Tuesday, 25th November, 2025

Clerk, do we have quorum?

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

Clerk, we now have quorum. Kindly call the first Order.

Sen. Murgor, kindly take your seat.

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery this afternoon, of a visiting delegation from the University of Nairobi (UoN) Rover Scouts who are in the Senate for a courtesy call to

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, MP, the President of the World Scouts Parliamentary Union (WSPU), Kenyan chapter.

The WSPU is an international organisation which unites scouts oriented parliamentarians from all over the world and brings them into closer contact with the World Scouts Movement (WSM). Its objective is to strengthen both the national scout’s organisation and world scouting through the influence of parliamentarians who believe in scouting as an effective non-formal education method and movement.

The University of Nairobi Rover Scouts participated in the recently concluded 11th WSPU Youth Assembly held at Kamwenja Teachers College, Nyeri County from 6th to 9th November, 2025. They exhibited several community-led initiatives among them a legal project dubbed “Scouts and Law,” which offers legal aid to the juveniles facing criminal charges in our judicial system, among other initiatives.

Hon. Senators, on behalf of the Senate and my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful visit.

industrious and committed officer, exhibiting exceptional dedication and a remarkable work ethic.

His consistent work, resourcefulness and unwavering commitment to excellence earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues. His positive attitude and pleasant nature made him an invaluable member of every team he worked with.

Dr. Buchere leaves behind a lasting legacy. His influence and example will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of working with him. Also, his memory will live on in the hearts and minds of those who served so faithfully.

Hon. Senators, a condolence book has been opened in the Office of the Clerk on the First Floor of the Main Parliament Buildings for Members and staff who wish to convey their condolences to the family and friends.

Hon. Senators, on behalf of all Senators and the entire staff of Parliament, and my own behalf, I wish to take this opportunity to condole with the family of Dr. Buchere, parliamentary staff and all friends in this most difficult moment. The Parliament of Kenya has lost a diligent and committed staffer.

Hon. Senators, in honour of our departed staffer, I request that we all stand and observe a minute of silence.

(Hon. Members stood in their places and observed a moment of silence) You may be seated, hon. Senators. May the soul of the late Dr. Philip Brightone Buchere rest in eternal peace.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I join you, on behalf of my colleagues, to welcome this delegation from the World Scouts Association. I did not know that there is a title of President, which is befitting to my sister, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, the President of World Scouts Parliamentary Association. This delegation is visiting with her.

Sen. Tabitha Mutinda continues to distinguish herself in many fields. She may soon acquire other names, beyond the President, because there are one too many already. I know many other things that she does. I welcome this delegation that is visiting us. May they enjoy their time with us and get to learn a thing or two.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I know that you are also a ranking member in the Scouts Association in this country. I congratulate you on keeping that honour. I tried to be a scout when I was in primary school, but I was told that I bounced instead of walking. Therefore, I was unable to qualify. I admire people like you who continue to dedicate

themselves. I think my mother conspired with the teacher because she could not afford the uniform. So, they knocked me out.

On a more serious note, I join you, along with the rest of my colleagues, to extend our condolences on the passing of Dr. Buchere, a fine gentleman. I served with him in the Board of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST) for five good years.

In most afternoons, we would engage in very deep conversations about that institution and its value to Parliament, and particularly to us, as a Senate. There are many times that we would disagree, but never disagreeably. He would present his solid points calmly, yet with a great deal of passion on training and improving capacity building for Members of Parliament.

That was his area of expertise. Little wonder then, that he subsequently came to serve, actually, as the head of training in the Senate, because I know he loved equipping Senators and ensuring that they were well-prepared for service to the country and the continent. Therefore, it is really unfortunate that we have lost him.

I extend my condolences to his immediate family, his friends and the parliamentary staff. Our prayers and condolences to them. May he find rest in this time.

Thank you.

Proceed, Sen. (Prof.) Kamar.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to condole with the family of Dr. Buchere.

May I take this first opportunity to pass my most sincere condolences to the family that has been left behind by such a wonderful man, in the name of Dr. Buchere. I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Dr. Buchere for about four years. From 2013 to 2017, I was a consultant with CPST and the Council of Governors (CoG) . I had the opportunity when we were developing course materials to train our Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) , to translate them from councillors to hon. MCAs.

Dr. Buchere was such a diligent worker, a very pleasant person to work with and a committed person of the CPST. It is so sad that we have lost him at a time when we would continue to contribute a lot to this Parliament. I can attest that this was not just an intelligent person, but someone who was extremely respectful in working with Parliament. This is someone who ensured that things were done in the CPST.

I wish to pass to the family that my prayers are with them, that they may find some comfort from Heaven because it is very difficult to lose somebody at that age. May the Lord rest his soul in eternal peace.

Thank you.

Proceed, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for this opportunity. Allow me for one second to also pass my few remarks to the scouts in this Chamber. As the President of the World Scouts Parliamentary Union, I would like to emphasise that the scouts movement is one that teaches and promotes disciplined principles. It prepares the young people to be more responsible out here and emphasises matters of honesty, accountability and transparency.

The team you see here is from the University of Nairobi, studying Law and they call themselves Law and Scouts. I encourage other young people to join the movement.

With those few remarks, I would also like to extend my sincere condolences to the family of the late Dr. Philip Buchere. We have lost a competent staff.

I was just able to engage with him for the few years that I have been in this Chamber. He was someone who was also very hardworking, to ensure that he offered services that achieved the desired outcome for each Member. He was efficient.

To the family, poleni sana. May his soul rest in peace. Thank you.

Proceed, Sen. Enock Wambua.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Two things. I also join you and my colleagues in welcoming the visiting scouts to the House. I have heard Sen. Cheruiyot make reference to the performance of Sen. Tabitha Mutinda and make reference to her as president of the scouting movement, and saying that on that score, she seems to be going places.

I cannot agree more with Sen. Cheruiyot, but I just wanted to report, for the benefit of the House, that we have two presidents in this House. We have the President of the World Scouting Movement in Parliament, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda and the President of the Women's League of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) , Sen. Beth Syengo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I also want to join you and the rest of the colleagues of this House in paying tribute to the family of the late Dr. Buchere. He was not just an employee of the Parliamentary Service Commission, but he distinguished himself. Having read his credentials, we have lost a great man.

We have lost someone who has distinguished himself, along with the entire staff that serve the House, as a great mind, a learned person and very professional in what he did.

As we mourn him, I want to encourage the colleagues who have been left behind in this secretariat to continue serving in their various positions with the professionalism and dedication that Dr. Buchere has left behind. I wish the family sufficient grace to run through this very hard season. On my own behalf and that of the people of Bomet, we wish that the soul of Dr. Buchere rests in eternal peace.

I thank you.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to just congratulate the young people who are in this House today because I was once a boy scout.

I started as a cub. I wish we could adopt the scouting model and begin to inculcate the values of treating each other fairly and being our brother's keeper, which is essentially what the scouting movement stands for.

Finally, it is true that when one of us passes away in this House, we feel the pain because these are people who have become like family members. I would also wish to pass my condolences to the family. I hope that this House will give our colleague a befitting farewell.

I thank you.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for granting me this opportunity to thank Sen. Tabitha and the visiting troop of scouts who are here with us today. I want to encourage them because through their patrols, they are able to carry out community service, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR ( projects, charity work, as well as honing their leadership skills.

I also want to join colleagues here in mourning Dr. Buchere. I encountered him during my induction course in Kiambu and noticed that he was such a brilliant and meticulous gentleman.

On behalf of the people of Bungoma County, I wish his kith and kin fortitude in this moment of solitude. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I also want to join my colleagues in passing my message of condolence on the passing of Dr. Philip Buchere, who was a very dedicated officer within the Parliamentary Service Commission and in the CPST.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this has been a very difficult month for Parliament. We lost a senior accountant from Kisii County. We lost another lady staff and now Dr. Buchere. On my behalf and that of the family, we pray that the Almighty God may comfort the family and the many members of staff who have lost a colleague.

We hope that the family will find comfort in the fact that Dr. Buchere has left a big mark in Parliament as one of the officers who played a key role in shaping the CPST into what it is today and in providing extensive training to Members of Parliament and our staff. May the Almighty God rest the soul of Dr. Philip Buchere in eternal peace.

I thank you.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity. Allow me to start by congratulating my young sister, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, for distinguishing herself as the President of the Scouts Movement. I also extend this

welcome to the young men and women who are in our presence today as members of the Scouts Movement.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me to also pass my personal condolences to the family of Dr. Philip Buchere. He was a fine man who served with dedication and commitment in his work. When we lose a member, we all feel bereaved. I pass my condolences to his family, friends and the entire PSC and its secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. First of all, with your permission let me take this opportunity to congratulate my sister, Sen. Tabitha Mutinda, together with the young people that I am seeing from the Scouts Movement. This is one of the movements that I take pride in from my school days. This movement helps you build proper sense of outdoor activities, community service and essential skills that you can use in the future.

The foundation of that is to collectively build a proper value system that helps sustain you once you become an adult and a fully integrated member of society.

As young people, I want to tell you that we are seeing over and over a place where a country and even in the world, the older you become, the more you lose those fundamentals that you actually built when you were young. People lose interest in building external activities. People lose interest in building proper skills and having values. Even among leaders that you see in our country today, you see people losing a lot of values and seeking for quick gain and short-term ambitions over long-term gains.

I encourage you, as young people, to never lose the values that you are building now, despite the pressures that you will have in the future, to have quick gratification and success. The values you have built now will build you and your families in the future.

I also take this opportunity to say sorry and pass my deepest condolences to the family of the late Dr. Philip Buchere. Certainly, we share in this pain and the loss, as a Senate and as people of Migori County, because our effectiveness and soundness in serving our counties cannot be spoken about without looking back into the contribution that Dr. Philip Buchere was making to us. He has made this wonderful contribution.

These are some of the unsung heroes that we have here. The staff that we have here at the secretariat are certainly the unsung heroes and the reason Parliament works. Therefore, I say sorry to the staff for this big loss. May the grace of God give solace to the family, to our staff and us, as a whole.

Lastly, just as my sister Beth Syengo has said, we have also had these crazy last 41 days. We have now lost the sister of my leader, Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, Madam Beryl Achieng. I take this opportunity to say sorry to the family. It has been a dark month. I hope that the grace of God will give them the strength to bear these struggles that we are facing. I say sorry to the Odinga family.

I thank you.

Thank you, Sen. Oketch Gicheru. Last but not least, Sen. Faki.

Asante, Bw. Naibu wa Spika, kwa kunipa fursa hii kuomboleza kifo cha mwenda zake Dkt. Buchere, ambaye alikuwa anafanya kazi katika Bunge la Seneti. Kwa hakika, huu ni msiba kwa Seneti pamoja na wafanyakazi wa Seneti kwa kumpoteza mfanyakazi ambaye ametajwa hapa kama mfanyakazi ambaye alikuwa anafanya kazi na moyo wake wote kwa nchi ya Kenya. Mchango wake katika Bunge hili kwa wale ambao aliwafundisha utabakia katika kumbukumbu zetu kwa muda mrefu utakaokuja.

Vile vile, nachukua fursa hii kumpa pole kiongozi wetu, Sen. Oburu, kwa kumpoteza dadake hivi leo mchana.

You have three minutes on this Order, Sen. Korir.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to also contribute to the Communication about Hon. Tabitha Mutinda. I must congratulate her for the efforts she has put in to make sure that she engages with the Kenyan scouts. I welcome them to this House. This is a special group that is shaping the future of our youth. These are great leaders whom I know will also be in this House in the near future.

I pray for them that as they continue serving this nation, the Lord may protect them. In the same breath, allow me to pass my sincere condolences to families of the three members of staff who we have lost in this institution. I know it has been a difficult time for our staff, but I want to say that as the Hon. Members and the Commission, I stand with their families, relatives, and even the entire institution, in passing my condolences and sympathies to their families. We are asking God to protect us during this time and give us the strength to overcome this grief. Otherwise, I do not want to belabour much.

Thank you.

Thank you. Next Order, Clerk. Sen. Edwin Sifuna, you have a petition to lay?

Yes, indeed, I do have a petition. Just before I do that, let me also join my colleagues who have passed their condolences to Dr. Buchere's family following his demise. This afternoon, we also received news that our colleague, the Senator for Siaya County and the entire Jaramogi Oginga family, is once again in mourning following the passing of their sister, Beryl. So, tunasema pole sana.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, this is a petition to the Senate of the Republic of Kenya concerning the eviction of the Single Mothers Association of Kenya from property Reference No.CPARCH/00219, excision of LR No.2096738.

“We, the undersigned, on behalf of the Single Mothers Association of Kenya, based in Starehe Constituency, being peace-loving and law-abiding citizens of the Republic of Kenya, and in exercise of our right under Article 119 of the Constitution, which grants every person the right to petition Parliament on any matter within its authority, do hereby humbly submit this petition to the Senate of the Republic of Kenya for consideration.

THAT whereas the Single Mothers Association of Kenya is a legally registered, charitable, community-based organisation established in 1991 and registered in 1992 under the Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services, based in Ziwani Ward, Starehe Constituency, Nairobi County, this petition is submitted to your office for consideration of the following grievances and requests.

THAT, since 1992, the Association has occupied a disused parking lot in Ziwani Estate under allocation from the Nairobi City Council, consistently paying ground rent and in 1997, making full payments for allotment, lease, Part Development Plan (PDP) and beacon service.

The Nairobi City County Government has, however, never issued the required documents. Instead, we have faced repeated harassment, including instructions to advertise for regularisation in 2007-2008, unauthorised subdivision of our plot in 2012, eviction letters and threats from 2015 and demolition of our facilities without notice in

Sorry, Sen. Sifuna. The document I have has no such prayers. Clerk, can you kindly approach the Chair?

I am holding the very petition that was approved by the Speaker. I am almost done.

The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) : Kindly, give me one minute. Have your seat. Sen. Sifuna, kindly approach the Chair.

Okay, just proceed.

Kindly, give me one minute. Have your seat. Sen. Sifuna, kindly approach the Chair. (Sen. Sifuna consulted with the Deputy Speaker)

Okay, just proceed.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we will try and truncate it, so that we go straight to the prayers. There is a confirmation here that this issue is not pending anywhere in any court of law or constitutional or legal body in Kenya.

“WHEREAS, we, the undersigned, on behalf of the Single Mothers Association of Kenya, have heard that the Senate of the Republic of Kenya has the power and authority, as well as the moral obligation, to step in and save the single mothers from evictions.

Number two, the Nairobi City County and the national Government have shown their unwillingness to listen to the grievances of the members.

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the undersigned humble petitioners, pray that the Senate inquires into the matter with a view to-

The petition is well received by the Senate of the Republic of Kenya. Hon. Senator, pursuant to Standing Order No.223 (8) (1) , I commit the Petition to the Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources.

Committee Chairperson, I can see you are around. According to Standing Order No.238 (2) , the Committee is required, in not more than 60 calendar days from the time of reading of the prayer, to table its report in the Senate for consideration.

I want to deeply thank you, Chairperson, the brand new Chairperson of the Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources. You are doing so well. I know you will be able also to execute this other petition within the 60 days.

Proceed, Chairperson, Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources?

other work that is channeled to the Committee, we shall be able to deliver on this Petition at the shortest time possible.

Although we are proceeding for recess, we are will meet immediately, maybe once we cross over the holidays, we shall meet and look at the Petition.

We have so many land problems in this country. We appreciate that members of the public have a lot of confidence in the Senate. We do not want to let that goodwill which you have been able to earn over the years to die away.

We will do the best we can to conclude the petitions and statements. We know we have a very heavy task ahead of us, but we will measure up to the standard.

other work that is channeled to the Committee, we shall be able to deliver on this Petition at the shortest time possible.

Although we are proceeding for recess, we are will meet immediately, maybe once we cross over the holidays, we shall meet and look at the Petition.

We have so many land problems in this country. We appreciate that members of the public have a lot of confidence in the Senate. We do not want to let that goodwill which you have been able to earn over the years to die away.

We will do the best we can to conclude the petitions and statements. We know we have a very heavy task ahead of us, but we will measure up to the standard.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 25th November, 2025-

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the Senate today, Tuesday, 25th November, 2025-

Report of the Auditor-General on financial statements of Iftin Sub-County Level 4 Hospital - County Government of Garissa for the year ended 30th June, 2025.

Report of the Auditor-General on financial statements of Murang’a County Emergency Fund for the year ended 30th June, 2025.

Report of the Auditor-General on financial statements Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company Limited for the year ended 30th June, 2025.

Report of the Auditor-General on financial statements of Kenol Municipality - County Government of Murang’a for the year ended 30th June, 2025.

Report of the Auditor-General on financial statements of Kitui County Assembly Service Board Employees’ Car and Mortgage Fund Schemes for the year ended 30th June,

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion-

THAT, pursuant to Standing Order 27 (6) , the Senate-

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a statement from the Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resource on a matter of countywide concern regarding the need for urgent rehabilitation of the Kizingitini and Ndau Landing sites in Lamu County.

The Kizangitini and Ndau Landing sites in Lamu East serve as vital economic lifelines for fishing and marine trade, sustaining the livelihoods and food security of hundreds of families. These sites have suffered extensive degradation due to climate change-related impacts, including sea level rise, tide surges and coastal erosion, disrupting fishing activities, compromising safety and stalling local development.

Given their strategic importance and the availability of climate adaptation findings through the Finance Local Laid Climate Action, (FLOCA) Programme and the County Climate Resilience Investment Grant and the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Social Economic Development Campsite Projects, it is imperative that rehabilitation options be urgently explored.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Thank you. Is the Senator for Kisumu County not here? That Statement is dropped.

Mr. Deputy Speaker Sir, I rise, pursuant to Standing Order No.53 (1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources on a matter of national concern regarding the recent transfer of the management of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado.

The recent transfer of the management of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado, officiated by His Excellency the President on 8th November, 2025, raises profound constitutional, legal, environmental and administrative concerns.

National parks are constitutionally vested in the national Government and this action touches on governance of public land, the mandate of the Kenyan Wildlife Service, the independence of the National Land Commission and compliance with the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.

The Amboseli National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and critical transboundary ecosystem, generates significant national revenue and sustains globally important wildlife population. Its historical designation and prior court rulings underscore the sensitivity of altering its management status. Amboseli National Park is not merely a local asset, it is a heritage of national and international importance.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

Hon. Senators, as per Standing Order No.45 (2) , I want to reorganise the business that we have this afternoon; that we skip Order No.8. We will come back to Order No.8 after putting questions on Order Nos.9, 10, 11 and 12.

First of all, I want to ascertain whether we have a quorum to put the questions. Clerk, do we have quorum?

Yes, ring the Quorum Bell for five minutes.

Are we okay, Clerk?

Clerk, you can call the next Order, Order No.9.

FURTHER AWARE THAT the National taskforce on improvement of the terms and conditions of service and other reforms for members of the National Police Service and Kenya Prison Service recommended adequate Government funding for the National Police Service to modernize its facilities, equipment and gear, and enhance its logistical and technological capabilities for National Police Service officers in order to enable the Service discharge its mandate efficiently and effectively;

COGNIZANT THAT the Bill of Rights provides for protection of human rights, prevention of abuse and upholding of the rule of law within detention facilities and police stations;

CONCERNED THAT there has been increasing reports of human rights violations, abuse, unexplained injuries, and deaths in custody, as well as security breaches and escapes from police cells across the country;

FURTHER CONCERNED THAT despite the recommendations by the Justice Maraga task force, little or no efforts have been made to ensure modernization of police cells by installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and police reporting desks, thereby affecting public trust and accountability on what happens to persons in police custody;

NOW THEREFORE, the Senate resolves that the National Government, through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration -

Next Order, please.

Next Order, please.

Hon. Senators, under Order No.10, we are also putting the question, and I now put the question.

Next Order, Clerk.

Hon Senators, under this Order, we are also putting the question, and I now put the Question.

Hon Senators, under this Order, we are also putting the question, and I now put the Question.

Next Order, Clerk.

(Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Sen. Munyi Mundigi and Sen. Tabitha Mutinda exchanged greetings) Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Sen. Munyi Mundigi and Sen. Tabiha Mutinda, I do not know why you are exchanging greetings now after you have been here for more than one hour.

Hon. Senators, I now put the question.

(Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Sen. Munyi Mundigi and Sen. Tabitha Mutinda exchanged greetings) Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, Sen. Munyi Mundigi and Sen. Tabiha Mutinda, I do not know why you are exchanging greetings now after you have been here for more than one hour.

Hon. Senators, I now put the question.

Now, Senators, we revert back to Order No.8.

Let us hear from the Senate Majority Leader.

country. It does not matter who does them; whether those that we agree with or disagree with politically are pushing for such matters. So long as it is in the greater interest of that which we aim to achieve as a Republic, we must know that there is need to draw a fine line between those matters and our daily political competition. I expect that we shall do that as a people. Others have been able to do that and rise beyond the smallness of politics. If Sen. Eddy disagrees with me and I do not think that they need to make any forward steps, then it is my interest to try and make sure that they do not achieve, even if it was in the best interest of the very people that we all claim to serve. So, if others have been able to do it, like the President reminded us on that day, it can and should be done.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the first report about this was just a reminder because there are many times we are told that things have got worse, we have challenges all over until in all the context of political juxtaposition, it is easy to imagine that we are in a difficult situation than we were two or three years ago yet, all the indicators through scientifically proven results that are tabled in the report that is before us today, demonstrate or point to a path of progress that has been achieved the last few years. The President took time to remind us about a few things that have happened from that particular time.

From inflation, you remember fuel shortages that were part and parcel of our daily political culture in 2022 when he came into office, the Shilling that was on a freefall at a particular time was trading nearly at Kshs170 for more than a year. It is a global phenomenon that is about to be studied now, how a third world country like ours can stabilise and sustain the currency for close to two years now, at the place where it has been, despite all the challenges and the global economic challenges that exist therein.

It is within that particular context that this progress is recorded for people to appreciate and know that from a time where we are talking about an inflation of near double digits, 9.6 per cent in 2022 to 4.6 per cent, almost taking it to near zero. It has taken a lot of effort and putting a stop to unhelpful subsidies, some of which were just grand schemes of making money for the ordinary, a few rich friends.

I would give the example that at the time of coming to office, there was supposed to be some unga subsidy, where people would take money and give it to a few millers and say produce for us cheaply, instead of empowering the local farmer, for them to produce the raw material, which is maize, so that they can sell eventually to the millers and avoid importing, and benefit the ordinary citizens.

Of course, the successful redemption of the Eurobond as well is recorded alongside that progress in terms of fiscal consolidation and managing our economy better, including, the strides that have been made moving us from the eighth largest economy on the globe to now standing at the sixth. There are people who erroneously argue and say it is because so-and-so defaulted. Who tells you we could also not have defaulted? We could have equally defaulted. It is because there were right decisions that were made. That is why Kenya did not default on its debt obligations, despite the fact that at the coming into place of this administration, we were under serious debt distress.

In fact, Kenya is among the six countries that in 2022, all the leading global financial institutions had predicted that the six of those nations, it was a matter of just when and not if when they would default. They were right, because five out of six of those predictions came to pass. It is only Kenya that did not default. That did not happen

by magic. It happened because of prudent management of our public resources, ending these unhelpful subsidies, in fuel and food items, empowering the local farmer, ensuring that we stabilise the forex reserves and through reduction of imports. For example, any time a progressive intervention was made, you can remember the amount of noise that was in this town when the Government-to-Government (G-to-G) fuel programme was introduced. We were told we would see the benefits, because the leading demand for foreign exchange as a country for us was imports of oil into the country, because we are not an oil- producing country.

When that programme was signed and we were told that it is possible for us to reduce the appetite for forex so that it stabilises and makes our currency a bit stronger, there were people running around. There were merchants all over, from the streets to newspapers, to here in Parliament, saying how this is a scam and it would never work. Three years down the line, there are countries that come, purely sent by none other than their heads of states, to meet with the representatives of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, just to study how that programme is being implemented here, so that they can go and implement it.

So, sometimes we beat ourselves too hard. Of course, I understand it is because of politics and people have to make their bread, through some of the things that they say. However, you cannot argue with results. You cannot argue, for example, with the contribution that G-to-G has made in stabilising our currency.

This progress has not been without challenges. In concluding the topic of economic management, the President reminded us that leading global financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and JP Morgan, have projected that our economy will grow by nearly six per cent in the next year. I believe we can do better. In fact, successful implementation of the proposed interventions will move us closer to the dream that has been promised by almost every presidential candidate since 2002.

The proposed measures include, implementation of world-class infrastructure, affordable energy to power industries and irrigation to ensure food sufficiency and reduce dependence on imports, so that ordinary farmers can feed the country and even export to the rest of the world. The former Presidents have always promised a double-digit economic growth, but none has achieved it. If the plans outlined in this speech are realised, that dream will cease being a campaign item and finally become a reality.

The President also mentioned the resurgence of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), now recognised as one of the best emerging markets globally. You may recall that only a year or two ago, cynics, the ones the President referred as “high priests of pessimism” in his speech, claimed the Exchange was collapsing. Yet, because of the decisions taken, the market has improved. Today, it is respected in the region and competes effectively on the global stage.

One point the President may have forgotten to mention, which I would wish to remind him is, the Kenya Kwanza campaign promise to reform the securities exchange. These reforms would simplify trading and make it accessible to ordinary citizens, including boda boda riders and mama mboga.

Kenya is a global leader in financial inclusion and the use of digital platforms. On that basis, a campaign promise was made to the people of Meru during the economic

discussions: that they would be able to trade on the NSE from Nkubu using their phones. This remains a dream that must be realised. The President should ensure that when he next reports to this House, it is one of the achievements ticked off the list.

The other day I listened to Catholic bishops. Kenya is the only country where people make political statements and expect them to be accepted as scientific. The bishops spoke of a high cost of living yet, there is a scientific way of measuring cost using indices and indicators. Reducing it to political rhetoric as, “bei ya maisha imeenda juu”, is acceptable in opposition politics, but not for credible institutions.

So long as interest rates are falling and inflation is decreasing, the purchasing power of citizens improves. A thousand shillings now buys more than it did a year ago. Which cost then, are people referring to? It is important to distinguish between political pronouncements and the reality of life. The cost of basic commodities can be compared over time to establish whether claims are true or false.

Sometimes I hear ignorant statements such as, “Where will William Ruto get the votes from?” Some are angry about deductions like the Housing Levy, yet many others I meet daily, contribute through taxes and deductions, but their only concern is that the money deducted must be used prudently. They do not feel robbed if they see the resources benefiting citizens. For example, millions of Kenyans who could never afford healthcare can now access treatment in public or sometimes private hospitals because of these contributions. People may feel burdened by higher deductions, but they appreciate them when they see the benefits. Their only caution is that such money must never be misused.

Over and above those citizens, there are many others benefiting from these programmes. Farmers in Meru County, for example, could never afford fertiliser at Kshs 7,200 per bag. Now, with the price reduced to Kshs2,500, they can plant with fertiliser, achieve better yields, improve crop quality and earn more. There are 7.1 million farmers registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

When such farmers must choose between an administration that listens to their cries and supports them or one driven by rhetoric, insults, division, tribalism and regionalism, the choice will be obvious like day and night. I do not want to let out a many secrets. I would appreciate that the current clueless opposition continues in their rhetoric as they do. It is not my role to educate them on what they should tell the public.

The President also spoke about tea. I represent serious tea farmers from the west of the Rift, the largest tea-producing region. We know the noise that has been existing in that sector. The President gave the global figures of the earnings, which we do not dispute. While national earnings have improved, challenges remain. Recently, the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) factory payments caused complaints among farmers. Two issues stand out. First, KTDA has refused to adopt a scientific method of determining tea quality, which is critical in setting prices for buyers. Unless this is addressed, tea farmers will not be satisfied.

whether there can be better intervention to bring down the cost of feeds because it is one of the things that continues to challenge them. I am one of the dairy farmers though at a small-scale level. I hope that is an area that jointly we could worry about.

There are many, many things that I could record and there are many conversations that will arise out of this speech, including the bold vision that the President sold, especially the focus on the four key areas. It is my hope that when Members rise, they will give their thoughts and share that which they feel needs to be done to make Kenya a better Republic, so that things move and we achieve the progress that we have always yearned for.

With those very many remarks, I would have wished to say more, but like you have observed, I have a cold and I am struggling as I do this. I do not want to cough away the afternoon. There is still a lot to be said, which I believe my colleagues who are in the House will get an opportunity.

I beg to move and request the Senator for Migori, Sen. Eddy Oketch, to second.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I thank the Senate Majority Leader for the trust that he has in me to second this momentous Motion. This is because, as he has said, it is a constitutional requirement that the President give this kind of report on all the measures that he has taken and progress that is achieved in realising all our national values, as well as intentionally giving progress to the country on the fulfilment he has had in his international obligations. Most importantly, giving the state of security, which is not only in terms of hard security, but also in terms of economic security, as well as other forms of security, including food security.

So, this is an honour for which I wanted just to make a few comments. I will start my comments by appreciating the fact that I found this year's address more comprehensive particularly in certain ways. To start with, we find ourselves this year in a broad-based arrangement, which was brought by a number of indices last year, including the aftermath of the struggle of young people in the streets that perhaps was leading to us losing our country. However, that could be just something that was a pretext to where Kenya has been. Kenya has been facing a lot of challenges since Independence, as the President indicated here. For me, I have always held the view that the biggest challenge we have faced as a country in a post-independent Kenya is the challenge of equalising our country, the challenge of being able to offer equal chances for our country.

country and then increase the human social development of our country, basically moving from an individual to a collective success.

It is in that context that I want to simplify my conversation around what the President talked about because his reflection was in simple economic terms divided into two. One was a macro view, basically looking at how the country has performed in terms of macro indices; the larger economic concepts that define our country.

I must say that factually the President did an excellent job in terms of highlighting this. I do not want to belabour because the Senate Majority Leader explained most of them. Certainly, when he looked at the successes, he talked at the macro concepts that have made our economy show strength on a national and international stage, against the backdrop of everything we have experienced since 2022.

The President focused on inflation. He said that when this Government came into power in 2022, the inflation rate was 9.6 per cent, but now it has come down to 4.6 per cent. That is a strength that we must build on because it basically shows that there is some stability in terms of propensity of our people to consume. That is the purchasing power parity of our people to interact with goods and services in our economy.

He indicated that the Shilling has had a downward spiral from almost Kshs160 to the Dollar about two years ago to now a stable Kshs129 or sometimes oscillating between Kshs128 and Kshs130. I think that is a perfect representation of what is happening in the country and that has made our country stable. However, the President should have also shown the success on the macro level. That is to indicate how these things have impacted individuals in this economy. If he had focused on this bit, perhaps the speech could have been more palatable to the population. For instance, he should have unpacked issues such as prices of goods and services in the economy.

It is true and factual that when the President took over power, the price of milk, for instance, was Kshs35 in 2022. Now, the price of milk paid to a farmer has increased to Kshs45. That means that in the income aspect of a dairy farmer, this Government has increased the money by Kshs10. If he had talked about that, a dairy farmer could have understood him better, instead of just talking about the macro element that he shared.

We can remember that in 2022 when the President took over office, coffee farmers in this country were selling their coffee at about Kshs65. Right now, it is factual that coffee is retailing at Kshs110 per kilo. If a farmer is getting a retail price of over Kshs50 because of this, then this should have been highlighted by the President in a way that would make it palatable to the common mwananchi.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, he also mentioned that tea earnings have increased from Kshs138 billion to about Kshs215 billion. If he had debunked that by saying that this has led to the impact for green leaf prices to rise from Kshs50 to Kshs60, it could have done a better job in terms of explaining to the populace that the impact on the income of a farmer has become Kshs10 more since he got into office.

He also mentioned how the sugarcane industry has performed. At the macro level, we have increased production from 490 million metric tonnes to about 815 million metric tonnes. More exciting to the farmer is to indicate that this has impacted importation of sugar that we used to have by cutting it down by 70 per cent.

That has impacted the cost of production by sugarcane farmers and increased money in their pockets. When you cut down importation by 70 per cent, it means that for sugarcane farmers in this country, we can say without a doubt, that the Government has managed to increase the price at which they sell their cane, but most importantly, increased the speed at which cane farmers are now being paid.

These are some of the macro levels that I think the President missed in his Speech because he focused more on the micro level. Most of the President’s critics might have missed the impact in terms of the taste of consumer products that people are getting in this country, the impact in terms of the individual income that people are having in this country and the impact in terms of the growth level that people are having at the household level. This is where we should have focused on and made sure that the President’s speech comes out strongly.

The President indicated very well, and it is factual, that he has managed to employ 76,000 teachers. When he says that, the number looks so big at a macro level. However, people missed the fact that all these 76,000 teachers earn an average of probably Kshs40,000 to about Kshs100,000. That means that he has put into the pockets of households a lot of money that is having an impact at a micro level. These are the hits and misses that the President should have focused on.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, because I am seeing the yellow light, let me quickly say that it is important to indicate that the President did cast a vision looking forward, with the idea of the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), which was backed up with what he called the National Sovereign Wealth Fund (NSWF). This is a brilliant idea that can help our country move forward. I must say that this Senate has originated some important Bills that sometimes the National Assembly does not appreciate---

He also mentioned how the sugarcane industry has performed. At the macro level, we have increased production from 490 million metric tonnes to about 815 million metric tonnes. More exciting to the farmer is to indicate that this has impacted importation of sugar that we used to have by cutting it down by 70 per cent.

That has impacted the cost of production by sugarcane farmers and increased money in their pockets. When you cut down importation by 70 per cent, it means that for sugarcane farmers in this country, we can say without a doubt, that the Government has managed to increase the price at which they sell their cane, but most importantly, increased the speed at which cane farmers are now being paid.

These are some of the macro levels that I think the President missed in his Speech because he focused more on the micro level. Most of the President’s critics might have missed the impact in terms of the taste of consumer products that people are getting in this country, the impact in terms of the individual income that people are having in this country and the impact in terms of the growth level that people are having at the household level. This is where we should have focused on and made sure that the President’s speech comes out strongly.

The President indicated very well, and it is factual, that he has managed to employ 76,000 teachers. When he says that, the number looks so big at a macro level. However, people missed the fact that all these 76,000 teachers earn an average of probably Kshs40,000 to about Kshs100,000. That means that he has put into the pockets of households a lot of money that is having an impact at a micro level. These are the hits and misses that the President should have focused on.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, because I am seeing the yellow light, let me quickly say that it is important to indicate that the President did cast a vision looking forward, with the idea of the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF), which was backed up with what he called the National Sovereign Wealth Fund (NSWF). This is a brilliant idea that can help our country move forward. I must say that this Senate has originated some important Bills that sometimes the National Assembly does not appreciate---

Clerk, give Sen. Eddy just a minute to summarise.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for instance, the NSWF is something that I have proposed in this House. It is a Bill going through scrutiny, but no one has appreciated that. When I talk about stabilising our revenue structure, this is something that has come from this House. It would be, therefore, important that when Bills come from this House, they are appreciated and when they go to the National Assembly, they are supported because they have some of the most wonderful ideas that can help this country.

With that, I support, second and appreciate all at the same time. I thank you.

Hon. Senators, having heard the Motion being seconded, I now propose the question.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to give my views on the State of the Nation address by his Excellency, the President, Dr. William Samoei Ruto. As it has been proposed by hon. colleagues, I thank the Government for the strides they have made since they came into power in 2022. They came in when things were tough, life was hard and the prices of basic items were high.

I would like to thank his Excellency the President for making sure that this country is unified, not only politically, but socially and economically. As we speak today, we are speaking from the perception of the broad-based Government, which has brought everyone on board.

I must commend the hon. Members of the two Houses because the Executive cannot deliver if not through the support of these Houses. I extend my appreciation to the staff of both Houses because they assist hon. Members in order to discharge their services accordingly.

I will speak about agriculture because it is the main backbone of this country. I can attest that through the subsidy of fertilisers, a number of Kenyans can smile today because they have food on their tables. This has been a challenge, but it has given the House hope, knowing that we can do more. If we can subsidise fertilizer and seeds, then we can equip our farmers to diversify crops. I can again attest that the country has seen an increase in productivity.

programme, which a number of us saw being rolled out by the Government the other day. The programme aims at assisting our youth with Kshs50,000 and enlightening them on how best they can do businesses. We must commend and embrace the Government, and also continue supporting our youth in making sure that they are trained to utilise their resources for prosperity.

A number of youths have been able to get access to job opportunities outside the country. The only challenge that we might be having sometimes is that the process takes too long. However, as we speak now, there is a great change and we have seen the fruits. That is why we are speaking of two terms for this Government, so that it can actualise the manifesto it gave to the citizens.

Otherwise, I commend the work done by His Excellency the President, Dr. William Ruto and the Broad-Based Government for the unity that they have given this country. We are hoping for the best in the near future.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you very much.

programme, which a number of us saw being rolled out by the Government the other day. The programme aims at assisting our youth with Kshs50,000 and enlightening them on how best they can do businesses. We must commend and embrace the Government, and also continue supporting our youth in making sure that they are trained to utilise their resources for prosperity.

A number of youths have been able to get access to job opportunities outside the country. The only challenge that we might be having sometimes is that the process takes too long. However, as we speak now, there is a great change and we have seen the fruits. That is why we are speaking of two terms for this Government, so that it can actualise the manifesto it gave to the citizens.

Otherwise, I commend the work done by His Excellency the President, Dr. William Ruto and the Broad-Based Government for the unity that they have given this country. We are hoping for the best in the near future.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you very much.

Next is Sen. Cherarkey Samson Kiprotich.

Thank you very much Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I rise to---

Just a minute. Sen. Tobiko Peris, you are bordering very dangerous grounds; I am the Chair of this Session. Seasoned Senators know how to go about it.

Sen. Peris, you are actually the third on the line.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, can I proceed?

Proceed.

dress called the miniskirt; long enough to cover essentials, but short enough to arouse curiosity and give hope to many Kenyans.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, let me now go through a few issues, so that I can allow my colleagues to also delve in. One is the issue of foreign direct investment. We have been seeing some awkward things; people have closed shops and companies are moving out of the country. I have seen the media trying to fact-check what the President said. It is embarrassing because the figures they are getting do not even come from Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). They are getting their own facts from roadside agendas. We ask the media to stop fact-checking because what the President presented is the true position from KNBS.

You know, we have been sold this story that companies are running out of the country; it is not true. In fact, you can see that in 2021, there was foreign direct investment of Kshs60 billion which rose to Kshs195 billion in 2024. That shows that investors continue to have great and exceptional confidence with President Ruto’s Government. That is why the country is opening up for business. It is the prophets of doom and the naysayers that the Bible condemns. They are called Sanballat.

You remember the story of Nehemiah. When he went to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, the Sanballat’s of then - who are also here today, the disunited opposition - told Nehemiah in the Bible that even if a hyena or a dog stands on the wall, it will collapse. The Sanballat’s of today did not want to listen to facts, and that is why they have gone to the media to try and distort the facts.

I want to continue to ask all foreign investors to do business in Kenya. Kenya is an oasis of peace in east and central Africa. Kenya is strategic and warm, and that is why our slogan is Hakuna Matata. This is the country that has the big five and the famous wildebeests. We want tourism to grow.

In the same breath, I want to thank the President for transferring Maasai Mara and Amboseli to Kajiado and Narok counties, respectively. It is the belief and faith that heritage belongs to those people. I have heard the Governor of Nairobi City saying that he should also be collecting revenue from Nairobi National Park, but he has not even fixed the county. If he cannot collect the kiosk revenue, which capacity does he have to collect revenue from Nairobi National Park? He should first fix the county. There are potholes in this City. Even when you drive SUVs, when you go around, there are potholes.

Number two is on the issue of agriculture. I want to thank the President. I agree with my sister. We appreciate the subsidy programme. What we want to appeal to our counties and this is where the disconnect is, as the President moves to ensure the fertiliser subsidy programme, let the counties do what we call last mile distribution of fertiliser. For example, in Nandi, I have four or five depots of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). There is one in Selia, another one in Lesos, another one in Mosoriot, another one in Maraba Tinderet and a temporary one in Kobujoi in Aldai.

Most of us are farmers. To get somebody to travel from Sangalo all the way to Selia to get fertiliser is very expensive. They would have used the same money to access. To get somebody to travel from Ngeche Kolonget, all the way to Mosoriot or even from Chemabol to get fertiliser is expensive. It is the same to other people because we have

Lessos one. To get somebody to travel all the way from Nandi Hills to access fertiliser in Lessos depot is very expensive. I thank the President for the subsidised fertilizer. That is why in this coming year, because of assured food security, you will not see any person wearing sufurias on their heads in the streets. Those sufurias will be used for cooking food in our various homes.

I believe the country operates well when the population can get something to eat. I know there is a challenge in this country that there is what we call the urban poor. People have forgotten that in our slums, people do not eat three square meals.

This is the first time we are going to collect over 76 million bags of maize. Therefore, I want to request the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development and the NCPB, under the Crops 2018, to ensure that all cereals must be 50 kilos. To us who are maize farmers, we are very sad because it is only maize among the cereals that is 90 kilos, instead of 50 kilos. Potatoes, beans, macadamia and ndengu are in 50 kilogrames. Why is maize in 90 kilos? I challenge the NCPB to follow the Crops Act of 2018 that demanded all cereals must be 90 kilos. We hope the NCPB and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development will issue a circular because we are harvesting. This is harvesting season and we do not want to experience what we call post-harvesting issues.

On the issue of tea, we are still sad. I am happy that the Deputy President, Prof. Kithure Kindiki, when he came to Nandi, assured tea farmers that he is going to sit with us, especially from the West Rift - from Bomet, Kericho, Kisii, Nyamira, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia and Vihiga where tea is grown, so that we can sit and look at the low bonuses and poor tea pricing. It is so sad.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you saw I brought a Statement where they are still using tongues to taste tea in Mombasa. God forbid if you are tasting 10 glasses of tea and that person has passed by ‘nyumba ya nyasi,’ maybe he had taken something other than tea or juice or water. Will he still feel the same taste when he is sampling tea? No. That is why we need to establish tasting centres, especially in the West Rift. I have agreed with colleague parliamentarians that we need to actualise it.

On the issue of agriculture, the President has done very well, even in the sugar sector. For the first time, sugar farmers will get a bonus just like tea farmers, which is very unique under President William Ruto's administration.

In agriculture, the only problem we are facing now - and I know it is also in Meru, because you produce milk - you realize that the Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) has delayed paying farmers for the last four months. I challenge the new KCC management to ensure that before we go to December, all farmers that are supplying milk to KCC must and should be paid. That is the best Christmas gift to our farmers going into the future because it is unfortunate.

On the fifth point, I am happy that over 27 million Kenyans have registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA). I repeat, encourage and assure Kenyans that SHA is working. For us who work around our constituencies over the weekend, we hear testimonies. I know when you go to Pastor Ng’ang’a's church, Neno Evangelism Centre, there is what we call ushuhuda time. We are also like preachers and whenever we work

in Meru, Nandi, Bomet, Mombasa, Kajiado and even in Bungoma, we hear that SHA is working. That is why over 27 million Kenyans have registered against 55 million.

When I said here that young people should not fear to get married and get children because SHA is working, it is true. It costs Kshs10,000 for natural delivery and Kshs30,000 for caesarean operation. SHA has even enhanced the critical care fund that will ensure even if you are traveling to India for medication, you are given up to Kshs500,000. That proves that SHA is working.

I want to challenge my colleagues that under Article 43, access to healthcare is a human right. That is why the President is pushing for SHA to ensure the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is actualised. I continue to appeal and encourage the Ministry of Health and Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Duale, to proceed and ensure that each and every Kenyan has access to SHA services. That is how we will give value to each and every Kenyan.

The sixth point was on the issue of teachers. Since 2000 Before Christ, there is no government in Kenya that has hired 76,000 teachers at a go. This is a miraculous Government and before the New Year, the Government will add another 20,000 for Competency Based Education (CBE), in particular, grade nine.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you showed me on your phone a few minutes ago that most of the Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) intern teachers are texting you to confirm them as permanent and pensionable. We are aware they are earning Kshs17,000, which is not enough. I am told it is even breaking their marriages, because as a JSS teacher, you cannot live with your wife in Nairobi. You leave them in Mulot, somewhere in Bomet or in Mosoriot, in Nandi, so that you can save a little.

I want to challenge TSC, because we have given them money through the budget. They must confirm the 20,000 JSS intern teachers under permanent and pensionable and ensure their salaries are commensurate under the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). I appeal to JSS interns who are sending us a lot of messages, that we have heard you. The Government is on it. You will be confirmed as permanent and pensionable.

I agree that a one-year contract is sufficient for any teacher to be transited, and I agree with even the youth. On the issue of internship, we have brought a Motion. I thank the House, that anybody who goes to internship should go for 12 months and after that, they must and should be absorbed into permanent and pensionable under the Public Service Commission (PSC) or the county governments.

On affordable housing, I want to encourage Kenyans that this is a reality. Whenever I overfly Meru, Bomet, Nairobi, Kisumu or Nandi, the issue of the affordable housing programme has changed the skyline of our cities and towns. We need to move with that precision and ensure that we assist the President.

I would want to ice the cake of the presidential address with the issue of infrastructure. We are excited and I expected my sister to touch on it, that on 28th, this Friday, all of us, led by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya, Dr. William Ruto, will be headed to the launch of the dualling of Rironi-Uplands-Mau Sumit- Malaba Road, even via Kericho to Kisumu to Malaba. This is a momentous occasion.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know you come from Murima, but we have suffered as the Western part of Kenya. If the President will ensure the dualling of the road---

The dualling of Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba Highway will increase more weddings, businesses and interaction, even infrastructure in our counties. There are also many other roads that have been earmarked for tarmac.

With the performance of the President, I can assure you, two terms will be there for His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya, because he has a clear vision and agenda for this country.

I support. The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) : I want to follow this list religiously. I can see Sen. Onyonka is not around. Next is Sen. Tobiko.

The dualling of Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba Highway will increase more weddings, businesses and interaction, even infrastructure in our counties. There are also many other roads that have been earmarked for tarmac. With the performance of the President, I can assure you, two terms will be there for His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya, because he has a clear vision and agenda for this country. I support. The Deputy Speaker (

millions. This is not one, but several patients. Even as we go the SHA route, we must insist that Kenyans should not bear the burden of health services.

It is also notable that Kenya has been able to do better in debt servicing and restoration of fiscal discipline. The Head of State is taking this country in the right direction.

The recruitment of 76,000 teachers has improved the teacher-student ratio. Our education sector is stabilising. That is a big achievement for this regime that is only less than three years old.

I listened to the President when he talked about my pet subject of infrastructure across the country. The roads that the President had mentioned for dualling were quite a number, Muthaiga-Kiambu-Ndumberi, Machakos Junction and Mariakani, amongst others.

Let me localise the issue to Kajiado County because I listened keenly that there was a dualling that will commence for the Athi River-Namanga Road. There was also the dualling of Bomas-Karen-Ngong, Bomas-Ongata-Rongai-Kiserian and Ngong-Isinya. We cannot wait for this to be done. I believe this will improve the movement of people and goods, particularly those Kenyans who work in Nairobi and go back to their residences in Kajiado. This is well noted.

It is also good to bring the feedback of what Kenyans noted with this speech because they were listening together with us. They were in their homes, keenly following. Many people in Kajiado have told me that in the dualling of Athi River-Namanga Road, there are quick wins that the President could initiate. Within that dualling, what is becoming a major problem for the people of Kajiado on that road is the traffic gridlock at Kitengela. So, even before we do the entire dualling of the road to Namanga, if bypasses and link roads were opened up in Kitengela, there would be no jam and the movement would be smooth, faster and we would save on time and costs.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is the feedback from the people of Kitengela. The people of Kitengela need bridges owing to the rising population now, so that people can also comfortably move across the town on foot.

Regarding the dualling of Ngong, Isinya, that includes the Kiserian pipeline road, I attended functions in Kajiado West and Kajiado East this weekend and the people were telling me that, at the moment, the Kiserian-Pipeline Road has no traffic jam. In fact, what would assist the people of Kajiado more is the tarmacking of link roads to that road.

There is the Kona Baridi-Ingiito to Kajiado road. If that one was tarmacked, it would be more fruitful for the people of Kajiado. If the Tuala-Kitengela Road is completed because it was started, the tarmacking of that road could create a very good bypass for Nairobians; the people of Tuala, Rongai, up to Kitengela. Along that road, if they open up Birika-Enka City and on the other side if they tarmac Isinya-Konza, the people of Kajiado would find this useful. I do not know why the light has already gone yellow, because I have not used time.

Kajiado is part of the metropolitan area---

I want to follow this list religiously. I can see Sen. Onyonka is not around. Next is Sen. Tobiko.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I join my colleagues in registering my appreciation to the President on the State of the Nation Address to Parliament. I was in the House. I sat very close to the front to keenly listen to the President. I watched the body language and listened to every single word that he said that day.

The President's vision for this country is very clear. His intention is good. So far, he has managed to stabilise the country in a number of fronts. The notable successes, particularly is the stabilisation of the Kenya Shilling and control of inflation. I think this is a notable success for this regime. Across the country in a number of places, you will see the housing programme with affordable housing coming up. I believe this one will change lives.

It is true that food production has improved because of the subsidised fertilizer. That has improved food security in our country. It is also true that SHA is registering improvement in the access to health services. This is a feedback we are getting whenever we visit different counties on our oversight role. They say it is better than National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) , but it can be better. There are terminal illnesses in this country that are bedeviling a number of people, cancer being one of the leading, that impoverishing Kenyans. The day we will be able to meet the costs of health without Kenyans going back into their pockets and doing the popular fundraiser, is the day we will know we have finally achieved.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we applaud the President for the success and for the good initiatives, we must also give him truthful feedback from the ground. We are still doing fundraisers. If we lie to the President, we will not be helping Kenyans or the Head of State to improve what he has already initiated that is working, but must be improved.

Last weekend, we were doing a fundraiser for a wife of a chief in my area, who has now been taken to India for medication. This treatment out of the country is costing

millions. This is not one, but several patients. Even as we go the SHA route, we must insist that Kenyans should not bear the burden of health services.

It is also notable that Kenya has been able to do better in debt servicing and restoration of fiscal discipline. The Head of State is taking this country in the right direction.

The recruitment of 76,000 teachers has improved the teacher-student ratio. Our education sector is stabilising. That is a big achievement for this regime that is only less than three years old.

I listened to the President when he talked about my pet subject of infrastructure across the country. The roads that the President had mentioned for dualling were quite a number, Muthaiga-Kiambu-Ndumberi, Machakos Junction and Mariakani, amongst others.

Let me localise the issue to Kajiado County because I listened keenly that there was a dualling that will commence for the Athi River-Namanga Road. There was also the dualling of Bomas-Karen-Ngong, Bomas-Ongata-Rongai-Kiserian and Ngong-Isinya. We cannot wait for this to be done. I believe this will improve the movement of people and goods, particularly those Kenyans who work in Nairobi and go back to their residences in Kajiado. This is well noted.

It is also good to bring the feedback of what Kenyans noted with this speech because they were listening together with us. They were in their homes, keenly following. Many people in Kajiado have told me that in the dualling of Athi River-Namanga Road, there are quick wins that the President could initiate. Within that dualling, what is becoming a major problem for the people of Kajiado on that road is the traffic gridlock at Kitengela. So, even before we do the entire dualling of the road to Namanga, if bypasses and link roads were opened up in Kitengela, there would be no jam and the movement would be smooth, faster and we would save on time and costs.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is the feedback from the people of Kitengela. The people of Kitengela need bridges owing to the rising population now, so that people can also comfortably move across the town on foot.

Regarding the dualling of Ngong, Isinya, that includes the Kiserian pipeline road, I attended functions in Kajiado West and Kajiado East this weekend and the people were telling me that, at the moment, the Kiserian-Pipeline Road has no traffic jam. In fact, what would assist the people of Kajiado more is the tarmacking of link roads to that road.

There is the Kona Baridi-Ingiito to Kajiado road. If that one was tarmacked, it would be more fruitful for the people of Kajiado. If the Tuala-Kitengela Road is completed because it was started, the tarmacking of that road could create a very good bypass for Nairobians; the people of Tuala, Rongai, up to Kitengela. Along that road, if they open up Birika-Enka City and on the other side if they tarmac Isinya-Konza, the people of Kajiado would find this useful. I do not know why the light has already gone yellow, because I have not used time.

Kajiado is part of the metropolitan area---

You have four-and-a-half minutes. Do not panic. Proceed.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for the metropolitan transport system to be complete, Kajiado must be part of that infrastructural development. Kiambu, Nairobi, Machakos and Murang’a, have already received very good infrastructural development, bypasses; very good roads. However, the people of Kajiado are still watching Nairobi from a near distance. However, it appears far because we have no roads.

I want to give you an example of a road that I have mentioned in this House and I will continue mentioning. This road was done from Mombasa Road to Stoni Athi. It appeared like it was targeting to assist one facility and after that, the construction was stopped. If only this road crossed the railway line to the schools in Kajiado, Naserian, Ilpolosat, KAG University the area would be opened up.

A lot of you are starting homes in that area and they say there is no development. These Kenyans who are moving from Nairobi to Kajiado need transport. They need roads and to access Nairobi on a daily basis. So, let me say the President did very well in addressing some of the historical injustices.

It might not have been mentioned in the speech, but the people of Kajiado acknowledge the transfer of Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County. In the same breath, I am telling the President there is a section called Oloirien, 74,000 acres, which was meant to be a wildlife corridor that has been a case in court between the KWS and the community. This needs to be part of the Amboseli dispersal area and needs to be recovered quickly, reinstated to Kajiado County and to the Amboseli ecosystem.

The sheep and goat Embakasi Ranch needs to be brought back to the community because it is Kajiado that is the dispersal area for the wildlife in Nairobi National Park. We need community land to be addressed; we need justice for the people of Shompole in Magadi regarding their land. Kibiko and Vet Farm in Ngong should not be shared in boardrooms in Nairobi. The community needs to be the one to distribute and to occupy the land, so that we feel that the land has come back to the community.

On the issue of irrigation, the Oloolotikosh Dam, whose designs had been done and completed needs to be fast-tracked so that the Kitengela and Isinya people can also get enough water since we have been getting water from Nairobi.

On the issues of livestock products and value addition, we are the people who have lots of hides and skins. For production of handbags, shoes, leather shoes, we could definitely be part of the net exporters in this country if we harvest this resource.

On milk production, it is not possible for us to bring our milk to Nairobi without roads. We want---

Next is Sen Abass.

are operating vague hospitals and health centers will be dealt with according to the way things are now moving. Everything has now been taken care of. People are being registered and I think this business of stealing and making fake claims will soon die.

One other sector that is actually doing very well now, and I think the Government has done very well, and was in the Speech of the President, is the education sector.

I want to commend the President because we used to experience major challenges in Northern Kenya. We had shortage of teachers all over. We have been crying for the past 10 years. However, I can tell you today that in every county of Northern Kenya, there is a teacher's college. Many students are now coming out. Northern Kenya will produce enough teachers to teach in other parts of the country. There will be no more teacher shortage in Northern Kenya. I must say that I applaud the President for the support he has given us so that the Northern Kenya people do not have a shortage of teachers.

Kshs168, somewhere there, to Kshs129, and it has stabilised there for a long time now. It has not changed. The GDP increased from $115 billion to $136 billion. I think that is a big increase and inflation dropped from 9.6 per cent to 4.6 per cent and I think it is still controlled.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the country is now trying to stabilise economically. I believe that is actually where we are supposed to be. Everybody was worried about the pricing of food and the economy. The Dollar was so high and I think it is only the exporters who were enjoying more. Kenyans are having challenges buying vehicles, essential drugs and everything.

A country that cannot feed itself cannot claim to be independent. What the President has also done is to look into the agricultural sector. Food production has increased. The staple food is maize. Maize production increased from 44 million bags in 2022 to 66 million in 2024. Currently, it is expected that we will be harvesting 70 million bags of maize that will be able to take care of the Kenyans in need and, therefore, we will be able to minimize the kind of food and these things.

On the youth programme, we have so many unemployed youths and we are also expanding our education system. We are expanding our universities and more students are transitioning from high schools to universities as a result of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), and we expect a large number of students to go to universities.

I must say that the universities are now expanded, despite the challenges the elections have in terms of payment. The universities themselves must come up with an idea or a system that they can be able to sustain themselves. They must come with a kind of economic issue where they can improve. Some of them, like the Egerton University, and even other universities, these people have vast lands which have actually remained unutilised.

Egerton University is well known for its food production and milk, but of course, I think the universities are now so dependent on the government. Therefore, the university must stabilise itself and pay teachers and the students' welfare; they must now think economically, that people can produce their own wealth and own food to subsidize the Government grants.

In agriculture, I think the Government has done well, especially in the supply of fertilizers, but of course, we now have the KenGen Programme. We will have our own fertilizers that can be produced somewhere in Nakuru. I think that is the way to go because we are spending a lot of money on buying fertilizers from outside.

Then, crediting the farmers is very important. There is a plan for giving farmers subsidies, so that they can produce more food, especially tea and maize, which is actually a very essential crop that we cannot live without.

In the health sector, from my experience, I must say that the Social Health Authority (SHA) is working. I know there are a lot of politics about SHA, but of course, in any programme that is starting, it has its own teething problems. It is actually high time that we gave the Government time to improve the SHA services.

Of course, we are hearing that a lot of corruption is going on especially with the service providers and everybody is now rushing to open a hospital, including those who are not qualified to do so. What is happening currently will stabilise issues. People who

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

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have keenly listened and followed the contributions of Sen. Abbas, my good friend, and he has done very well. However, is he in order to make a pronouncement on this House saying that the President is in office

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

What is your point of order, Sen. Omogeni?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have keenly listened and followed the contributions of Sen. Abbas, my good friend, and he has done very well. However, is he in order to make a pronouncement on this House saying that the President is in office

Sen. Abass, your time is up. However, you should take note of the point of order that was raised. Fortunately, you have clarified that it is your opinion and you are entitled to it and the mandate rests with Kenyans. They are the ones who will decide on who they want to take back to office come the next cycle of elections. As it is said, it will speak for itself depending on how Kenyans view those who will be competing at that time.

I will allow Sen. Omogeni to contribute to the President’s Address.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to make my comments and observation on the President's Address that was delivered to Parliament last week on 20th November, 2025.

First, I want to thank the President for the courage he took to address the House and the country at large and to also express his ambition of wanting to see this country transformed to a first world country. That is a good ambition and a good passionate plea to Kenyans to transform our country from Third World country to a First World country. Nobody wants to continue living in a Third World country. We all want to progress this country into a First World country.

However, we are all not members of the choir. We make observations and applaud the President where we must but we also use this Floor, as representatives of the people, to tell the President where he has not got it right. We also must remind him that there are things we must do if, as a country, we want to progress to be a First World country. I was taught in Biology, many years ago, that human beings medulla oblongata or is it the brain think differently. Therefore, the 67 Senators cannot think the same way and have the same viewpoint as the President.

So, I have a few issues to observe on the Address by the President. The first one is that what will for sure guarantee a President serving his first term a second term is his performance, the scorecard. That is how Kenyans will judge his performance as a President.

Those who drafted the Kenyan Constitution were very clear that a President will be given five years. If he is able to perform to the expectations of Kenyans, he will get another five years but if he does not, he will serve for one term. We will not be the first country in the world to see a President serve for one term. It has even happened in Africa.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am not saying that Kenyans must do what they want to do. What I am saying is that Kenyans must stand together. My opinion is that we must give the President time to finish all the development that he has planned for. That is what I said. It is my opinion that the President must be given time to---

Sen. Abass, your time is up. However, you should take note of the point of order that was raised. Fortunately, you have clarified that it is your opinion and you are entitled to it and the mandate rests with Kenyans. They are the ones who will decide on who they want to take back to office come the next cycle of elections. As it is said, it will speak for itself depending on how Kenyans view those who will be competing at that time.

I will allow Sen. Omogeni to contribute to the President’s Address.

Tell me a country that has gone to First World status, yet they cannot even fix their pot holes. I was driving from Kemera Ward through a national Government road, Nyambaria road, which is full of pot holes. So, before we do these super highways, why can we not even fix our pot holes? I went to buy something in Gikomba. Look at the state of our roads. We pay taxes through the Petroleum Levy for road maintenance. Why not use this money to maintain our roads, before we say we are doing these highways?

I remember when His Excellency Kibaki took over in 2002, the first thing that he did was to fix pot holes that had become gullies on our roads. Do we want to deteriorate to that level again as a country? I like the promise by the President because I suffer every weekend since I do not own a chopper to fly to Nyamira. I use the Nairobi-Maai Mahiu- Narok-Kisii road. I am happy and welcome the decision to dual that road. It will solve traffic jams on that road. At times we spend up to four hours. I do not know, Mr. Temporary Speaker, whether you also drive or fly. Perhaps you fly to Bomet, but for those of us who drive, often times we get stuck for more than four hours. So, it is a good dream to make a proposal to dual that road. I hope that can be done sooner than later, so that the problem is solved for many of us.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when we construct roads, let us maintain them. You cannot be a first-world country with the kind of garbage that we see in our city. Where I live, I have not seen county government services on garbage collection. That does not require the President to make a speech. We should fix that. We should be telling Kenyans this is what we have fixed, and then we manage our debt. If we collect all our resources and use it for debt payment, how will we progress? I am not an economist, but how does that math work? If you collect, but instead of developing your country, you use it to pay debts? That can never work. We need to be disciplined.

What we should be hearing from the President is some reform on spending. The budget for our offices like State House grew from Kshs5 billion to Kshs10 billion. We should see discipline in spending.

I heard somebody say that the SHA is working. May God almighty forgive us. People are suffering. The SHA is not working. I can bring a carton box of invoices from hospitals where people get a bill of Kshs215,000, and SHA pays Kshs38,000. How can you say that SHA is working, whereas, for me, you, and everybody here who has a medical cover, spends nothing when they go to hospital? You want to shut our eyes to the poor people who are suffering out there, so that we come to this House and say that SHA is working? SHA is not working. I am willing to take the Senators from here to my village and we speak to people and they tell you the horrendous stories of SHA.

Our mission hospitals that have been serving a large populace are not being paid by SHA. They are at the brink of closing, yet our public hospitals do not have bed capacity and Intensive Care Units (ICUs) to attend to our patients. They do not even have the specialists. I know that people go to Tenwek Hospital for treatment. I have seen many people from Nyamira County being attended to at Tenwek Hospital. So, before we make our healthcare to be qualitative, how can we be saying we are moving the country to First World?

In regards to affordable housing, we compare Kenya with Singapore. However, before Singapore went to affordable or social housing, they ensured that the populace was

able to purchase those houses, because you are building houses for the people at the low level of income.

In Nyamira County, not even one single farmer has bought these so-called affordable houses. They cannot afford. We are living in the ozone layer. We do not live here on earth. These houses cannot be bought by the intended populace. In fact, it is more of a business. How will Kenyans, 80 per cent of them, own houses, yet even putting food on the table and affording school fees remain a problem? Accessing advanced healthcare remains a mirage for many Kenyans. Let us be serious as a country.

I challenge those in leadership to fix the problems that we are facing now, not tomorrow. I heard my good friend, Sen. Abbas, saying that we should not make noise; that we should wait for SHA to be fixed in due course. What about those who are dying? What do we do? We are doing harambees every day. The SHA needs to be fixed.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, are you aware that people out there who are not on monthly salary are being told to pay SHA one year in advance, yet us salaried people, pay monthly. Why discriminate? Article 37 of the Constitution clearly states that we should not discriminate anybody based on economic or social status.

We must be candid with the President and tell him he has a good vision, but there are serious challenges that Kenyans are facing, that need to be fixed now. He needs to remove Kenyans from the poverty they are facing. He needs to help our farmers, so that they get income that can make farming to be an occupation that makes somebody feel like they are doing something that meets their daily needs. Currently, it does not. The farmers who took loans are not able to service them because their earnings dropped by than 100 percent.

I conclude by saying; Mr. President, it is good to want to take us to First World status. However, please, first of all, fix the problems that we are facing today. Let us have your scorecard today, not in10 years. If you talk about 10 years, then---

Tell me a country that has gone to First World status, yet they cannot even fix their pot holes. I was driving from Kemera Ward through a national Government road, Nyambaria road, which is full of pot holes. So, before we do these super highways, why can we not even fix our pot holes? I went to buy something in Gikomba. Look at the state of our roads. We pay taxes through the Petroleum Levy for road maintenance. Why not use this money to maintain our roads, before we say we are doing these highways?

I remember when His Excellency Kibaki took over in 2002, the first thing that he did was to fix pot holes that had become gullies on our roads. Do we want to deteriorate to that level again as a country? I like the promise by the President because I suffer every weekend since I do not own a chopper to fly to Nyamira. I use the Nairobi-Maai Mahiu- Narok-Kisii road. I am happy and welcome the decision to dual that road. It will solve traffic jams on that road. At times we spend up to four hours. I do not know, Mr. Temporary Speaker, whether you also drive or fly. Perhaps you fly to Bomet, but for those of us who drive, often times we get stuck for more than four hours. So, it is a good dream to make a proposal to dual that road. I hope that can be done sooner than later, so that the problem is solved for many of us.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when we construct roads, let us maintain them. You cannot be a first-world country with the kind of garbage that we see in our city. Where I live, I have not seen county government services on garbage collection. That does not require the President to make a speech. We should fix that. We should be telling Kenyans this is what we have fixed, and then we manage our debt. If we collect all our resources and use it for debt payment, how will we progress? I am not an economist, but how does that math work? If you collect, but instead of developing your country, you use it to pay debts? That can never work. We need to be disciplined.

What we should be hearing from the President is some reform on spending. The budget for our offices like State House grew from Kshs5 billion to Kshs10 billion. We should see discipline in spending.

I heard somebody say that the SHA is working. May God almighty forgive us. People are suffering. The SHA is not working. I can bring a carton box of invoices from hospitals where people get a bill of Kshs215,000, and SHA pays Kshs38,000. How can you say that SHA is working, whereas, for me, you, and everybody here who has a medical cover, spends nothing when they go to hospital? You want to shut our eyes to the poor people who are suffering out there, so that we come to this House and say that SHA is working? SHA is not working. I am willing to take the Senators from here to my village and we speak to people and they tell you the horrendous stories of SHA.

Our mission hospitals that have been serving a large populace are not being paid by SHA. They are at the brink of closing, yet our public hospitals do not have bed capacity and Intensive Care Units (ICUs) to attend to our patients. They do not even have the specialists. I know that people go to Tenwek Hospital for treatment. I have seen many people from Nyamira County being attended to at Tenwek Hospital. So, before we make our healthcare to be qualitative, how can we be saying we are moving the country to First World?

In regards to affordable housing, we compare Kenya with Singapore. However, before Singapore went to affordable or social housing, they ensured that the populace was

Sen. Crystal, take your seat. The person who seconded this Motion is Sen. Eddy. At that time, I was still in the Chair. I

Your time is up, Sen. Okong’o Omogeni. Thank you for your contribution.

To respond to your inquiry, yours truly uses Nairobi-Narok-Bomet Road as you, every other time I go and serve the people of Bomet County, who gave me the opportunity to be in this House. For now, I am using that road which you are also using. It is, therefore, a welcome opportunity to have the road dualled that will serve us, as Kenyans as well.

Sen. Danson Mungatana, please proceed. What do you want to clarify, Sen. Crystal?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. My point of clarification is on the course of debate. Since the Senate Majority Leader moved the Motion, I have noted that most of those who have contributed are from the Majority Side. Only one of us from the Minority Side has been able to speak so far. The first person to contribute was Sen. Joyce Korir, followed by Sen. Cherarkey, then Sen. Tobiko and afterwards Sen. Abass. It then swung over to the Minority Side, but now it is going back to the Majority Side again. I am wondering, is your eye not being cast over on our side?

Sen. Crystal, take your seat. The person who seconded this Motion is Sen. Eddy. At that time, I was still in the Chair. I

have noted your concern. You are the next to speak. From my dashboard, it is Sen. Mungatana then followed by you.

As to whether the previous Chair had not been alternating the speakers on the Motion, I have taken note of your concern. Since I had already asked Sen. Mungatana to take the Floor, allow him to respond, then you will be next.

of all Kenyans that is being put in one place, extracted from our minerals through sale and proceeds of privatisation so that we do not have the titanium experiment repeated. We need very strong laws, so that anybody who will go there will be punished thoroughly if money is lost under their care.

In addition, we want it to be delinked from Government. We do not want the sovereign fund to be headed by people who are connected to Treasury, the President or the Cabinet Ministers. We want the laws to give us technical people, people who will be able to stand. We want security of tenure for the holders of those offices. We want this law like yesterday. I have seen the President has talked about it, but I have not seen the actual draft. I have not seen the writings of that law. We want to see the policy being discussed in Parliament. It should not be something that just comes because this is a fundamental thing that is happening for our nation.

My prayer is that Kenyans who are listening to me can see for themselves where we are going. We are going forward. If this nation gets this one right, we will not have to go to the World Bank. We will not have to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We will not have to go to the African Development Bank or Exim Bank to get loans for infrastructure. This is what is going to help us go forward. I hope Kenyans are seeing and listening to me when I tell them that time has come to us now.

When we are trying to elect the next leadership, let us think about what we are planning here and going into future. There are some people who absolutely have no agenda. It is just hatred and pure nothingness, you know, saying, let us defeat this person. Have they actually seen these issues that we are putting before them?

I urge the people who are in opposition, those who think that we are doing nothing; please, when you stand up, tell us what you think also about the Sovereign Fund, the NIF. What do you think of these ideas? What is your alternative instead of standing on top of cars and hurling abuses? It is time that we do intelligent politics. I am very disappointed by some people who I think should be knowing better but they do horrible statements and no policy.

credit rating agencies. Standard and Poor (S&P) global ratings, for example, measures the credit worthiness of nations. Among other factors, they look at are whether a country has a sovereign fund. When you have a sovereign fund, it means that if there are global shocks, such as the dollar collapsing or oil prices rising, you can stabilise the economy. When S&P sees a strong sovereign fund, your nation is rated higher.

The President has said our rating has increased. We moved this year from the eighth strongest economy to the sixth and our credit rating was raised from B to B+. That is true. However, if we had the sovereign fund operational today, our rating would be much higher. This is what Kenyans are not hearing enough. His Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) William Ruto is not joking. People go to the streets and call him names, but they do not know the kind of thinking being put into this nation under his leadership. The President is supported by my county and me.

I speak with authority because even in the by-election, I am coming from now, we will win by more than 60 per cent because the people there believe in what is happening with this President. We have been in Parliament with him. We have sat together; he used to sit somewhere there those years. He used to be in opposition. So, we have seen him grow. Some people think that this is just another guy but he has some good plans. These plans are not just for this generation, they are intergenerational.

If anything good has happened in this country, it is the establishment of this National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) and the sovereign fund. If you look at countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), you know the Mubadala Fund, that fund, the sovereign wealth of the people of the Emirates is the one that invests all over the world. It is creating more wealth for that nation. This is because they do not just invest. They take time to think. It is not Government-run, it is privately owned. They take time to think. They invest in various stock exchanges in the world. They get returns. They put money in private equity funds. The country continues to earn money and becomes wealthier and wealthier and this is what we are respecting our sovereign funds to do.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this infrastructure fund and this sovereign fund is a brilliant idea. Many people may have missed it, but our nation is setting up the foundation under this President for a very strong, fiscally stable nation that will go into the future. The only thing I am begging His Excellency the President to do is; let us have this law discussed thoroughly because if they are mismanaged - there is a country here in Africa where the President appointed his son to be the head of the sovereign wealth fund and his daughter to be the CEO. When the president was removed after the elections, his children were jailed. Why? This is because the thing was not managed properly. We want professionals. We want a strong law. We want it to be independent so that the actual purpose of the sovereign fund is realised.

Another thing is that we want counties such as Tana River to benefit from this. Why? This is because infrastructure in our area is still underdeveloped, yet there is huge potential to develop. The sovereign wealth could be one of the saving graces. If money is collected from the resources across the country and invested in some of our counties, then we would be talking about a nation that is going to grow equitably.

We also want to see proper management of these funds. There should be very tough penalties against misuse and misappropriation of this fund because it is the wealth

of all Kenyans that is being put in one place, extracted from our minerals through sale and proceeds of privatisation so that we do not have the titanium experiment repeated. We need very strong laws, so that anybody who will go there will be punished thoroughly if money is lost under their care.

In addition, we want it to be delinked from Government. We do not want the sovereign fund to be headed by people who are connected to Treasury, the President or the Cabinet Ministers. We want the laws to give us technical people, people who will be able to stand. We want security of tenure for the holders of those offices. We want this law like yesterday. I have seen the President has talked about it, but I have not seen the actual draft. I have not seen the writings of that law. We want to see the policy being discussed in Parliament. It should not be something that just comes because this is a fundamental thing that is happening for our nation.

My prayer is that Kenyans who are listening to me can see for themselves where we are going. We are going forward. If this nation gets this one right, we will not have to go to the World Bank. We will not have to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We will not have to go to the African Development Bank or Exim Bank to get loans for infrastructure. This is what is going to help us go forward. I hope Kenyans are seeing and listening to me when I tell them that time has come to us now.

When we are trying to elect the next leadership, let us think about what we are planning here and going into future. There are some people who absolutely have no agenda. It is just hatred and pure nothingness, you know, saying, let us defeat this person. Have they actually seen these issues that we are putting before them?

I urge the people who are in opposition, those who think that we are doing nothing; please, when you stand up, tell us what you think also about the Sovereign Fund, the NIF. What do you think of these ideas? What is your alternative instead of standing on top of cars and hurling abuses? It is time that we do intelligent politics. I am very disappointed by some people who I think should be knowing better but they do horrible statements and no policy.

Sen. Mungatana, your time is up. Thank you for your contribution. Now I call upon Senator Crystal Asige to contribute. Give Sen. Crystal the microphone.

Thank you, Senator. Proceed.

Remember the votes of ordinary Kenyans are not just ordinary. On basic thoughts and ideas, their votes are not just basic but they also count. Before I continue with that, let me highlight some of the things that have shone good light on Kenya.

On inflation, Kenya’s inflation has reduced. That is commendable and we acknowledge it. On foreigners, I also note that that was a good part of the speech for me listening to. It was promising as well. On agriculture, the President overstated fertiliser distribution, claiming that 21 million, when only about 3 million bags were distributed in 2022 according to the data. He also misrepresented the maize flour prices, citing about Kshs120 instead of the typical Kshs180 to Kshs200 per packet.

On health, as stated in his address, he said that about 10,000 facilities are enrolled by the SHA. However, feedback from workers and patients across the country suggest uneven service quality and access. While 8.9 million households are claimed to be visited by Community Health Promoters (CHPs), in this speech, there is limited evidence of any actual healthcare follow-up delivered.

Claims of 9.9 million diabetes and 6.5 million hypertension screenings across the country existed in his Speech, but it is unclear what treatment or management solutions were provided to those who have been screened if any, which is the most important part of healthcare. Let us not just identify, but also demonstrate what has been done to manage or improve the health status of all of these patients because data confirms that diabetes mortality rates remain high and conditions exacerbated by hypertension still persist in this country despite all these screenings.

He also spoke about the equipment. Though the county-level experience is very unclear where these services are consistently free or subject to fees with this equipment, while reporting shows large scale initiatives being rolled out across the country, gaps in implementation, quality of care and follow-up reduce their effectiveness and leave questions about the real impact on our public health. That was clear in the Speech. We can boast about how beautiful, shiny and luxurious the Kshs5 trillion Rolls-Royce is going to be one day, but if we do not look under the hood of this machine – that is the oil, water and fuel levels – this machine will never move at all.

The next one is education and employment. He said that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been hiring teachers with plans of recruiting 24,000 more by January, and a total of 60,000 to 76,000 hires over several years. That is plausible with a plan.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, 1,600 labs and several classrooms were also documented in the speech. However, youth unemployment remains high at over 30 per cent and about 70 per cent of graduates struggle to find formal employment. That is the data. All this progress and interventions are being spoken about but what is happening on the ground? Behind the microphones that we are speaking on, the people on the ground will tell us the truth.

On the backbone of our economy, he spoke about Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Despite numerous interventions in this sector, the absence of a legal framework leaves young entrepreneurs and innovators vulnerable. With no law to govern the sector, my Startup Bill was supposed to address this gap. Several significant and institutional

barriers continue to block its passage in this Parliament, undermining the protection and growth of Kenya’s startup ecosystem.

My Startup Bill proposes to offer many solutions for innovators and entrepreneurs in Kenya. The Bill remains proverbially stuck in the mud, but I do not understand why. I would like to urge and implore Senators and Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly to support its passage.

A few red flags that I also want to highlight as the reasons causing the Senate and the National Assembly to be at odds in agreeing on several sections of my Bill are as follows. Firstly, startups are being misclassified as Micro, Small and Medium, Enterprises (MSMEs), ignoring the unique needs and challenges. As you know, these are two different things. Mismatch, regulation and support will then follow if we do not agree on these Clauses.

Oversight has been shifted as well to a multi-agency startup committee in the Ministry responsible for MSMEs, creating inefficiencies and misalignment with global best practices, something that we also need to agree on. The involvement of multiple institutions leading---

Remember the votes of ordinary Kenyans are not just ordinary. On basic thoughts and ideas, their votes are not just basic but they also count. Before I continue with that, let me highlight some of the things that have shone good light on Kenya.

On inflation, Kenya’s inflation has reduced. That is commendable and we acknowledge it. On foreigners, I also note that that was a good part of the speech for me listening to. It was promising as well. On agriculture, the President overstated fertiliser distribution, claiming that 21 million, when only about 3 million bags were distributed in 2022 according to the data. He also misrepresented the maize flour prices, citing about Kshs120 instead of the typical Kshs180 to Kshs200 per packet.

On health, as stated in his address, he said that about 10,000 facilities are enrolled by the SHA. However, feedback from workers and patients across the country suggest uneven service quality and access. While 8.9 million households are claimed to be visited by Community Health Promoters (CHPs), in this speech, there is limited evidence of any actual healthcare follow-up delivered.

Claims of 9.9 million diabetes and 6.5 million hypertension screenings across the country existed in his Speech, but it is unclear what treatment or management solutions were provided to those who have been screened if any, which is the most important part of healthcare. Let us not just identify, but also demonstrate what has been done to manage or improve the health status of all of these patients because data confirms that diabetes mortality rates remain high and conditions exacerbated by hypertension still persist in this country despite all these screenings.

He also spoke about the equipment. Though the county-level experience is very unclear where these services are consistently free or subject to fees with this equipment, while reporting shows large scale initiatives being rolled out across the country, gaps in implementation, quality of care and follow-up reduce their effectiveness and leave questions about the real impact on our public health. That was clear in the Speech. We can boast about how beautiful, shiny and luxurious the Kshs5 trillion Rolls-Royce is going to be one day, but if we do not look under the hood of this machine – that is the oil, water and fuel levels – this machine will never move at all.

The next one is education and employment. He said that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has been hiring teachers with plans of recruiting 24,000 more by January, and a total of 60,000 to 76,000 hires over several years. That is plausible with a plan.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, 1,600 labs and several classrooms were also documented in the speech. However, youth unemployment remains high at over 30 per cent and about 70 per cent of graduates struggle to find formal employment. That is the data. All this progress and interventions are being spoken about but what is happening on the ground? Behind the microphones that we are speaking on, the people on the ground will tell us the truth.

On the backbone of our economy, he spoke about Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Despite numerous interventions in this sector, the absence of a legal framework leaves young entrepreneurs and innovators vulnerable. With no law to govern the sector, my Startup Bill was supposed to address this gap. Several significant and institutional

barriers continue to block its passage in this Parliament, undermining the protection and growth of Kenya’s startup ecosystem.

My Startup Bill proposes to offer many solutions for innovators and entrepreneurs in Kenya. The Bill remains proverbially stuck in the mud, but I do not understand why. I would like to urge and implore Senators and Members of Parliament (MPs) in the National Assembly to support its passage.

A few red flags that I also want to highlight as the reasons causing the Senate and the National Assembly to be at odds in agreeing on several sections of my Bill are as follows. Firstly, startups are being misclassified as Micro, Small and Medium, Enterprises (MSMEs), ignoring the unique needs and challenges. As you know, these are two different things. Mismatch, regulation and support will then follow if we do not agree on these Clauses.

Oversight has been shifted as well to a multi-agency startup committee in the Ministry responsible for MSMEs, creating inefficiencies and misalignment with global best practices, something that we also need to agree on. The involvement of multiple institutions leading---

Sen. Crystal, please take note of the remainder of your time. You have under four minutes to conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Multiple institutions will lead to fragmentation, overlap and accountability gaps if we do not address this in our mediation process of the Startup Bill. The mandate of county governments has also been deliberately excluded to the National Assembly amendments, weakening local support and clawing back on devolution entirely.

There is a proposal for a Startup Fund as well, which risks duplicating the already existing financial mechanisms set aside for startups in this country. I do not understand why we cannot agree on these amendments. Without the Senate and the National Assembly coming together and agreeing on clear county roles, streamline regulations and also actionable guidelines for incentives and intellectual property rights. This Bill will not holistically support young entrepreneurs and innovators in this country and they have rights.

The address claimed that there are no leakages on platforms such as e-Citizen. You will remember the Auditor-General flagging gross mismanagement and perennial corruption amounting to Kshs9.6 billion with reasons including overcharging and poor controls. I do not know about you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, but that certainly sounds like an uncontained leakage. Further, still on the platform, it may have improved access to Government services but it remains frustratingly inaccessible to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) because of digital inaccessibility with no tangible solutions in sight.

For years, the country has been led by politicians who excel at microphone slogans and international theatrics, especially when seeking approval from people from the West. This is what one man said and I hope that this debate will not prove to be true. Let us tell Kenyans the real story and this is the story that I have deduced from this year’s State of the Nation Address. A story, whose facts the President says, and I quote-

“Are available for all to examine, except, perhaps for the cynical who have no facts.”

I, for one, Mr. President, I am not a cynic. I am just a Kenyan who bothered to test the veracity of this Address, which I encourage all of us to do, even the Kenyans listening to the sound of my voice. Even if you have the best seeds as the good Book says, it does not matter if you have the best seeds and they do not fall on fertile soil, then they will not grow.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, all these ideas and ambitions will not grow if they are not on fertile soil. As another Senator has said, for me the first thing he would have to tackle for an upward trajectory to get to Singapore or the Asian Tigers as they have been called, is to eliminate corruption and have zero tolerance policy on the same. Without that, we are just talking.

I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Thank you,

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to contribute on this important Motion. A great scholar once said, happy are those who make their dreams come true. I wish this dream of Kenyans could come true. There are a number of indicators which take a nation to the First World. The first one, there is a lot of sovereign wealth around. The people of Kenya and the land of Kenya is sovereign wealth. Wealth creation through agriculture and taxes are also sovereign wealth. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is full of sovereign wealth and the Treasury is processing it. Therefore, if we made the cost of living lower by lowering the cost of fuel and lowering the cost of electricity, many Kenyans would invest in agriculture; animal and crop farming. Other Kenyans would invest in industries and investors would also come to the country. We would then be able to afford affordable housing and grow the economy. However, all those as has been observed by Sen. Crystal cannot happen when corruption is the main thing around. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, Singapore and Malaysia first dealt with corruption. In China, which is a first world, there is the death sentence for corrupt people, but what do we have in our country? Firstly, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has many cases being investigated for a long time. One of it was the construction of the headquarters of Tharaka Nithi County headquarters in Kathwana. Construction stopped because the EACC was investigating and many years have passed. No one has been charged and Kathwana has stalled. If the EACC is not into its act and does not help curb corruption and there is no goodwill from investigators to present credible cases to the Office of the Director of Prosecution (ODPP) , then that is a sunken dream. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the fight must start with every single Kenyan. Corruption is everywhere in Kenya. It is in churches, the Government, Parliament, Judiciary and the Executive. We, therefore, must overhaul our whole system of dealing and everyone wanting to protect their sovereign wealth by not stealing and amassing for themselves. Almost every Kenyan looks forward into making quick wealth and the best way you can find is through hard work. I would like to liken President William Ruto with the

person in the Bible who sowed seeds. Some fell on fertile soil, some on thorns and some fell on stones and they never grew into anything.

I am really hoping that out of the hard work of Kenyans and the good rains we have been experiencing, that Kenyans worked hard and will fend for themselves. Those are seeds on good soil. However, when it comes to the management---

Sen. Maanzo, you will hold your contribution until when the House resumes. You have a balance of 11 minutes to continue your contribution.