THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT

Fifth Session

Tuesday, 4th August, 2026 at 2.30 p.m.

PARLIAMENT OF KENYA

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

PRAYER

DETERMINATION OF QUORUM AT COMMENCEMENT OF SITTING

COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR

EVALUATION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENTS THROUGH THE COUNTY FISCAL PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT INDEX

Acts, determines allocation of nationally raised revenue between the two levels of government and among county governments.

To undertake its oversight role effectively, the Senate requires a standard, scientific, objective and transparent tool which can measure performance of county governments on adherence to fiscal responsibility principles envisioned in the Constitution and statutes, including the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act and the County Governments Act. Over the years, however, such a tool has not been developed.

To bridge this gap, a scientific performance measurement tool has been prepared by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO). That is the County Fiscal Performance Measurement Index (CFPMI), which is grounded on key public finance management indicators. The CFPMI is a composite tool meant to evaluate and benchmark socio- economic performance of counties based on public finance management principles and ideals. It summarises performance of counties across several indicators, including budget implementation efficiency, development expenditure, and audit opinions with normalised values ranging between zero and one for scoring performance levels.

Hon. Senators, this publication, together with four others launched earlier in the year on 30th May, 2026, will form part of the Senate’s institutional memory. It will serve as a useful and practical reference for yourselves, Members of the National Assembly, county assemblies, parliamentary officers, scholars, researchers, and members of the public who are interested in legislative work. It will also make a significant contribution to the continuous capacity development of legislators and parliamentary staff.

I will preside over the launch of the County Physical Performance Measurement Index on Thursday, 6th August, 2026 at 11.00 a.m. All hon. Senators are invited to attend this very momentous ceremony.

Thank you. Hon. Senators, you may take your seats. Yes, Majority Leader, what is your intervention?

I, therefore, would like to request your permission. Although not all of us will get the chance to speak on Thursday when you are launching this report, it is important that the country be made aware. I urge the media to send their best journalists to the House on Thursday at 10.00 a.m. as you have guided. More importantly, it is for Members to interact with that report and share their perspectives.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, you know the Senate has been an idle bystander as busybodies have been buying agencies in this town to rate their performance. They have been saying: “I am the best-performing governor.” Now, the Senate has properly taken its place as constitutionally expected, and that deserves special mention and appreciation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for leading us well in this venture.

VISITING DELEGATION FROM THE PARLIAMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO

I would like to acknowledge the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery this afternoon, of a visiting delegation from the Parliament of the Kingdom of Lesotho. The delegation comprises 10 members of staff, and is in the Senate to undertake a benchmarking visit. This visit follows the passage of the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Lesotho on 13th August, 2025, which mandates Parliament to enact enabling laws to establish the Parliamentary Service Commission and the Parliamentary Budget Office with the sole purpose of creating an independent and autonomous Parliament.

Hon. Senators, I request each member of the delegation to stand when called out so that they may be acknowledged in the Senate tradition. You will excuse me if I do not pronounce the names correctly. I will do my best, as a Bantu.

1. 1. Mr. Khotso Manamolela - Deputy Clerk of the Senate.
2. 2. Ms. Libuseng Majoro - Deputy Clerk, National Assembly
3. 3. Mr. Lereko Maine - Director, Parliamentary Budget Office, National Assembly
4. 4. Mrs. Maseephephe Matete - Chief Legal Officer, Senate
5. 5. Mr. Fusi Libete - Finance Manager, National Assembly
6. 6. Mr. Teboho Sekese - Chief Research Officer, Senate
7. 7. Mr. Mositto Lelimo - Chief Research Officer
8. 8. Mrs. Malineo Molelle - Human Resource Manager, National Assembly

1. 9. Ms. Lineo Moleleki - Principal Legal Officer, National Assembly
2. 10. Mrs. Mabasia Matabane - Assistant Human Resource Officer, On behalf of the Senate and my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful and enriching visit.

I now request the Senate Majority Leader to welcome the delegation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I hope our colleagues will get an opportunity to interact with a good number of members here.

VISITING DELEGATION FROM ST. MARY’S KIBUK GIRLS’ SENIOR SCHOOL IN BUNGOMA COUNTY

Wadi ya Elgon. Kwa hivyo, wanaotoka Bonde la Ufa, lugha asilia ya Mlima Elgon, ‘Kapkugo’ linamaanisha “Kitovu cha Jamii ya Wakalenjin.”

Hawa ni kielelezo kwamba katika Kenya hii, yeyote anaweza kufika ngazi yoyote, anaweza kuchukua taaluma yoyote na kupata kila anachotaka katika nchi ya Kenya. Hawa ni miongoni mwa wanafunzi wanaofanya vyema katika mitihani ya kitaifa. Sina shaka na sitaona aibu kuwakaribisha katika Bunge la Seneti. Hapa ndipo Seneta wenu hubobea katika kutunga sheria. Hapa ndipo Seneta wenu humahirika, Wakenya wanaposikiza akiwatetea wale wachochole katika nchi ya Kenya.

Kati ya wasichana wa shule hiyo yenu, kuna mabinti hapa Maseneta waliotia bidii katika masomo yao. Kutoka Bungoma, nina Seneta Consolata Wakwabubi, Kamishna kutoka Bonde La Ufa, Seneta Joyce, na wengine wengi. Sasa, iwapo wewe unataka kuwa kiongozi, tazama hapa kuna mifano yote ya wale waliobobea, waliosoma, na yote inawezekana chini ya jua na juu ya ardhi, na hata ndani ya maji.

Asante Mhe. Spika. Naomba nikomee hapo. Nitakutana nanyi baadaye ili muweze kuendelee kujivunia na kuvuna matunda ya Seneta wenu mchapakazi.

Asante sana na Mungu awalinde.

VISITING DELEGATION FROM KABARTEGAN BOYS HIGH SCHOOL IN KERICHO COUNTY

VISITING DELEGATION FROM MAILOLONG COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL IN NAROK COUNTY

I wish to acknowledge the presence of a visiting delegation of nine teachers and 39 students from Mailolong Comprehensive School in Narok County who are seated in the public gallery. The delegation is visiting the Senate for an academic exposition. On behalf of the Senate and my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to them, and wish them a fruitful visit.

I will request the Senate Majority Leader to extend a word of welcome to these two delegations.

schools as well, which I have had the opportunity to visit a couple of times, including a few months ago when I had an event in that school.

I know they are here on a study tour. One of their teachers, Mr. Buzeki – who is a good and ardent supporter of mine who reminded me that I used to work with him before he joined the school as a teacher – had informed me early that that they would be here. Therefore, I am glad that these students have found time on a busy afternoon when we have a good quorum. I do hope that when we do the traditional work to say ‘hi’ to the students, I will get an opportunity to invite one or two of my colleagues, so that these students can meet them and enjoy.

I also welcome the visiting students from Narok County as well, who are here to learn, interact and get to see the workings of Parliament, and to appreciate what legislators do in this House.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

PAPERS LAID

THE PARLIAMENTARY SERVICE (CONSTITUENCY AND COUNTY OFFICES) REGULATIONS, LEGAL NOTICE NO.137 OF 2026.

I beg to lay the following Paper on the table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 4th August, 2026 -

The Parliamentary Service (Constituency and County Offices) Regulations, Legal Notice No.137 of 2026.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE, LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ON ITS CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA (AMENDMENT) BILL (SENATE BILLS NO.13 OF 2025)

Report of the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights (JLAHR) on its consideration of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No. 13 of 2025).

REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE, LEGAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS ON ITS CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA(AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL (SENATE BILLS NO.16 OF 2025)

Report of the Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights (JLAHR) on its consideration of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) (No.2) Bill (Senate Bills No.16 of 2025)

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This is on behalf of the Chairperson, Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES ON ITS CONSIDERATION OF THE AGRICULTURE PRODUCE (MINIMUM GUARANTEED RETURNS) BILL (SENATE BILLS NO.17 OF 2025)

QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS

COLLAPSED BRIDGE IN NDATU VILLAGE

1. (1) The plans to reconstruct the bridge, including the scope of works.
2. (2) The responsible implementing agency and the timelines for commencement and completion.
3. (3) The funds allocated for the reconstruction of the bridge, including the relevant financial year and the estimated project cost.
4. (4) Steps taken to provide residents and other road users with a safe alternative crossing pending reconstruction of the bridge.
5. (5) The measures to ensure timely assessment, repair and rehabilitation of critical road infrastructure whenever such failures occur in the future.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have another Statement.

TEACHERS MEDICAL SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE MEDICAL ADMINISTRATORS' KENYA LIMITED INSURANCE SCHEME

Further, concerns have been raised about a reported deduction of 20 per cent from patients' claims, raising questions of legality, accountability and protection of teachers' right to timely healthcare.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) Total number and value of unsettled claims for the period June 2025 to March 2026, disaggregated by provider and other reasons for delayed settlement.
2. (2) The legal, contractual or policy justification for the reported deduction of 20 per cent from patients' claims, the total amount deducted and the beneficiary of charge deductions.
3. (3) Whether the Ministry of Education or the Teachers' Services Commission (TSC) has undertaken audits or investigations into the delays and the findings or actions taken against responsible parties.
4. (4) Steps being taken to settle all outstanding claims owed to accredited healthcare providers, including clear timelines for payment.
5. (5) Measures by the Ministry, TSC and the Scheme administrator to prevent disruption of service and guarantee teachers and their dependents timely access to quality health care.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Senator for Embu County, Dr. Alexander Munyi Mundigi and Acting Deputy Majority.

HARASSMENT OF RESIDENTS OF MUNUNGO VILLAGE IN MWIBONA WARD VIHIGA COUNTY AND RAMULA AREA

arrests, while motorcycles and other properties belonging to the residents remain in police custody.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Sunday, I held a public participation in that area and immediately I left, the police descended on the people there.

1. (1) The circumstances surrounding the deployment of police officers, including officers of the General Service Unit (GSU) to Munungo Village, outlining their mandates, the duration of the operation and the persons or entities that requested or authorised the deployment.
2. (2) The status of investigation into the reports of harassment, intimidation, unlawful entry into homes, displacement, trespass, destruction of property and unlawful confiscation of or access to residents' mobile phones and personal data, including action against culpable officers.
3. (3) The status of compliance with the conservative orders issued by the Environment and Land Court and the findings of investigation into the relationship between the entities undertaking mineral prospecting activities and the deployment or conduct of security officers.
4. (4) The status of investigation into the death, injuries and arrests arising from demonstrations in the area, including the measures taken to establish accountability and prevent recurrence.
5. (5) The number and description of motorcycles and other properties held by the police following the security operation, the legal basis for their continued detention, and the measures taken to facilitate their lawful release.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

RISING CASES OF INSECURITY IN ISIOLO COUNTY

1. (1) The circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Angelina Kananu, Mrs.

Nasibo Tadicha Abdi and Mr. Issa Mohamed, including the status of investigation, arrest made and persons charged.

1. (2) The measures taken---

1. (3) The adequacy of police presence, equipment and response capacity in Isiolo County, particularly in Isiolo Town and Cherab Ward relative to the population and prevailing security threats.
2. (4) The measures taken to investigate the involvement of a police officer in the shooting of Mr. Issa Mohamed and ensure accountability, including the status of investigation by the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA).
3. (5) The measures being taken in collaboration with the county government, local administrators and community policing structures to restore public confidence and ensure the safety of residents, traders and students in Isiolo County.

ALLEGED ABDUCTION OF MR. JIMMY MUTAVA IN MLOLONGO, MACHAKOS COUNTY

1. (1) The circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction of Mr. Jimmy Mutava, including the progress of investigations, the action taken by the National Police Service (NPS) and other relevant security agencies to establish his whereabouts, and the timelines of the responses from the time the incident was reported.
2. (2) Whether any suspects have been identified or arrested and the measures being undertaken to ensure a swift, impartial and transparent investigations that will bring the perpetrators to justice.

1. (3) The steps the Government is taking to curb the rising cases of abductions and enforced disappearances, strengthen the public safety in Machakos County and nationwide to restore public confidence in the country's security agencies.

Sen. Agnes Kavindu Muthama, the Senator for Machakos County.

EXCLUSION OF JSS TEACHERS FROM THE ONGOING TSC PROMOTION EXERCISE

1. (1) The reasons for excluding JSS teachers from the ongoing promotion exercise, stating whether the exclusion is consistent with the TSC's human resource and career progression policies and the number of JSS teachers eligible for promotion.
2. (2) Whether the TSC intends to review the promotion framework and online application system to enable qualified JSS teachers to apply for promotion opportunities and, if so, provide the timelines for the review.
3. (3) The measures to ensure that all qualified teachers regardless of their level of deployment have equitable access to promotion, professional development and career advancement opportunities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

MARKET ACCESS FOR FARM PRODUCE FROM MAKUENI COUNTY

Makueni County is a leading producer of mangoes, green grams and pigeon peas, which are key sources of income and livelihood for thousands of farmers. Despite being a leading source of income and livelihoods for thousands of residents, farmers of these crops face persistent challenges in accessing reliable domestic and export markets, meeting quality and sanitary standards and coping with sharp price fluctuations during peak harvests. The result has been significant post-harvest losses and reduced returns, particularly for mango farmers.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The measures the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry is taking to secure reliable domestic and export markets for mangoes, green grams and pigeon peas from Makueni County, and to ensure farmers receive their fair and competitive prices.
2. (2) The support provided to farmers and co-operatives to meet quality, safety and sanitary standards required for regional and international markets.
3. (3) The interventions in place to stabilise prices and cushion farmers from losses during market gluts in peak harvest seasons.
4. (4) The lessons learned from the challenges experienced by mango farmers during the last harvest season, and the measures being implemented to improve market access and strengthen the value chain and reduce future post-harvest losses.

Daniel Maanzo, Senator for Makueni County. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2017 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

1. (1) The status of implementation of the 2017 CBA in each county, indicating the provisions that have been fully implemented, partially implemented or remain outstanding.
2. (2) The number of nurses and other health workers affected by non- implementation of the 2017 CBA per county, including salary harmonisation, grading, promotions, re-designation, unpaid arrears and delayed absorption into permanent and pensionable terms. Further, identify the counties that have failed to absorb eligible health

workers on permanent and pensionable terms and explain the reasons for the continued use of temporary or contractual employment.

1. (3) The amounts budgeted, released and utilised in the Financial Year 2025/2026 and Financial Year 2026/2027 for implementing of the 2017 CBA and related return-to- work commitments in each county.
2. (4) The measures taken to enforce county governments' compliance with the scheme of service, promotion guidelines and applicable labour and public service standards in the health sector.
3. (5) The immediate and long-term measures being implemented to prevent recurrent health workers' strikes and ensure uninterrupted health care services in county referral hospitals and other public health facilities.

Thank you.

WELFARE OF WORKERS AT HELA INTIMATES EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE LIMITED IN THE KITENGELA-ATHI RIVER ZONE

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Order No. 53(1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on a matter of country-wide concern regarding the welfare of workers at Hela Intimates Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Limited in the Kitengela-Athi River Zone.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, over 3,000 workers are in distress due to delayed salaries and company's failure to remit statutory deductions like to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), and Savings and Credit Co-operative Society (SACCO) contributions for several months. This situation, alongside unpaid severance and terminal benefits owed to workers, as well as substantial amounts owed to suppliers, exposing both workers and suppliers to vulnerability when companies cease operations or exit without settling financial and statutory obligations.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The current status of salary arrears, statutory deductions, severance pay and outstanding payments to suppliers.
2. (2) Investigations into the company’s failure to remit statutory deductions and pay lawful benefits and action taken against responsible parties.
3. (3) The legal and regulatory safeguards in place to protect workers and suppliers when investors close or cease operations without settling salaries, statutory deductions, terminal benefits and other lawful debts.

1. (4) Measures by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and relevant agencies to ensure timely access to salaries, benefits and statutory entitlements in similar cases going forward.

I thank you.

DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS UNDER THE KENYA MARINE FISHERIES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. (1) The amount of money disbursed and spent in each county per financial year from the year 2020 to 2025.
2. (2) A breakdown of the projects undertaken in each county, their respective budgets and a detailed list of beneficiary groups supported under the project.
3. (3) The reasons for delays in the procurement of boats for Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale Counties and the basis of restricting beneficiary groups from independently procuring goods and services for their projects.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. The Speaker (Hon. Kingi): Sen. Lomenen, proceed.

STATE OF HEALTH CARE SERVICE DELIVERY IN TURKANA COUNTY

These challenges have reportedly resulted in avoidable suffering, adverse health outcomes and in some cases loss of life, underscoring the need to urgent intervention to safeguard the constitutional rights to health care.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The current status of health care service delivery in Turkana County, including Lodwar County Referral Hospital and all public health facilities with details on staffing levels, bed capacity, availability of essential medicines, medical equipment, critical medical supplies, health care infrastructure, congestion in health facilities, referral services and measures being implemented to address existing gaps.
2. (2) The status of implementation of the SHA and county employees medical cover in Turkana County, including challenges affecting access to health care, reasons for continued SHA deduction despite reported service failures, measures to ensure uninterrupted and emergency health care services, and engagement with relevant national agencies to resolve the challenges.
3. (3) Measures the County Government has put in place to compensate or reimburse County employees, patients and families who suffered financial hardships, adverse health outcomes or loss of loved ones due to failure or inaccessibility of the county medical cover and the SHA, including any assessment undertaken and redress mechanisms established.
4. (4) The budgetary allocation to the county health sector from year 2025 and to 2026 to date, the amount utilised, the programmes funded, and the measures being implemented to ensure prudent utilisation of resources, strengthen accountability and oversight, investigate complaints of negligence and poor service delivery, and restore public confidence in Turkana County's health services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

BILL

Second Reading

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

(Sen. Mumma on 11.6.2026) (Resumption of debate interrupted on 17.6.2026 - Afternoon Sitting) Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Division Bell for three minutes?

Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly close the doors and draw the bar. (The Bar was drawn and doors closed) Now, Hon. Senators, we are doing division on Order No.11, that is The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (National Assembly Bill No.61 of 2022). Once the system is up, Clerk, allow me so that I can put the question.

I now put the Question, that The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (National Assembly Bills No.61 of 2022), be now read Second Time.

(The Senators proceeded to vote) Sen. Mbugua and Sen. Joyce Korir, kindly proceed to the Dispatch table and cast your vote.

(Sen. Mbugua and Sen. Korir walked to the Dispatch Table and registered their votes) Hon. Senators, we will move to the Next Order and then, at the end, I will announce the results for each Order at the same time.

BILL

Second Reading

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

(Sen. Oketch Gicheru on 18.6.2026)

(Division) Sen. (Dr.) Boni, kindly take your seat. Hon. Senators, I now put the Question on Order No.12, that The Kenya Roads (Amendment) (No.3) Bill (National Assembly Bills No.34 of 2025 be now read a Second Time.

(The Senators proceeded to vote) Hon. Senators, those who have not voted, you have 10 seconds to vote Sen. Onyonka, the system is down, so--- Sen. Joyce Korir and Sen. Mbugua, kindly proceed to the Dispatch Desk and cast your vote.

(Sen. Mbugua and Sen. Korir walked to the Dispatch Desk and registered their votes) Clerk, kindly call Order No.13

BILL

Second Reading

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

(Sen. Wakili Sigei on 23.7.2026)

Hon. Senators, kindly take your seats, so that I may put the Question. (The Hon. Senators took their seats) I will now proceed to put the Question, that the Referendum Bill (Senate Bills No.3 of 2026) be now read a Second Time.

(The Senators proceeded to vote) Sen. Joyce and Sen. Mbugua, proceed to Dispatch Box and cast your vote. (Sen. Korir and Sen. Mbugua walked to the Dispatch

Table and registered their votes) Sen. Mundigi, proceed to the Dispatch Box and cast your vote. (Sen. Munyi Mundigi walked to the Dispatch Table and registered his vote) Next Order.

BILL

Second Reading

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

(Sen. Karen Nyamu on 29.07.2026)

I will now proceed to put the Question, that the Mining Amendment Bill (Senate Bills No.22 of 2025) be now read a Second Time.

You may proceed to vote. (The Senators proceeded to vote) Sen. Joyce and Sen. Mbugua, proceed to the Dispatch Box and cast your vote. (Sen. Korir and Sen. Mbugua walked to the Dispatch Box and registered their votes) Sen. Dullo, Sen. Murango and Sen. Mundigi, proceed to the dispatch box and cast your vote.

(Sen. Dullo, Sen. (Dr.) Murango, and Sen. Munyi Mundigi walked to the Dispatch Box and registered their votes) Sen. Onyonka and Hon. Senators who are standing, kindly take your seats.

BILL

Second reading

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

(Question, that The Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (National Assembly Bills No.61 of 2022), be now read a Second Time, put and the Senate proceeded to vote by County Delegations) AYES: Sen. Cherarkey, Nandi County; Sen. Cheruiyot, Kericho County; Sen. Chute, Marsabit County; Sen. Dullo, Isiolo County; Sen. Faki, Mombasa County; Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Tharaka Nithi County; Sen. Githuku, Lamu County; Sen. Kavindu Muthama, Machakos County; Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Kakamega County; Sen. Kisang, Elgeyo Marakwet County; Sen. Korir, Bomet County; Sen. Lomenen, Turkana County; Sen. M. Kajwang’, Homa Bay County; Sen. Maanzo, Makueni County; Sen. Mbugua, Nyandarua County; Sen. Mungatana, MGH, Tana River County; Sen. Munyi Mundigi, Embu County; Sen. (Dr.) Murango, Kirinyaga County; Sen. Mwaruma, Taita Taveta County; Sen. Oketch Gicheru, Migori County; Sen. Okiya Omtatah, Busia County; Sen. Omogeni, Nyamira County; Sen. Onyonka, Kisii County; Sen. Osotsi, Vihiga County; Sen. Sifuna, Nairobi City County; Sen. Wamatinga, Nyeri County; and, Sen. Wambua, Kitui County.

NOES: Nil

AYES: 27 NOES: Nil ABSENTIONS: Nil

The Ayes have it.

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

BILL

Second reading

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

(Question, that The Kenya Roads (Amendment) (No.3) Bill (National Assembly Bills No. 34 0f 2025), be now read a Second Time, put and the Senate proceeded to vote by County Delegations) AYES: Sen. Chute, Marsabit County; and, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Kakamega County.

NOES: Sen. Cherarkey, Nandi County; Sen. Cheruiyot, Kericho County; Sen. Dullo, Isiolo County; Sen. Faki, Mombasa County; Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Tharaka Nithi County; Sen. Githuku, Lamu County; Sen. Kavindu Muthama, Machakos County; Sen. Kisang, Elgeyo Marakwet County; Sen. Korir, Bomet County; Sen. Lomenen, Turkana County; Sen. M. Kajwang’, Homa Bay County; Sen. Maanzo, Makueni County; Sen. Mbugua, Nyandarua County; Sen. Mungatana, MGH, Tana River County; Sen. Munyi Mundigi, Embu County; Sen. (Dr.) Murango, Kirinyaga County; Sen. Mwaruma, Taita Taveta County; Sen. Oketch Gicheru, Migori County; Sen. Okiya Omtatah, Busia County; Sen. Omogeni, Nyamira County; Sen. Onyonka, Kisii County; Sen. Osotsi, Vihiga County; Sen. Sifuna, Nairobi City County; Sen. Wamatinga, Nyeri County; and, Sen. Wambua, Kitui County.

AYES: 2 NOES: 25 ABSENTIONS: Nil

The Nays have it.

BILL

Second reading

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

(Question, that The Referendum Bill (Senate Bills No.3 of 2026) be now read a Second Time, put and the Senate proceeded to vote by County Delegations) AYES: Sen. Cherarkey, Nandi County; Sen. Cheruiyot, Kericho County; Sen. Chute, Marsabit County; Sen. Dullo, Isiolo County; Sen. Faki, Mombasa County; Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Tharaka Nithi County; Sen. Githuku, Lamu County; Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Kakamega County; Sen. Kisang, Elgeyo Marakwet County; Sen. Korir, Bomet County; Sen. Lomenen, Turkana County; Sen. M. Kajwang’, Homa Bay County; Sen. Maanzo, Makueni County; Sen. Mbugua, Nyandarua County; Sen. Mungatana, MGH, Tana River County; Sen. Munyi Mundigi, Embu County; Sen. (Dr.) Murango, Kirinyaga County; Sen. Mwaruma, Taita Taveta County; Sen. Oketch Gicheru, Migori County; Sen. Okiya Omtatah, Busia County; Sen. Omogeni, Nyamira County; Sen. Osotsi, Vihiga County; Sen. Wamatinga, Nyeri County; and, Sen. Wambua, Kitui County.

NOES: Sen. Kavindu Muthama, Machakos County. ABSTENTIONS: Sen. Onyonka, Kisii County, and Sen. Sifuna, Nairobi City County.

AYES: 24 NOES: 1 ABSENTIONS: 2

So, the Ayes have it.

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

BILL

Second reading

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

(Question, that The Mining (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bills No.22 of 2025), be now read a Second Time, put and the Senate proceeded to vote by County Delegations) AYES: Sen. Cherarkey, Nandi County; Sen. Cheruiyot, Kericho County; Sen. Dullo, Isiolo County; Sen. Faki, Mombasa County; Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Tharaka Nithi County; Sen. Githuku, Lamu County; Sen. Kisang, Elgeyo Marakwet County; Sen. Korir, Bomet County; Sen. Lomenen, Turkana County; Sen. M. Kajwang’, Homa Bay County; Sen. Maanzo, Makueni County; Sen. Mungatana, MGH, Tana River County; Sen. Munyi Mundigi, Embu County; Sen. (Dr.) Murango, Kirinyaga County; Sen. Mwaruma, Taita Taveta County; Sen. Okiya Omtatah, Busia County; Sen. Omogeni, Nyamira County; Sen. Onyonka, Kisii County; Sen. Wamatinga, Nyeri County; and, Sen. Wambua, Kitui County.

NOES: Sen. Chute, Marsabit County; Sen. Kavindu Muthama, Machakos County; Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, Kakamega County; Sen. Mbugua, Nyandarua County; Sen. Oketch Gicheru, Migori County; Sen. Osotsi, Vihiga County; and, Sen. Sifuna, Nairobi City County.

AYES: 20 NOES: 7 ABSENTIONS: Nil

So, having failed to attain the requisite threshold, the Bill is lost. Serjeant-at-Arms, you may now open the door and withdraw the bar.

(Resumption of Statements)

We will now proceed with the comments on the request on the statements under Order No.7. Proceed, Senator Kavindu Muthama.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding some of these operatives within the SHA ecosystem. The proposition we are giving Kenyans is that without us falling in place in terms of the values of our Constitution, these problems are going to recur. We need transparency in the administration of the SHA system. If we do not have that transparency, these stories will continue appearing in our newspapers.

With those many remarks, I thank you.

One is that we are having a crisis. I want to call upon you, Madam Temporary Speaker, as the Chair of this session under Standing Order No.1, to order that by Tuesday next week, the Committee on Health should brief the House and the country. We are facing a crisis. Kapsabet County Referral Hospital, as we talk today, is closed. I believe the police station, the hospital and any other facility should not be closed for whatever reason. We are facing a crisis, and I expected the Committee on Health to brief the House. It has been happening for the last few days and the people who suffer the most are those we represent.

In the history of the County of Nandi, this is the first time that Kapsabet County Referral Hospital has been closed. A number of health facilities in Nandi County have been closed because of the CBA disagreement between the county government, the governor, and the nurses in terms of their promotion, work environment, lack of medical access and many other issues.

Maybe the stories in my colleagues’ counties are totally different, but we must negotiate this CBA, so that we can agree as a country.

called Orembe and Maram. Pupils and students in that village will not go to school the moment that river gets filled up.

Madam Temporary Speaker, you should see how pathetic the situation is. Just recently when I was in the village, we had to contribute with the villagers to make a makeshift bridge that would allow these pupils and the women that walk across that river, given that the river is also crocodile infested. So, I support this statement. Our people need the services from the roads department, whether it is from the county governments, or from the national Government. They need to have permanent bridges that will help them move from one village to the other.

Secondly, I would like to comment on the statement on the medical insurance of teachers. I thank you, Sen. Mundigi, because you continuously talk about the plight of teachers. As a teacher, I know the work that teachers do in this Republic and, therefore, the issue of the medical cover of teachers needs to be looked into.

Madam Temporary Speaker, the few times I have visited some teachers in hospital, there was a very bad case of a teacher who had to wait for clearance from the insurer in order to begin treatment. Considering the nature of work that teachers and other public officers do, the medical cover of teachers must be looked into. I congratulate my brother, Sen. Mundigi, for bringing these issues to Parliament.

MOTION

RECONSTITUTION OF SELECT COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE

(An hon. Senator spoke off record) No, I have just been called, ‘the Senate Majority Leader.’ That is why I responded. Ideally, this is Sen. Wambua's work that I am doing.

1. (i) Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Sen. Edwin Sifuna, CBS, MP to replace Sen Beatrice Ogolla, MP (ii) Standing Committee on Energy Sen. Beatrice Ogolla, MP to replace Sen. Moses Kajwang’, CBS, MP (iii) Standing Committee on Health Sen. Shakila Abdalla Mohamed, MP to replace Sen. Joseph Githuku, MP (iv) Standing Committee on Information, Communication and Technology Sen. Moses Kajwang’, CBS, MP and Sen. Beatrice Ogolla, MP to replace Sen.

Shakila Abdalla Mohamed, MP and Sen. Hezena Lemaletian, MP

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

Integration

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

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

Sen. Enoch Wambua, CBS, MP to replace Sen. Hamida Ali Kibwana, MP.

1. (b) pursuant to Standing Orders No. 193, 194, 197 and 199, the Senate approves the following Senators nominated by the Senate Business Committee to serve in Select Committees of the Senate as follows-
2. (i) County Public Accounts Committee Sen. Joseph Githuku, MP, and Sen. Justice (Rtd.) Stewart Madzayo, EGH, MP to replace Sen. Johnes Mwaruma, MP and Sen. Edwin Sifuna, CBS, MP

(ii) County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee

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

Madam Temporary Speaker, this is a routine reorganisation of the committees. This is a matter that should have been handled by my colleague and counterpart, the Leader of the Minority, but he is not in the House this afternoon. Therefore, I will be transacting this on his behalf, because I can see he has made a raft of changes and I believe, as Leader of the Minority side, this is done to infuse new energy into certain committees and move certain competencies into different places as expected.

I had requested that there should be a detector at the door for colourless liquids and, increasingly, there is a need for the same. On this matter, I have seen certain reports. For example, I do not know if it was fake or genuine news, and I have not had the opportunity to ask my colleague, Sen. Crystal, whether it is true. However, I saw a caption somewhere saying that she had been removed from a committee for proposing something. I wish to believe that that is fake news. I do not think she said that, but the world is such as it is. I doubt if a member can be removed from a committee for proposing something, because in any case, to propose any legislation; one, you do not have to be a member of any committee. You can propose legislation on any matter.

Secondly and most importantly, to progress a particular legislation, you need the support of nearly more than a half the delegations of the House. Therefore, it is not as simple matter as just serving in a particular committee.

(Sen. Crystal Asige spoke off record) No, it is not directed to you, Sen. Crystal. This is a comment.

committees that are important for some Members to also have experience on a variety of issues.

To be honest, in some committees, there are issues that you deal with that affect a number of counties in a certain way that hits differently. I will give an example. In the context of what the Senate Majority Leader has talked about, members of the public might feel that there could be a purge on certain individuals for action, positions or some issues, but that is not the case.

For instance, Madam Temporary Speaker, you know well that in this House, I have had the pleasure – I say this with a lot of humility – to serve as the Chairperson of the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing. I have also had the pleasure to serve as the Vice-Chairperson of the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.

Basically, these changes have removed me from those two positions. Somebody might argue that now I am the Deputy Minority Whip. The Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing is equally the Deputy Minority Whip, whom you would expect not to hold that position and still be a Vice-Chairperson or Chairperson of a committee. However, I have been stripped of all those positions, yet he has remained. If I wanted to cry, I would ask why I am being removed from the position of chairing the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, or being the Vice- Chairperson of the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee. However, I am not complaining, because I understand that I have been removed from the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee because other Members ought to have the best experience I have had there. I have been removed as the Chairperson of the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing because other Members also need to experience the same kind of work and experience I have had.

For a committee like the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, I would have wished that as many Members get experience as much as possible. I have happily left that committee because I have had a lot of experience there in terms of dealing with hospitals in all the counties. I have also had the experience of dealing with a number of municipalities. I know at some point we will vote on the issue of Thika Municipality and the request to make it a city. The bird’s-eye-view positions on such matters are canvassed in the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.

I also know that we have got some serious issues on water resources, especially how Water Service Providers (WSPs) function in our counties. I have had a myriad of information, together with my Chairperson, Sen. Osotsi, whom I appreciate working with. He was the Chairperson of the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, and I served as his Vice-Chairperson. The country should know that we have both been removed, not just from the committees, but also the positions. Therefore, it is important that these shifts---

I thank the House for having given me the opportunity to serve as Chairperson of CPI&SFC for four years. This was a new committee in this Session of the Senate, and we made tremendous achievements in dealing with public entities in the counties and public finances. Additionally, I am aware that changes in committee membership are a normal occurrence. However, sometimes there are machinations behind them. What was done to remove me amounts to political persecution.

I know what happened, and I wish Hon. Ledama and Hon. Madzayo were here today, because I know what they did behind the scenes to instigate a motion of no confidence against me, and to create a wedge between me and Members with whom I have worked very well for four years. However, this is normal. Many other Senators in past Senates have gone through the same. I recall Sen. Wetangula, Sen. Irungu Kang’atá, and Susan Kihika, among many others, went through this. It will be well.

I am being persecuted for supporting Linda Mwananchi and for supporting Hon. Edwin Sifuna. It will be well, and we will bounce back in a big way.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker.

Can I be protected?

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, kindly desist from that line of argument that casts aspersions on the capability of any Senator in here as you proceed.

that you consult the entire membership of that side. So, as we approve this Motion, let us learn from the text that is in the Constitution. What we have been told---

(Sen. Cherarkey consulted loudly)

Order, Senators. Sen. Omogeni, you can finalise in your last minute.

The point I am making--- No, he is confusing me with that lady. I am not that lady. Sen. Munyi Mundigi, respond to the lady.

So, Madam---

Can you finalise, Sen. Omogeni, please? Proceed, Sen. Nyotu.

on HANSARD – as having said that he presented this particular Motion on behalf of the Senate Minority Leader. However, I made reference to what has been there in this particular House, and I was very clear. I said that when there was that purge last year, which was baptised ‘reorganisation of committees,’ - it happened and it is there in the HANSARD – I was removed where I was serving as the Chairperson of the Committee on Education. Sen. Thang’wa was removed where he was serving as the Chairperson of the Committee on Roads and Transportation. Sen. Methu was removed from the position of Chairperson Lands, Environment and Natural Resources; and Sen. (Dr.) Murango was removed where he was serving as the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. We all come from one region in this country. Sen. Mandago remained in his Committee on Health; Sen. Chesang remained as the Chairperson of the Committee on Information Communication and Technology, and Sen. Murgor remained in his Committee of Labour and Social Welfare. The late Senator--- Let me not mention our departed colleague.

Kenyans do watch what is happening here. The Senate Majority Leader cannot convince this House that the only people that needed to be reorganised in committees were people from a particular region. So, it is high time we stopped playing politics with the posting of Members to committees. When you look at what is happening, there is no other reason Sen. Osotsi was removed from the CPIC apart from politics. Kenyans are watching what happens here, and it is actually a shame that we reward people and punish- --

that is what we are doing. However, the public out there whom we serve may have a different story. We are not here on our own accord.

I wish all the Members that have been nominated to serve in the various committees all the best. Let us apply ourselves in those committees and do our job, but we should know that we have a date with destiny very soon.

I thank you.

has done his bit by proposing the changes to the committees. Therefore, I request that we conclude this business and transact the subsequent business.

Sen. Wambua, my apologies, I thought I am helping you, but I can see you do not seem to be appreciating my assistance.

With those very many remarks, because this is not something to debate and hog on and off about, I beg to reply.

I thank you.

BILL

Second Reading

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

solve all those problems and actually help counties as far as service delivery is concerned.

Looking at the Bill, it actually provides for the structure and procedure for coming up with the street naming and also how the committee is supposed to be formed; who are the members of the committee, who is the registrar, and where the registrar should be as far as this Bill is concerned. I will go through the Bill stage by stage to explain why we need it.

If you look at the memorandum and the objects of the Bill, it provides a logical and consistent addressing system in a critical component of any county government service delivery system. In particular, it encourages and enables e-commerce, eases identification of streets and public places, improves emergency response services, enhances the management of settlement and development in the areas, and improves revenue collection and the addressing system. Therefore, it provides a platform to facilitate other county government functions such as county planning, the need for a functional addressing system, and a dedicated team to ensure its enforcement and maintenance. Therefore, it cannot be gainsaid.

In this regard, the main object of the Bill is to provide for procedures and guidelines for creating a county addressing system, and for this purpose, the naming and addressing of streets and public places in counties. The Bill will, therefore, improve service delivery at the county level, and will aid in the modernisation of the counties. The Bill will also help in preserving the history and heritage of counties and serve as a means of honouring persons who have made significant contributions to the history, culture, image and development of the country.

Madam Temporary Speaker, you will see that, currently, the manner in which street naming and honouring of heroes are done is haphazard. There are no procedures followed. However, this particular Bill provides guidelines on how those procedures should actually be followed, and where they feel that the name is not appropriate, there are procedures that need to be followed to make sure that culture, heritage and all those standards are actually kept.

If you look in the Bill, Part I, Clause 2 is on interpretation. Clause 3 is the object and the purpose of the Act once it is signed. Clause 4 talks about the scope of the Act and deals with matters relating to addressing or custodians of the address data in Kenya. So, data that is going to be kept as far as that information is concerned, to avoid replication and also duplication of numbers in residential areas.

There are also guiding principles in Clause 5. The discharge of the function and act shall be guided by the principles and values set out in Articles 10, 31, 43, 60, and 232 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. The guiding principles of the Act shall be inclusivity and participatory governance of the regulatory framework that we need to put in place.

Madam Temporary Speaker, Part II of the Bill establishes an institutional framework for a national addressing system. We do not have any policy or legislation currently governing street naming. Clause 6 of the Bill establishes the National Addressing Council. Clause 7 provides for the functions of the council that is supposed to be established to carry out this particular responsibility. Clause 8 provides for the conduct

of the business and affairs of the council, and reports by the council once they sit and make deliberations.

Clause 11 actually provides where the headquarters of the street naming and addressing is concerned, which is supposed to be in Nairobi. Clause 12 provides for the qualifications for the appointment of a person to be a Registrar. Clause 14 provides how the Registrar should be removed from office. Clause 15 outlines the functions of the Registrar. Clause 18 of the Bill provides how the address is supposed to be allocated by the Office of the Registrar.

Part V of the Bill establishes the County Addressing System Committee, as this has to be cascaded down to the county level. There is an establishment, in every county, of a County Addressing System Committee, which shall consist of-

1. (a) The County Executive Committee Member for communication, urban responsible development, roads, or planning who shall be the chairperson;
2. (b) one county public service officer with knowledge in information communications technology and ecommerce nominated by the county public service board;
3. (c) one person with knowledge in the history and culture of the county nominated by the body in charge of museums in the county, or in the absence of such a body, nominated by the body in charge of the National Museums of Kenya;
4. (d) one person with knowledge in emergency services nominated by the county executive committee member responsible for emergency services within the county; and
5. (e) one person with knowledge and experience in survey and mapping of lands nominated by the county executive committee member in charge of lands in the county.

Clause 21 of the Bill provides for the terms of office of the members of the committee. Clause 22 of the Bill provides for the functions and powers of the committee. Clause 23 provides for the meetings of the committee and how they should be run.

Part VI of the Bill under Clause 25 covers procedures for naming county streets and public places. Guidelines for naming county streets and public places are provided for under Clause 27 of the Bill.

Clause 29 of the Bill provides for the procedure for renaming a county street or public place whenever there is a petition against a particular decision made by the committee.

Clause 30 provides that any developer who intends to create a private development shall submit every proposed street name and number to the committee to look into and provide proper guidelines on how that procedure should be followed.

Part VII covers the numbering of streets and properties, requiring all properties to be numbered. Once this Bill is assented to and put into operation, all properties in the counties should be numbered and records must be kept by the Registrar.

Clause 32 provides that the Land Registration Unit established under Section 6 of the Land Registration Act shall advise on registration units.

Part VIII provides for miscellaneous provisions of the Bill, which cover the county addressing plan. Titling has to be aligned with the properties that are assigned numbers pursuant to Clause 34. Intergovernmental consultation meetings must be held for the purpose of this Bill.

Clause 37 provides that the Cabinet Secretary, in consultation with the Council of Governors and the Authority, shall establish regulations for the operationalization of this Bill. The Schedule provides for procedures relating to the meetings of the Council and the Committees pursuant to Clause 8 and 23 of the Bill.

This is an important Bill because it assists in planning, service delivery, revenue collection and security. Currently, when a crime is committed, offenders often disappear and their locations remain unknown. If residential areas are numbered as provided for in this Bill, it will help bring order to service delivery and other procedures across the country.

With those remarks, I ask Sen. Cherarkey to second the Bill. I thank you.

showing that everybody matters, including local elders who play a vital role in ensuring unity in our communities. They are the ones who ensure that there is unity. They are like Google Maps of that village, because if you want to know where somebody's house is, if you ask a Mukasa, or a Kokwet Elder, they can tell you. That is what the President was telling the Kokwet Elders. It is part of National Addressing System (NAS).

If you want to know what is happening, you just ask your village elder; it could be a he or a she. I am happy it is no longer men only. There are also women. If you ask, they will be able to tell you, for instance, who is giving birth next week, whose house has been attacked by thieves, who has slept with who in the village; who has marital problems, whose husband has run away or has never appeared in the village since he came to Nairobi. They have all the data. They are the village Google Maps.

I thank the President because those are people we need to work with, as we do the National Addressing System. I am also grateful that the village elders have been given a stipend. We only used to pay the assistant chief and the chief only; even village administrators are paid by county governments. The village elders will never forget the honour that the President has given them. For some of them, this is the first time they are stepping into Nairobi. It is not only Nairobi, they are stepping to the most famous address in the City, State House, which a number of Kenyans have never had a privilege to visit in the previous regimes. Going forward, we must focus on this National Addressing System.

Madam Temporary Speaker, you have heard about Vision 2060 by His Excellency, the President. Even your party leader, Dr. Oburu Odinga, and the late, may his soul rest in peace, Baba Raila Amollo Odinga, the enigma of Kenyan politics, had that Vision. One of the ways of attaining it is by having National Addressing System, which creates efficiency in terms of essential services. It not only addresses but even taxes and many other issues.

Many people have been asking, where does President Ruto’s Vision 2060 come from? He got it from Baba Raila Amollo Odinga, who had the vision of a better Kenya. We are saying that we are going to Singapore via Canada. The only way to reach Singapore via Canada is not to ask where your address is, or to ask people in the village, “I want to go to a certain hospital, ambulance or school.” You just use the data that is provided. That is the Vision 2060 that the President is talking about. I thank Baba Raila Odinga and President Ruto for this vision, that we now need to have a conversation as a country on the future of this country.

Madam Temporary Speaker, when you have spineless, rudderless, agenda-less and plan-less opposition in this country, who only think about the election instead of thinking about the future generation, the prosperity of this country is in jeopardy. What Sen. Dullo is trying to ensure is efficiency in terms of service delivery. There is also use of the postal address. In America, they vote by mail.

In addition, it will assist in revenue collection. In fact, on land rates, all counties should ensure that they support this because revenue collection will be efficient. We need counties to function. Under Article 96, our role is to protect the interest of the counties and oversight them. Sen. Kamar comes from the counties of Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu. She knows that there were fireworks in Elgeyo Marakwet, where a deputy

governor, who is a woman, Prof. Cheserek, was being undermined and curtailed by the governor. I am happy that she told off the governor because we cannot be talking about the efficiency in revenue collection, yet people are being undermined.

I have been in the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) for some time, and I know you sit in the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations. You and I agree that one of the biggest challenges is the missed target of own-source revenue by most of the counties by a huge margin of 60 per cent. We are now geo- referencing. We have digital maps. We should do national tracing system to allow efficiency in collection of revenue. I can see the newest Deputy Minority Whip trying to give notes to the immediate Vice Chairperson of CPAC on how to collect what we call non-revenue water, where most municipalities and water companies are struggling. This one will come in handy because we will know where it is easy to build.

I encourage colleagues that it is safer to participate in all committees, even if there was a Committee on Catering, do not worry, just serve there. Serve in the Committee on Finance and Budget, County Public Accounts Committee, and Committee on Energy. We should learn to appreciate to serve in all committees. Every Senator in this room, including you Madam Temporary Speaker, has a right to serve in, or chair any committees.

In 2018, I was de-whipped by Jubilee. I was the Chairperson of the Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights. I have been a backbencher since then, but I do not find anything out of the ordinary. This is because the interest I represent is that of the great people of Nandi.

Madam Temporary Speaker, you represent special interest in this country alongside Sen. Karen, a number of colleagues and Sen. Kamar, who was our Deputy Speaker. You can imagine the way Sen. Kamar is so humble. You cannot tell that she is a former Minister for Education.

She is also a former Member for Eldoret East. She was our Deputy Speaker of the Senate. Just like you, Madam Temporary Speaker, she presided over sittings. It does not hurt. Just serve where you are appointed, even if there was a Committee on Catering; you will learn something. Therefore, we need to ensure that our committees function properly.

I can see that my time is spent. Another one which is very critical under Clause 8, is the establishment of National Addressing Council. A third and final point is on the functions of the Registrar, who will manage and maintain the National Addressing System. That is Clause 15. It delves on data.

Let me go quickly to the Clause 16. I am happy that the Sponsor of the Bill, the distinguished Senator for Isiolo, has said that they must protect data. You are aware that we passed what we call The Data Protection Act in this House. It is one of the Acts of Parliament that will always face legal hurdles. We must ensure that we protect data. You realise that in most of the hospitals in this Republic, anybody can access your data, yet these are private and important issues about people's health. If you read the Office of the Auditor General’s reports, you will notice that most of our data is exposed, especially by public hospitals.

I hope Sen. Eddy and other committees will pick this up. Although I know he is not here, he can provide advice on how we can protect data. We should be responsible on how we share data so that we move forward as a country.

I will comment on the establishment of county committees briefly so that I can listen to colleagues also. This is one brilliant Bill that will take us to Singapore via Canada. I thank the distinguished Senator, who was our Deputy Majority Leader in the last Session, for coming up with such a Bill.

This is the conversation that we need to have, of Vision 2060 that the President is proposing. We need street naming, efficiency and I call upon counties, including Nairobi, to have proper planning. Let us have street planning and organised roads to ensure that our roads are drained. I am surprised because I am told that somebody has gone to court to block the construction of pedestrian walkways in Nairobi. This shocks me. There are no pedestrian walkways in Nairobi and other major cities in this country.

That is why you and I appreciate that that is why most of the pedestrians are being knocked down here and there. We need to have pedestrian walkways and plan our cities better. When you travel to other countries, especially in Europe and America, they have planned better. Here, we have a challenge in street naming and property addressing. I appeal to Kenyans that we plan better to prevent individuals who might buy property and hide their identity. Proper planning will assist investigative agencies, because if you suspect property X and Y belongs to Sen. Cherarkey, it is easy to confirm.

With those many remarks, and I can see my time is up, allow me to second and ask the Members of the Senate to also support, so that we can fast-track and transmit it to the National Assembly. Hopefully, the President can assent to it and then we can move on as a country.

(Question proposed)

are going, and they can now Google the right address. Currently, you talk of Kenyatta Street in Eldoret, and you are asking somebody, “do I start from the northern side or the lower side of the street?” This is when you are looking for a building.

This is a very progressive Bill to also give address of the buildings that we have. Here in Nairobi, when you ask for a salon and you are told that it is on Kenyatta Avenue, you have to ask more questions such as “where on Kenyatta Avenue?” This is because there is no address that can tell you that you go to number one or 20, Kenyatta Avenue. This is going to simplify a lot of things.

I went to school in the University of Toronto. Toronto is an amazing city which has streets that are parallel and diagonal. You have east-west streets, and they start from only one point. From that point, you can read east to the end, from number one to wherever it is. You can go, in fact, up to 20 kilometres on that one street, but they have labelled them number one, number two, right to the end. When you are looking for a building, you are just looking for the number. Any taxi will take you where you want to go.

The same thing to the north and the south, so that you start from the middle. In fact, interestingly, that middle area was where the University of Toronto itself, is very close. We knew we would never get lost. You cannot get lost in a city such as Toronto in Canada. This is what we need in Nairobi. You do not need to be asking everybody for where to go. We need to know if a chemist is in street No.1B, then you go to No.1B. We need a very simple way of listing our streets or creating address for our streets, and this is extremely important.

It is more important not just for the essential services that we require, but also for people who want to visit. Our tourists, God save them, because when they are in the streets of Nairobi, they do not know where to go because they cannot name anything. They do not know where to meet unless they are in a hotel, because now you can find the hotels because they have been marked, even on Google. If not in a hotel and they go out to buy something, they can spend all day looking for one another just because we have not named or put any address in any of the shops that we have, and that is really something. Establishing a framework for standardizing how we name our streets, and how we place addresses is extremely important. I thank Sen. Dullo for coming up with such an important Bill.

In the Committee on Devolution, we are dealing with the establishment of new municipalities in this country. This Bill, when it goes through, will be able to guide them because they will realize that if they plan their municipalities from inception, it will be very easy for them to actually put addresses on them. This is because you cannot put an address on something that is confused, and does not have clear directions. While we are dealing with planning of municipalities, this, again, is a Bill that is going to take us very far.

Mine was going to be very brief, because I fully support and I see that it is going to take us from the darkness that we are in, Like I said, ours are dark streets that you cannot tell where you are, from shopping centers that have not been labelled, to streets where you cannot tell whether you are in the east or the west of wherever you are going.

Providing a framework for the preservation of a county's history is one of the most important features that this Bill is going to have. We know that there are people who have made notable contributions in our counties, but we have appeared as though we are a country that does not have a sense of appreciation to human beings. We have elders who have gone, who made a lot of impact. We have people in our history who even participated in the Independence of this country, but nobody has recognized them.

By coming up with this kind of street naming, we should be able to recognize each and everybody who has been in our counties, and everybody will feel appreciated. The institutional framework has been well articulated. I do not want even to touch on that one.

It is very important for us to recognize that an organized way of creating an address system is the foundation of the development of any municipality, town and city. We should support this Bill and ensure that it moves from this House today to the next so that it comes back for assent.

I support.

CBD, you simply went to OTC or sometimes to Afya Centre, and then you would get your bearing from those places.

Imagine the kind of delay if there were firefighters going through OTC, which still has a lot of traffic to locate where they need to go. Sometimes, to even just deal with the traffic that we see in this City, it is important that we name our streets, businesses and residential areas properly, which is what this Bill proposes.

We have seen a number of companies coming into the country. I came from the private sector, and if you see me celebrating this Bill, it is because of the kind of menace I saw in the private sector. If you think about e-commerce and logistics businesses that have tried in this start-up space in this country, they collapse because there is no boost in terms of addressing system.

Madam Temporary Speaker, there is a company called Sendy, and I enjoyed using their services. I also celebrated the brainchild of that company coming from Nyanza and a son of this country called Meshack. One of the biggest struggles that Sendy ended up facing was the issue of proper addressing system. They were in cargo and delivery business. They had a serious problem with labelled areas that did not make sense, because to some extent, even the addresses were not even verified.

We have e-commerce businesses and other startups in that sector in this country. That includes platforms like Jumia. Those businesses face about 70 to 75 per cent delays in terms of delivering cargo. The investment is humongous. First of all, there is the aspect of time. For instance, if you have got trucks delivering cargo to different places, any delay has got an impact in terms of fuel they must spend on the vehicles. You end up having a serious cash crunch in terms of cash flow for these businesses. They end up using a lot of money just trying to navigate poorly marked addresses, and sometimes addresses that are not verified at all.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I can see how this Bill by Sen. Dullo will help us boost and bolster e-commerce and logistics businesses in this country. A myriad of such businesses across the country are also doing door-to-door delivery. I am sure you are quite familiar with names like Glovo, Uber, Uber Eats, Lyft and Maramoja that tried and failed because of lack of digital addressing systems.

For such simple digitally enabled services that are delivered door-to-door – be it food delivery, people seeking ride services, or people simply trying to navigate doorstep deliveries – these are times that such kinds of Bills will allow them to be more accurate. When there is accuracy, it does not only bolster and boost revenue for the private sector, but also the Government because efficient taxation and tax collection in this country is not devoid of standardized addresses that can allow the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), for instance, locate businesses more easily and locate some informal businesses not in the tax bracket. With this law, they will have an advantage to reach those businesses, to enable them have better services.

As a House, we are here to promote devolution. Even in our devolved systems, where we have seen cases like property rent management and land rates as revenue streams for our counties, this is what will bolster their sense of revenue collection.

If you look at the way this Bill is drafted, you can see that it will enable land authorities in the counties to be more accurate in terms of registering different properties,

and also track defaulters of land rates with a better way of identifying land and different properties that perhaps are not well located digitally. I can see how this Bill will have an overarching effect on revenue collection in the public sector, just the same way it will help to boost cash flow of the private sector.

Over and above that, this Bill is not only about money, efficiency and effectiveness in terms of delivery of services to people. It is also a good Bill that will ensure there is proper public service delivery. Think about some of the things I talked about that we used to deal with in the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, where I served as the Vice Chair, but now I have been removed. I do not why when Members were contributing, they did not sympathise with me because I have been a good contributor in the Committee, but I have been removed from that committee. Perhaps the nation should know that I have not cried about it. I believe that Members who have also been taken from other committees, such as Sen. Hezena and Sen. Mwaruma, will contribute just as effectively as I did.

Madam Temporary Speaker, some of the utilities that we were dealing with in this committee include water. Water Service Providers (WSPs) in our counties can take water to different communities, both through reticulation and through water bowsers. If you consider electricity in our communities, you will hear of transformers that have experienced some form of fault and burst. They are bursting every single second. If you consider metering – both water metering systems in our urban areas and electricity metering systems – these are services that county governments and the National Government should provide to our people.

Madam Temporary Speaker, talk of telecommunication companies in the country. How easily can they map areas where they need to rectify a fault; or where they intend to undertake internet connectivity or any other service to households? They spend a lot of time trying to navigate and figure out where they are to offer the service. In some cases, service delivery is delayed to the extent that a week or a month goes by without electricity, water provision, and proper telecommunication response, all because of lack of navigation. The address system cannot be found. This happens because we lack a proper addressing system, and this Bill will solve that problem in the timeliest manner.

I have also observed this in relation to our education system. Take school capitation disbursements and the tracking of simple facilities in our schools. We have a problem because of our addressing system. Consider even when our children are sitting for national examinations. Officers are sent to deliver examination materials to various places, yet we are told that in some places, the exams arrive two days late, and in others several hours late.

We want to harmonize examinations so that all candidates start at the same time. Delays occur simply because we cannot locate an address. You send people to Turkana, somewhere like Migori, Nyatike, and the examinations arrive late because someone did not know how to navigate to a school in a remote village. This kind of innovation will help us deal with such problems.

We are also approaching an electoral cycle. During elections, we have seen, time without number, ballot papers arriving very late because drivers could not navigate to a school in Kwiroro, where Sen. Boni Khalwale comes from; or to a polling station in

Masangora, where I come from in Kuria. Instead of the ballots arriving at 8.00 a.m., they arrive at 5.00 p.m., thereby denying people in those areas their constitutional right to vote.

This is, therefore, a very holistic intervention that will solve many of our problems as a country. Even beyond service delivery and ensuring that commerce thrives, it is important that, given where Kenya finds itself today, we adopt a global standard in the digital mapping of our addresses.

This is the Bill that will be bold enough to ensure that we have a unified framework to deal with fragmented systems in our local areas in terms of data gathering of local businesses, residential areas and property so that we match countries that have made serious strides in terms of accurate GPS data.

Madam Temporary Speaker, we must achieve this as a country. We must be a country that is integrated into the global GPS system. For instance, businesses that have made strides, like Amazon, can expand to Kenya and create thousands of businesses. Perhaps people who are in the venture capital markets might want to invest in something like Jumia, Sendy and Twiga Foods that died, Glovo, Uber or Bolt.

If we are going to attract foreign direct investment and mobilise local capital into the venture market, they must have confidence that our GPS data makes sense to the global north and business circle. The only way to meet that is giving this Bill some breath to life. When somebody thinks about the use of plus codes, for instance, we should ensure that we have a sober digital address system that makes sense for Kenya. South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria have the same addressing system, and we are competing with them at a global level in terms of economic merit. Therefore, there is no reason why Kenya is lagging behind.

So, I congratulate my sister, my senior ranking Member, Sen. Dullo, for thinking like a Gen Z, and bringing a sober Bill to this House. If it is implemented, it will ensure that the issue of an address system will be something of the past.

Therefore, I wish that the Majority Leader will follow this Bill very strongly to the National Assembly, to ensure that it is given life during our time, as a Senate, before this Fourth Senate dissolves come next year.

I support and thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker.

shaghalabaghala, kisa na maana ni kuwa hakuna mpangilio wowote ambao umewekwa wazi.

Nakubaliana na Sen. Dullo kwamba Mswada huu unapaswa upitishwe wakati huu. Tunapoanzisha mji wowote, lazima tuhakikishe ya kwamba huo mji uko na ramani ambazo zimewekwa wazi. Hizo ramani zikiwa wazi, tutazuia mambo mengi. Hatutazipa tu majina, tutahakikisha pia ya kwamba watu ambao wanaiba mali wamesimamishwa.

Tunaweza kuwa na mfumo mpya ya kusema hospitali iko hapa, na itakuwa na jina fulani. Ni lazima tuwe na mikakati thabiti ya kupea barabara majina. Ramani ambayo itatumika imeelezewa wazi katika mswada huu. Huu mswada utachangia mambo mengi. Itachangia mambo ya kidharura, na tutajiondoa katika changamoto.

Watu ambao wanahusika na mambo ya kawi na hata maji wataweza kufuatilia vizuri. Wanapoweka maji, watajua ya kwamba sehemu hii inapaswa kuwa ya maji. Vibao vitawekwa vizuri, na mtu atajua ya kwamba hii sehemu inapaswa kutumiwa kufanya kazi gani, na ile nyingine inapaswa kufanya kazi gani.

Bi. Spika wa muda, mimi na wewe tuko katika Kamati ya Elimu. Ukitembea sehemu nyingi, huwezi kujua pahali ambapo shule ya chekechea inapaswa kuwa, lakini hizi ramani zitatusaidia kufuatilia vizuri. Tumekuwa na wewe tukizunguka. Tulizunguka katika vitongoji vya Mombasa, na tulipata ya kwamba hakuna barabara, ilhali kuna shule kule ndani. Kulikuwa na changamoto kufika katika hizo shule. Kukiwa na mkasa wa moto ama upepo pengine vitu vimebomolewa, kuambia mtu pahali ulipo itakuwa ni changamoto.

Huu Mswada umechelewa kwa sababu katika nchi nyingi ambazo tumetembelea, hakuna haja ya kuuliza mtu njia. Lakini ukija Nairobi ambayo tunajivunia, unapata ya kwamba hakuna vibao vya kuonyesha mtu pahali anaenda. Ukitumia mfumo wa kisasa, Google Maps, utafika pahali ambapo barabara imeisha kwa sababu hakuna ramani ambazo zimeandikwa vizuri.

Ninampongeza Sen. Dullo kwa sababu Mswada huu utatusaidia kwa mipango ya kitaifa, gatuzi zetu na maisha yetu kama wananchi wa Kenya. Mtu anaweza kuzunguka mji huu bila kujua mahali anapokwenda, kwa sababu hakuna ramani thabiti ya kumuonyesha mahali anaenda. Ukienda Dubai ama Marekani, utapata ya kwamba mtu hahihitaji kuuliza njia, kwa sababu ramani ziko wazi, na nyumba ziko na nambari. Jiji letu la Nairobi liko kama kitongoji duni.

Ukitoka hapa, huwezi kujua nyumba ni ipi kwa sababu rangi ni tofauti na hakuna nambari yoyote. Nyumba zenyewe hazijapakwa rangi, na ni kukuu. Mswada huu utasaidia kuonyesha wazi mambo ya kuweka ramani ili tuweze kusonga mbele.

Bi. Spika wa Muda, naunga mkono Mswada huu, na nampongeza Seneta wa Isiolo. Namhakikishia kwamba tutaunga mkono ili Seneti hii itakapomaliza kazi yake, tuwe tumeupitisha. Hii itahakikisha kwamba ukitembea Nanyuki, Isiolo au Eldoret, unapata barabara zilizonyoroka, na majina kama Dullo na Prof. Kamar.

Asante.

social problems in our country. It will also put things in order as far as service delivery, revenue collection, security and planning is concerned.

Sometimes back, I went to some of the villages in my county, and whenever there is an emergency, there is no road to guide you in getting mothers with medical emergency to hospitals. If this Bill is put into operation, it will be a game changer. It will also encourage international companies to come to this country because it will be easy to handle their business. Someone in the Unites States of America or the United Kingdom can plan their business properly, and follow them up. If this Bill is fast tracked, I am sure it is going to solve so many problems, both for the county and national levels of government.

Thank you to all those who have supported me, and I beg to reply.

ADJOURNMENT

1. 9.30 a.m. The Senate rose at 6.28 p.m.