treated as morticians. We just come to do post mortem for money which was stolen decades back. We have to review and make sure that we revise some regulations or Standing Orders to see how we can ensure that these governors and others use this money prudently.

This Motion will ensure that we realise the full potential of our counties by making sure that we get money devolved to counties without delay. I am sure this is something very positive. We are supposed to ensure we put these governors on notice that we are not going to allow any misuse of money as we are likely to see through our oversight committees.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support.

Sen. Mumma, please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to contribute to this Motion. I wish to commend the Committee for preparing the report. I also wish to urge us, as the Senate, to quickly pass this Schedule so that the monies can be disbursed to the individual counties.

I will be very quick with this. I have listened to contributions that have been made and I thought I should bring it to our attention the need to first congratulate the Government for electing to disburse all the money. In the last few months, the counties have gone through hell. They have not been receiving the money allocated to them on time. So, this is a good gesture that I believe should trigger better activity and functions of the county governments.

I would hope that this will be the trend going forward; not just a one off that is happening. With that having happened, I would like to remind us, as the Senate, of our responsibility to protect counties and county governments.

Listening to Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, he seemed to talk about the individual Senators going back and being able to speak to the amounts that have come and carrying out oversight. That is in order for elected Senators even as you go back, but I also want to

It is healthy.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I shall correct the Senator. The people who were handling the accounts for the on-source revenue collections were NMS. Up to now, we still do not have the pins or codes that are meant to open. That is what Governor Sakaja came to ask our Committee to do. He asked the people who had been working with NMS and are now working in State House to come and open the system to enable the Governor start collecting his revenue and putting it in a certain account.

I thank you.

That was quite healthy. It is important to also get the facts because this is the essence of the debate we are having.

Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I am happy that my brother, Sen. Onyonka, has adequately advised Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale. As I speak, there is a serious stalemate in State House because of some disconnect between the previous and current administration. Over and above, I am happy for the Committee because they have been up to the task to make sure that as a House we have done what is supposed to be done. Our core responsibly is to make sure we have money in the counties.

I am happy that for the first time since inception of devolution, we have seen counties getting money. I can refer to the fact that as we closed the last financial year, the national Government did so with zero balance to all our counties. This is a very big plus. Allow me to go on record and thank the kind administration for leading the true spirit of devolution and dispatching all the money to the counties.

Senate.

Under this arrangement, we are now going to see our people get services. We are going to see contractors paid. Stalled projects will be revived and many salaries paid. We have had a lot of issues with salary payments as you can remember.

We have had very many departments which have gone for months without salaries. Under this arrangement, away from these governors getting money, I call upon all the oversight committees, including the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) where I sit and the County Public Investments Committee (CPIC), which is chaired by my brother Sen. Osotsi, to make sure that we play our key role of keeping governors on their toes. If we play our role of oversight effectively, these people can make proper use of the resources that we devolve to them.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have had a lot of issues where people have taken counties as their personal property. As a Senate, we should be very vigilant regarding such an arrangement because it might cause quite a number of issues. You find that money has been used and yet two or three years down the line we are unable to make a follow up.

Under this arrangement, I concur with what Sen. Onyonka has said because quite a number of times, as oversight committees we have been treated as morticians. We just come to do post mortem for money which was stolen decades back. We have to review and make sure that we revise some regulations or Standing Orders to see how we can ensure that these governors and others use this money prudently.

This Motion will ensure that we realise the full potential of our counties by making sure that we get money devolved to counties without delay. I am sure this is something very positive. We are supposed to ensure we put these governors on notice that we are not going to allow any misuse of money as we are likely to see through our oversight committees.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I support.

Sen. Mumma, please proceed.

Hon. Senators, having failed to attain quorum at the expiry of 10 minutes, the House stands adjourned, pursuant to Standing Order No.41 (2) (a) , until tomorrow, Thursday, 3rd August, 2023, at 2.30 p.m.

Senate.

The Senate rose at 5.57 p.m.

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

What is your point of order, Sen. Cherarkey?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.41. It says: -

“If at any time in the course of the proceedings of the Senate, a Senator objects that there is not a quorum present, the Speaker or the chairperson shall count the Senators present in the Senate or the Committee as the case may be.”

I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 41 to request you to confirm if there is sufficient quorum on the Floor of the House.

We have confirmed that there are only five Members in the House. Serjeant-at-Arms, could you please ring the quorum bell for 10 minutes.

Sen. Mumma, you will have 15 minutes to contribute tomorrow.

Hon. Senators, having failed to attain quorum at the expiry of 10 minutes, the House stands adjourned, pursuant to Standing Order No.41 (2) (a) , until tomorrow, Thursday, 3rd August, 2023, at 2.30 p.m.

Senate.

The Senate rose at 5.57 p.m.