Senate Hansard: Tuesday, 6th October, 2026 - Afternoon Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum? (The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Deputy Speaker) Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. (The Quorum Bell was rung) Clerk, could you ascertain whether we now have quorum? (The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Deputy Speaker) Okay. Please read out the first Order.

Order, hon. Senators. Sen. (Dr.) Murango and Sen. Hezena, there is a Communication that I want to make.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the House, I join you in welcoming the visiting delegation from the Parliament of Ghana who have joined us this afternoon. I know they are here to interact with their peers, both Members and staff because Ghana is one of the peer nations to the Republic of Kenya on many aspects, including how we transact our business, the love and passion for African roots and respect for parliamentary democracy.

I know that in the duration of the time that this delegation will be here, we will get an opportunity to interact with them and share insights on how they do their business back in Ghana. I have challenged many of colleagues like Sen. Wambua and the rest in this House that they can tell the streets of New York by name, coordinates and the rest but they have very little knowledge of parliaments of Africa. However, the next time, we need to introduce a rule that for every trip that a Member makes out of the country, one out of every two must be to an African nation so that we appreciate our continent and know what it is and so that this obsession with flashy capitals of the world becomes a thing of the past.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would be remiss if I did not celebrate the star-studded line-up that you have given us this afternoon though you contend that I am young and I may not know all the voices. I can tell you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you are terribly wrong. There is none of those members there that I have not had an opportunity to listen to and enjoy their various works of art. Therefore, we celebrate them as they come to Parliament this afternoon.

I know Fred Obachi has a big show this Saturday for which I already have tickets for and Sen. Omogeni did not give them to me. I bought them and I hope nobody gets to the temptation of asking for free tickets. We must pay for those tickets. Otherwise, I do welcome them to the House and wish them well as they go about with all their duties.

I thank you.

You know, I have several requests. The welcoming of the veterans has elicited a lot of interest. I will start with Sen. Onyonka Richard, in under one minute, so that each Member gets a chance to speak.

Bw. Naibu wa Spika, kwa wale ndugu zangu wako hapa, ni heshima kubwa kupata nafasi kuzungumzia wale vigogo wetu wa Kenya na wakapewa shahada na wamefanya kazi ya heshima sana. Hawa wote wako pale kibinafsi nawajua, lakini yule ninayemjua ni Obachi Machokaa.

Kuna wakati alikuwa kwa redio na akawa kwa televisheni na kule nyumbani kwake si mbali sana. Ni mzee tunaheshimiana na Obachi ndiye alinifunza Kilingala. Aliniambia, kitu cha kwanza unauliza ni sango nini, sangu malamu. Malamu bien. Ninampa heshima yangu sana. Fred Obachi, nashukuru kwa miaka yako hamsini.

Elizabeth Obege ni mama ambaye tunamheshimu sana. Ninyi wote mlifanyia kazi Kenya na Kenya inawaheshimu kwa maisha yenu. Hawa entertainers wametupatia njia ya kurelax manyumbani kwetu. Kuna makosa moja tulifanya. Tutakuja kwa Bunge hili na kuwachukua wale mabalozi wa zamani waliofanyia nchi ya Kenya kazi ili wapatiwe

Sen. Danson Mungatana.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I will be brief. First of all, I would like to welcome the Ghanaian delegation to Kenya. As a Pan-African Parliament, we have great respect for the Republic of Ghana. Out of that, recently we elected Madam Hon. Rawlings to be the Vice-President of Pan-African Parliament. Subsequently, Hon. Rawlings was elevated to be a full Cabinet Minister in Ghana.

Before her, we had Hon. Mohammed Muntaka. He was also the Chairperson of the Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs of the Parliament of Pan-Africa. He was then elevated to the Minister for Interior in the Republic of Ghana. We therefore welcome the hon. Members. Please, feel at ease and we are happy to have you.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I sit down, I know we all respect the celebrated members who served us on radio and television. However, I want to pay a special tribute to Mrs. Machoka, the wife of Mr. Fred Obachi Machoka, who was my teacher at Alliance High School. She taught me Kiswahili for many years. Madam, we love you. We have held you in the highest respect since high school. Look at what you have done. You have one of the best Senators in this Republic na tuko hapa.

Asante sana.

Sen. Crystal Asige.

Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the opportunity to welcome our delegation of distinguished media personalities in the country. It is important for me to rise and welcome this group because not only am I a Senator, but this House and other Kenyans also know that I am a performing artist and a creative. I urge this House to take matters affecting creatives far more seriously because this sector in the country is suffering enormously from different issues regarding--- (Sen. Osotsi consulted with Sen. Sifuna loudly) Mr. Deputy Speaker, could you kindly protect me from the conversation happening right in front of me very loudly?

Sen. Ososti, do not interfere with the flow of thought.

I know he is very excited about the launch of The Equitable Party (TEP) this weekend but I ask him to kindly tone it down.

Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I was talking about the issues that creatives in this country suffer. I am sure the veterans who have come to visit us today will tell you story after story of exploitation regarding royalties and Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) that take too much from the sector and give nothing back.

Add her 30 seconds.

Mr Deputy Speaker, that must be prioritised because these veterans need something to go away with and retire with dignity. They have done the work. Somebody is celebrating 50 years, as you said, but what do they have to show for it? Our counterparts in different parts of the world, in Nigeria, America and Europe, can actually live off their royalties. However, in Kenya, we are languishing in poverty as creatives.

This issue must be accelerated in this House. I hope that Sen. Omogeni, who is hosting this delegation, has taken down every grievance, so that we come here, debate them and look for solutions for these creatives and others in the country.

I thank you.

Sen. Kinyua John.

Asante, Bwana Naibu Spika, kwa kunipa fursa hii. Naungana na wewe kuwakaribisha watangazaji waliobobea katika enzi zao. Nimemjua Fred Obachi Machoka nikiwa katika shule ya msingi. Nilimsilikiza akiwa na kipindi “Sanyo Top, Sanyo Juu”, akitumia lugha nyingi.

Kwa hivyo, si wakati wamekuja bungeni ndio tunapaswa kusema vile wamebobea na kuwa mahiri katika kazi yao. Serikali inapaswa ichukuwe jukumu jipya la kuwatunuku shahada wanazopaswa. Mghala muue na haki yake umpe. Wamefanya kazi nzuri sana ya kuelimisha, lakini nikiangalia wengi wao, haswa wale waliokuwa Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) kwa kipindi cha Vitimbi, wanaishi katika hali ya uchochole.

Tusije kuishia kuongea hapa kwamba tunawaenzi na kuwashukuru. Serikali inapaswa kumakinika na kuchukua jukumu hilo. Hawa ni wananchi wanaopaswa kutambuliwa. Na sisi tusiishie kusema kwamba tunawajua kwa kazi nzuri walizofanya. Tunapaswa kuwaheshimisha kwa mfumo wa matibabu. Wawe wanatibiwa bure kwa sababu katika maisha ya usoni afya zetu hudidimia.

Bwana Naibu Spika, naomba tusiwe watu wa kuja hapa kuwasifu na kuwashukuru lakini inapofika kutunuku watu shahada, hatuwakumbuki. Tunatunuku watu katika siasa au watu wa nyadhifa kuu Serikalini. Kwa hivyo nashukuru---

Nilikuwa nimeomba kila Seneta anayeongea atumie chini ya dakika moja tafadhali.

Bwana Naibu Spika, nashukuru kwa kunipa fursa hii. Nampongeza Fred Obachi Machoka na tutaungana naye wakati takapokuwa na kina Koffi Olomide. Nitakuwa pale wakati wa Roga Roga. Nitakuwa ndani ya nyumba.

Asante.

Senate Minority Leader. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo): Asante sana, mstahiki Naibu Spika. Kwanza, najiunga nawe kutoa kongole kwa kutambua mashujaa hawa. Wazee waliotajwa hapa, kama Leornad Mwashegwa, Obachi Machoka, Elizabeth Obege, Anunda Sakwa, Inspector Mwala na Mama Kayai, ni watu niliofahamu enzi nilizokuwa mwenyekiti wa Agriculture Society of Kenya (ASK). Tulikuwa tunawapatia nafasi kuja kuonyesha talanta yao wakati huo.

Ni jambo nzuri kuwatambua waliobobea hapo zamani. Wana mifano mingi sana ya sisi na wanaofuata nyuma kuiga. For as long as unaishi katika ulimwengu, watu wanatarajia kukucopy. Bado hatujasahau yale waliyoyatenda. Tunawatakia kila la kheri katika safari hii.

Asante.

Sen. Wambua.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I also rise to join my colleagues in welcoming and congratulating the visiting delegation of former radio and television personalities. Some of them are still performing to date. I want to go on record that when we were growing up, we never missed programmes by presenters like Ali Salim Manga. He did very well in commentating soccer. In those days, people like the Senate Majority Leader were still small boys in their mothers' houses when Ali Salim was commentating on football. He used to say, “Salalaa, mpira umekuwa mwingi na umetoka nje.”

Those were very good days of broadcasting. We also had Papa Anunda Sakwa and, of course, the legendary Fred Obachi Machoka, the blackest man in Black Africa, a man who has just refused to grow old. I am sure many people here would want to have a word with him to find out the secret to remaining young after many years of service.

I am a media personality and I made it here. I am very sure you guys have also made it in your world. It is a good thing for you to have come to the Senate of the Republic of Kenya.

I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, allow me to join my colleagues in welcoming the very distinguished personalities that we have in the gallery this afternoon, led by Fred Obachi Machoka.

We were laughing at Sen. Mungatana because it is always good for the student to wait for the teacher to say whether they are proud of the way they have turned out. I am very sure if we were to ask Mrs. Machoka to say who her favourite Senator is, the answer might surprise Sen. Mungatana.

You have 30 seconds.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Kshs25,000 might be easy for the Senate Majority Leader but I will speak to Fred Obachi Machoka to allow me into the venue as the Senator for Nairobi City to oversight the Majority Leader.

Thank you very much and may God bless all our artists who are present in the Senate today.

Hon. Members, we have serious business which needs numbers. So, I want to give the owner of the delegation, Sen. Okong’o Omogeni, at least, two minutes to close this.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I see there is a lot of interest from Senators. Maybe you can allow two more.

There is but we are trying to balance. This is a very special occasion.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to extend a very warm welcome to the veteran media personalities in the House led by our brother, Mr. Fred Obachi Machoka. It is really a milestone. I hope I am not wrong when I say that Fred is one of our iconic and long-serving media personalities in the country.

Accompanying Fred, are people who have entertained us for a long time. While I was a student at Highlands Primary School in Kericho, it is the first time I watched Mama Kayai on a programme on Voice of Kenya (VoK).

Hon. Senators, we are going directly to divisions. I want to reorganise the business appearing on the Order Paper and go to Order No.10. We shall then come back to Order No. 3.

So, we are going for the three divisions on Order Nos.10, 11, and 12

Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell for five minutes. (The Quorum Bell was rung) Order, Members. Serjeant-at-Arms, lock the doors and draw the bar. (The Bar was drawn and the doors closed) (Question, that the Street Naming and Property Addressing System (Senate Bills No.43 of 2024) be now read a second time, put)

Hon. Senators, the results will be relayed later. So, let us proceed to the second division, Order No. 11. I will proceed to put the question. (Question, that the Fisheries Management and Development Bill, (National Assembly

Bills No.29 of 2023, be read a Second Time, put) Let us go ahead and vote. (Voting in progress) Next Order is the last division. However, there is also a Committee of the Whole after this. (Question, that the Livestock Protection and Sustainability Bill, (Senate Bills No.32 of 2024, be read a Second Time, put) The system is ready for voting. Proceed to vote. (Voting in progress) Hon. Senators, the system shows that one or two Senators have not voted, in one way or the other. Sen. Cherarkey, have you voted? (Sen. Cherarkey spoke off record) Hon. Senators, I now have results of the three divisions. Sen. (Dr.) Murango, do you have a case to answer on the system showing you as not having voted? Sen. George Mbugua, on behalf of Nyandarua and the delegation.

Sen. Murango, what I meant is, proceed to the secretariat and vote. (Voting in progress)

Sen. Cherarkey, I want to announce the results of the Division.

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

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

Order, the Senate Majority Leader and Sen. Cherarkey. You are not using the national language.

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

Sen. Cherarkey, this is the Senate of the Republic of Kenya, which has two official languages. Sen. (Dr.) Lelegwe Ltumbesi cannot understand what you are saying. Sen. Consolata Wakwabubi was trying to listen, but she cannot understand what you are saying.

Senators, we will reorganise the Order Paper. We will skip Orders No.13, 14 and 15, then we will go to Order No.16, which is also a Division in the Committee of the Whole.

Madam Temporary Chairperson, I beg to move that the Committee do report to the Senate its consideration of the National Assembly amendments to the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill

(Senate Bills No.8 of 2026)

and its approval thereof.

(Question proposed)

(Question put and agreed to)

Serjeant-at-Arms, open the doors and withdraw the bar. (The doors were opened and the bar undrawn) Let us now have the Chairperson to report.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole has considered the National Assembly amendments to the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bills No.8 of 2026) and its approval thereof.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report.

I request Sen. Wambua to second.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I second. (Question proposed) (Question put and agreed to)

Hon. Senators, having considered and approved the National Assembly amendments to the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bills No.8 of 2026), there will be no Third Reading. The Bill will be referred to His Excellency the President for assent.

Hon. Senators, we will now resume the normal flow of the Order Paper.

Majority leader, there are some papers to be laid.

On behalf of the Senate Majority Leader, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 6th October, 2026-

Next Order.

Asante, Bw. Naibu wa Spika. Ninaomba Kauli kuhusu kupungua kwa malipo ya ziada kwa wakulima wa majani chai nchini.

Ninasimama kwa mujibu wa Kanuni za Seneti 53(1) kuomba Kauli kutoka kwa Kamati ya Kilimo, Mifugo na Uvuvi kuhusu kupungua kwa malipo ya ziada kwa wakulima wa majani chai nchini, haswa katika Mwaka wa Fedha 2025/2026.

Malipo ya ziada ya wakulima wa majani chai katika Kaunti ya Kirinyaga walio chini ya viwanda vinavyosimamiwa na mamlaka ya maendeleo ya chai nchini, KTDA, yamepungua kwa kati ya asilimia kumi na moja na ishirini na tano kwa mwaka wa fedha uliopita. Hali hii ni sawia katika kaunti zingine, zikiwemo Nyeri, Embu, Bomet, Kericho na maeneo mengine yanayokuza majani chai. Upungufu huu umeibua wasiwasi kwa wakulima wa majani chai ambao wameekeza kwa kiasi kikubwa lakini wanapokea mapato madogo ikilinganishwa na matarajio yao.

Katika kauli hiyo, Kamati izingatie yafuatayo-

Sen. Samson Cherarkey.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise pursuant to Standing Orders No.53(1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Labour and Social

Sen. Beatrice Ogola to read out Sen. Lomenen’s Statement.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. On behalf of Sen. Lomenen, I rise pursuant to Standing Orders No.53(1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations on a matter of county-wide concern regarding the delayed completion of flagship infrastructural projects in Turkana County.

Madam Temporary Speaker, the first administration of the County Government of Turkana initiated several flagship projects across the county between 2013 and 2022. Some of these projects remain incomplete to date. They include the construction of the Turkana County Headquarters Complex, governor's residence, county assembly, speaker's residence, new county assembly offices and eco lodges at Kainuk, Lokitaung and Lokiriama. These projects have already consumed billions of shillings without any return on investment for the people of Turkana.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Hon. Senators, those are the only Statements we have. I want to give Members an opportunity to comment on these Statements. I do not know whether Sen. Boni Khalwale has placed a request.

Is Sen. Boni Khalwale here?

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. The Statement by the Senator for Kirinyaga County on the matter of tea pricing and taxation of tea should be taken very seriously. I come from a county that produces a lot of tea. I am aware that the labour involved in producing one kilogramme of tea is Kshs14. However, after harvesting, farmers deliver tea leaves to Mudete Tea Factory and are paid Kshs9 per kilogramme. How do you expect these farmers to break even?

When the Government talks about this challenge, instead of addressing the issues of taxation and pricing, it starts telling farmers about fertiliser. The problem facing tea farmers is not the cost of fertiliser. The problem facing tea farmers is high taxation and

Your time is up. Hon. Senators, I will reorganise the Order Paper, so that we can vote on Order No.9.

Clerk, can you call out Order No.9? (Interruption of Statements)

Asante, Bi. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi nichangie Statement ya Seneta wa Kaunti ya Kirinyaga, Sen. (Dr.) Murango kuhusu ukulima wa majani chai. Maeneo ya Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga na Murang’a yana kukuza majani chai. Ndio mkulima afaulu kupata kilo moja ya majani chai, huwa anateseka sana. Kuna changamoto nyingi, ikiwemo ya fertiliser na pia kuamka saa kumi kuchuna majani chai. Wakati mwingi huwa kuna mvua na kuvuna kilo moja sio mchezo. Saa zingine inabidi akimbie mahali ataenda kuuza na pia akichelewa, inaharibika.

Bi. Spika wa Muda, pia barabara katika kaunti kama vile Nandi na zinginezo katika Rift Valley, zina shida. Hii shida haiko katika Kaunti ya Embu pekee. Kwa hivyo, mkulima wa majani chai anateseka sana. Hii ni kwa sababu akichelewa kidogo, majani yanachomeka. Kwa hivyo, Serikali ya William Ruto inafaaa iangalie mkulima wa majani chai kwa njia inayofaa. Wakati Serikali ilichukua usukani ilisema kuwe na value addition kwa majani chai ili iwe na bei inayofaa.

Baada ya maneno yote, mwaka jana walipata mapato mazuri na faida, lakini kwa sasa kaunti nyingi zinakuza mazao haya zinalia. Imekuwa ni shida kupeleka watoto shule na wagonjwa hospitalini. Kila kitu kimekuwa shida kwa wakulima wa majani chai.

Ningeomba Kamati itakayoenda kufanya upelelezi iangalie ni nini ilifanyika ndio mambo yakawa namna hii. Kwa mfano, bei ya stima iko juu. Kwa hivyo, Kamati ifanye public participation ya mambo ya bei na mambo ambayo yatafaidisha mkulima.

Kaunti ya Embu---

Time is up, Sen. Mundigi. Proceed, Sen. Osotsi.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I would like to comment on two Statements. First, I will start with the Statement on the low prices of tea by the Senator for Kirinyaga, whom I acknowledge that he is very effective when it comes to matters of agriculture.

In my county, we have a tea factory called Mudete Tea Factory that has about 12,000 tea farmers in Kakamega and Vihiga. Every year, we see a huge drop in bonuses for this tea factory compared to the eastern part of Kenya. Regions of Mt. Kenya get a

Time is up, Senator. Give him half a minute.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to encourage farmers in Vihiga to continue growing tea. I know some of the challenges they go through can be resolved by the county government, for example, extension farming where farmers are not using the right amount and quantity of fertiliser.

I promise the people of Vihiga that next year, when I become the governor, I will resolve that problem of tea and farmers are going to get the right bonuses they deserve.

I am sure the HANSARD will hold you accountable to that promise.

Asante, Bi. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa fursa hii ili niweze kuchangia kauli ambayo imetolewa na Seneta wa Kirinyaga, Sen. (Dr.) Murango, kuhusu kuzorota kwa bei ya majani chai nchini Kenya.

Kama unavyofahamu kwetu Murang’a ambapo unakotoka, tuna wakuzaji wa majani chai haswa pande za juu. Jambo hili limesababishwa pakubwa na riba ambayo Serikali imeanza kutoza juzi ya asilimia 0.80. Imefanya wanunuzi wa majani chai yetu waangalie kwingineko kwa sababu ya bei za majani chai. Hivyo basi, soko limezorota na malipo ya ziada, maarufu bonus, yamepungua.

Seneta wa Kirinyaga ameuliza swali muhimu sana kwamba je, Serikali inaweka mikakati gani kuona kwamba wakulima wameboresha kilimo chao ili majani chai yetu yawe ya hali ya juu na ya bei ya juu?

Hili ni swali muhimu kwa sababu pamekuwa na tetesi. Sen. Osotsi ametaja na kusema majani chai ya mlimani yana bei ya juu kuliko ya Magharibi. Hili ni jambo ambalo linafaa lizingatiwe sana haswa ikikumbukwa kwamba chochote kizuri kitokacho katika Mlima Kenya kinasingiziwa siasa. Ni lazima watu waboreshe majani chai yao ili wasije kulalamikia wengine.

Ni muhimu ikumbukwe kwamba bei ya majani chai yetu imezorota kwa sababu tumepoteza soko kubwa nchi ya Sudan. Hii ni kwa sababu Serikali ya Sudan imesusia

Time is up, Sen. Joe Nyutu. The Senate Majority Leader (Sen. Cheruiyot) Madam Temporary Speaker, thank you for this chance. I am the father of tea reforms in this country. I mobilised and moved this House into guiding the most deeply entrenched reforms of that sector in the last 60 years through the Tea Bill of 2020. We have since then tried to pass amendments to it. This House did its bit, but that Bill has been stuck in the National Assembly for the last two years.

When this matter came up, I texted the Clerk of the National Assembly and reminded him that the Senate is still awaiting this matter. This is because it will answer some of the questions that Sen. (Dr.) Murango is asking. Part of what I agree with him is that just as we have extended good support to sugarcane and coffee farmers, it will be important to ensure that tea farmers also benefit through some form of reprieve.

I would have wished to inform Sen. (Dr.) Boni Khalwale, who has since left the House, that fertiliser is just as important as any other support. This is because in the absence of fertiliser subsidy, most tea farmers actually will be priced out of a critical component of making sure that they have a good yield.

The discussion of Sen. (Dr.) Murang’o's Statement is focused on returns. This is extremely important because tea farmers also need some support and reprieve, like has been extended to other players in the agricultural subsector. Therefore, I look forward to the response from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, so that we can know what support our tea farmers can receive.

Lastly, is the Statement by Sen. Cherarkey on Harambee Stars. The thing I love the most in this world more than politics is football. I express serious concerns to Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, who is my friend, but he must do better with regards to preparation of the national team.

That show two weeks ago when Harambee Stars drew with Eritrea and you all know its condition as a State, what they are and their kind of preparation, was not a good sign as we head into the Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON), 2027. It will be a big blunder if we host - having built Raila Odinga International Stadium - then we lose all the matches that we play there. We must beat some people. I know we are not at the level where we will emerge victorious, but at least, somebody must feel that they were beaten by Kenya. However, at the rate at which we are going, I suspect that it might not be a very good show.

Cabinet Secretary Mvurya, you have your work cut out in terms of AFCON preparations.

I thank you.

Thank you, Sen. Majority Leader, Aaron Chariot.

Sen. Mwinyi Haji Mohamed Faki.

Asante, Bi. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa fursa hii pia nichangie ombi la kauli lililoletwa bungeni na Seneta Cherarkey.

What is your point of order?

Bi. Spika wa Muda, nauliza kama mwenzangu, Sen. Mwinyi Haji Faki, ako sawa anapozungumzia uongozi wa watu wengine katika masuala ya soka ilhali katika kaunti mzima ya Mombasa, macho, mwili na roho iko katika kiwanja cha Ulinzi Stadium. Yeye mwenyewe anafaa kuwa huko akiwaongoza wakati timu ya Mombasa United inang’ang’ana kuibandua Kariobangi Sharks katika mchuano wa kuamua ni nani atapanda katika Ligi.

Je, Seneta Mwinyi Haji anatoa mfano mwema anapowalaumu wengine ilhali yeye mwenyewe hawaelekezi vizuri? Anafanya nini hapa akizungumza badala ya kuwa Ulinzi Stadium akiwaongoza mashabiki wa Mombasa?

Leo asubuhi huko Lang’ata, tulikuwa tunacheza mpira na Sen. Faki na wananchi wa Mombasa walifika pale saa kumi na mbili asubuhi. Je, ni vyema anavyofanya huyu Sen. Mwinyi Haji?

Sen. Mwinyi Haji, unaombwa ujibu hiyo hoja ya nidhamu.

Bi. Spika wa Muda, hiyo sio hoja ya nidhamu kwa sababu hajaegemeza hoja hiyo kwa kanuni yeyote yetu ya Senate. Lakini kwa kumjibu, nilikuwa tayari kuondoka kwenda stadium lakini yeye akaleta mambo ya Division kabla ya jambo lolote hii saa nane. Nitaenda vipi stadium kuangalia mpira wakati kuna suala la muhimu la Division katika Bunge hili? Kwako wewe, mpira ni wa maana, lakini bado nafuatilia. Kariobangi Sharks wana bao mbili na Mombasa United wana bao moja na inshalah, tutashinda mechi hii.

Senate Majority Leader, I believe the response is in order. There was conflict of schedule and the Senate schedule took priority over football though he is a lover of football.

Proceed Sen. Faki.

Asubuhi niliwapokea baadhi ya mashabiki katika Ulinzi Stadium. Kwa hivyo, nimefanya jukumu langu linalonihusu.

Nikizungumzia mpira ni kwamba; masuala ya mpira hapa kwetu yameanza kitambo sana wakati Waziri wa Mpira alikuwa Mwendazake Nyenze. Alipokuja Mheshimiwa Balala kama Waziri wa Michezo, masuala ya soka yalikuwa na shida hivyo hivyo. Alipokuja Waziri Wario ambaye baadaye alifutwa na kufungwa kwa ajili ya

Sen. Faki, your time is up. (Sen. Faki spoke off record) Give him one more minute.

Bi. Spika wa Muda, hili suala lazima lichunguzwe kwa undani kwa sababu mpira ni taaluma ambayo inaweza kuwaondoa vijana wetu wengi kutoka kwa janga la umaskini na ukosefu wa kazi. Hata tukiangalia zile stadium zinajengwa, bado hazijafikia kiwango ambacho kinapaswa ili vijana wacheze mpira. Kwa hivyo, hili suala likiletwa, tunataka Waziri aje hapa katika Bunge kujieleza na atupe mikakati ambayo anafanya kuhakikisha mchezo wa mpira hapa Kenya unaendelea.

Asante, Bi. Spika wa Muda.

Thank you, Senator. Sen. Cherarkey Samson, proceed.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. This issue of poor pricing and bonuses of tea is becoming a very serious issue in central Kenya, the expansive Rift Valley, especially Nandi and across western in Vihiga, Kisii, Nyamira and Bungoma counties. We have done very well in the sugar and coffee sectors; I thank the President that at least as farmers, we are grateful that the fertiliser subsidy programme has gone a long way in ensuring that we get a high yield.

I heard a colleague talking about fertiliser, not being aware that the President has subsidised it from Kshs2,500 to Kshs2,000 per bag, which is a beneficiary to all farmers. While we appreciate that, the pricing and bonuses of tea is still very unfortunate.

On Monday 5th, farmers at Kaptumo Tea Farmers Association convened and suspended plucking and delivery of tea to the factory because of poor bonuses this year. The bonus is Kshs12.50. It is the worst because even the plucking price alone is Kshs14.00. So, there is a big problem.

I also want to address the issue of separation of factories and their running expenses. We must be given this information by the factories. I do not understand why it is difficult for the factories, whichever shed it is, be it the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) or smallholder farmers' factories, to give full disclosure. Under Articles 34 and 35, the right to information is a basic right for every Kenyan.

Before they declare bonuses, why do they not tell tea farmers what the electricity expenses are? They need to quantify the cost of firewood for us. They need to give us the running expenses, legal expenses and audit expenses that they hide from audit farms.

By the time they give farmers the bonuses, they should tell us how much tea was sold and how much was spent, and then declare the bonuses. That is what we need as tea farmers.

Time is up, Sen. Cherarkey. Proceed, Sen. Kathuri Murungi, the Deputy Speaker.

Bi Spika wa Muda, asante kwa nafasi hii. Nachukua fursa hii pia kuongea na wakulima wa majani chai na Wakenya kwa jumla. Unajua wiki jana ndio bonus ya mwisho wa mwaka ilitolewa. Na kusema ukweli pale Meru tuko na viwanda saba za majani chai, na ukiangalia zile bei zimetoka pale, utakuta mwaka huu kiwango cha pesa ya bonus kimeshuka. Wengine kwa Shilingi 13 na wengine kwa Shilingi 11 kwa kilo.

Wale wakurugenzi wa majani chai wameeleza ni kwa nini, lakini bado maelezo yao hayamfikii mkulima vizuri. Kama alivyosema Seneta Cherarkey, itakuwa bora zaidi kila mwaka kabla ya kutangaza bonus, kwenda kusomesha wakulima katika kiwanda chao, kwa sababu vile viwanda ama makampuni ya wakulima yanavyoeleza; tulitumia pesa hii, tulitumia hii, tukafanya hili na tukafanya mengine. Kama sasa vile hiyo bei imetolewa, kuna shida kwa sababu kila kiwanda kiko na tetesi. Wale wakurugenzi wamelalamika sana kuhusu 0.8 per cent iliyowekwa kwa tea levy.

Lakini nataka niwaeleze kwamba tunapambana kweli kweli na Waziri wa Kilimo, Ufugaji na Uvuvi aweze kuiondoa hiyo tea levy. Na ilifanyika mwezi wa Mei na Juni peke yake, ilhali bonus huwa inafika hadi mwezi wa sita. Kwa hivyo, nimewaandikia Tea Board of Kenya, watueleze ni kiwango gani cha pesa wametoza wale watu wa KTDA, zile factories, wamelipa kiwango cha 0.8 per cent. Naomba wakurugenzi pia wawajibike na waeleze wakulima ni kwa nini kiwanda kama Imenti, kwa mfano, kimeshuka na Shilingi nane. Kionyo wameshuka na Shilingi 13. Kiwanda kama Kinoro, kimeshuka na Shilingi 11. Kwa nini kuna hiyo tofauti kubwa ya mwaka jana na mwaka huu?

Kwa hivyo, ninaomba pia iweze kufanyika katika kila kiwanda watueleze ni kwa nini hii shida imetokea.

Jambo la mwisho pia ninaomba Serikali kama tuna subsidy ya fertilizer ya mahindi na ya kulima chakula kingine, pia wakulima wa majani chai wapewe mbolea kwa Shilingi 2,000 kama wakulima wengine.

Give him half a minute to finish that sentence. Please give him the microphone.

Nilikuwa naomba hili Bunge la Seneti, Bunge hili liko na nguvu ya kuongea na Serikali itoe na ipitishe kauli kwamba wakulima wa majani chai na wa kahawa pia wapewe subsidised fertilizer ya Shilingi 2,000 kwa mfuko. Na serikali inavyoleta hii fertiliser kwa Cereals Board, iletwe hadi hapo---

Sen. Kathuri Murungi, do you wish to be informed by the Majority Leader?

Yes, because we are in this together with him. Kericho and Meru counties are struggling on this tea issue. Ikifika Shilingi 2,000, wakulima watashukuru.

Proceed, Majority Leader, Sen. Aaron Cheruiyot.

Ningependa kumfahamisha mwenzangu Seneta wa Meru kwamba, katika ile programme ya Serikali ya mbolea kwa bei nafuu, sasa imeshusha bei kutoka Shilingi 2,500 hadi Shilingi 2,000. Wakulima wa majani chai wamo ndani ya mpango huu.

Ile jambo ningependa kukubaliana na kumjulisha ni kwamba lazima tusukume Serikali iweze kulipa pesa hizo kwa KTDA, kwa sababu KTDA ndio hununua mbolea na wanaambiwa Serikali itagharamia ile tofauti kutoka Shilingi 7,000 hadi Shilingi 2,000. Lakini hizo Shilingi 5,000 wanazingojea sana. Nilipoangalia juzi, nafikiri KTDA iko na deni ya Serikali ya takriban Shilingi bilioni saba kwa hii programme. Kwa hivyo, kile ambacho ningependa kujulisha ni kwamba tufuatilie ili Serikali igharamie ahadi ya mwaka uliopita na mwaka huu, kuhakikisha KTDA imepewa pesa za kutosha ku-support programme hii ya mbolea.

Asante, Majority Leader. Leo ni kama uko na ufunuo mpya wa kuongea Kiswahili sanifu katika hili Bunge la Seneti. Muendele hivyo hivyo ili Seneta Mohamed Faki na Seneta Madzayo na wale wakaazi wa Mombasa na Kilifi waelewe zaidi ile kazi unafanya hapa Seneti. Wacha niwachie hapo.

Sen. Kathuri Murungi, continue.

Asante sana, Bi Spika. Kwa hivyo, hiyo mambo ya fertiliser kama alivyosema, ile deni ya mwaka jana ilipwe na pia wapewe pesa zingine za kupata mbolea kwa bei nafuu mwaka huu.

Mheshimiwa Majority Leader, 50 per cent ya hiyo 0.8 ni ya kufanya price stabilisation ya chai. Kwa vile sasa majani iko kwa bei ya chini, hiyo 0.8 yote irudishwe tena wakulima waweze kupata, kwa sababu wameenda hasara tayari.

Naomba kama wangerudishiwa ile pesa waliyopata mwaka jana. Kila kiwanda kirudi kwa hiyo. Lakini wakurugenzi wakuu waweze kuwajibika na kueleza kwa kinaga ubaga ni kwa nini bei imeshuka mwaka huu na mwaka jana ilikuwa imeenda juu. Let them give all the figures zikiwa clear ili wakulima waweze kuelewa.

Asante sana.

Thank you, Sen. Kathuri Murungi. Sen. Crystal Asige, I apologise. I did not notice the buttons that you pressed. So, I will give you a chance to speak before we proceed.

Madam Temporary Speaker, thank you very much. I appreciate that.

I rise to comment on the Statement sought about the payment, welfare, and logistical support of our footballers, especially ahead of AFCON 2027.

It is very disappointing and should be of deep concern to this House that, well, Kenya seems to time and again put the design and the development of infrastructure, and in this case of stadia, ahead of the welfare and support of the players who are supposed to

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I want to support the Statement brought by the Senator for Nandi County on our national football team, Harambee Stars.

When these players get to the pitch, they go there as our national pride. They do not play for themselves. They play on behalf of all Kenyans and they carry our flag. We should, therefore, not have issues with their welfare. We have seen Government agencies such as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Ministry trading blames as if they do not know who is in charge of the welfare and travel arrangement of the players.

Kenyan football is a big moment for Kenya. We love the game. We have supporters and talent. You must have seen how Kenyans fill the stadium, restaurants and any entertainment joint when our national team is playing. The country comes alive when Harambee Stars and any other national team is playing.

We should also talk about the issue of the technical bench. If we decide to hire a foreigner as a coach or any staff, then it is the responsibility of FKF and the Ministry to ensure that the papers of those people are up to date. We should not have a situation where our coaches do not have the right documents to work in the country. This is uncalled for.

We need to take sports seriously. We do not do well hence we do not win the matches as we should yet we have a lot of talent in the country. The problem that we have is administrative. I do not know why we have never identified the right people to handle our football. Right now, our country should have representation in the World Cup because we have supporters, young players who are enthusiastic and Kenyans who love their team.

As the Committee looks into this, they should not just focus on the issue of September, where they raised the September Cup. They almost boycotted the matches during this tournament because of allowances. Instead, we should look into a system where their travel is taken care of, their accommodation is decent and their allowances are good, so that they are left to think of the next match and not previous allowances.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to comment on the Statement by the Senator for Turkana County, Sen. Lomenen, on the delayed construction of the governor's residence, the county assembly speaker's residence and the new county assembly offices in Turkana.

The Statement speaks to the stalling of these projects since their initiation by the first governor of Turkana County between 2013 to 2022 and that since then, these buildings have stalled during the tenure of Governor Lomorukai, who is the third Governor of Turkana County.

It is important that in the estimates of every county for a financial year, any construction, development or infrastructure improvement that is ongoing is given an allocation, so that construction does not stall. I have in mind the county assembly buildings in Kisumu County, which have since been completed save for the paving of a road that connects the Assembly to the center of the city. The county headquarters in Kisumu still reside in the old municipal building and the county has not put-up decent headquarters where they function.

Give him half a minute to finish the sentence.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. The transition does not mean that a governor who comes to office commences new projects and ignores the old ones. We end up having incomplete buildings in every county which is not good for proper use of finances and is unfair to the taxpayer.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Statements. I want to start with the Statement by Sen. Murango on the bonuses that our tea farmers have earned in the Financial Year 2025/2026.

Looking at the justification and the figures that our farmers got, KTDA has given an explanation of the cost of production, petroleum as well as the cost of electricity that they consume in their respective factories. They have also included a management fee among the expenses that have rendered the amount that the farmers have got this financial year.

One of the other issues which I have not seen from that report which has contributed to the cost of bonuses coming to the figures they did is, of course, the management fee that goes into directors' meetings and similar engagements as directors of our factories. I speak on behalf of so many farmers in the South of the Rift. I am aware that though we are saying we are yet to get what the farmers are supposed to get out of the tea they grow, this financial year is not worse than last year. We are, however, still saying our farmers must get more than what they are getting as bonuses.

We appreciate the national Government in the support programmes they have put across in the agriculture sector, including the cost of fertiliser. Even as we do that, there is one major thing that we, as a Government, have done. We have bailed out the sugar, coffee and cotton sectors. We want to urge the Government to also equally bail out our tea farmers.

We have a number of factories servicing some loans which eat into what should have been a payment in form of bonuses to the farmers. We have appealed to the national Government that they should consider an audit of the loans in the respective factories. Where the loans have fairly been managed and appropriately so, the Government should intervene, the way they did in the the sugar and coffee sectors. This is the only other way where our farmers in the tea sector will also feel the support of the Government.

Secondly, we have had the conversation around a number of factories in separation. One of the major factors that have enhanced the bonus in our---

Add him one minute.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. One of the factors that has enhanced the bonus to our factories is separation of these factories. A case in point in the South Rift are factories such as Motigo and the other factories which separated have now paid their farmers more than the other conglomerate of factories is having.

I urge those factories that are still having an umbrella mother factory to appreciate the importance of this separation of factories. This is because at the end of the day, the farmers will be able to manage their factories at a minimum cost of production. If that factory is properly managed, the farmers will get their entitlement and not taking the burden and responsibility of another sister factory that has been mismanaged by the directors.

That way we will be pushing the benefits to the farmer to the level that they will be encouraged to continue the tea farming that we know as one of the major agricultural products in this country that gives us the greatest foreign earning.

I therefore wish to have also my concern within the KTDA management that the entitlement must reach farmers and reduce the cost that they use as management fees in cutting the cost of production, so that farmers directly benefit.

Thank you Madam Temporary Speaker. I support the Statement by Sen.Murango on the tea bonuses. While I support the questions raised, I equally would wish that the farmers do not uproot their tea or burn tea collection centers. Instead, the focus should be on taking the management to task to show you the numbers. We are calling for more accountability, so that in case there are issues of mismanagement, we are able to know what actually happened, so that we are not burning and cutting down the tea which is also a means of income to several farmers.

I also wish to comment on the Statement by Sen. Cherarkey on Harambee Stars. Harambee Stars is our national team and their welfare needs to be taken care of.

We have been talking about this for a while now. We should look at other African countries whose national teams are doing very well. I know their criteria and way of managing their sport is different. Maybe we can borrow from some, but the major thing here is accountability. That way we are able to instill confidence in the players, so that they are sure that if one participates, they are likely going to be paid. They are not going to live in harsh conditions, so that they will proudly fly our flag as they represent us in the football game.

Honourable Senators I want to agree that Kenya should present better in matters of football, just like has been submitted by many Senators.

We hope the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Hon. Mvurya, will reflect on the deep concerns that have been given by the Senators. That he shall appear before the relevant committee and keep Kenyans updated of the progress of matters surrounding AFCON as Kenya waits to meet the whole continent here in Nairobi.

Honourable Senators, we are going to proceed as follows with regards to the rest of the business on the Order Paper - Order No.8 is deferred as the mover is absent.

Similarly, Order Nos. 13, 14, 15 and 17 are deferred due to lack of adequate delegations to undertake divisions. I will also defer Order No.18. We do not have a Chair to take over the Committee of the Whole so, it cannot proceed. I will also defer order number 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 because the movers of the business are either away or not ready to prosecute them right now.

Hon. Senators, there being no other business on the Order Paper, the Senate stands adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, 7th of October, 2026 at 9.30 a.m.

Thank you. The Senate rose at 5.11 p.m.