Wednesday, 18th March, 2026 Morning Sitting

Clerk, do we have quorum?

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

Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the quorum bell for a further 10 minutes.

Order, hon. Senators; Sen. Gataya. Clerk, you may proceed to call the first Order.

I have been informed that the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Trade, Investments and Industry will not be in a position to appear before the Senate this morning. We just received his letter. We have also received a letter this morning from the Cabinet Secretary in charge of MSMEs that he will not be in a position to appear before the Senate.

We are, therefore, left with only one question that is directed to the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Roads and Transportation. Clerk, confirm whether the Cabinet Secretary is within the building. I am told the Cabinet Secretary is on his way and should be arriving shortly.

That is the business before us this morning. Instead of having five questions, we are going to have response to only one question. While we wait for the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Roads and Transport, Majority Leader, you may proceed.

Mr. Speaker Sir, before I proceed with this Motion, allow me to register my disappointment with ourselves because we have said, on many occasions, that we need to relook at the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act as we deal with errant Cabinet Secretaries such as the two that were supposed to appear before us and are now pretending as if there is an emergency that has just occurred.

Today, we cannot blame the Cabinet Secretaries. The blame is on the 15 of you in the House. This is because if we had amended that Act and the proper sanctions issued, people would have learnt and would not be playing games as they are now playing. I am not in the mood to whine this morning. The blame is squarely on me and the rest of the 14 of our colleagues. We need to do better.

This is an extraordinary Motion in light of the situation we find ourselves in where all the Members of the Speaker’s Panel are absent on different duties. Therefore, we have to elect temporary speakers to work with you to run the business of the House in the course of the day.

We have consulted with the Leader of Minority and, therefore, allow me to propose the Motion.

I beg to move and request the Senate Minority Leader to second.

I second.

Sen. Mandago, kindly, take your seat. Hon. Senators, this is a procedural Motion which I need not put to the Floor for debate. With your concurrence, I may go straight away to putting the question.

Order, Hon. Senators. The Cabinet Secretary in charge of Roads and Transport is present. Therefore, we will proceed with Question No.026 by the Senator for Kisumu County, Hon. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda.

Are you holding brief?

Yes, I am.

Where is your written authority to do so?

On my phone, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Prof. Ojienda is in court.

Hon. Maanzo, you know the drill here. In case you are holding brief, we need to know that. We do not want a situation where Prof. Tom Ojienda comes to disown all these proceedings.

Sen. Maanzo, you are properly instructed. You may proceed to ask the Question on behalf of the Senator for Kisumu County.

Question No.026

Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. On behalf of the Senator for Kisumu County, Sen. (Prof.) Tom Odhiambo Ojienda, SC, MP, I beg to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport the following Question-

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may now respond. The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport

: Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, good morning. Sorry for coming late. I had sought the indulgence of the Senate Majority Leader. I was held up in a breakfast meeting with various banks on the securitisation of the Road Maintenance Levy Fund

(RMLF)

to support our infrastructural work, which is currently ongoing across the country.

Hon. Speaker, hon. Members, it is my pleasure to respond to Question No.026 raised by the Senator for Kisumu County, Sen. (Prof.) Ojienda, through Sen. Maanzo, as communicated by the letter dated 19th November, 2025, and another one dated 4th March,

Clerk, can you reboot the system?

Sen. Maanzo, do you have any supplementary question?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have two supplementary questions. One is in relation to the latest drainage systems in highways. What is the Cabinet Secretary doing to make sure that when there is unusual rainfall, they mark the spots where highways are likely to overflow? Passengers find themselves in danger particularly on Mombasa Road which turned into a river recently. The second question is: Is the Minister aware that the NTSA regulations of 2016 on speed limits on the highways are now expired?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, take note of those two questions as you take more questions.

Proceed, Sen. Mwenda Gataya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Nithi Bridge in my county is internationally known for fatal accidents. So, people from Tharaka-Nithi would want to know the current status of outstanding cobble works and expected completion timeline for Nithi Bridge reconstruction, given its history of fatal accidents, as I have just indicated.

Sen. Madzayo, if you are not ready, you can take your time.

Proceed, Sen. Beth Syengo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. My question goes to the Cabinet Secretary. Mombasa Road was meant to become a dual carriage. I understand an American company was to do that work. When is it due to be done so that we may reduce accidents?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the issue of accidents on our roads is a big problem. The Eldoret-Mosoriot-Kapsabet-Chavakali Road is very narrow and has continued to cause a lot of accidents and loss of life.

I am aware there is a periodic maintenance contractor on site who only brings murram to the road and nothing is being done. What is he doing, especially now that it is rainy and dark and there are many potholes, especially between Kapsabet and Chavakali- Mbale Road, between Nandi County and Vihiga County, to avoid further loss of life and destruction of vehicles along that road?

I yield back, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Boni, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I would like, before I ask my question, to invite the Cabinet Secretary to respond to this point that the Senator for Kisumu County has raised. I have traveled widely in this country and nowhere in Kenya do you find a structure like the one designed at Coptic, at Kona-Mbaya, at Riat and at Kiboswa, opposite the Kisumu Specialist Doctors Plaza.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, if the reason for demolishing the roundabout at Coptic was because of accidents, the same reason should also invite you to destroy the roundabouts at Kona Mbaya, Riat and Kiboswa opposite the Specialist Doctors Hospital.

My last request to the Cabinet Secretary is to also do a planning for the dualling of the road between Kisumu and Kakamega. That particular section is the most productive part of western Kenya. If we do not dual it, everything we do will just be in vain.

So, what is your question, Sen. Boni?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have asked about knocking out the roundabout at Coptic, which he has done; at Kona Mbaya, at Riat and at Kiboswa opposite the Specialist Doctors Hospital.

I have also asked the Cabinet Secretary whether he is considering the dualling of that section of the road from Kakamega to Kisumu. I added a rider that, that is the most economically viable part in terms of transport, facilitation and infrastructure in the western part of Kenya, combining Nyanza and Western Province.

Sen. Kinyua, you have the Floor.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. My question goes to the Cabinet Secretary. He has indicated to us that the people responsible for the investigation are the police, which is true. However, before the police had concluded their investigation, they went ahead, through the NTSA, and redesigned the roundabout. Now you are telling us you do not have enough resources to do that work. You have concluded your investigation by saying that it was because of the infrastructure that we had this accident. Should the investigation of the police stop because it can end up showing that the reason for the accident was driver’s negligence? What comes first?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Mbugua, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, to enhance road safety management in this country, the NTSA introduced the second-generation smart driving license. Could you apprise this House of the progress in that matter?

Sen. Madzayo, you may proceed. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo) : Asante, Bw. Spika. Bw. Waziri, swali langu linahusu barabara inayotoka Kilifi kwenda Mombasa, inayopitia Shariani na kuelekea juu Pazuri na pia Pingilikani Dispensary. Je, itaweza kutengenezwa ili kuwasaidia watu kwenda na kutoka hospitalini?

Hon. Senator for Kilifi County, the subject matter here is safety in our transport system. So, your question should be aligned with the subject matter. Otherwise, there are so many roads that are incomplete and many hon. Senators would wish to know when they will be completed but that is not the subject matter today; safety concern is.

You may proceed, but it must have that component of safety concerns because that is the main question. So, any supplementary question must then flow from that.

So, you may proceed, Senator Madzayo. The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Madzayo) : Asante, Bw. Spika. Bw. Waziri, kuna barabara ya kuanzia Mombasa kwenda Kilifi, na kuna barabara nyingine pale Shariani. Barabara hiyo ilikuwa inajengwa na ikafikishwa juu kabisa. Je, ni lini barabara hii itatengenezwa ili kufika Pingilikani Dispensary, eneo ambalo linalochukua wagonjwa wengi sana? Wengi wamefariki katika barabara hiyo wakijaribu kuenda hospitalini.

Je, unaweza kutueleza ni lini Serikali, ukiwa hapa, itaangalia jambo hili?

Asante, Bw. Spika. Bw. Waziri, swali langu linahusu barabara inayotoka Kilifi kwenda Mombasa, inayopitia Shariani na kuelekea juu Pazuri na pia Pingilikani Dispensary. Je, itaweza kutengenezwa ili kuwasaidia watu kwenda na kutoka hospitalini?

Hon. Senator for Kilifi County, the subject matter here is safety in our transport system. So, your question should be aligned with the subject matter. Otherwise, there are so many roads that are incomplete and many hon. Senators would wish to know when they will be completed but that is not the subject matter today; safety concern is. You may proceed, but it must have that component of safety concerns because that is the main question. So, any supplementary question must then flow from that. So, you may proceed, Senator Madzayo. The Senate Minority Leader (

Asante, Bw. Spika. Bw. Waziri, kuna barabara ya kuanzia Mombasa kwenda Kilifi, na kuna barabara nyingine pale Shariani. Barabara hiyo ilikuwa inajengwa na ikafikishwa juu kabisa. Je, ni lini barabara hii itatengenezwa ili kufika Pingilikani Dispensary, eneo ambalo linalochukua wagonjwa wengi sana? Wengi wamefariki katika barabara hiyo wakijaribu kuenda hospitalini. Je, unaweza kutueleza ni lini Serikali, ukiwa hapa, itaangalia jambo hili?

Sen. Mungatana, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Kenyans woke up to shocking news that the NTSA had brought new rules that would require instant fining of drivers and motorbike riders, without going to court. The system, as explained by the NTSA, was that cameras are supposed to have been installed on the roadside. If you do not have a seatbelt, even if the police do not stop you, you will pay Kshs500; if you park illegally, Kshs10,000. If you are over-speeding, depending on how many kilometres, if it is by over six kilometres per hour, you pay Kshs3,000 and so on and so forth.

I want the Cabinet Secretary to use this opportunity to tell Kenyans, whether it is the NTSA that makes laws in this country? If it is not, and this Senate and the National Assembly are the bodies that make laws, then the NTSA can only make regulations. Did those regulations pass through the Senate Committee on Delegated Legislation?

I am asking, as a Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Delegated Legislation. Did the NTSA bring those regulations, or are they assuming that they can make laws without passing through the people's representatives?

Mr. Waziri, how did you allow a body under your Ministry to wake up and just abrogate powers that they do not have? When this matter goes to court and the case is lost, it is the people of Kenya who are going to pay that money. I would like the Cabinet Secretary to clarify why regulations are introduced without public participation and without being brought to Parliament. Who granted the NTSA the authority to make laws

Sen. Mandago, please proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I would like to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, because part of the reason we have accidents is the state of the motor vehicles we use in the country, and yet we have a department called Motor Vehicle Inspection. Where are they trained? How regularly do they train? What certification do they have? If there is no proper training, is it possible for the Kenya Institute of Highways and Building Technology (KIHBT) to establish a specific curriculum for motor vehicle inspectors so that we can be confident that those who do motor vehicle inspection have the necessary qualification and certification to certify the roadworthiness of our vehicles?

Finally, allow me to congratulate the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport. Ever since he went to that docket, we have seen equity in terms of development of roads in this country and the distribution of the resources. I also want to say that the move by NTSA is innovative. Notwithstanding the legal challenges that I have undergone, that matter is going to save Kenyans a lot of time they waste running around police stations and even increasing the bribery index in the country.

Thank you, Bw. Cabinet Secretary. You may continue in that direction.

The Senate Majority Leader, please proceed.

Why are people disrupting Sen. Mandago while he is making a very solid point?

No, he is not supposed to make any point. He is supposed to ask the question.

We are here talking about road safety. People like Sen. Mungatana are speaking a lot of English while people are dying on our roads.

That response must come from the Cabinet Secretary and not from a colleague.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, our roads must be saved by all means. It does not matter.

You cannot purport to respond to that question. The Cabinet Secretary will do that.

I am not responding. I was commenting on what Sen. Mandago is saying.

You may proceed to ask your question.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise---

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

You may proceed to ask your question.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise---

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

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, I want to ask a question with regard to several footbridges that were meant to be constructed in Kitengela Town, Kajiado County. The two footbridges would really help with the safety of passengers or even people of Kitengela. Most of the public schools, health centres, dispensaries and referral hospitals are on one side of the road. That means, many people cross the highway between Kitengela Town and more importantly, the Maparasha Bridge in Kajiado Central, which has stalled for many years cutting off the people on the other side from accessing Maparasha Town. What is the problem and why has the bridge not been completed on time?

Sen. Joe Nyutu, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. My question to the Cabinet Secretary is very simple. It relates to the accident that claimed the life of the Hon. Cyrus Jirongo. We have not, to this day, got any account of any passenger that was in the bus that supposedly crashed with Hon. Jirongo's vehicle.

My question to the Cabinet Secretary is; could the NTSA provide a passenger manifest of the bus that collided with Hon. Jirongo's car to avoid speculation because we have not had any account of any of the passengers that were in that particular bus and yet it was a PSV vehicle?

On a point of information, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Nyutu, would you wish to be informed?

I do not want to be informed by a former governor because he may not have any information on this particular---

Very well. Sen. Chute, you may proceed to ask your question.

Sen. Nyutu, would you wish to be informed?

Sen. Mandago, your information has been declined.

He should wait for the torch to stop lighting.

Hon. Speaker, Rironi-Mau Summit Road will cost Kshs1.14 billion per kilometre. It is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) and while the road in Burkina Faso cost Kshs139 million per kilometre---

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

Sen. Mandago, that is why we have the Cabinet Secretary.

Hon. Speaker, Rironi-Mau Summit Road will cost Kshs1.14 billion per kilometre. It is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) and while the road in Burkina Faso cost Kshs139 million per kilometre---

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

Sen. Mandago, that is why we have the Cabinet Secretary.

You know, Mr. Speaker, Sir, if we allow hon. Members to use the Floor of the House--- What Sen. Chute is trying to do is misleading the nation. Under Standing Orders No.105, could the Senator for Marsabit provide the data from Burkina Faso showing that the cost of that road is what he is alleging? That is how the public is getting incited that the Government is not spending money fairly. The Cabinet Secretary does not come here to answer questions on behalf of the Government of Burkina Faso. We cannot allow you, Sen. Chute. In fact, you should be careful that a whole kilometre of road is being done by the Government.

Order, Sen. Mandago. You have made your point. Now, Sen. Chute, you have to substantiate what you have alleged. Either you proceed to do so right now and if you are not in a position to, you know exactly what to do.

Mr. Speaker, Sir---

Order, Sen. Chute. When the Chair is speaking, you keep quiet and take your seat. A point of order has been raised against what you have just said. You have alleged that there is a road in Burkina Faso which is way much longer than the Rironi-Mau Summit Road and it is costing way less than what the Government of Kenya is using to do the road from Rironi to Mau Summit. Now, you need to substantiate that allegation by putting forth evidence that, indeed, first, that the road exists in Burkina Faso. Secondly, it was tendered for that amount in whatever currency so that the country and this Senate could have evidence and facts to compare with in order to come to the conclusion that you want them to come to. Would you wish to substantiate right now? If you are not in a position to, you may proceed to seek to clarify.

Sen. Chute, proceed.

The Chairperson has given certain directions, which you may need to abide by.

That is fine. I have all the evidence and I wish you gave me time to ask the question. If the Cabinet Secretary says it is okay and it is there, then there is no problem. If it is not there, then that is the time I will bring evidence.

You see, Hon. Chute, I have given a directive on this matter.

That is a premature directive, but it is fine. My question is---

Hon. Chute, you are out of order. You either proceed to substantiate or I will ask you to leave the Chamber.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will do that. Give me time. Could I ask my question now?

Are you in a position to substantiate instantly? If not, you know what to do.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, you are being unfair to me because what I am trying to do is---

It is you who has alleged, and he who alleges, proves.

I am not alleging. I have a question and I want an answer to my question. This is question time.

Sen. Chute, you are basically wasting the Senate's time. I have given you a very straightforward---

It is you who has alleged, and he who alleges, proves.

I am not alleging. I have a question and I want an answer to my question. This is question time.

Sen. Chute, you are basically wasting the Senate's time. I have given you a very straightforward---

I will seek for further time.

Good. You may proceed to ask your question.

Order, Senator for Nandi. Sen. Chute, conclude, please.

Thank you. My question is very simple and clear. The cost of doing this road, Rironi-Mau Summit, is Kshs1.14 billion per kilometre. The cost for the Ouagadougou-Bobo Road is Kshs139 million per kilometer. Could the Cabinet Secretary tell us, if the Rironi road is PPP, how is it possible that the road in Ouagadougou is almost three-quarters cheaper?

Sen. Chute, let me guide you. Let me take it slowly, so that you understand. As we speak now, as far as the road in Burkina Faso is concerned, nobody has any facts other than you. To help this House and your colleagues to appreciate your contribution, you need to table evidence that, indeed, one, that road in Burkina Faso exists.

Order, Senator for Nandi. For the Cabinet Secretary to flow with you, he needs those facts. That is why the Senator for Uasin Gishu rose on a point of order, seeking to have you substantiate by putting the facts on the table or by putting evidence on the table on the road that you are alleging exists in Burkina Faso. You can imagine if it turns out that it does not exist.

That is why they want to know if this road is real. Are the facts being alleged true? This is so that they can appreciate your contribution. So, any question touching on that road that is yet to be substantiated cannot fly.

Sen. Beatrice Akinyi, proceed.

Good. You may proceed to ask your question.

Order, Senator for Nandi. Sen. Chute, conclude, please.

Thank you. My question is very simple and clear. The cost of doing this road, Rironi-Mau Summit, is Kshs1.14 billion per kilometre. The cost for the Ouagadougou-Bobo Road is Kshs139 million per kilometer. Could the Cabinet Secretary tell us, if the Rironi road is PPP, how is it possible that the road in Ouagadougou is almost three-quarters cheaper?

Sen. Chute, let me guide you. Let me take it slowly, so that you understand. As we speak now, as far as the road in Burkina Faso is concerned, nobody has any facts other than you. To help this House and your colleagues to appreciate your contribution, you need to table evidence that, indeed, one, that road in Burkina Faso exists.

Order, Senator for Nandi. For the Cabinet Secretary to flow with you, he needs those facts. That is why the Senator for Uasin Gishu rose on a point of order, seeking to have you substantiate by putting the facts on the table or by putting evidence on the table on the road that you are alleging exists in Burkina Faso. You can imagine if it turns out that it does not exist.

That is why they want to know if this road is real. Are the facts being alleged true? This is so that they can appreciate your contribution. So, any question touching on that road that is yet to be substantiated cannot fly.

Sen. Beatrice Akinyi, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I am concerned purely on a matter of procedure. The Cabinet Secretary has heard the question. He has not been given an opportunity because he is supposed to be informed, that the things the Member of the Senate is alleging are false or not. It smacks of an attempt by the Senators for Uasin Gishu and Nandi to shield the Cabinet Secretary from---

Sen. Boni, just take your seat. If anything, Sen. Boni, the question by Sen. Chute is not admissible because it is not a supplementary question. I was giving him all that latitude hoping ultimately, he would coin it in such a way that it comes out as a supplementary question. It has zero concerns of safety, because the subject matter of the primary question is safety in our transport system.

Sen. Chute's concern is the cost of a road which has got nothing to do with the primary question. Therefore, let us leave it there because I ought to have ruled him out of order from the onset. However, I allowed him to continue talking, hoping that ultimately, he would bring out the safety aspect of his question, which he failed to do.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed to respond. The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport

: Let me start with the question regarding the issue of drainage on our highways, which has caused concerns after the flooding that we recently witnessed. What is the Government doing to address this challenge, particularly in our cities?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, we know that under the Urban and Cities Act, the seat of the capital city of Kenya is singled out for the national Government to cooperate with the host county, to work on infrastructure and bring out the character of the capital city. Through that proviso in Section 6 of the Urban and Cities Act, we have lately signed a memorandum with the Nairobi City County Government to work together and address the challenges of drainage, road networks and lighting of our roads in the city.

To that extent, we have a programme that we are currently implementing with the Nairobi City County Government to do that. We are aware that the city has expanded and there are many buildings and paving works. Consequently, the seepage area for the storm water is very limited. We need to expand our drainage and improve various aspects owing to population growth and the great developments in the city. We are working on that, currently, to ensure that we do dimension and work on the kind of drainage that can support our city and mitigate the challenge of floods when we have the kind of rains that we witnessed recently.

Senator Boni, what is your intervention?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I am concerned purely on a matter of procedure. The Cabinet Secretary has heard the question. He has not been given an opportunity because he is supposed to be informed, that the things the Member of the Senate is alleging are false or not. It smacks of an attempt by the Senators for Uasin Gishu and Nandi to shield the Cabinet Secretary from---

Sen. Boni, just take your seat. If anything, Sen. Boni, the question by Sen. Chute is not admissible because it is not a supplementary question. I was giving him all that latitude hoping ultimately, he would coin it in such a way that it comes out as a supplementary question. It has zero concerns of safety, because the subject matter of the primary question is safety in our transport system.

Sen. Chute's concern is the cost of a road which has got nothing to do with the primary question. Therefore, let us leave it there because I ought to have ruled him out of order from the onset. However, I allowed him to continue talking, hoping that ultimately, he would bring out the safety aspect of his question, which he failed to do.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed to respond. The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport

: Let me start with the question regarding the issue of drainage on our highways, which has caused concerns after the flooding that we recently witnessed. What is the Government doing to address this challenge, particularly in our cities?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, we know that under the Urban and Cities Act, the seat of the capital city of Kenya is singled out for the national Government to cooperate with the host county, to work on infrastructure and bring out the character of the capital city. Through that proviso in Section 6 of the Urban and Cities Act, we have lately signed a memorandum with the Nairobi City County Government to work together and address the challenges of drainage, road networks and lighting of our roads in the city.

To that extent, we have a programme that we are currently implementing with the Nairobi City County Government to do that. We are aware that the city has expanded and there are many buildings and paving works. Consequently, the seepage area for the storm water is very limited. We need to expand our drainage and improve various aspects owing to population growth and the great developments in the city. We are working on that, currently, to ensure that we do dimension and work on the kind of drainage that can support our city and mitigate the challenge of floods when we have the kind of rains that we witnessed recently.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, to that extent, the Ministry of Roads and Transport, through the KURA, has set aside some budget of approximately Kshs8 billion to support the Nairobi City County Government to address some of those challenges. This will ensure that we have a design that will address dimensions necessary to uptake the kind of water from rain similar to what we experienced recently.

With respect to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) regulations, in my opinion, the more important question was on the 2016 speed limits expiry. I am in the House with our new Chief Executive Officer for NTSA. I am advised that there is a lot of work currently being done by the NTSA. For instance, they are engaging stakeholders and the standards board to review the speed limit regulations and standards. We are working on that to ensure that we update and ensure that the speed limit regulations are in place.

With regard to the question from Sen. Mwenda Gataya on Nithi Bridge, I confirm, that this bridge, which has been a cause of pain and death in that particular region between Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties, is being designed. We are just finishing the design. We are paying a lot of attention to this. The Deputy President will be going to inspect works that are due to start in earnest on this particular bridge.

We have designed a straight bridge which is 900 meters long and 100 meters high. The bridge is being checked for the various design details and integrity before we can approve and start construction. We have already procured a contractor. The bridge is funded and ground breaking will be done in due course as soon as we sign off the design. The contractor has started mobilising to site. So, a straight 900 meter long and 100 meters high bridge will be a design masterpiece that will be starting construction in earnest in due course.

On Sen. Beth Syengo’s question on the dualling of Mombasa road, I would like to confirm that work is going on. Dualling of highways is important for ease of traffic movement. It will be cheaper to move goods faster and, more importantly, we should be able to bring down the cost of doing business. On the dualling of Nairobi-Mombasa Road, the PPP Directorate, together with the KeNHA have been working on the detailed cost of doing this particular road. We look, more importantly, at value for money and the equity-debt-equity ratios in terms of the investor or the concessionaire. Have they demonstrated capacity to raise the equity? We will then go to the development phase and check things like return on investment to make sure there is value for money. We will also look at are you basically going to charge too much to be able to recoup your investment or is the return on your equity within the reasonable return on investment that are allowable within 10 per cent? That is currently work in progress.

It is important to note that the Mombasa-Nairobi-Nakuru-Malaba Road is the northern corridor that services the landlocked countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This is a very important corridor to the development, not only of our country, but the entire region. So, this is of high priority and we are working on the details. Work is currently going on.

In reference to Sen. Cherarkey’s question, was it on Eldoret-Mosoriot-Mlango, all the way through the city going up to Iten?

reduce or eradicate the loss of lives on this section of Londiani-Muhoroni Road. I will equally follow up on how far we are on funding this particular segment of the road.

Sen. Seki from Kajiado County asked about foot bridges. Let me just take this opportunity to confirm that bridges are a major concern in this country. We do not have enough crossings for our children to use when going to school and other sections of the road. It is a safety issue when children have to cross and run almost 50 metres across a road with three lanes on either side. Therefore, bridges become very important.

More importantly, we are doing a framework agreement to bring in bailey bridges. Bailey bridges can be installed quickly; they are basically military-designed bridges for quick deployment to address the various crossings across the country. Sen. Seki, we will be deploying several bridges across the major highways throughout the country to address the safety of our children and everybody crossing.

On the Maparasha Bridge, let me follow it up to find out why its completion has delayed. Let me confirm that at this stage, we have paid all the pending bills to contractors. If there is any project that has slowed down, it is not because of pending bills. We will be harder in administrative management of the contractors to make sure that they deliver on time. I will follow up on this Maparasha Bridge in Kajiado.

Let me now comment on Sen. Nyutu on Jirongo’s death and whether the manifest for passengers in the bus is maintained. A manifest would normally be captured either when passengers are boarding a bus or through an investigative process. For example, in a case where an accident has happened, were the police able to capture the manifest of those who were in the bus? I do not have the details, but let me undertake to get the details and find out whether there was a manifest. Again, that is a subject to investigation and I think the National Police Service (NPS) investigation is underway. However, I can find out whether there was a manifest.

You know, there would be a manifest if it is a very structured public transport vehicle where people book ahead of boarding. If it is a case with our kind of matatu system, you do know that we do not have a manifest before people board, but, obviously, there should be a manifest after the accident, depending on how investigations have been conducted. I undertake to follow up on that.

Sen. Chute on the concern of Rironi-Mau Summit Road, the great piece of infrastructure that we are developing for the people of Western Kenya. I can take this together with Sen. Beatrice's question on Rironi-Mau Summit. Last week, we visited Rironi-Mau Summit Road with Members of the National Assembly to see the progress of works done. Just to report and confirm that works are ongoing and sometime in September this year, six months away, we will open the Rironi Road all the way to Naivasha to traffic, having dualled it to completion.

Subsequently, the contractor will go down to open the 67-kilometre road, called the A8 South which is Rironi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha. Having completed the upper section, we will go to Rironi-Mai Mahiu-Naivasha and work on that section, which will involve cutting the escarpment and dualling that road. Obviously, when you are building a road through an escarpment, the cost for the kind of work that will go in putting heavy bridges in the escarpment will not be the same as when you are building a road through a geologically flat area.

To, basically, answer that question, we will need to see the kind of geological work that was done in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Once we see the data as directed by the Speaker, we will compare it with the 100, 200 and 32 kilometre roads, not the 175- kilometre road.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, for the information of Sen. Chute, the road we are building is not 175 kilometres, but 232 kilometres because we are also building through the escarpment. More importantly, the kind of geology is one of the things that we will need to look at. We are very keen to ensure that we do not build expensive roads because it takes up the cost of doing business. This will be a dual road and if it is built expensively, there will be no value for money.

I talked about value for money and that is why we do not allow investors to have a return of more than 10 per cent of their equity. This can make our country an expensive destination to do business. In industrialisation, we will not be able to attract industry because we are not a least-cost country and therefore industry will move to other more competitive destinations. So, we are very conscious. Let us see the data from Sen. Chute as directed by the Speaker. We will do a comparative analysis and if there are lessons to be learned, that will be great.

So, Rironi is going on well. On the section from Mau Summit all the way to the border in Malava and through Kisumu to the other side, we have funding from the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). We have received a grant to conduct a feasibility study, which is currently ongoing.

Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. Hon. Members, you know matters relating to roads generate a lot of attention in this House, according to my experience. We have a few other Members who would like to ask supplementary questions. We will be very brief. You know the Cabinet Secretary is also generous with information. He is giving detailed information to Members. We will start with Sen. Olekina Ledama. Just one supplementary question.

To, basically, answer that question, we will need to see the kind of geological work that was done in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Once we see the data as directed by the Speaker, we will compare it with the 100, 200 and 32 kilometre roads, not the 175- kilometre road.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, for the information of Sen. Chute, the road we are building is not 175 kilometres, but 232 kilometres because we are also building through the escarpment. More importantly, the kind of geology is one of the things that we will need to look at. We are very keen to ensure that we do not build expensive roads because it takes up the cost of doing business. This will be a dual road and if it is built expensively, there will be no value for money.

I talked about value for money and that is why we do not allow investors to have a return of more than 10 per cent of their equity. This can make our country an expensive destination to do business. In industrialisation, we will not be able to attract industry because we are not a least-cost country and therefore industry will move to other more competitive destinations. So, we are very conscious. Let us see the data from Sen. Chute as directed by the Speaker. We will do a comparative analysis and if there are lessons to be learned, that will be great.

So, Rironi is going on well. On the section from Mau Summit all the way to the border in Malava and through Kisumu to the other side, we have funding from the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). We have received a grant to conduct a feasibility study, which is currently ongoing.

Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. Hon. Members, you know matters relating to roads generate a lot of attention in this House, according to my experience. We have a few other Members who would like to ask supplementary questions. We will be very brief. You know the Cabinet Secretary is also generous with information. He is giving detailed information to Members. We will start with Sen. Olekina Ledama. Just one supplementary question.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Mine will be very brief. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, let me appreciate you for your diligence in responding to queries.

I have raised this matter with you, but this morning when the residents of Narok heard that you were coming, they flooded my phone with messages. I will read the question so that I can be brief.

Sen. Abass, the Cabinet Secretary got your question.

Proceed, Sen. Sifuna.

Waziri, you are aware of the problems that the people of Nairobi are facing during the current rains. One of the major roads that floods and brings the entire city to a standstill is Mombasa Road. Waziri, there was Kshs9 billion that was given for the repair of that road after the construction of the expressway. Are there any plans to redesign the old Mombasa Road to upgrade the drainage system on that road and all the other national highways in Nairobi, so that we avoid that flooding?

Sen. Fatuma Dullo

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Waziri, most of the roads in our counties are murram roads and every year, during the rainy season, those roads are washed away. Do you have structured mechanisms where, on a yearly basis, you are able to maintain those roads?

Sen. Okong’o Omogeni.

The last time Waziri was here, he promised to erect bumps on Chebilat-Nyansiongo-Metamaywa Road that has been prone to many accidents. Since the time he was here, we have had two near fatal accidents and he had promised that the Government was considering expanding that road by dualling it because of the topography of that area. Could Waziri tell us what progress he has made towards fulfilling the promise that he made when he last appeared before the House?

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Waziri, most of the roads in our counties are murram roads and every year, during the rainy season, those roads are washed away. Do you have structured mechanisms where, on a yearly basis, you are able to maintain those roads?

Sen. Okong’o Omogeni.

is a levy that we collect between Kshs70 billion to Kshs80 billion every year. With the devolved roads and the requirements of Schedule 4 of the Constitution, the courts gave directions to make good the fact that devolution resources follow devolved functions.

Therefore, the Bill is before this House to ensure that the county roads get a share of the RMLF for maintenance of roads, equally, as we have a structured mechanism through that fund. Obviously, we will need more as the infrastructure grows and we will continue to work together.

One of the initiatives which will be taken by the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) is to remove the national highways from the maintenance levy. National highways can maintain themselves through their own generated revenue, through concessioning. Money that has been held by the KeNHA on the national trunk network can go more into the rural roads for maintenance. Those are some of the initiatives where we see more money coming to support this structured mechanism for maintaining our roads.

On Sen. Omogeni’s concern, I need to follow up this. There is no reason why we have not done this. That is the easiest task and we should have finished with that. I will follow up, but on the Chebilat-Nyansiongo Road, that has been programmed for widening because that is a very narrow section and like many other areas, including the Mosoriot Road, on Sen. Cherarkey’s question, we need to widen that corridor and reduce on the accidents.

On Sen. Abass's question on Wajir-Isiolo Road, let me confirm that the programmes on Isiolo-Kulamawe Road going all the way through to Ramo-Mandera Road, we have contractors in all the sections except Modogashe-Samatar and of course, Ramu to Mandera. Those were under annuity, those two sections of the infrastructure, about 143 kilometres were under annuity, but the annuity cost was very high. The bid price we got was about Kshs60 billion for those two sections. We then pulled out of annuity and that has taken time, but we have successfully terminated annuity and we have agreed with the World Bank to take over those two sections. We will be constructing it for about Kshs26 billion compared to the Kshs66 billion that could have been deployed on annuity.

The World Bank has taken off those particular pieces of roads. There will be a board meeting, I am told on 27th of this month. We expect that before we come to Wajir for the celebrations of Madaraka Day on 1st June, we should have contractors in all the segments of the roads from Isiolo to Mandera. So, we are on top of this. It is a great development coming into the region together with social and economic investments along the corridor, Of course, the cost of security that we are deploying to support the contractors in that corridor means we have to do it very quickly because not to have contractors in certain sections whereas we have deployed a Kshs7 billion budget to support security over the construction time means it will be very expensive to construct that piece of infrastructure.

Therefore, I assure the House that we are working on the shortest possible time to basically deliver this infrastructure because it is expensive from a security perspective. Owing to the fact that the World Bank is supporting us, I do not think funding is a challenge. Most of the sections have just started. To construct roads in that section, first, we build camps which are built with bunkers and Sen. Abbas knows that. A constructor's

site is in a bunker for security, so that gets very expensive, but a lot of work is being done.

We have monthly meetings with my colleagues from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the Ministry of Defence to address security issues, because the interplay between the government of where the contractors mostly come from is something that they keep questioning us every so often as to whether their contractors are safe. However, I assure the House that we are on top of this, and by 1st of June, when we go for Madaraka Day celebrations in Wajir County, there will be contractors in those two pieces of sections that do not have contractors, and therefore, accelerate the whole piece of infrastructure to completion.

I thank you, Honourable Speaker.

is a levy that we collect between Kshs70 billion to Kshs80 billion every year. With the devolved roads and the requirements of Schedule 4 of the Constitution, the courts gave directions to make good the fact that devolution resources follow devolved functions.

Therefore, the Bill is before this House to ensure that the county roads get a share of the RMLF for maintenance of roads, equally, as we have a structured mechanism through that fund. Obviously, we will need more as the infrastructure grows and we will continue to work together.

One of the initiatives which will be taken by the National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) is to remove the national highways from the maintenance levy. National highways can maintain themselves through their own generated revenue, through concessioning. Money that has been held by the KeNHA on the national trunk network can go more into the rural roads for maintenance. Those are some of the initiatives where we see more money coming to support this structured mechanism for maintaining our roads.

On Sen. Omogeni’s concern, I need to follow up this. There is no reason why we have not done this. That is the easiest task and we should have finished with that. I will follow up, but on the Chebilat-Nyansiongo Road, that has been programmed for widening because that is a very narrow section and like many other areas, including the Mosoriot Road, on Sen. Cherarkey’s question, we need to widen that corridor and reduce on the accidents.

On Sen. Abass's question on Wajir-Isiolo Road, let me confirm that the programmes on Isiolo-Kulamawe Road going all the way through to Ramo-Mandera Road, we have contractors in all the sections except Modogashe-Samatar and of course, Ramu to Mandera. Those were under annuity, those two sections of the infrastructure, about 143 kilometres were under annuity, but the annuity cost was very high. The bid price we got was about Kshs60 billion for those two sections. We then pulled out of annuity and that has taken time, but we have successfully terminated annuity and we have agreed with the World Bank to take over those two sections. We will be constructing it for about Kshs26 billion compared to the Kshs66 billion that could have been deployed on annuity.

The World Bank has taken off those particular pieces of roads. There will be a board meeting, I am told on 27th of this month. We expect that before we come to Wajir for the celebrations of Madaraka Day on 1st June, we should have contractors in all the segments of the roads from Isiolo to Mandera. So, we are on top of this. It is a great development coming into the region together with social and economic investments along the corridor, Of course, the cost of security that we are deploying to support the contractors in that corridor means we have to do it very quickly because not to have contractors in certain sections whereas we have deployed a Kshs7 billion budget to support security over the construction time means it will be very expensive to construct that piece of infrastructure.

Therefore, I assure the House that we are working on the shortest possible time to basically deliver this infrastructure because it is expensive from a security perspective. Owing to the fact that the World Bank is supporting us, I do not think funding is a challenge. Most of the sections have just started. To construct roads in that section, first, we build camps which are built with bunkers and Sen. Abbas knows that. A constructor's

Thank you for that indulgence, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. The Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Chirchir, knows that I have a lot of respect for him, but the answer that he has given today has fallen short in two material respects. The people of Nairobi are telling me, honourable Cabinet Secretary, that it is not the lack of flowers on Mombasa Road that is causing them to sleep on the road, it is the flooding. Please, before you address issues of beautification and streetlights, we want a solid plan on how to drain water on Mombasa Road.

Secondly, he has not addressed himself to the question of the Kshs9 billion that had already been given to the previous contractor, who we were told, is a company associated with one Member of Parliament here. He was given a tender to repair the damage that was done during construction of the expressway. There was money that was allocated for that, and it has not been done. So, he has not addressed that and he needs to prioritise drainage over flowers.

Sen. Sifuna, you know, once the Cabinet Secretary gives commitment, like he said, within four months, you will see those developments done.

He did not say four months.

He did, he said so. You know, that is why we have to listen to all the details. You have a commitment, between four to six months, the road will be done, good drainage, beautification and all those things. He committed himself to do that and the secretariat has captured that commitment. After four months, we will be able to raise it. For example, here there are commitments for July. Before he leaves, I will be asking what happened to those commitments.

I want to close this this matter now. Senator Lemaletian, ask a very simple question, straight to the point within one minute.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I would just like to get a clarification for the residents of Samburu County and the neighboring counties on the

He did not say four months.

He did, he said so. You know, that is why we have to listen to all the details. You have a commitment, between four to six months, the road will be done, good drainage, beautification and all those things. He committed himself to do that and the secretariat has captured that commitment. After four months, we will be able to raise it. For example, here there are commitments for July. Before he leaves, I will be asking what happened to those commitments.

I want to close this this matter now. Senator Lemaletian, ask a very simple question, straight to the point within one minute.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I would just like to get a clarification for the residents of Samburu County and the neighboring counties on the

I rise under Standing Order No.51 (b) that says that a question shall not be made the pretext for debate. That is Part 3 (a) and (b) include the name of a person nor any expression strictly necessary to render the request intelligible and also on supplementary question it must be attached to the root question.

I appreciate Sen. Methu just walked in. His question must be on road safety. Is it in good faith or in order for the Senator of Nyandarua to try and ask a question that is

irrelevant, introduce debate and bring the President into the mix? He can do those politics on the corridors of---

The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri): Sen. Methu, if you are asking a question on road safety, do not introduce other names of members of the public who cannot come to this Floor. Do not take advantage of your presence here to mention other names. That will not be allowed.

Sen. Methu: Then let me walk on--- You know some people here get very agitated when we speak about the President.

The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri): We have no people in this House. We have honourable Senators.

Honourable Senators, when you are given time to execute your supplementary question, you should stick to just one short question.

You have no question to ask?

I do not know why this Sen. Cherarkey keeps disturbing people. Why do you not you allow us to speak? I have been given the Floor. You shall get an opportunity to speak.

Why are you addressing Sen. Cherarkey? Who gave you the Floor?

Because he is the only one---

Who gave you the Floor?

It is you.

irrelevant, introduce debate and bring the President into the mix? He can do those politics on the corridors of---

Now you are turning this House into a showdown, which I cannot allow.

Sen. Methu: Why does Sen. Cherarkey not allow me to ask my question which is on safety?

Is the Cabinet Secretary aware that out of the nature of that road, especially the section between Mairo Inya to Shamata, we have had countless number of accidents? This is because the contractors come on site and then leave the road in a worse state than they even found it. Many accidents happen out of that negligence of the contractors. That is my question.

Sen. Methu, if you are asking a question on road safety, do not introduce other names of members of the public who cannot come to this Floor. Do not take advantage of your presence here to mention other names. That will not be allowed.

Then let me walk on--- You know some people here get very agitated when we speak about the President.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, our new Member from Baringo County is not being recognised by the system. You can use the Dispatch to ask your question.

We have no people in this House. We have honourable Senators.

Okay, some honourable Senators get very agitated when you mention the President. He is the President of Kenya. If he does not want to be mentioned, he has other duties he can undertake.

Thank you.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary. The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport

: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. I need to check. I do not know whether the Loruk-Marigat road is within the Barpelo-Tot-Sigor Road section.

We are building infrastructure to support the road from West Pokot, through Kitale to Eldoret and down to Nakuru. To that extent, there is a road from Barpelo-Tot- Sogor-Marich Pass, which will come through the lower section. I know we have the Marigat-Mochongoi-Karandini Road. I need to check.

More importantly, the question from Sen. Chemitei is of concern to us. Some of our roads are underwater because of the rising lakes. We are re-designing the road and moving it higher because of climate change. Those of us who visit that region pay attention to climate change. A number of tourist hotels are underwater today. Equally, sections of the road are underwater. We are re-designing roads urgently above the water levels and trying to understand what we need to do as a country to address rising lakes.

I assure the House and Mheshimiwa Chemitei that we will work on that. I will pay more attention to where the design is today. We shall quickly support relocation of the redesigned road and provide funding to ensure that people in the region have access to markets and can move to their homes.

I thank you.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, before you leave, there were three commitments copied to your Ministry. I understand the Secretariat shared this information with the Ministry. One was from Sen. Mwinyihaji Faki. He sought follow-up with the KURA to explain the steps being taken to address flooding issues affecting the section of the Links Road in Mombasa County near Quickmart Supermarket.

The second was to furnish Sen. Okong’o Omogeni with information on whether the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) commenced construction of the Riruta–Ngong single-track metre gauge railway before obtaining an environmental impact assessment licence from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) .

The third question was from Sen. Mohamed Abass. He sought information on the actions the Government is taking to fast-track construction of the Modogashe–Samatar and Lamu–Mandera sections of the Great North Road.

Since you answered the supplementary question from Sen. Abass, you may comment on the two commitments from Sen. Mwinyihaji Faki and Sen. Okong’o Omogeni.

The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport

: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir and Hon. Members. I made a commitment to provide a response on the question regarding the Quickmart Supermarket in Mombasa. The Links Road had been a source of perennial flooding because of its geographical location. It is

Because he is the only one---

Who gave you the Floor?

The final Question was No.93 that I also undertook to bring a response on the current progress of works on the Riruta-Ngong Railway line construction.

The transport sector is recognised as a key pillar and critical enabler in achieving Vision 2030 long-term development strategy and the Bottom-up Economic Transformation development. The future transport system in rural and urban areas is, therefore, a key factor in supporting the country's development strategies. The Government of Kenya, through Kenya Railways Corporation, conducted a feasibility study that resulted in the development of Nairobi Commuter Masterplan, 2019. The masterplan identified key commuter line corridors for development modernisation within Nairobi metropolitan area. That includes Nairobi-Kikuyu-Limuru, which is existing, Nairobi-Riruta-Thika, which is also existing, Nairobi-Lukenya-Kitengela-Konza, which is also existing, Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which is proposed, Nairobi-Embakasi Village which is existing, and Nairobi-Riruta-Ngong, which is under implementation. This is the concern that the Member raised under Question 109.

The Riruta-Ngong Road commuter line, which will be linked to the revitalised Nairobi Railway Station, is also one of the commuter lines identified as critical transport infrastructure under the prioritised integrated transport system for the decongestion of Nairobi Metropolitan Area.

The rationale behind the preference of the commuter rail over road transport is that commuter rail is for mass transportation, where one commuter train carries up to 6,600 passengers, both standing and sitting, which is equivalent to 460 seater matatus on the road.

I wish to indicate that for this particular project, the source of funding is purely the Government of Kenya. As regarding environmental social impact assessment study, the same was conducted in line with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. I have also attached that to my response, which I will sign and table before the House. I also wish to add that the project is being implemented under the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) basis, with an independent consultancy for design review and construction supervision in place. Members have a comprehensive written response. I, therefore, confirm that we had a court case which has now been lifted and work will, therefore, progress.

I thank you.

Cabinet Secretary, that response is sufficient to table in the Table office. So, hon. Senators, that is the end of the session with the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary and your team for continuously appearing before the Senate. You have really covered all your supplementary questions with utmost precision. Even though you were not prepared for the questions, you were able to know where the roads are and their status. So, thank you very much indeed. All the best as you serve this good country of ours.

Bwana Cabinet Secretary, you are free. Serjeant-at-Arms, you can collect the documents from the Cabinet Secretary. Hon. Senators, we now go to the next Order.

Why are you allowing him to shout at me?

Now you are turning this House into a showdown, which I cannot allow.

Why does Sen. Cherarkey not allow me to ask my question which is on safety? Is the Cabinet Secretary aware that out of the nature of that road, especially the section between Mairo Inya to Shamata, we have had countless number of accidents? This is because the contractors come on site and then leave the road in a worse state than they even found it. Many accidents happen out of that negligence of the contractors. That is my question.

Cabinet Secretary, just respond to those few questions and then we close this session.

The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport

: Mr. Deputy Speaker Sir, on the question from Sen. Lemaletian on the Maralal-Baragoi Road, we procured a contractor---

Senator, I remind you that I am the one on the seat.

Sorry, Madam Temporary Speaker. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) was founded in 1911 by the international community of commonwealth parliaments and legislatures working together to deepen the commonwealth commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance and parliamentary practise. It offers parliamentarians and parliamentary staff an avenue for collaboration on the issues of mutual interest and shared good practises.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, and Hon. Cabinet Secretary. I rise to inquire about the road from Laikipia through Loruk and Marigat. It also connects Kapedo and Chemolingot to Nakuru.

Last year, there were water increments in Lake Baringo. The road from Loruk to Nakuru was swallowed. This year, the situation is worsening. I want to know whether the Ministry is aware of the situation. Currently, people are using private land for transport. At any time, the owner may refuse and that will turn to be a mess.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, I want to know whether your Ministry is aware. If so, what measures you have taken to restore normalcy.

Thank you, Senator for West Pokot County.

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey, to second.

Thank you and congratulations on being elected as the Temporary Speaker for today's session. That shows the faith the House has on you to discharge, of course, as a ranking Member of this House to be the Temporary Speaker for the purposes of the ongoing works.

As I rise to second, because this is just a procedural Motion and a report of the Third Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Africa Region Conference held at Ciala Resort, Lusaka, Zambia, 24th to 28th February, 2025. I know this is a very interesting country. You remember they have not been able to bury their former President Paul Edgar Lungu. It is a very interesting case, just like the S.M. Otieno case. I have a number of friends who are priests, who normally do missionary work in Zambia. I know Kenyans have an interest. It is one of the countries that Kenya prides itself for working closely with. I am happy they hosted the issue.

I have a friend who is called Father Telewa, who just left Zambia, and he is telling me Zambia is a good country. You are aware of Article 54 on persons with disabilities (PWDs) . I think Kenya has one of the progressive recognitions of the youth, minority, marginalised and PWDs. So, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association should at most know that as a Parliament---

Madam Temporary Speaker, if we are aware of the challenges and we play the role that people living with disability are able to do, it will allow us, if we can recognise the law of PWD, we are the lawmakers. We are able now to make laws that will assist and ensure people living with disability or are differently able, can discharge their mandates.

As I speak, allow me also to send my condolences and messages of goodwill. Last week, Thursday, a latrine collapsed in Kapsabet School for the Deaf, where we lost a student and a number of injuries that are recovering in our hospitals. I send my quick recovery wishes. I also thank the President, because that day, President William Ruto was visiting Nandi when the incident happened. He took time to commiserate, condole with them, wish them a quick recovery and gave them a sum of Kshs5 million to support Kapsabet School for the Deaf. That school needs a lot of support. These are our children that are different.

We need to tell Kenyans and everybody in this country that having a child who is differently-abled is neither a curse nor a taboo. We must condemn a society where parents are hiding their children who are PWDs or differently-abled. Even if you interact with these people who are visually impaired, they have some strong abilities that normal human beings do not have. We can stop that by recognising the role of PWDs, as Parliament, as was envisaged in this conference.

If as leaders, we recognise the uniqueness of people living with disability, as a Parliament, we take the lead and you know leadership are dealers of hope. We must give

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, before you leave, there were three commitments copied to your Ministry. I understand the Secretariat shared this information with the Ministry. One was from Sen. Mwinyihaji Faki. He sought follow-up with the KURA to explain the steps being taken to address flooding issues affecting the section of the Links Road in Mombasa County near Quickmart Supermarket.

The second was to furnish Sen. Okong’o Omogeni with information on whether the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) commenced construction of the Riruta–Ngong single-track metre gauge railway before obtaining an environmental impact assessment licence from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) .

The third question was from Sen. Mohamed Abass. He sought information on the actions the Government is taking to fast-track construction of the Modogashe–Samatar and Lamu–Mandera sections of the Great North Road.

Since you answered the supplementary question from Sen. Abass, you may comment on the two commitments from Sen. Mwinyihaji Faki and Sen. Okong’o Omogeni.

The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport

: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir and Hon. Members. I made a commitment to provide a response on the question regarding the Quickmart Supermarket in Mombasa. The Links Road had been a source of perennial flooding because of its geographical location. It is

the lowest point. Investors built on both sides of the road and there was no waterway for drainage to the lower points of the rivers.

I have a written response. I have signed it. The flooding section of the Links Road near Quickmart Supermarket in Mombasa was designed and elevated. The 200-metre road section was raised to provide carriageway and walkway. I have the response, including pictures. The area is fully constructed. There is no flooding today. I confirm that I visited the section three weeks ago. It is a completed piece of work with paved walkway.

Rehabilitation of the Quickmart section was done. Culverts were installed and five new vertical drains were sunk. Existing drains were desilted and potholes were repaired. Performance-based maintenance was signed. We spent Kshs54 million on the work. The place looks good today. The Member is aware that with the recent short rains, the section is motorable. If I have not already tabled, I will table the response for that commitment.

The second commitment I made was with respect to Sen. Abass’s question on the Modogashe–Samatar and Lamu–Mandera last sections of the corridor. I answered this morning. The Government had planned to upgrade the Modogashe–Habaswein Road under the Road Annuity Programme as Lot 3 within the Public-Private Partnership framework. Lot 3 included a 68-kilometre Class A road from Modogashe–Habaswein extending to Samatar and a 75-kilometre Mandera–Ramu Road.

The contract for upgrading of Lot 3 project was awarded to Hass Consortium GVR Infra in joint venture with Shandong High-Speed Nile Investment Company. However, due to cost related challenges, the Government of Kenya decided to scrap the road annuity programme, leading to termination of the contract for Lot 3 road project. As a result, the Government is now shifting to engineering, procurement, construction and financing mode for upgrading of this particular Lot 3 section.

In addition, through the National Treasury, the Government of Kenya has requested additional funding from the World Bank under the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project loan to upgrade the Lot 3 road project. This includes the only two unfunded sections of the Isiolo-Mandera Road corridor, of which Modogashe-Habaswein section forms part.

The delay in completing the upgrade of Modogashe-Habswein Road section is due to the challenges experienced in terminating the contract with the engaged annuity contractor, as consortium for Lot 3 annuity project, which required legal intervention and the delay in securing funds to compensate the terminated contractor due to budgetary constraints. That has now been done.

In addition, the World Bank has taken up those two sections, like I mentioned earlier. The short-term strategy is that the Government is consistent with maintenance of the existing roads through the Road Maintenance Levy. This is through construction of engineered gravel road, as well as undertaking routine maintenance, support improvements and so on and so forth. However, as soon as we bring in the contractor, we will make sure we do maintenance ahead of works.

It is a long, detailed response. I do have the written response, which I have signed and will table before the House.

The final Question was No.93 that I also undertook to bring a response on the current progress of works on the Riruta-Ngong Railway line construction.

The transport sector is recognised as a key pillar and critical enabler in achieving Vision 2030 long-term development strategy and the Bottom-up Economic Transformation development. The future transport system in rural and urban areas is, therefore, a key factor in supporting the country's development strategies. The Government of Kenya, through Kenya Railways Corporation, conducted a feasibility study that resulted in the development of Nairobi Commuter Masterplan, 2019. The masterplan identified key commuter line corridors for development modernisation within Nairobi metropolitan area. That includes Nairobi-Kikuyu-Limuru, which is existing, Nairobi-Riruta-Thika, which is also existing, Nairobi-Lukenya-Kitengela-Konza, which is also existing, Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which is proposed, Nairobi-Embakasi Village which is existing, and Nairobi-Riruta-Ngong, which is under implementation. This is the concern that the Member raised under Question 109.

The Riruta-Ngong Road commuter line, which will be linked to the revitalised Nairobi Railway Station, is also one of the commuter lines identified as critical transport infrastructure under the prioritised integrated transport system for the decongestion of Nairobi Metropolitan Area.

The rationale behind the preference of the commuter rail over road transport is that commuter rail is for mass transportation, where one commuter train carries up to 6,600 passengers, both standing and sitting, which is equivalent to 460 seater matatus on the road.

I wish to indicate that for this particular project, the source of funding is purely the Government of Kenya. As regarding environmental social impact assessment study, the same was conducted in line with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act. I have also attached that to my response, which I will sign and table before the House. I also wish to add that the project is being implemented under the Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) basis, with an independent consultancy for design review and construction supervision in place. Members have a comprehensive written response. I, therefore, confirm that we had a court case which has now been lifted and work will, therefore, progress.

I thank you.

Cabinet Secretary, that response is sufficient to table in the Table office. So, hon. Senators, that is the end of the session with the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary and your team for continuously appearing before the Senate. You have really covered all your supplementary questions with utmost precision. Even though you were not prepared for the questions, you were able to know where the roads are and their status. So, thank you very much indeed. All the best as you serve this good country of ours.

Bwana Cabinet Secretary, you are free. Serjeant-at-Arms, you can collect the documents from the Cabinet Secretary. Hon. Senators, we now go to the next Order.

Thank you very much, “Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.” I beg to move the following Motion-

THAT, the Senate notes the Report of the 3rd Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) Africa Region Conference held in Lusaka, Zambia from 24th -28th February, 2025, laid on the Table of the Senate on 7th August, 2025.

Senator, I remind you that I am the one on the seat.

Sorry, Madam Temporary Speaker. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) was founded in 1911 by the international community of commonwealth parliaments and legislatures working together to deepen the commonwealth commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance and parliamentary practise. It offers parliamentarians and parliamentary staff an avenue for collaboration on the issues of mutual interest and shared good practises.

Madam Temporary Speaker, the CPA represents more than 180 Parliaments and legislatures, 53 Commonwealth countries divided up between nine geographic regions of the Commonwealth; that is, Africa, Asia, Australia, British Islands and Mediterranean (Canadian, Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic), India, Pacific, Southeast Asia.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary with Disabilities (CPWD) was established in 2018 and is one of the networks within the CPA that facilitates activities and programmes to champion and increase the representation of persons with disabilities in Commonwealth

parliaments and works towards mainstreaming of disability considerations in all CPA activities and programs.

The CPWD Africa Region Network has held three conferences since its inception in 2018. The third Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Africa Region Conference was held between 24th and 8th February, 2025, in Lusaka, Zambia, under the theme Breaking Barriers, Building Inclusive Parliaments for Persons with Disabilities.

The Kenyan delegation was represented by Hon. Timothy Wanyonyi, MP, leader of the delegation, and PWD Africa Regional Champion, Hon. Rose Museo, MP, Sen. Crystal Asige, MP; and, Sen. George Mbugua, MP. The Members of Parliament were accompanied by the following officers: Mr. Polycarp Matara, Clerk Assistant, and Eng. Mutunga Mike, Engineer, Maintenance Office from the National Assembly.

The Delegates at the PWD Regional Conference discussed a wide range of topics represented by the resource persons who shared their insights and knowledge, including; technology, digitalisation and its use of empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the African context by Dr. Margaret Matonya from Zambia; accessibility in action, designing physical spaces for inclusive parliaments by Mr. Ibrahim Asante from Ghana; policy pathway and effective strategies for implementation of disability inclusion in parliament by Mr. Meshack Matumba from Zambia; culture and shifts changing in attitude towards disability in political institutions by Hon. Joseph Musanje, MP, Zambia;

After the deliberation of the main topics of the conference, the delegates adopted the following: Recognition of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all persons, including persons with disabilities; acknowledging the valuable contributions of persons with disability, expressing concerns that persons with disability continue to encounter, barriers hindering their effective participation in parliaments in the Commonwealth Africa Region; emphasising the critical need for inclusive and accessible parliaments for persons with disabilities; welcoming the progress made by some parliaments in the African Region, advancing the inclusion of persons with disability; reiterating the commitment of the CPA to promotion and governance democracy and human rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities.

The conference resolved-

Thank you, Senator for West Pokot County.

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey, to second.

Thank you and congratulations on being elected as the Temporary Speaker for today's session. That shows the faith the House has on you to discharge, of course, as a ranking Member of this House to be the Temporary Speaker for the purposes of the ongoing works.

As I rise to second, because this is just a procedural Motion and a report of the Third Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities Africa Region Conference held at Ciala Resort, Lusaka, Zambia, 24th to 28th February, 2025. I know this is a very interesting country. You remember they have not been able to bury their former President Paul Edgar Lungu. It is a very interesting case, just like the S.M. Otieno case. I have a number of friends who are priests, who normally do missionary work in Zambia. I know Kenyans have an interest. It is one of the countries that Kenya prides itself for working closely with. I am happy they hosted the issue.

I have a friend who is called Father Telewa, who just left Zambia, and he is telling me Zambia is a good country. You are aware of Article 54 on persons with disabilities (PWDs) . I think Kenya has one of the progressive recognitions of the youth, minority, marginalised and PWDs. So, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association should at most know that as a Parliament---

Madam Temporary Speaker, if we are aware of the challenges and we play the role that people living with disability are able to do, it will allow us, if we can recognise the law of PWD, we are the lawmakers. We are able now to make laws that will assist and ensure people living with disability or are differently able, can discharge their mandates.

As I speak, allow me also to send my condolences and messages of goodwill. Last week, Thursday, a latrine collapsed in Kapsabet School for the Deaf, where we lost a student and a number of injuries that are recovering in our hospitals. I send my quick recovery wishes. I also thank the President, because that day, President William Ruto was visiting Nandi when the incident happened. He took time to commiserate, condole with them, wish them a quick recovery and gave them a sum of Kshs5 million to support Kapsabet School for the Deaf. That school needs a lot of support. These are our children that are different.

We need to tell Kenyans and everybody in this country that having a child who is differently-abled is neither a curse nor a taboo. We must condemn a society where parents are hiding their children who are PWDs or differently-abled. Even if you interact with these people who are visually impaired, they have some strong abilities that normal human beings do not have. We can stop that by recognising the role of PWDs, as Parliament, as was envisaged in this conference.

If as leaders, we recognise the uniqueness of people living with disability, as a Parliament, we take the lead and you know leadership are dealers of hope. We must give

hope to the people and this disability truncates many things. I thank former Vice President Moody Owuor because he was the pioneer of prison reforms and also the Disability Act of 2003 that gave birth to Article 54 of the Constitution.

Kenyans should know that we are not discussing this report about Parliament recognition. Under Article 54 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kenya, people living with disability have been recognised. In fact, Article 54 (2) says that they shall be progressive in implementation principle at least 5 per cent of members of the public in elective and appointed bodies are persons with disability. I appeal that we must do legislative audit. I can tell you, I have sat in the County Public Accounts Committee where you are a Member. All counties, including your county Isiolo, have failed to meet the threshold of appointed positions of people living with disability, even Kisii, Homa Bay, Nandi, and many other counties.

In Nandi and many other counties, including Murang’a, have failed in terms of Article 54(2) to meet the threshold that the Constitution has set. As a House, this is a progressive. Let us not even talk about the elective positions because we also need to encourage Kenyans to elect people abled differently because they are also leaders. It is one year to general elections

We have Sen. Mbugua, who is specially elected. We have Sen. Crystal Asige, who is also specially elected. These are disabilities that we can see. I hope that as Kenyans go for elections, we will have a way of ensuring people living with disability have an opportunity to serve in different capacities even if they are living with disability.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I am not talking about disabilities in bedrooms, but I am saying disabilities that are known, that can be seen. I challenge people living with disability. Under the Act, we must ensure people living with disability can access the IDs.

Madam Temporary Speaker, you are a politician. Whenever you walk, you meet somebody living with disability. There was a harambee for Chepterit Women Star on Sunday afternoon in Mosoriot Township and I met one of the disabled people using a wheelchair. They have not been given an ID card by the National Council for People Living with Disability (NCPWD). I want people living with disability to have their offices at the lowest level like the sub-locations or the chief's level, so that our people can access the PWD card to allow them to get tax exemption, services and be given priority. I am happy that even here in the Senate, the design of the Parliament, because we are discussing government buildings--- It is sad because I remember when we visited the county headquarters in Isiolo, where we were locked out. You were part of us, if you look at the design of that building, there was no provision of access of ramps for people living with disability. It is a sorry state, in most of the Government buildings, that we do not have proper designs to accommodate people living with disability.

I appeal to Kenyans that the people living with disability are quite a number. We used to have Mheshimiwa Sankok, the specially-elected Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). There was Dr. Musuruve, who was specially-elected and a number of our colleagues. We should not leave the people living with disability to their mercy, to the philanthropy of our political parties for them to get to the office.

Madam Temporary Speaker, this we will be doing in Article 54(2). The issue of persons of rights with disability, CRPD, Protocol to the African Charter on Human

Madam Temporary Speaker, as it has been said by my colleagues, allow me to also congratulate you for rising to an elective position three times. I also wish you the best in the coming elections because I know you are up to the task.

I would like to support the report that was brought by Members who attended the 3rd CPwD Conference. PWDs in this country have been going through a lot of challenges.

I come from Bomet County. I would like to state that the report in front of us has touched a number of issues affecting those people. Despite the fact that the Government has tried in terms of making sure that it addresses issues of infrastructure and accessibility of some buildings and incorporation of learners with disability in schools, I feel they are not recognised in a better way because there are a number of them still languishing in poverty---

is a challenge and I am proud - and I hope the cameras will be zooming on you - so that the young girls and women who want leadership in this country know that you can be elected. You can be elected in this House. You were the former Deputy Majority Leader in the last session. You became the Minority Leader and you are the Chairperson of the National Security and Foreign Relations. This is a challenge to the minority and marginalised women, people living with disability and the youth.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I would have expected - although I do not know the programme of your Committee – you to be in Russia and pursuing the issue there. I saw the Chairperson of the Committee on National Security of the National Assembly. I hope as the Chairperson of National Security and Foreign Relations, you will update the House in the near future.

In the interest of time, since we have a heavy agenda on the Order Paper, allow me to yield the microphone back and say that this is a report that is worth noting and being followed up. Let colleagues support and pass this Motion, so that the people living with disability are not reduced to philanthropy, to being just being given handouts. They must be recognized, just like any other ordinary Kenyans. With those remarks, allow me to leave it there. I second.

Hon. Senators, it is now 1.00 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until later today, Wednesday, 18th March, 2026, at 2.30 p.m.

The Senate rose at 1.00 p.m.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. The most upright and able accolades that my colleague has just bestowed upon you stand with exception. However, everything else he has said that is political, I would want to, if I had a chance, expunge it out of the HANSARD. The reason for that--- I will raise one or two things on the issues that he was bringing forth as much as he was making an argument for his side. However, on a serious note, this is a very good document.

Once again our Republic of Kenya produces some of the best policy papers some of the interventions on nearly everything. If you were to find out whether we have an aeronautic engineer or a space scientist, you would find a Kenyan who works in National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) . We are always very good in what we do. However, locally, if you look for interventions on what we are supposed to do for our people, we do not move. This is what has been contradictory to my interpretation of our political standing as a people and leadership.

Paragraph No.7 of the Report has the conclusions of the report. First, the report says there should be accessibility to voting. It is self-explanatory. If you look at the people with disability or people who are abled-differently, you will realize that they are as good in performance as any of us. For instance, if you look at this House, you will see that our sister and the able Senator from Mombasa, Sen. Asige and Sen. Kamau, and many of the people who have had these challenges, actually perform well. They do an excellent job, they are knowledgeable and they deserve to be here.

However, when we narrow down to the nitty-gritty, for example accessibility to voting, do we even look at the polling stations and see whether somebody with a

disability will be given guidance? Do we even consider that some of these polling stations need a ramp so that if somebody is coming in with a wheelchair, they can access the polling station? We do not.

I remember I was in the National Assembly when there were recommendations, after the promulgation of the Constitution that we have now. There was a suggestion that all buildings, including all facilities privately owned and those owned by the national Government, would be opened up to provide the necessary infrastructure so that people with disability are able to access those buildings. That has not been done. I believe that this House can engage itself, so that we do not become a talkshop.

Secondly, with regards to representation in the Government, whether it is the national Government or county government--- Indeed, you will notice that my brother, Hon. Cherarkey, a man I highly respect, only talked about county governments. However, even the national Government has left a gap deliberately. Look at the people who are appointed. They are all abled-people. The reality is that nobody considers, or even if somebody was to consider this position, you would find that nobody would care to listen.

The third issue they have raised is civic engagement. Of course, to a large extent, many people with disability, who have been deliberately and publicly engaging themselves in raising issues and becoming activists, have been in national and civic society organizations, raising awareness and putting information out there. The information needs to be received by people with disability to ensure we identify where they are.

The fourth issue is on the legal policy frameworks. If you look at this policy framework----One of the areas I am advantaged is that I sit at the Senate Committee on Health. We have been looking at what we are going to do, for example, with children who have disability and incapacity because some of the diseases they have are not easily managed by either their parents or even the county governments. I am happy that the Committee on Health is working on this, so that we can begin to classify and handle our people when they have these challenges, especially our children.

Madam Temporary Speaker, Item No.6, which they have presented here, it is on education and awareness. The truth is, there are very many children who have disability, which is not physical per se. There are children who have mental and other disabilities which are now being investigated by science. Conclusions which previously had been wrongly misinterpreted are now being given a forward value. The point we should be concerned about is on what happens to those children when they go to school, because some of the buildings are three, four or five floors? You will find that from Grade 3, they are placed on floor No.4, because the ground floor is where the administration block is. What do we do with those children with disability?

My observation is that we are treating some of these children as if we are punishing them. In our schools, universities and in all colleges, we have not come up with interventions and policies to make life bearable and acceptable for learners on wheelchair, who are unable to walk or those who walk with a stick. These are young children, men and women who have to survive within this environment, under which we

live in, where we feel that we are extremely secure and comfortable and it does not matter where our people are.

The last one is the issue of technology and innovation. In my opinion, when it is time to look at this issue as a policy initiative, we have to look at the possibility of some of the cases of children and individuals who have these disabilities, some of which are mental, as extremely intelligent. Some of them have become extremely good painters. Others are blessed and rewarded in a very unique manner. Some of the innovations that are going to be introduced will go a long way to help people with disability, and I believe this is a positive.

Finally, Madam Temporary Speaker, I would like to mention and perhaps, look at what my brother, Cherarkey, talked about; how our leaders are now talking about themselves in an uncouth manner and basically exposing their ignorance. For sure, it is completely unfortunate that you can find leaders body shaming each other, on how fat or thin they look. This is the narrative that our leaders are bringing out. Imagine if you were disabled, you were criticising the Government, and you started talking about our bad behaviours of corruption, mismanagement of public resources and yet you were a governor? Somebody would start talking about how your legs are looking funny, how your hands are spaced or how they look in a certain manner. We must begin to look at our country a bit differently.

Madam Temporary Speaker, our leadership must know that whatever we say has a direct impact on how the public understands who we are. For instance, in schools now, our children are going to find it normal to pick a friend even if he disagrees with you and tells you not to do certain things because they are either against the law or doing things that they should not do.

Madam Temporary Speaker, imagine if my sister, Sen. Asige, was to start talking about the challenges that the Government has. Most likely somebody would say some uncouth things about her and yet in reality, that is our work. Our work is to say, given our ability to say, and to let the Government have its way. That is what democracy is all about. However, we always go back to our bad habits. When you have lost an argument in Kenya, you begin to throw epithets and talk about your leadership and how it is inept.

Madam Speaker, you were there and saw how everybody in our Republic went out and were saying how Mzee Raila was the most incredible man, amazing, and a man who stood for democracy yet, the year before, he was being called a mganga, and labelled a person who cannot talk well, and has mental problems. You understand the irony of where we are.

However, this is a very good document, and I hope that the Committee on Health and the other cross-cutting committees can sit down and come up with policy of helping people with disabilities, children who are suffering from various ailments which are even very difficult for a normal doctor to interpret. It would be a good document.

I support, Madam Temporary Speaker.

Proceed, Sen. Mungatana.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I will speak briefly so that I allow my colleagues an opportunity to also contribute.

I want to congratulate Sen. Mbugua and the team that went for the commonwealth parliamentarians meeting. I will pick up one issue only. One of the recommendations was that parliaments must development policies that are friendly to legislators living with disabilities. In this Parliament, we have seen in practice that our constructions and buildings are friendly to our colleagues living with disabilities.

During my many years in the National Assembly, we had a Member of Parliament who was attacked by bandits and was never able to walk again. We broke for a session then went back only to find that he had been attacked. That can happen to anybody. In short, we are all potential Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

It is good that this Parliament, both Senate and the National Assembly, has complied with trying to be accessible. The only thing that the Parliamentary Service Commission needs to do is to create an official policy paper. If it is there, it has not been publicised to all of us.

I know there is a policy on sexual harassment but I have not heard of a policy on PWDs within this Parliament. Therefore, I invite the secretariat to make these documents available. When new Members come, these policy documents should be made available, aside from the Speaker’s Rules, the Constitution and Standing Orders. Policy documents must be made available but we have not seen any on this one. Therefore, I encourage the secretariat to do so in keeping with the resolutions that were passed in this report.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I beg to support.

Next is Sen. Mutinda.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I am happy to see you taking the leadership role. As women, we are proud and we continue being proud.

I want to appreciate the delegation that attended the 3rd CPwD Conference led by our colleagues, Sen. Mbugua and Sen. Crystal. This is positive.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I would like to state this in short because I know we have limited time. The Persons with Disabilities Act 2025 emphasises on 5 per cent employment in the work spaces and also elements of infrastructure for PWDs. Any public institution should ensure that the infrastructure is suitable for accessibility by PWDs.

As Sen. Mungatana has correctly put it, disability is not necessarily that you are born with. Any day, any time, it can hit you. We should all be prepared because anything is possible and anything can happen.

I want to narrow to two issues. These are education and health sectors. Currently, the Committee on Health is prosecuting the Autism Bill. From where we sit as a committee, autism has been narrowed to a disability but it is beyond that.

The Ministry of Education has not set out learning institutions for children with autism. Most of such children are hidden in houses by some parents. Some parents have brought their children out and that is good. These are some of the issues that have been bracketed within disability and not given the weight they deserve.

That is a Bill we are prosecuting. This discussion has come at the right time because it also brings out the issue of education and infrastructure for PWDs and learning institutions for children with autism because they fall under a special category.

Data is in place to ensure that we get to know how many PWDs are in this country. We also need to know the number of people with autism because that is also critical.

Lastly, Madam Temporary Speaker, so that I allow my colleagues time to say a few things, I have noticed that even in this Chamber, we do not have a sign language expert. As much as we are talking about PWDs, it needs to start here. We need to set the example because we pass legislation.

At times, we have visitors in the Galleries. How sure are we that all of them can hear what we say? How come this House has no sign language expert so that they communicate to Kenyans?

When news is broadcast on television, there is always someone who does the sign language. When I speak, there should be someone who communicates what I say.

As much as we appreciate, charity begins at home and the Senate should lead by example. The offices of the Clerk and the Speaker should prioritise having someone who knows sign language to be here throughout the sessions to do what is needful.

Politically, there are words that were thrown as early as yesterday. I thought my big brother, Sen. Onyonka, would be in the House. When you say that this person should not have said this because he is the head of state and all that, why did they not speak when their leader started throwing those words? How come that when he was throwing those words, it was okay but when the other leader threw some words, then there was a problem?

Madam Temporary Speaker, with those many or few remarks, I submit.

Proceed, Sen. Korir.

Madam Temporary Speaker, as it has been said by my colleagues, allow me to also congratulate you for rising to an elective position three times. I also wish you the best in the coming elections because I know you are up to the task.

I would like to support the report that was brought by Members who attended the 3rd CPwD Conference. PWDs in this country have been going through a lot of challenges.

I come from Bomet County. I would like to state that the report in front of us has touched a number of issues affecting those people. Despite the fact that the Government has tried in terms of making sure that it addresses issues of infrastructure and accessibility of some buildings and incorporation of learners with disability in schools, I feel they are not recognised in a better way because there are a number of them still languishing in poverty---

Sen. Korir, you will have a balance of 13 minutes when this Motion is listed on the Order Paper.

Hon. Senators, it is now 1.00 p.m., time to adjourn the Senate. The Senate, therefore, stands adjourned until later today, Wednesday, 18th March, 2026, at 2.30 p.m.

The Senate rose at 1.00 p.m.