Senate Hansard: Wednesday, 11th November, 2026 - Afternoon Sitting

THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT

Fifth Session

Wednesday, 11th November, 2026 at 2.30 p.m.

PARLIAMENT OF KENYA

The House met at the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings at 2.31 p.m.

PRAYER

DETERMINATION OF QUORUM AT COMMENCEMENT OF SITTING

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

VISITING DELEGATION OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS FROM KIPSITET PRIMARY SCHOOL, KERICHO COUNTY

On behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, I extend a warm welcome to the delegation and wish them a fruitful visit. I call upon the Senator for Nandi County to pass a word of welcome in under one minute.

QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS

KENYA’S HISTORIC GOLD MEDAL VICTORY IN WOMEN’S RUGBY SEVENS AT THE DAKAR, 2026 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

Olympic Games. It also affirms the talent and potential of young Kenyan women and demonstrates that, with appropriate preparation and support from all stakeholders, they can compete successfully at the highest international level.

I commend the players, the technical bench led by the head coach, Mr. Knight Otuoma and all those who supported the team, preparation and participation. The rising lionesses have inspired young people across the country, particularly girls and shown what can be achieved through hard work. They have also shown what can be achieved through commitment and opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this achievement should be matched with a sustained investment in women sports. The Government and relevant stakeholders should strengthen grassroots sports programmes, improve access to quality facilities and coaching, and establish clear development pathways for facilities and coaching for young athletes or sports men and women. Particular attention should be given to women’s rugby and other disciplines where Kenyan women continue to demonstrate exceptional promise.

In conclusion, the rising lionesses have brought honour to our country and elevated the profile of Africa in the rugby sport. I urge that their achievement be recognised and rewarded accordingly and that the team receive continued support for its welfare, training and future competitions. Let us build on this success by creating more opportunities for young Kenyan sports men and women to excel on the international stage.

I thank you. Mr. Speaker, Sir.

TRANSFER OF MARIAKANI ESTATE, LR NO. 209/6612 TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES PROVIDENT FUND

requiring the Nairobi City County Government to remit Kshs64.8 million in rent collections to the LAPFUND.

These grievances compounded by deteriorating housing conditions and infrastructure have prompted residents to seek affordable rental terms, protection against recovery of rent already paid and the opportunity to purchase the houses.

In the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The ownership history legal basis from the transfer of Mariakani Estate to LAPFUND, including the terms of its original development, compliance with the applicable moratorium on the transfer of local authority properties and the public participation requirements.
2. (2) Details of debt swap arrangements, including outstanding statutory debt, property valuations, requisite approvals, amount of debt offset and reconciliation of differences between the reported debt and property valuation.
3. (3) The status of Kshs64.8 million in rent reportedly collected by the Nairobi City County Government at the implementation of the August, 2021 Senate directive, including measures to prevent residents from being required to pay rent already remitted to the County Government.
4. (4) The legal and contractual basis for increasing monthly rent from Kshs10,000 to Kshs30,000, including the consultations undertaken and measures to address disputed arrears, the use of auctioneers and claims for the return of seized property or compensation.
5. (5) Finally, the measures being undertaken to rehabilitate and maintain the estate’s housing and infrastructure and address residents’ requests for rental terms, waiver on disputed rental arrears and an opportunity to purchase their houses.

I thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO DEATHS OF KENYAN NATIONALS ABROAD AND THE STATUS OF INVESTIGATIONS

(Statement dropped)

On behalf of the Senator for Kirinyaga County, I would like to read two Statements on his behalf. Allow me to read them concurrently.

DECLINING STUDENT ENROLMENT IN DAY SECONDARY SCHOOLS ACROSS KIRINYAGA COUNTY

Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a request for Statement on the declining enrolment in day secondary schools in Kirinyaga County.

I rise under Standing Order No.53(1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on Education on a matter of county-wide concern regarding the declining student population in day secondary schools across Kirinyaga County.

The expansion of day secondary schools through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), support and introduction of free day secondary schools significantly increased access to secondary schooling and boosted enrolment in many institutions across the country. However, a growing number of day secondary schools in Kirinyaga County are now experiencing a steady decline in learner numbers with some facing severe financial strain and in certain cases closure, a case in point being Ichangi Day Secondary School.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) The factors contributing to the declining enrolment in day secondary schools across Kirinyaga County.
2. (2) The current enrolment rates and status of affected schools, including institutions that are at risk of closure.
3. (3) The impact of declining learner numbers on school funding, staffing, infrastructure utilisation and overall sustainability of day secondary schools in Kenya.
4. (4) Finally, the interventions by the Ministry of Education and other relevant agencies to stabilise enrolment and support affected schools countrywide.

ESCALATING INCIDENTS OF INSECURITY IN KIRINYAGA COUNTY

Mr. Speaker, Sir, with your indulgence I will read the second Statement on the escalating incidents of insecurity in Kirinyaga County.

I rise pursuant to Standing Order No.53(1) to seek a Statement from the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations on a matter of county- wide concern regarding the escalating incidents of insecurity in Kirinyaga County, particularly in Ndia Constituency and Mwea West sub-county areas.

Residents of Kirinyaga County have expressed growing concerns over rising incidents of burglary, livestock theft, abductions, muggings, sexual assault, motor cycle theft, business break-ins and murder, particularly in Ndia Constituency and Mwea West sub-county. These incidents have heightened fear among residents threatening lives and livelihoods and raising concerns over the adequacy of security measures and law enforcement responses in the affected areas.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, in the Statement, the Committee should address the following-

1. (1) Provide a breakdown of criminal incidents in Kirinyaga County over the past three years, 2023 to 2026, disaggregated by the sub-county and type of offence, particularly in Ndia Constituency and Mwea sub-county and explain the factors contributing to the reported increase in insecurity.
2. (2) The measures by security agencies to investigate the reported incidents, apprehend and prosecute suspects and restore security in the affected areas, including the number of arrests made and cases fully prosecuted.
3. (3) Finally, the immediate and long-term measures being implemented to curb criminal activities in Kirinyaga County, including enhanced police patrols, intelligence gathering, community policing and security preparedness ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN BARINGO COUNTY

1. (1) The measures put in place by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to prevent wildlife from encroaching into residential areas, posing serious threat to life and causing widespread destruction of property.
2. (2) Reasons for the recurring incidents of human-wildlife conflict involving elephants in Mochongoi Ward and other parts of Baringo County, despite preventive measures, as well as the action being taken to conclusively address the issue.
3. (3) The status of compensation of persons and families affected by the human- wildlife conflicts in Mochongoi Ward and other parts of Baringo County in the last 12 years, specifying in respect of each case, the date of the incident, nature of the loss or injury suffered, assessed compensation amount, date of payment of the compensation where applicable and the timelines for settling all outstanding claims.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Wakoli. You are still gathering your thoughts? (Sen. Wafula nodded in agreement) Sen. Eddy Gicheru.

I remember earlier days when we were in primary and high school. We had social workers who used to follow up on families to see how they were doing. Social workers would work together with the administration such as chiefs to report even on the kind of a diet a family was having in any locality. Chiefs and social workers knew who did not have enough food for the day. There is need to return to that kind of network and structure that reports on the welfare of families in the Republic of Kenya because if a chief in any region does not follow up on the number of learners like in Kirinyaga or Murang’a counties, you will find schools having under one-third of the number of learners they should be housing. As the committee sits to consider this matter, let it be taken seriously.

In the Statement, there is an opinion that it is capitation that has caused schools not to be fully operational. That may not be the correct or accurate position. If you look at the capitation by the Government during the last term, Kshs18.5 billion was disbursed to schools where Kshs10.96 billion was for free day secondary education. Therefore, as the committee looks into this issue, always look at the accuracy of the Statement that has come before this House, so that you do not direct your minds, thinking or focus on wrong issues just because of the way the Statement is phrased.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I urge the committee to look into this issue deliberately, come up with proposals and go beyond the parameters that have been created by this Statement, so that we look at a structure that helps us to populate our schools once again because learners are there. It is just that they have not been accessing and factors that are holding learners from joining school---

The speaker (Hon. Kingi): Next is Sen. Beth Syengo.

national schools are flooded with students. There is overcrowding in most of our national schools as we are talking and we need to get a policy statement on that, on whether there was a shift or what really happened.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am a Member of the Standing Committee on Education where you will direct this Statement. I want the House to know that we have had a very difficult time trying to get the Ministry of Education to face the committee. This question demands that we not only get a detailed report from the Ministry but also an address. If we get stuck, we will need to escalate and get the Cabinet Secretary to come to the House, so that we address it.

The school in Nakuru that had a fire incident experienced a stampede because the number of students in Grade 10 were double the expected number. Some of them came out and died. We know that most of the national schools have been overcrowded this year, 2026. So, we need to really look at this properly, so that we are able to resolve it properly.

Finally, I would like to touch on the Statement from the Senator of Baringo County. As we talk about compensation, we need a more long-lasting approach to human-wildlife conflict. It is possible for wildlife to be confined. I do not know where, in this age, that solar has been used for electric fencing and why the KWS cannot use electric fences to make sure that animals do not leave the park. We are known for animal parks and we do not want to reduce them. However, we need to protect the animals within and to make sure that they do not come out and destroy human beings or plants.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I support the Statements.

These young people should be able to survive anywhere in this earth. So, please come behind the tents, we will give you the capacity.

Honourable Speaker, on the matter of wild animals, it is very easy. We see this country marketing the wildlife sector passionately. In fact, next week we will have people coming from across the world. I am party to journals which will be put in the bags to tell people how good Kenya is in conserving wild animals. However, it is quite a saddening experience to hear an honourable Member saying that Kenyans are dying. However, the people protecting wild animals do not care about human life. We have choices in life, either to defend ourselves or to defend wild animals.

We can protect animals like buffalos because we can milk them. However, we will deal with the ones that are killing our people. We will deal with them if Government agencies who are supposed to do their work are not willing to do it.

Honourable Boni, I know of good milk and I can take you where it is found. Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Finally ---

Statement to every place in the country and resolve the problem. That is what Usawa is all about.

MOTION

ADOPTION OF REPORT ON PETITION ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN LAKE VICTORIA

1. (1) Ferry transport remains the sole and critical link between Mbita, Mfangano and the mainland. The absence of a public ferry after the suspension of ferry operators disrupted access to essential services and forced residents to rely on costly, unsafe and private transport.
2. (2) Although the Government initiated procurement of a public ferry, implementation has been significantly delayed with delivery projected for July, 2026, more than three years after the initial budgetary allocation in Financial Year 2022/2023.

1. (3) The project cost increased substantially following its takeover by the KPA from an initial allocation of Kshs300 million to an estimated cost of Kshs1 billion with the eventual contract signed at Kshs766 million exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT) and finally,
2. (4) The proposed second ferry for which Kshs300 million had been provided in Financial Year 2023/2024 and procurement planned for the second quarter was not procured due to budgetary constraints.

Further, the ferry under construction is intended to serve multiple Lake Victoria routes rather than being dedicated to the Mbita-Mfangano routes. Therefore, it may not adequately address the residents need for reliable connectivity.

Mr. Speaker Sir, therefore, the Committee recommends that-

1. (1) The Ministry of Roads and Transport in collaboration with the KPA and the KMA, within six months of tabling of this report, operationalise the new public ferry currently under construction at the Kisumu Shipyard Limited and deploy the same to improve transport services between Mbita and Mfangano routes.
2. (2) The National Treasury and Economic Planning ring-fence the Financial Year 2026/2027 budget to ensure completion of the Mbita and Sena piers as well as the rehabilitation of the associated ramps and jetties at Mbita and Mfangano and KPA to ensure implementation works are completed and submit progress report to the Senate within six months.
3. (3) Finally, the County Government of Homa Bay in collaboration with the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the National Treasury and Economic Planning provide adequate budgetary allocation and initiates the procurement of a second ferry in the Financial Year 2027/2028 to secure a reliable and substantial mode of public transport between Mbita and Mfangano Islands.

Mr. Speaker Sir, before I conclude, I wish to commend the Members of the Committee for their dedication and commitment through the consideration of the Petition.

My sincere appreciation to the Office of the Speaker and the Clerk of the Senate for the support accorded to the committee in the discharge of its mandate. The committee also extend its gratitude to the petitioners and stakeholders who participated and made valuable submissions that facilitated the expeditious consideration of this Petition.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you and I beg to move. I kindly request my colleague Sen. Eddy Gicheru to second.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

The dream for having this kind of facility in this area was also shared very closely by Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. The biggest issue that the petitioners sought to get from this Petition is on human rights. If you look at what is happening between Mfangano Island and Mbita, you will find that ordinarily, there should be a road there. What happens is that a number of services that have been developed in that area have happened in the mainland. That is Homa Bay County in general starting from Homa Bay Town all the way to Waondo, Kaugege and lastly in Mbita where most of the facilities that you can talk about have been developed.

If you think about great schools and healthcare facilities, they are found in the mainland areas. If you think about trade routes, so that things that are produced in places like Mfangano, Remba and Takawiri Islands can have economic value, they must all be transported to the mainland. In a country that has made strides like Kenya, it should have been an automatic thing that then, the people who live in Remba, Mfangano, Sena as well as Takawiri actually have a road linking them to the mainland. The quest by the petitioners was that where there is lack of capacity to build a main road between Mfangano and Mbita, then we have a dedicated ferry.

There is a ferry being built in Kisumu shipyard right now that will be offering services across the lake. It will be doing what I can call a matatu service. It will be leaving Kisumu to go to Mbita, Mfangano, Sena and Remba. Sometimes, it will going all the way to Busia and even go to where I come from, Mihuru Bay, Sori and Kachola in Migori. It even has the potential to go to Migingo Islands. However, that “matatu” does not give the people of Mfangano their right to a road between Mfangano and Mbita.

That is why we agreed with the petitioners that it will only be just for us to fight for them to get a dedicated ferry which is equal to having a road. That dedicated ferry should leave Mbita to Mfangano and Mfangano to Mbita at any time of the day since Mfangano Island is one of the biggest islands in the lake and some of the best fish actually come from Mfangano Island.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the worst thing that I have seen in that area is the people who provide alternative transport such as water buses and Mbita Ferry Services to schools, for example, overcharging the people of Mfangano. Can you imagine that a simple fisherman pays Kshs250 in the morning and again Kshs250 in the evening for their child to go to Mbita to access education? In a country where education is free, you are paying Kshs500 a day for your children to access education on this other side and again paying Kshs500 a day for your goods and services to access the market in Mbita.

While we appreciate the fact that the President has done a very good job of having this omnibus ferry that will be doing a matatu service in the entire lake region, as a Committee, we still insist that the best justice for the biggest island in that lake, which is Mfangano, is having a dedicated ferry. That is why we have recommended that if it is possible, the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic should dedicate some resources to the Ferry in this financial year. In conjunction with the County Government of Homabay, the resources should complement the work the President has done to establish that ferry service between Mfangano and Mbita that is going to be launched sometime in December. This will not only help the people of Mfangano island, but also many people who are doing lake tourism in Victoria.

I remember recently when my friend, Sen. Sifuna, who is not in the House now, spent a lot of his time in Homabay County; somewhere called Rusinga Island. You may go to Rusinga Island but you have another option of going to Takawiri Island which is just on your way to Mfangano. Even when you get to Mfangano, the other side of Remba has very nice waters that you can enjoy and have some good time there.

Having a dedicated ferry in that area will not only be an issue of helping our day- to-day routine work for the people in Mfangano, Mbita and those islands adjacent to Mfangano, but it will also be a very big boost to the tourism sector of this country in the lake region. Therefore, I urge the House to support this report. We have done well in making sure that the omnibus ferry is built. However, I think that it will be very important that this House champions for a dedicated ferry from Mfangano Island.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, since I want to hear the thoughts of my colleagues in this House, I will end it there by appreciating the Members of this Committee that really worked hard to ensure that there is integration of the Island's and mainland’s infrastructure and dealing with the economic stagnation that we have seen in the area of Mfangano and Takawiri Islands due to lack of a ferry. I hope that the House will endorse this report, so that the Ministry can take the necessary action to ensure that the ferry eventually gets to Mfangano alongside the omnibus ferry being built in Kisumu.

Thank you.

PAPER REPORT OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION CASH DISBURSEMENT SCHEDULE FOR FINANCIAL YEAR (FY)2026/2027

NOTICE OF MOTION

ADOPTION OF REPORT ON THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION CASH DISBURSEMENT SCHEDULE FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2026/2027

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the County Governments Additional Allocation Cash Disbursement Schedule for the Financial Year 2026/2027, laid on the Table of the Senate on Wednesday, 11th November, 2026, and that pursuant to Section 17(7) of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act and Standing Orders No. 189(3), the Senate approves the County Government Additional Allocation Cash Disbursement Schedule for Financial Year 2026/2027.

Thank you.

PAPER REPORT ON CONSIDERATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AMENDMENTS TO THE ELECTIONS (AMENDMENT NO.2) BILL (SENATE BILLS NO. 29 OF 2024)

(Question proposed) Hon. Senators, the Floor is now open for debate. Senator for Nandi County, Hon. Cherarkey, you may proceed.

what he never did when he was the president. He cannot be lecturing us on how to run this country while he is suffering from hung over.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the former President must be told off because it is during that time that the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) did not reach Nyamira. It is under President William Ruto that we have Mawawa and Ikonge Stations. We now have Homa Bay Ferry Services. We have affordable houses in Homa Bay and even in Migori and Soi.

what Sen. Omogeni has just stated. If you still insist that there are two stops, then you may have to either substantiate now or seek to substantiate at the next sitting, to the fact that indeed, there are two stops as opposed to what Sen. Omogeni is alleging.

1. 2.30 p.m. those two facts, that Ikonge and Mawawa are designated stops of SGR that the former President left somewhere in nowhere and now we are doing it up to Uganda. In conclusion, in the interest of time, on this issue of the second ferry, the County Government of Homa Bay must also budget with the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning. Sen. Eddy, who is a close ally of the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Hon. John Mbadi Ngongo, to ensure that they get adequate funding because the money sleeps in Homa Bay. What we are saying is that we need development across the country and that has been the clarion call, even in Kilifi, where Mr. Speaker comes from; Nyamira, Migori and where the other day we were headed to Mwanza for some wedding, we must develop all those areas. So, when I hear somebody like a former President trying to lecture us, even Kenyans today are asking where the former President put the money because in four years, President William Ruto is doing the Rironi-Mau Summit road. I also challenge the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing to visit that road because somebody we impeached in this House is telling the country there is not even a wheelbarrow and yet, the first level of tarmac has been put on the Rironi-Mau Summit Road. Even from Wajir, Modogashe to Isiolo to Nairobi, the road is being done. The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is being extended. The very same services are being done from Mombasa to Homa Bay.

Madam Temporary Speaker, the former President must tell us: He borrowed from Kshs1 trillion to Kshs10 trillion - what did he do with the Kenyan money? Even the World Bank reports found - and it is good the Senator for Narok is here - that the SGR was inflated out of corruption under the watch of the former President. He is trying to lecture us recovering from hangovers.

We must be told us what he did when he was in government. If he had fixed the issue of ferry services in Homa Bay and at that time, there was a handshake, we must ensure that we fix it once and for all. We cannot be lectured. We can never allow this country to leave any part of this country out.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I have heard you saying usawa ni sawa. We must ensure there is equity and equality of development across the country. Whether you come from Busia, Kisumu or Western, you must get equality in terms of services. Therefore, as we push for ferry services in the Coast, we must ensure the people of Homa Bay are able to get that.

The Ministry of Roads and Transport should also ensure public safety. We remember when there was an accident involving ferry services in Mombasa. I know the Chairperson of Roads, Transportation and Housing is aware because he has links in that region. It was bad. So, he must ensure there are public safety standards within those ferry services that we see in that region.

Finally, on the issue of ferry landing sites, I have indicated earlier that this 54- kilometre Mfangano Island Ring Road must ensure--- I want to confirm to the House, and the Senator for Migori knows this, that this has been budgeted for. There is budgetary allocation for this and many people are not aware.

In conclusion, as the House readies for other business, there are more than 30,000 residents who depend on these ferry services. Those are residents of Mfangano, Takawiri, Remba, Nyateko, Rusinga and Ringiti Islands. If we are able to fix the issue of Kenya Shipyards in Kisumu, we will ensure that there are many routes across Lake Victoria, such as Kisumu, Kendu Bay, Homa Bay, Muhuru Bay, Mbita and Mfangano, and they will also be dedicated, instead of just being dedicated to Mbita and Mfangano routes.

I commend the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, led by our sister, the broad-based child of the House, Sen. Hamida Kibwana. I am happy, I just saw the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader today in Kisii, and the turnout in Kisii has confirmed that the re-election of President William Ruto is more than confirmed.

I heard what Senator Ledama said, that he wants to be President in 2032, but he has not talked to some of us, so that we can know what happens. But the message in Kisii is to ensure usawa ni sawa in terms of development. I thank the people of Kisii for the warm welcome to the President for the three days.

I know there are people going on Sunday to do firefighting, but now that there is the broad-based government, the Kisii region, Gusii land, both Nyamira and Kisii, will vote overwhelmingly for President William Ruto. Of course, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary will be taken to the World Bank or the United Nations, so that he can continue serving at that level.

With those remarks, I commend and congratulate the Committee. Thank you, I support the report.

I support the Committee's recommendation that the people of Mfangano deserve a second ferry.

Madam Temporary Speaker, these things are done incrementally. You know, when you are a wise leader, when you take over power, you appreciate what your predecessor has done. I always tell people that we did not start doing tarmac roads yesterday or this year. We saw roads being built when President Moi was there. In fact, I never saw, even one day, President Moi come to Nyamira or Kisii to launch or open a road. But I know the Government was working. Roads were being built. President Kibaki was in office. We never saw him. I do not think he even visited Nyamira at one time. But we knew that the President was there and he was working.

So, it is not a must that for you to demonstrate that you are working, you go to a region and stay for four days. In fact, the money you are spending in staying in that region for four days is enough to build many roads and many schools, as I speak. So, let us not blow our own trumpet. You know, the Swahili say kizuri chajiuza kibaya chajitembeza.

On the issues of politics---

Sen. Mandago, please take your seat. In my understanding, I did not hear any comparison about costs of any roads and the HANSARD can confirm. You can come and confirm on the HANSARD. Once you confirm, I will actually give you the Floor.

work hard in the National Assembly and ensure that my constituency has enough money for the roads to be constructed. That is their work.

If we have a Member of Parliament for Mbita Constituency who has seen this recommendation about the need for a second ferry, the right forum to address that problem is the National Assembly, not a political rally. We are also devaluing the prestige and relevance of this House. We must do the work we were appointed to do. We want to leave the President to fight corruption and ensure that we have institutions capable of fighting corruption, so that when we send money to counties, it does the work it is intended to do. We want to ensure there is fair taxation in the country, so that Kenyans are not overtaxed. That is what we want to see as a country. The late Hon. Kibaki told us that we do not need to go out there making declarations. We can sit down as a country and plan how we want to move forward.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I urge the country to address the serious problems we are facing. Issues surrounding the cost of living are very sensitive. You saw what happened to Trump in the United States of America (USA). The debate there was not about how many roads he had constructed. It was about the pain in the pockets of Americans and how it is impossible to live comfortably because fuel costs had skyrocketed. Those were the debates.

Many Americans were saying they cannot make ends meet and that is what I am challenging my colleagues here. What we need to do for people is to address the issues around the cost of living and health care. We should make governors to take responsibility on the health of our people, so that when we go to hospitals, we are treated and there is medicine in hospitals. We should deal with the issue of corruption. I agree with the Senator for Nandi County. It cannot be business as usual when the World Bank is telling us that we have lost Kshs114 billion because of pricing of the construction of the Standard Guage Railway (SGR). I mean that should be of concern to us. The money we are looking for here, it means it was stolen and if there was that of pricing, that money went to somebody's pocket somewhere. We need to know who that person is and that is why we should come in as Members of Parliament. We seek for accountability.

When it comes to issues of elections, Kenyans will decide in 2027. If Sen. Cherarkey thinks President William Ruto will win in 2027, it is good. It is a nice wish, but let the elections come. You will see the thinking of Omugusii nation in August next year.

(Sen. Cherarkey spoke of record) Yes, but we will speak through the ballot. We will not speak through you as we will speak through the ballot.

I commend the people of Kisii. We have not seen any instances of violence and I want the whole country to be like that. When you come, we retreat, we listen to you and when we go back on Sunday to tell our people the truth; we also do not want to see violence. The way we have been gentlemen, the President has gone round for the last four days, when we go back, we want the same from your side. That is the country that I wish to see myself as the Senator of Nyamira.

We do not need to fight anybody who is coming to sell his agenda. You come and sell your agenda and go. Another one comes, sells his agenda and he goes. That is how it should be. It is a democracy. Then when elections come, we speak and do so loudly. My good friend, Sen. Cherarkey, you will see how we shall speak in August. It is not what you are telling us. We will tell you how we shall speak. So, over this weekend, we are also going back to tell the President the problems that our people are facing and what we expected him to address and which he has not addressed.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I support this report by this committee and I hope that the good people of Homa Bay will get an opportunity to get a second ferry, so that they can enjoy doing their trade. They are my neighbours and I wish them to lead a comfortable life. Tomorrow, my good friend Sen. Cherarkey, I will be in this House at

1. 2.30 p.m. as you substantiate on these allegations of two stops for SGR in Nyamira. I am telling you as the Senator for Nyamira that does not exist. I thank you Madam Temporary Speaker.

congratulating the President through the Senator for Nandi for abusing management of public funds.

Madam Temporary Speaker, let me tell colleagues who have been able to go to Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, to see how waterways are used. Waterways are a major source of cheap transport. Waterways are a major source of income through tourist attractions. I challenge the Governor of Busia County, my kid brother, Hon. Otuoma, and the Governor of Homa Bay County, my distant cousin, Hon. Gladys Wanga, to think twice.

It is possible for us to introduce transport in the waterways, so that people doing business and traveling from Sikulu Island to Sio Port in Busia, to Port Bunyala to Usenge, to Dunga Beach, to Kendu Bay, to Homa Bay, to Mbita, to Sindo, to Njandiwa and Muhuru Bay, and eventually into Tanzania, would be making use of our waterways, so that we do not just look at Lake Victoria as a place for fishing.

I am glad that the Senator of Homa Bay is here; a mind I respect because I follow your pronouncements. This is the discourse we need in this in this House. In fact, it should not be this Parliament struggling to make recommendations for purchasing of a second ferry. It should be the governor of Busia and the governor of Homa Bay creating the budget to do what I have spoken to. If you keep on waiting on this mongrel called Broad-Based Government, which is unconstitutional, you will not go anywhere because the mongrel depends on mismanagement of budget.

Lawyers can you relax; a doctor of medicine cannot possibly want to teach you constitutional issues. Let me make my reading; Kenya is watching us. Sen. Cherarkey, your colleagues in the profession are watching you and listening to you. Sen. Veronica, relax.

What happened to the minority in this House? What became of the majority? Today, the people who were in the minority are in the majority and the ones who were in the majority are in the minority; that is what I call mongrel.

(The Clerk-at-the-Table consulted with the Temporary Speaker)

So that Sen. Oketch Gicheru can understand clearly, let me now speak to the meaning of mongrel in English. In English, a mongrel is an animal that is a bred from uncertain indeterminate species. If it is a dog, you do not know whether it is a dog or not. In other words, it is scientifically called mutt.

In 2022, we went to Kenyans to vote for us and they gave us an opportunity to lead this country. They did not give us an opportunity to come to Nairobi and start eating. It is out of the eating that the Government is not delivering; university students are not in school because they cannot afford the so-called new funding model.

Sen. Eddy, you can explain. Senators, please log in afresh.

Hon. Senators, you can all speak. Order, Sen. Korir, can you substantiate about my being paid or I will rule you out of order. Kindly go on record and withdraw what you have said.

claims and instead of indulging him, you have given him more than 10 minutes and he is just dancing, he has taken us to I do not know, which land, speaking strange languages. If he cannot substantiate the allegation that he made on the Floor of the House that the Government is a mongrel, you know what he needs to do. I think that is what is making Members unhappy.

the Senate, the matter would be pursued and the people of Mfangano would finally get a ferry. I am so happy to report that as we speak, as we discuss this Petition, the ferry exists and it has been called Nyar Suba, meaning the daughter of Suba. If you go to the shipyards in Kisumu, it is a large majestic ferry that will carry vehicles, people, goods, hopes and aspirations of the fisher folk.

I thank the Committee involved because this Committee of the Senate visited Mfangano Island twice. Recently, the Committee went to Mfangano and I think earlier on when the Petition was still fresh, the Committee went to Mfangano and met the petitioners and stakeholders. Today, we will confirm to the people of Mfangano that when you bring a Petition to the Senate, things happen. Action is taken because this ferry, were it not for the steadfast oversight, the day-to-day enquiries, questioning that the Senate has been putting, perhaps it would not have been delivered in the time in which it has been delivered.

Madam Temporary Speaker, as I thank the Senate, the relevant committees, the petitioners, the Mfangano Development Forum, I want to say that this ferry is not the end. For us, this ferry is a means. It is a means to integration. It is a means to being part of this country called Kenya. The people of Mfangano for a long time also spoke the way the people of Northern Kenya speak, that when they come to Nairobi, they have come to Kenya.

It was easier for them to go to Uganda because if you are in Ringiti or Remba Island, the Ugandan border is just--- you know, you can swim to Uganda. They related with Uganda more than they related with Kenya. The FM radio stations in these islands are Ugandan radio stations. The mobile cell phone networks are Ugandan cell phone networks. Today, we are confirming to the people of these islands that they belong to a nation called Kenya. It is not just the ferry that we have been able to get.

The piers and ports that are required for the ferry to land have been constructed. If you come to Homa Bay town, the Homa Bay pier is shiny. I know some people do not like shiny things, but it is shiny. It is very nice. It has warehouses, offices and has modernised that place where previously women used to wade in the mud to rush to the oncoming boats, so that they can get fish.

Today, it is a distinguished, properly organised, decent place where the lights are on at night, where it shines at night, and the women who used to ply their trade, they are selling fish, have been moved to a state-of-the-art fish market. They are now selling their fish and their ware, in dignity.

Madam Temporary Speaker, the pier in Mbita, at the last budget proclamation, the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning made commitments of financial allocation to ensure that the pier in Mbita is also upgraded, so that this ferry can be able to dock there. The pier in Sena, in Mfangano Island, has also received budgetary allocation.

We are confident that it is not just another allocation on paper. We have seen that in the past three years when we joined the broad-based Government, we have had a partner, we have had a Government that when it says it will do something, it does it. I am not speaking out of political rhetoric, I am speaking out of real-life, lived experience. When we brought this Petition on 18th October, 2022, as I have said earlier, we had given

up. We had said that as a region, perhaps one day we will even try to secede and go back to Uganda where we came from.

It took the Government of William Ruto to reassure us, to make us feel like we are part of this Republic. In Mfangano Island, we never imagined that we would ever have a ring road running around it. Today, the Mfangano Ring Road is complete, we have a budgetary allocation to start tarmacking a section around Sena Market. Some of us never imagined that the beautiful Rusinga Island would have tarmac. Today, the Rusinga Ring Road has nice, good tarmac, well-marked roads. I congratulate the contractors, because the roads and drainage are done well. The President was with us to open it. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is not just the ring roads on the islands. If you go to a part of Homa Bay County called Ndhiwa, we are now working on what you are calling the Gor Mahia Ring Roads. Since the President launched that road one year ago, construction has commenced. It is not theory. It is not something hypothetical. I was in Ndhiwa last week on Saturday and Friday. I witnessed the Gor Mahia Ring Road and the progress being made around Magina Market. You can see the workers on site.

Madam Temporary Speaker, this is just one county, Homa Bay. If you move away from the Gor Mahia Ring Road, you will find another project called the Ojijo Oteko Ring Road. Ojijo Oteko was a freedom fighter in this country. He founded the Kavirondo Taxpayers Welfare Association. Ojijo Oteko started fighting the colonialists around 1910, before some people got onto the train of fighting colonialism. The President came and we launched the Ojijo Oteko Ring Road. Contractors are already on site. If you go to a centre called Njeri in Homa Bay, the tarmac is already there and you can drive on it.

Madam Temporary Speaker, if you come to what were called the Yemen roads, because we recently had visitors in Homa Bay County who said that Homa Bay looked like Afghanistan, that Homa Bay looked like Yemen. As a leader from Homa Bay, I did not feel offended. It exposed the injustices that have been meted upon our people over the years.

Those who laugh at us are people who have roads in their backyards. They step out of their houses onto tarmac roads. They do not imagine the kind of injustice that exists in this country, where an entire constituency can remain without a tarmac road since independence. That Yemen road, the road that was ridiculed, is today being tarmacked, thanks to the Broad-Based Government.

Madam Temporary Speaker, Suba South Constituency did not have a single inch of tarmac road. Today, there is tarmac crisscrossing the constituency like spaghetti. There is tarmac coming from Luanda to Kanyakiamo. There is tarmac coming from Sindo all the way to Sori. There are roads crisscrossing the constituency. We have more than 200 kilometres of tarmac road projects that are ongoing, not on paper and not under procurement, but being implementation.

Madam Temporary Speaker, maybe people from other counties may have our own perceptions. However, since this Motion is about Mfangano and the people of Homa Bay, I want to tell you that the depression we had in August, 2022 we, the people of

Homa Bay, needed to go to therapy. We even needed psychiatrists because we had suffered for a long time.

Our therapist came in the form of William Ruto. Our psychiatrist came in the form of William Ruto, who did what no other President had done. He set foot in Homa Bay. The first time he came to Homa Bay, we resisted. We stayed away because we were suspicious of his intentions. We were still smarting from the electoral defeat. He did not give up. He came again and again and again. Today, when you drive around Homa Bay Town, you will see that the urban roads have been expanded. Homa Bay looks like a town that can become a city. The past Presidents did not care. We had Presidents who never set foot in Homa Bay. The only time they came was during campaigns. They never came for a working tour.

Today, we have a State Lodge in Homa Bay, the seat and residence of the Presidency in Homa Bay Town. Today we have Raila Amollo Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay. Today, Homa Bay has the capacity to host a Devolution Conference, which many of us attended. Today, Homa Bay has the capacity to host Madaraka Day and other national celebrations. It is not just Homa Bay. No one ever imagined that Wajir could have a proper stadium or host national celebrations.

Madam Temporary Speaker, therefore, I subscribe to the inclusivity agenda. That is why I support the current Presidency because this administration is giving us the means to optimise our potential as a region. Just yesterday, the tender notice for the Lake Victoria Ring Road was put out. You do not know how this project is going to transform our lives. Not just the lives of the people of Suba, Homa Bay or the Western region, but the lives of all Kenyans. It is going to open up a gold mine. It is going to open up the potential for the benefit of all Kenyans. We are talking about more than 700 kilometres of tarmac road, more than 700 kilometres of fibre infrastructure and numerous ancillary facilities, including schools, markets and utilities. The loan has already been secured and we are sure that the project will be implemented.

The Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is also making its way to Kisumu. Again, this is not a favour to the people of Homa Bay. All of us are repaying the debt Kenya took to construct the SGR. Therefore, when the SGR becomes economically viable, it will not only benefit members of a particular political party or the Broad-Based Coalition. It will benefit every Kenyan. Yes, we are repaying and bearing the cost, but let the SGR be financially viable.

Madam Temporary Speaker, finally, I want to thank the Senate and the relevant committee. I also want to thank the national Government and its cooperation arrangement with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party for making sure that every part of Kenya is considered a legitimate part of this nation and for ensuring that the people of Mfangano, the fisherfolk, finally have a ferry.

To us, a ferry is not a luxury cruise ship. A ferry is a road. To us, a ferry is not just another shiny project. A ferry means that I can build my house at a lower cost. On the mainland, a bag of cement may cost Kshs1,000, but by the time it reaches the island, it costs Kshs1,800. It is difficult to build schools, hospitals and residential homes. The President and the national Government are enabling us to be at the same level as everybody else in the Republic of Kenya.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I pray that we get a second ferry. There are concerns from island residents about the pricing of ferry services. Those are things we will deal with. There are also concerns about whether the ferry will be franchised to a private operator. That is a small issue to deal with. However, that ferry called Nyar Suba, that shimmering ferry at the shipyard in Kisumu, we wait for the President and the entire nation to converge on the beautiful islands of Suba to launch it and finally say that, at last, the people of Suba and the people of Mfangano feel that they are part of Kenya. That is why we say, “Usawa ni sawa”.

Thank you.

that project has been a proposal from one administration to the next. It is under this administration that eventually that will become a reality.

On the 19th December, Sen. M. Kajwang’, and it is good that Sen. Eddy has walked away because I wanted you to hear this. It will be an extremely special day for you. Put on your best, I do not want to say the things I know that you put on very well, but it will be an extremely important day. I know I have been following keenly this Lake Victoria Ring Road project because it is twinned together with another road, actually, that also serves us between the people of Kericho and the Northern Rift where it reduces our travel time by more than one hour, separate to that particular project. I have followed through the process of what has been going through from here in Nairobi, through the board approvals at the World Bank and now all looks set. By the grace of God, on the 19th December, contractors will be reporting to site to begin that extremely important road.

Sen. M Kajwang’ mentioned it, but recently, when Linda Mwananchi visited Homa Bay, the slay queens that accompanied some of the leaders on that trail, because they come from well-built locations, laughed at the people of Homa Bay, as if there is a crime that the people of Homa Bay had committed to warrant the marginalisation. People could not believe that there are sections and parts of this country where people actually travel and use those kinds of roads.

These are the historical injustices that we must continue to address. I have said that this Petition has come at the right time. When you are speaking about equity, economic justice and ensuring that there is prosperity in the 47 counties, I do not know why some people get unsettled by the phrase “Usawa ni sawa.”

I have seen failed attempts to distort this particular interpretation and say, oh, you know, this means it is an incitement against certain people and certain regions. Nothing could be further from the truth. All we are saying is that the same Government that constructed the Mau Mau roads should ensure that Mau Summit-Rironi Road goes all the way to Malaba and when it gets to Mau Summit, it diverts through Kericho to Sotik, Kaplong’ and gets to Kisii because on that particular road, we are tired of losing people.

We are about to get to December, where roads become busy. Look at the shame that Kenyans have to put through. Many of them sleep on this Nakuru Highway over the years when it comes to Christmas time because of how narrow and underdeveloped that piece of public infrastructure is.

Madam Temporary Speaker, there is no shame in trying to bring equity to the country and it is not incitement against any other region. To the best of our knowledge, the same way other Kenyans cheered when certain regions benefited, albeit unfairly so. I call it unfair because if you are continuing to build more roads, including even access roads sometimes, water projects, last mile connectivity, and these metrics are there to be checked. We have reports from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNNBS) on very basic things.

You remember, in the year 2020, when we debated on the Floor of this House, Sen. M. Kajwang’, when poverty as an index was being used as one of the fiscal determinants of what should eventually go to a county, the pointers were on the Floor of this House. How much distance certain residents of this country have to travel just to get

to a dispensary vis-à-vis other regions, where for every one or two kilometers there is a dispensary, while others have to travel hundreds of kilometers, yet we live in the same country, we are all taxpayers.

I do not think that is a constitutional edict that this Constitution of ours speaks to. It speaks to a country where we all prosper and enjoy the fruits of our labour. We all enjoy what God has blessed us with. Therefore, it is on the background of this particular report that I appreciate all the agencies from the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) and the Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL). This fair is extremely beautiful.

I have had the opportunity to overlook it because I am a frequent visitor to Kisumu, and I have visited the Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL), where it is being put together. That company has done an extremely good job. In fact, I want to believe that from the experience that they have gotten putting together Nya Suba, they will actually do more ferries, which will include increasing transport between Kenya and the rest of the East African Community (EAC).

We were in Mwanza the other day for a wedding, and many of us were wondering why we had to take such long flights as opposed to enjoying just a simple cruise around the Lake Victoria, but these services are unavailable. That is why Kenya Shipyard Limited, from the experience that they have gotten, I want to believe that we can support them to put more ferries on sea, so that Kenyans can enjoy the use of waterways and you do not have to get into buses to get to the rest of the region. We should visit each other and ensure that trade is more viable. This is what this petitioner is saying.

Sen. M. Kajwang,’ I hope that on the day of the launch of Nya Suba, you will find it in you that time and the place to make sure the residents and members of these petitioners actually are on board that maiden voyage to Suba land. You will have failed spectacularly if you do not allow them and we have to make sure that Mr. Daniel Rakoro, together with other members, residents of Homa Bay County, together with his friends, they must be on board that particular day.

This is what Parliament is about. That is why they sent us to represent them here; they speak to us on issues that affect their lives and we respond by doing what this committee has done, but I must continue to point out that it has taken unnecessarily long. I do not know what are the exact dates that have been given for the launch, but it must be in the next few days, so that residents of Homa Bay can enjoy.

Madam Temporary Speaker, you know, we live in a country where sometimes people suffer from selective amnesia. We want to pretend as if certain parts of this country are left behind because of the laziness of its people or the kind of leaders that they elect without the full realisation that without access to power here at the capital, you cannot influence policy, you cannot influence budget.

It is not a miracle that the regions that have produced presidents, for example, are more developed than regions that have not. It is plain truth because successive regimes, one after the other, from Kenyatta one, to President Moi, President Kibaki and President Uhuru Kenyatta, they have continued with this policy, where, as a president, you ensure that you first deliver development to certain regions that either give you political support to the exclusion of others.

It took a bold decision in the formation of the Broad-Based administration to take up Government policy and say any Government project or programme that is implemented, you must implement it in all the 47 counties.

We were here in this Parliament, Sen. M. Kajwang’, you will remember, when President Uhuru Kenyatta tried to launch Universal Health Coverage (UHC), it was only piloted in five counties, it never took off. Compare that to the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) with all its challenges. It is implemented in all the 47 counties. Counties that support the president and those that do not support him, are equally benefiting their public health facilities. The report was tabled for us here in Parliament to see the billions that have been sent back to counties from SHA contribution of all the 33 million Kenyans that are paying together.

When you speak about affordable housing, it is being implemented in Makueni, the same way it is being implemented in Kericho. Previous successive regimes, when we had Government programmes like this, would only be done in a few select counties. That is what we call Usawa Ni Sawa; ensuring that there is equal distribution of our national resources. That is why, today, I was shocked when I saw the former President speaking somewhere, I think it was at a funeral service, trying to say that when he moves around the drinking dens of his village---

First of all, I find it rather embarrassing for a retired President. Other retired presidents spend their time giving public lectures and influencing public thought in the coveted halls of this world. After we have given you the privilege to serve as president of Kenya for 10 years, the only report you can give us is the report that you are picking from chang’aa dens? Surely, President Uhuru Kenyatta can do better than that.

What was more troubling was the fact that he was saying that he can see the way Kenyans are talking and that the country is united. Once you have exited power when you have had the opportunity to do what you could do, sometimes there is better decency in just keeping quiet because every time you speak, you remind people of certain things.

As a coffee farmer, you remind me that the coffee economy had collapsed, that we were being paid nearly Kshs30 per kilo of cherry. Today, we are receiving Kshs150 plus. For those of us that come from the sugar belt, all our factories had collapsed; from Chemilil to Nzoia, Sony Sugar in Awendo and Nzoia in Bungoma. Today, they have roared back to life; they have workers that now receive their salaries on a monthly basis. When farmers deliver their cane to those factories, they get their payment every seven days.

These are things that people from those regions had given up on. Many of them had actually uprooted their trees. If you travel, particularly by air, you will notice the coming back to life of the agriculture economy of that particular region, including Kisumu, your home, where people are trying to come back to BT cotton farming. Things are getting better because of the investment in agriculture.

We have roads that Sen. Kajwang’ is mentioning and the markets that are being put out for women. You can speak about education and remember the challenges that we had during the 2022 general election from both sides of the political divide. There was a near unanimity on the failure of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) education, yet

the people who oversaw it are the very ones that today are lecturing us with reports from chang’aa dens about how things are bad.

Never minding the fact that today as we speak, we have increased the teacher to student ratio to near recognisable academy standards. By adding 120,000 teachers to our public education system, we are ensuring that our children who go to public schools are getting better education by having a recognisable teacher to pupil ratio unlike what was there previously.

There is investment in education by putting up nearly 24,000 laboratories in public institutions. There are institutions where children would see a test tube for the first time during the exam. That and all the things that have been mentioned are now nearly being made a thing of the past. It was unanimous that almost every public university was sinking in debt and at the verge of economic collapse by 2022 when President Uhuru Kenyatta left office. As it is today, thanks to the new funding model, our universities sit on better economic front than what was observed previously.

I could go on and on about every sector of the economy and what this administration has done, picking it up from the pit where President Uhuru Kenyatta left it. Then, he is coming back to us today saying that he has a report from the chang’aa dens; that was rather shameful. In any case, I believe the people of Kenya will have an opportunity to reflect and speak just like Sen. Omogeni said. He has said we will be shocked; I want to tell him that the shock will be on him. He imagines that two and three people gather, taking selfies after drowning their stomachs in meat chops and lamb chops in fancy hotels in this town and speaking to each other in ignorant pride. One is saying that they have 5,000 from this community, while the other one says he has from this other community. It is as if people are potatoes who are just waiting to be directed where to vote by their tribal chiefs. That is politics that is long, long behind us. Kenyans make informed decisions. One thing I know because I am a practitioner of politics in this country and I have gone to the ballot three times. This will be my fourth attempt and, therefore, I know a thing or two about what informs or what goes on in the mind of a Kenyan when they go to vote.

Madam Temporary Speaker, Kenyans can never risk their future. Kenyans are not reckless with the ballot paper. When they get the ballot paper, they make very informed decisions. There will be tremendous shock to those who think that people will queue to vote just because a tribal chief somewhere has eaten samosa and mandazi and signed a deal on their behalf, thinking that this will be enough for the benefit of the community.

I thank this committee for this wonderful Report. I thank you.

Did I say Aaron? Why am I thinking of Allan?

I thank the Majority Leader, Sen. Aaron Cheruiyot for confirming that Usawa ni Sawa; that we should ensure that all sections of the country have equity, with better economic front. I also appreciate all the other colleagues who contributed to this Motion. I beg to reply.

Madam Temporary Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders No.66(3), I request that putting the question be deferred to a later date.

I thank you.

BILL

Second Reading

THE SPORTS (AMENDMENT) BILL (NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 5 OF 2026)

You may realise that we have never had a stand-alone law that can deal with sports manipulation, commonly known within our borders as match-fixing. I want to broaden it because the essence of this Bill to all the issues of sports manipulation that also encompass sometimes what we see in the athletic sports in this country. Wherever we have seen corruption happening in the sports industry---

doping or match-fixing, then the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will deal with such issues as global matters, where the federations may seek to interfere.

If you read Clause 2 of the Bill, it first clearly defines what manipulation looks like. If you do not define manipulation in sports, then you have a big problem. Manipulation of a sports competition, if this Bill is passed, will mean an intentional arrangement, act or omission aimed at improperly altering the result or the course of a sports competition in order to remove all or part of the unpredictable nature, with a view to obtaining an undue advantage for oneself or for others.

This is extremely critical because, once we define manipulation, we can then specifically determine how to deal with offenders who demonstrate any of these manipulative acts. That is why, if you read Clause 3 of the Bill, we are amending Section 54(a) of the mother Act. Under this Clause, we are saying that where there are reasonable grounds---

You will find that the talent that we have in the grassroots, for instance, if you look at the athletics that we keep on importing, there are a lot of young girls and boys who have now defaulted into the idea of not competing anymore in the grassroots. They think that when you compete to the level that is needed in this country, then somehow you might be required to bribe your way to make it to the Olympics or to any global or continental competitions.

So many young people I have interacted with get discouraged where they could find a livelihood. For a sports person in this country who goes to these global, regional or even internal competitions that do give them money, this is their livelihood, yet they get to be met by things like manipulation. You may not have done some doping, but you get eliminated and it becomes a problem.

We need to know that for a sports person in this country, this is an end in itself. Participating and competing is an end in itself. If we do not deal with this issue of manipulation, we will not encourage this grassroots participation of young people in sports at all. Even the worst part of it, we will not be able to protect the most vulnerable among us, if you do not deal with the issue of manipulation, hence the importance of passing this Bill as soon as yesterday.

Apart from that, we need to start thinking about sports, especially where we are going as a country. We need to start seeing sports as an industry where we can encourage industrial growth. There are people who actually do financial investments in sports and there are people who also look at it as a place for growth in terms of their industries. For instance, think about corporate sponsors who are sponsoring our local teams. I have supported Gor Mahia FC for such a long time, but now, I am moving to support Migori Youth because it has now made it to the Premier League, and I used to play for Migori Youth in my younger days. I actually want to appreciate a young man called Abdi Aziz Osman. He is one of those people who I call investors in sports. This is a young man who was just running an M-Pesa shop. When I was in high school, Abdi Aziz Osman would use money from his M-Pesa shop to support the talent within Migori Youth.

At that time, it was not even an academy, and then at some moment, he reached out to me when I was still studying in South Africa. We put our heads together and started this small club called Maita to be able to develop talent slowly and see how we could grow with it. He rose from supporting this organisation to actually navigating his way all the way to the leadership of FKF. Through that, he learned a lot of things that then encouraged so many people to come in and invest in Migori Youth.

Today, Migori Youth is playing in the Premier League in Kenya and it has demonstrated that it can even beat Gor Mahia. It has demonstrated that it can even beat people who have been in the league for such a long time by showing very good performance since they got into the league. You can imagine if the young people in Migori Youth could have been discouraged with an element of manipulation that they cannot make it unless they bribe people or leaders bribe people. We could not have built those talents.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to tell you that I have proudly left being a fan of Gor Mahia to now being a fan of a club that I saw grow. I invested in it. Now, many people have come into it. Politicians have come supporting it. I want to have a few of the

leaders in Migori, who have come to support Migori Youth. Now, we have got so many sponsors. Bansi is now supporting Migori Youth, but when we were starting this Migori Youth with Abdi Aziz Osman, we never thought that we would reach where it has reached today.

That is why it is extremely critical that we protect even as little investors as Abdi Aziz Osman, the same way we protect corporate investors who perhaps invest in this. Some of them are even broadcasters who have spent a lot of media houses' wealth in investing money in making these clubs to grow.

A big part of supporting in this country, and we have seen time without number, is the fan base in this country. When we have got athletics competition in this country or even our athletes go outside this country to compete, you have seen the entire nation rallying behind them. Why is this so? It is because it is the fan-base and fan engagement that actually builds sports.

You have seen how the many Gor Mahia Football Club fans get crazy when Gor Mahia wins or loses, which is the same for the fans of AFC Leopards and my friends from Kisii with Shabana Football Club coming up very strongly. The engagement of fans is what makes sports. However, fans cannot be engaged if they have doubt in the officiating of the sports or they feel there is manipulation in the way the federation is running sports. It is important that we give fans the confidence that the sport that they are supporting is not being manipulated in any way.

Madam Temporary Speaker, we recently passed the Gambling Control Bill in this country. The betting companies also have a way of affecting our sports. In some cases, they even contribute to our economic growth by the taxes that they pay. However, you cannot secure the legal betting ecosystem if you do not deal with the issue of sports manipulation. This is where a lot of manipulation that ends up affecting sports also happens. There should be transparency in the sector by protecting legitimate sport books in the gaming industry and the information shared on these platforms to ensure that there is no manipulation to the benefit of the betting ecosystem, which then can affect real competition.

The reason we are doing all this is to ultimately be able to build a stronger international reputation in terms of sports governance in this country. It is not just in vain; where we do not have strong international reputation in terms of sport manipulation, we can face serious sanctions as a country at a global level. We have a number of times seen our athletes in particular, facing serious problems with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). We have also sometimes faced a lot of challenges with Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Even now, we see that there are problems between the two leaders of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) predominantly. That will end up affecting all the other leaders such as the chairmen of different branches, who are dealing with football in this country.

I call out my brothers; Hussein and Mariga through this platform, that when they were vying, they were a very good pair. I think there is a chance to look at the bigger picture; that the wrangles in FKF could easily affect our country. It could easily bring down the gains that we have made as a country.

Madam Temporary Speaker, hosting an international game such as the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) next year is not an easy one. For the President to work so hard to bring the two global teams; FC Bayern and FC Ajax to play here in January, is not a small thing. The investment that the country has made of over Kshs45 billion to build the Talanta Stadium to build the talents of our young people is not a small thing.

The egos within FKF must call themselves back to order. I do not want to say who is good or who is bad; I just believe that as young people who love sport, they can sit down and see the investment the Government and we, the legislators, are making to build confidence in sports. They can sit down and even work with mediators; they do not even need to go to court over these small issues they are fighting over. They are fighting over a position here and who is controlling which section of the sporting industry within their docket there.

Let them sit and talk as men and sportsmen and then bring confidence in our country, so that we do not face problems with FIFA. The way FIFA works, it does not like third party interferences. FIFA does not want to see us, as Parliament, interfering with FKF. FIFA does not want to see the President going to interfere with FKF. Even courts are seen as third parties in this case. Even police who I saw tear-gassing a voting process when we have a big event coming up next year with bigger responsibility as well.

Madam Temporary Speaker, this is one of those laws that will help us to sometimes deal with these wrangles, such that, if there are specific complaints about specific misgivings in a federation, then this law can help us. Before we get to that point, we need to strengthen legal accountability by the federations and by having governance infrastructure that can appreciate the element of clean sporting and clean competition.

It will be important to know that if you read Clause 4 of this Bill, which goes to amend Section 64(a) of the mother Act, it says that a person who participates directly or indirectly or aids or enables or assists in the manipulation of a sports competition, commits the offences that we have said here and, therefore, that person who commits an offence under this Section shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding three times the value that was the subject of manipulation of a sports competition or Kshs10 million, whichever is higher according to the court.

Madam Temporary Speaker, we are going further to say that they can also face imprisonment of a term not exceeding five years and we are giving the courts the power to sanction that individual with both of those penalties, where need be. Why am I saying this is critical? There has to be explicit criminalisation of manipulation, explicit.

Right now, it is insinuated in the federation that exists but it is critical that we make strict investigations within timelines that are there, within those explicit explanations of those violations and make individuals take individual responsibility. You will not hide behind a federation if you are in FKF or if you are in Athletics Kenya. You will not hide beyond those federations to protect you where you have explicitly committed a criminal offense of manipulation. We must end it.

Madam Temporary Speaker, even if you are running a betting company and you have gone ahead and committed a crime, we will not take it on that company, that the company has committed an offense. It is the person, the individual, who must take responsibility, so that the manipulation can be trickled down to giving power to our

courts and power to our laws to deal with the individuals who severely cause these criminal activities, including the issues of improprieties and embezzlement of funds.

You saw what sports did to us last year. Last year, when the country was in chaos, it is CHAN that brought us together. Remember the way our coach for Harambee Stars worked hard to encourage the boys, put them together and to bring the zeal to sports. All of a sudden, everybody, even people I have never seen playing football anywhere, like my brother Cherarkey, were so psyched up. I saw him going to Kasarani to support the boys despite the fact that he only runs in the gym all the time. Although, he is a very good person in the gym, he does a lot of aerobics in the gym, but he does not know how to kick a ball. You could see my brother, Sen. Cherarkey was the number one fan.

(Sen. Cherarkey spoke off record) Madam Temporary Speaker, protect me from Sen. Cherarkey. I am protecting him.

them, give them fines, suspensions and temporary or permanent bans from handling our sports in this country, or from being in any business of sports in this country.

We will even deregister them, according to this law, where necessary, or cancel their registration and licenses completely. This law is proposing that where possible, if they want to re-register, there are conditions that we have put in this law that can make it possible to re-register if they have gone through all the disciplinary measures.

Madam Temporary Speaker, this is a law that this House should be able to support and make it possible to make very strict sporting sanctions, where people have violated our laws and manipulation has happened. It is very important that we, as a country, must be the trailblazers to make sure that in this region, where probably a team in football has never made it to the World Cup, we can put an infrastructure of good laws and regulations that can bring about cross-border cooperation, that can make it possible to have trust between us and other countries around us.

Uganda plays very good football and sometimes also tries to compete with us in athletics, although we beat them. Tanzania plays very good football and sometimes tries to compete with us in athletics, although we beat them, but we want them now to understand that we can also beat them in terms of putting good laws and good moral fibre in sporting, so that the cross-border cooperation in sport development can happen within the nexus of proper laws and regulations. This is what this Bill aims to bring about.

That is why I urge Senators to support this Bill, let us pass it as fast as possible. Support the President's dream and the Broad-Based Government's dream of having sporting competition in this country being at the highest level and being a world-class country that can have a world-class sporting mechanism and sporting environment. This is especially going into next year when the world will know that Kenya indeed is not only a place of Kipchoge Keino's fast feet, but is also a place of the right-footed and left- footed men and women, who can also kick the ball to the World Cup level.

Thank you. I beg to move and request my brother, Sen. Kajwang', to second this Bill.

Kenya has been banned about three times by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) because the Cabinet Secretary intervened and took certain measures to instill discipline within sporting federations. Therefore, I support this amendment because it defines further offences and puts in place processes through which investigations of those offences can be carried out.

Sen. Oketch Gicheru proposes that manipulation of a sports competition be defined as an offence under the Act and goes ahead to provide procedures for investigation of manipulation of sports. This is something that may have been happening in local competitions. However, if it is not clearly defined as an offence, sometimes offenders or those culpable just get a slap on the wrist because, under our legal system, if it is not defined as an offence, you cannot go to court to have someone convicted.

It is important that we are broadening the offences by defining further offences. I know that this Sports Act will keep being amended because as sports grows and goes beyond the traditional sports, e-sports is becoming big and our children no longer want to kick balls in parks and fields. They want to be e-sportsmen or e-sportswomen. There is a lot of money and sponsorship in that sector. Therefore, we must keep an eye on our Sports Act to ensure that it remains fit for purpose.

Madam Temporary Speaker, again if you look at the intention of Parliament when we came up with the Sports Act, it did a thorough job because this statute established some institutions, which I would call sleeping giants. If you look at the definition of Sports Kenya, you may find yourself asking why we even need a Cabinet Secretary for Sports because everything the Cabinet Secretary is expected to do has been assigned to Sports Kenya.

Perhaps the only thing that the Cabinet Secretary will be concerned about are policy, alignment, ensuring that the two levels of government are able to work together and handling the international relations aspect of sports. The primary operational coordination, management of infrastructure and other related functions have been assigned to Sports Kenya. We must then ensure that we have the most competent and qualified people running these institutions.

Madam Temporary Speaker, there has been a history in this country of making appointees to critical institutions like Sports Kenya to be people who are only politically- correct or correct by virtue of their regions. However, if you look at the powers and functions assigned to Sports Kenya, and if we are serious about promoting sports and creating opportunities for young people to earn livelihoods through sports and not merely participate for leisure, we must professionalise the management, leadership and administration of Sports Kenya.

Madam Temporary Speaker, we must make sure that it is the finest Kenyans, not just with experience in sports, but also those with experience in attracting partners to ensure that we are able to do some sourcing of capital to optimise the sports potential of Kenya.

Just this afternoon, Sen. Cherarkey gave the report of how our valiant girls in Senegal lifted the Olympic rugby trophy and as someone who attended a school where we played rugby and we were the national champions then, it is extremely, for lack of a better word, delicious for Kenya to lick Australia in a rugby game.

The men have rarely licked Australia in a straight rugby game, perhaps with the exception of a few Rugby Sevens, matches but, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa are the global giants when it comes to rugby. So, when our girls are able to turn the tables against the most preferred giants at an Olympic competition, that tells you that there is serious potential that we have not been able to exploit.

If you look at rugby, for many years it was a sport domiciled in former colonial schools, schools that bore names like Duke of York. I do not remember what the Nairobi School used to be called, but at least, Lenana School was Duke of York. Those are the kind of schools where rugby was played. Then we realized that we needed to get rugby out of Nairobi and out of Nairobi School, Lenana, and St Mary's.

When rugby hit Western Kenya, all of a sudden Kakamega and Musingu became the national champions, and our rugby team, then was comprised of a very good mix, not just of Nairobians, but tough boys who had grown up in the Western valleys. That is what we need to do with the women rugby now that our girls have shown that it is possible for them to shine on the pitch.

All this, if you look at the statute, Sports Kenya has a responsibility in ensuring that they give effect to the talents of our young people. Our athletes are now a global brand for Kenya. If you ask what Kenya is known for out there, it will be about our prowess, particularly in long distance.

Perhaps Madam Temporary Speaker, you have come across this situation where you are in Dubai and you are in a taxi being driven by someone from Pakistan, Bangladesh or India. Once you mention that you are from Kenya, they remember some years back when Kenya beat India, Pakistan, et cetera, in some cricket matches. This generation today has no recollection that at some point Kenya was playing at World Cup level when it comes to cricket. What happened to cricket, yet some of those facilities are still there around City Park? Sports Kenya must wake up from its slumber.

Many of the Senators here, when they reported to school, particularly secondary school, one standard requirement was to come with a hockey stick. I believe that many of us or almost all of us went to school with a hockey stick. After four years of interaction with a hockey stick, why can Kenya not produce world record or global champions when it comes to hockey? Was it just another procurement for principals and teachers; that you have to go and buy a hockey stick from their shops? That cannot be the intention of policy.

If you are subjecting every child to go to school with a hockey stick, tracksuit or PE kit - in some schools, they were even told to go with a football - why can we not see the results? Can we see the outcome of that? Again, Sports Kenya has been given in statute a responsibility for coordination and promotion. This Act, and that is why I am saying Parliament played its part very well, establishes a sports fund. It indicates how the sports fund will be financed.

The sports fund is supposed to benefit from lotteries. For the those of us who are slightly older than Sen. Gicheru Eddy and Sen. Cherarkey will remember the days of Kenya Charity Sweepstakes. There used to be a national lottery, and there used to be booths, and there used to be something on TV rolling a drum, where there would be

winners announced and that national sweepstake was a government operation which was raising money for charitable causes.

Today, we have liberalised the betting sector, and we have liberalised it to great effect. Today, it is said that Kshs330 billion is the value of the gambling sector in Kenya, and that number is not even accurate because nobody seems to want to get the accurate numbers. This is because if you get the accurate numbers, it will blow your mind away.

Just see our betting firms sponsoring teams in the English Premier League. Some of them are supporting racing cars in Formula 1. You ask yourself how much money are these firms making. This House must carry out an investigation on the real, accurate figures generated from betting firms in this country because betting casinos is a function of county governments. The proceeds from betting firms must find their way into county governments.

According to the Fourth Schedule of this Constitution, betting, casinos and liquor licencing is a function of county governments yet, we have these brands going global, doing great things and making a lot of money. In fact, it is said that at Kshs330 billion a year, they are making Kshs900 million every day from Kenyans, yet none comes back to county governments and very little of that comes back to the sports fund. Can we not just revolutionise things the same way President William Ruto looked at this sports fund and said, we have had this fund from time immemorial, why can we not tap into it and build a world-class stadium? The evidence is there for all to see. In fact, even if you hate President William Ruto, even if his development has not reached your village, you cannot miss to see the Talanta Stadium.

We thought that a stadium of that size and magnitude would take 20 years to construct because we are used to mediocrity. We thought it was going to take so long that maybe some of us would be old by the time we are seeing it. I am so surprised, pleasantly surprised, that in just about two years, we have a world-class stadium of that stature. In just about two years, the Bomas of Kenya, which was associated with the electoral shenanigans, is going to be a world-class facility. When we go to Addis who have their own convention centre, at least now we can also brag of our own shiny convention centre. Yes, it is shiny; it is very beautiful, but it is going to bring people to this country. Today, the world is going through the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP 31) in Antalya, Turkey, while COP 32 will be held in Ethiopia. It could have been held in Kenya perhaps were it not for an election year. The other handicap was that we did not seem to have a facility that could accommodate the thousands of delegates.

The President is doing all these things and thinking out of the box. Let us make sure that we give effect to this Sports Act, strengthen Sports Kenya, strengthen the sports fund and call the betting firms to order and greater accountability tying it to the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution. If none of our committees is going to make that move, then perhaps, the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) suo moto, will be demanding an accountability and link the proceeds from sports betting to what county governments are getting. I believe that they can provide some money that can be used to improve infrastructure in our counties.

As I conclude, on sports, we have been heavy on infrastructure and building stadia. Unfortunately, most of them are football stadia. I want our governors and any Senator who wants to be a governor in future to ensure that we open our minds. Who said that the only thing we can play is football? There is Javelin, tennis, swimming and even polo. If you told the cattle rustlers of Northern Kenya to play polo on the back of a horse, they might not fail to do it. Let us go beyond the football infrastructure and ensure that we have a holistic approach to it.

Finally, let us ensure that there is an alignment between local laws, our Constitution and international law. Let us give leeway for the Cabinet Secretary or the Government to ensure that where there is disorder in federations, like we are seeing right now in FKF, an intervention can be made by the Government. If Kenya fails to produce a winning team, the person being blamed is the President and the government of the day and so the hands cannot be tied.

Finally, let us ensure that betting, in as much as we dislike it - other countries have embraced it and they are using it more progressively - it does not corrupt our children. Let us make sure that it is redirected back to the fund to build a country where sports talent is perfectly optimised.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I second.

Most of the winners, like Eliud Kipchoge, Amos Kipruto, Conseslus Kipruto, Peris Chepchirchir, and the greatest of all time, the likes of Mercy Cherono, and there is this famous lady whose name is escaping my mind, Tecla Lorupe--- Those are a bit older, she was in the era of the Speaker. There is a younger one.

Sen. Kajwang', my Chairperson, as I allude to the Speaker, you know the problem with FIFA. If we try to strengthen some of these issues, they might burn the country but to protect the dignity, let them just resign and allow Kenyans who are better to run the issue of federation. I will say two things. Even you, Sen. Eddy, have alluded to a bigger problem.

Madam Temporary Speaker, Sir, are you aware that most of these sports federations are Mugabe style? The officials have stayed longer than Mugabe in power. Look at Athletics Kenya. When did they last have elections to elect officials? Look at Kenya Rugby Union. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating corruption allegations, match-fixing and non-payment, and even the Shujaa contract of late 2026.

What are we saying? The federations of sports in this country are threatening the growth of sports because they do not hold regular elections to ensure governance and transparency. They are staying more than Mugabe. The only problem in this country is that everybody focuses on politicians. We are more accountable because after every five years, we go for an election and we accept the outcome. Athletics Kenya, Kenya Rugby Union, FKF ---

Sen. Kajwang', as you have put it very well, these federations are taking advantage of the international confederations that they are under. They are perpetuating corruption, bad governance and killing sports because they know that if question them on accountability, transparency and governance issues, they run to FIFA. When they run to FIFA, they are now being threatened that we will be banned. We must call out these federations and they must know that they are run by taxpayers' money. That is why the Government, through the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, must question the operations of FKF, the issue of Athletics Kenya, Kenya Rugby Union and even basketball. For example, on Kenya Rugby Union, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has been sitting on the file where some of the organisations have been linked to insider trading and procurement flaws. So, I agree with colleagues that sports federations in this country should allow the growth of sports and avoid what Sen. Eddy is trying to fix in Clause 2, on the manipulation of a sports competition. We must begin by fixing the federations. Sen. Eddy, when you fix the federations to be run properly, it will be easy to avoid such match-fixing and manipulation of sports competitions, as you have proposed in the amendment before the House.

Madam Temporary Speaker, we have to appreciate and thank President William Ruto. I am happy with my brother, Sen. Kajwang', whom I equate to the current Solomon. He gives Solomonic wisdom. Have you of late listened to his Solomonic advice, even in the village? He said if we have to work with President Ruto, we will do so in good faith because he showed us good faith before demanding conditions. He even went ahead to indicate that President William Ruto gave four Cabinet Secretaries to the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) without any agreement. That is brilliant, my brother. We are proud. Nowadays, he is becoming more Solomonic and focused.

In the past, maybe because we were not in the Broad-based Government, we had not noticed. He has been consistent in accountability in our committee and other issues. If there is one person that governors do not like in this country, it is the Senator for Homa Bay County, Sen. Kajwang', and the Senator for Nandi County. Even his own governor does not like him because he is very thorough, objective and independent-minded. Sen. Eddy, you must listen where he said we can negotiate with President William Ruto without conditions because he has shown good faith in the future, notwithstanding the ongoing negotiations.

To paraphrase what our brother said on the issue of sports facilities, the President is really trying. Today, the name of Baba, Raila Amolo Odinga - and we still condole with people like Sen. Eddy because I know how close you were with Baba--- Sometime you were in the United States of America (USA) looking at issues of elections and coordinating with him and I know what you are going through since we lost Baba. He was not only a political figure to you, but also your mentor.

Today, courtesy of President William Ruto and all Kenyans, we have the Raila Odinga Talanta Stadium. On the 6th of January, 2027 the Bayern Munich versus Ajax match will happen at the Raila Amolo Odinga Talanta Stadium. I do not know whether you have bought tickets. If you have not, you should look for Sen. Eddy to get you a number of VIP tickets. That is how we honour him because Raila also loved football. If you loved Raila Odinga, you should do what Sen. Kajwang' and Sen. Eddy are doing. This is what Raila would have anticipated, that we fix the sports issues, because Raila Odinga was passionate about sports. You cannot claim to love Raila, yet you are wrecking his own political party, insulting him and celebrating.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I saw the person from your region whom we impeached, the former Deputy President. One of his associates said they were happy that Raila died, yet today, he is pretending that he wants to be like Raila. How can you pretend? It is a shame. If you love Raila, you should speak truth to power like Sen. Kajwang' and Sen. Eddy. It is not about activism. The 10-point agenda, the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report and what Sen. Eddy is doing through the Speaker is to guide the country.

If we fix sports, Sen. Eddy, we will not have young people protesting. They will be playing football, basketball, rugby and doing athletics. They will be playing Ajua and earning money. They will be doing what my chairperson called e-sports. Although I am told that in this city, there are people the age of your sons, 40-year old, who are still playing PlayStation and they have a blue Subaru. I do not know whether that counts as e- sports. However, I know Sen. Kajwang' is better placed to explain because he deals with climate and issues of technology. When we say focus, we want to ensure that we put in place the right mechanisms. Therefore, Sen. Eddy, I want to inform you, and Sen. Kajwang' knows this, that the Raila Odinga Homa Bay Stadium is now operational. Even in Nandi, the Kipchoge Keino Stadium is being opened by December. Eldoret Stadium is being opened. Kamariny Stadium, the historic stadium where Her Majesty the Queen visited, is being---

ADJOURNMENT

Hon. Senators, it is now 6.30 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, 12th November, 2026, at 2.30 p.m.

The Senate rose at 6.30 p.m.