THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT

Fifth Session

Wednesday, 22nd July, 2026 at 9.30 a.m.

PARLIAMENT OF KENYA

The House met in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings, at 9.32 a.m.

PRAYER

DETERMINATION OF QUORUM AT COMMENCEMENT OF SITTING

QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS

QUESTIONS

Hon. Senators, we have three Questions directed to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection. I am informed that the Hon. Cabinet Secretary is present. I will, therefore, request the Clerk to usher him in.

[The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection (Hon. (Dr.) Alfred Mutua) was ushered into the Chamber] Hon. Cabinet Secretary, welcome back to the Senate. You are here today to respond to three questions, one by the Senator for Makueni, the hon. Daniel Maanzo. The second is by Sen. Catherine Mumma and the third is by Sen. Joyce Korir.

We will start with Question No.019 by the Senator for Makueni County. Hon. Maanzo, you may proceed to ask your Question. Question No.019

LABOUR COMPLIANCE AT TALANTA STADIUM CONSTRUCTION SITE

1. (a) Could the Cabinet Secretary confirm whether Mr. Sammy Kyengo, who was found dead at the Talanta Stadium construction site in Nairobi City County was formally registered as a worker under the contractor and whether his terms of employment complied with existing labour laws?
2. (b) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide information on whether any complaints or reports had been made regarding delayed or unpaid wages for workers at the Talanta Stadium project and how such complaints were addressed by the Ministry?
3. (c) What measures is the Ministry implementing to ensure that all contractors and sub-contractors involved in major Government projects adhere to occupational health and safety standards to protect workers from avoidable risks?
4. (d) Could the Cabinet Secretary outline the mechanisms available to provide compensation or other forms of support to the family of the deceased worker and any other persons in similar cases?

1. (a)A matter of background, the Talanta Stadium project is a flagship national infrastructure initiative that commenced in 2024. It is being undertaken by a company called China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), which is an international engineering construction company with massive experience in many projects. At the time of the incident, the project had engaged a workforce of over 1,000 employees across various categories, including skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour. To answer this good question from hon. Maanzo, the Ministry through its field officers, who are mandated by Section 35 of the Labour Institutions Act to carry out workplace inspections, did inspect employment records pertaining to the said deceased worker. It was established that the late Mr. Sammy Kyengo was formally engaged by the contractor through an employment contract. As per the employment contract, therefore,

the deceased worker was a valid employee of the contractor at the time of the unfortunate incident.

Even though the employee had a valid employment contract, inspection revealed that certain terms of employment contained in the contract were not compliant with the provisions of the Employment Act, CAP 226 and the Regulations of Wages (Building and Construction Industry) Order. Specifically, the deficiencies noted relate to working wages and rest days.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, on 15th December, 2025, the contractor was issued with compliance directives to address all the deficiencies noted, including calculation and payment of all underpayment arrears due to the deceased and all of the employees engaged by the contractor. This is in Appendix 1, and I refer Members to look at Appendix 1. It is a letter from my office through the Assistant Labour Commissioner, informing this company of the breach.

On 15th January, 2026, the Ministry noted that the contractor had not complied with the compliance directives issued and, therefore, the contractor was issued with a Notice of Intended Prosecution for failure to rectify the anomalies noted and refusal to pay the deceased worker and all other workers' underpayment arrears, as directed by the County Labour Office.

This is also in a letter attached as Appendix 2, and Members can go through it. It is also from my office. The Ministry is currently preparing the case file for referral to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to prosecute and enforce the law, including the recovery of arrears owed. We expect that file to be in the DPP’s office latest Monday next week.

1. (b) Mr. Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I will move on to the second question on whether there have been any other complaints.

The Ministry has not received any complaints or reports regarding delayed or unpaid wages affecting workers engaged at the Talanta Stadium project. The Ministry has mechanisms for receiving and addressing complaints or reports related to delayed or unpaid salaries and wages as guided by the Employment Act, CAP 226, the Labour Institutions Act, 234 and the Labour Relations Act, CAP 233. The Ministry has field officers in all 47 counties, with the labour officers ready to receive and address such reports and complaints.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, just to pause here and let wananchi know that we do not practice slavery in this country. If you are employed, you should be paid and if anyone is not paying you your wages or the wages are delayed and they have not given you a schedule of how they are going to pay those wages in case of any financial difficulties, you have a right to report to any of the labour offices. I have mandated my officers to take action immediately. We cannot have people working and they are not being paid. We do not practice slave labour in this country.

Specifically, given that Nairobi experiences a significantly high volume of economic and labour-related activities, the Ministry has two field officers sitationed at Nyayo House and Safety House in Industrial Area within the county to enhance services delivery, strengthen oversight and effectively manage workload. If you are out there and you do not know where the labour office is, you just need to visit the office of the county

commissioner or any of the national Government offices and you will be directed to that office.

I will explain how it works. Upon receipt of complaints or reports, the Ministry promptly addresses the concerns. We always deploy labour officers to conduct workplace inspections and engage the employers mentioned. The inspection involves examination of employment records, including payrolls, contracts of service and statutory remittance records and interviews with the workers to get their insights on the terms and conditions of employment and issuance of improvement notices to the employers.

The officers also institute legal action in case of non-compliance in line with Section 87 of the Employment Act and in conjunction with the office of the DPP. They facilitate conciliation meetings between workers and employers when necessary to amicably resolve disputes that arise; and sensitize employers and employees on their rights and obligations to increase awareness and ensure compliance. The Ministry remains committed to safeguarding workers' rights and encourages affected workers to report their grievances through the labour officers near them.

1. (c) Mr. Speaker, Sir, the last question is on what we are doing to ensure that contractors and subcontractors involved in major government projects adhere to occupational health and safety standards. The Ministry has put in place measures to ensure that all contractors and subcontractors engaged in major Government projects adhere strictly to occupational safety and health standards, therefore, safeguarding workers from vulnerable risks.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I will pause here with your permission to say that this is not only applicable to Government projects. I have directed my Department of Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) to inspect all projects in the country, whether private or government, in order to ensure that the minimum standards are put in place. I presented a Cabinet Brief and a Memo that was approved by Cabinet to strengthen and ensure this compliance to occupational and health standards by the Government and the private sector.

It should first be noted that enforcement is firmly grounded in the provisions of the OSHA, 2007 Work Injury Benefit Act, 2007 and laws, which are enforced by the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety Services within the Ministry. These laws impose clear obligations on all employers, including contractors and subcontractors, to provide safe working environments.

Secondly, the Ministry, through the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSH), has established a dedicated Construction Safety Division that focuses specifically on the construction sector. Officers from the division are employed to major projects to ensure continuous monitoring and compliance. It also maintains a nationwide presence across all the 47 counties.

Lastly, all construction sites are required to undergo mandatory registration before commencement of operations. This process ensures that contractors and subcontractors are formally brought within the regulatory framework and are fully aware of the statutory obligations on safety and health. Just to point out, we have been shutting down and stopping construction activities that have not registered with us and are just happening without our knowledge.

Part (d) of the question is on the issue of mechanisms to provide compensation. The Government has established clear mechanisms to provide compensation and support to workers who suffer injuries in the course of their employment and to their dependents for workers who suffer fatal injuries in the course of employment. Under the Work Injuries Benefit Act, 2007, employees or their dependents are entitled to compensation in cases of work-related injuries, occupational diseases or death.

Employers are required by law to report all workplace accidents, including fatalities to the DOSH. Upon this notification, the Directorate undertakes an assessment of the incident and determines the appropriate compensation payable. Thereafter, the Director issues a compensation award, which is paid to the dependents of the deceased worker in accordance to the law.

With respect to the specific case raised by hon. Maanzo concerning the Talanta Stadium project, the employer duly reported the fatality on 13th September, 2025 as per the legal requirement and the compensation process for the dependents of the deceased worker will be processed subject to the conclusion of the police investigations into the cause of death. The Ministry remains committed to strengthening enforcement, enhancing workplace safety and ensuring that all workers are protected and that affected families receive the support due to them under the law.

I submit, Mr. Speaker, Sir, and hon. Members.

The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection (Hon. (Dr.) Alfred Mutua): Thank you for clarification. The incident at Bomas of Kenya was reported and is under investigation. If it pleases this House, I can bring a report about that incident because it is a different incident than this one.

On the issue of Mr. Kyengo, I do not have the figures of how much we have put down for him to be compensated, but I can avail them to the hon. Member in the House. He is yet to be compensated because we are following up with the employers. You can see there is an attached letter, but I am going to ensure that within a very short time, this is done. I can issue a report back to this House within one month on the amounts and whether he has been paid or not and the enforcement mechanisms.

preventive measures like wearing the right clothing and ensuring that the workers who go to site are equipped should an accident happen, so as to not suffer severe injuries.

PREVALENCE OF HEARING LOSS AND REHABILITATION SERVICES

Welcome, Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection. My Question is as follows.

I beg to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection the following Question-

1. (a) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide per county data on the prevalence of hearing loss in Kenya disaggregated by age, group and gender and disclose the number of affected persons who are currently receiving hearing rehabilitation services in public health facilities across the country?
2. (b) Could the Cabinet Secretary outline the long-term strategies in place to enhance affordable access to assistive devices, including hearing aids, to persons living with hearing loss?

1. (a) According to data from the 2019 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) census, 153,381 individuals aged five and above were identified as deaf or having significant hearing difficulties.

The 2019 census captured functional hearing difficulties, specifically difficulty performing daily tasks, rather than relying strictly on clinical diagnoses. Consequently, these figures reflect self-reported challenges rather than an official clinical registry of hearing loss prevalence.

Regarding the number of affected individuals currently receiving rehabilitation services in public health facilities nationwide, I would like to clarify that this data falls primarily under the mandate of the Ministry of Health. However, operating as one Government, we have formally written to the Ministry of Health to request this information.

Given the vast network of health facilities, from dispensaries to major clinics, compiling this data takes time. It is important to note that individuals visiting a facility with a hearing issue are not necessarily deaf; temporary conditions, such as flu or infections, can cause transient hearing loss that resolves upon treatment. A full clinical assessment is required to confirm whether an individual is hard of hearing or deaf.

As the lead agency for Ear and Hearing Care (EHC) in Kenya, the Ministry of Health maintains all clinical data, diagnostic registries and treatment records within public health facilities. Once we receive this information from the Ministry, we will table it before the House. Should the Ministry fail to provide that information, I would request that this House exercises its mandate to request the data directly so that the country has a clear and comprehensive picture as requested by Sen. Mumma.

1. (b) Regarding the second question on long-term strategies, the Ministry, through the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), has implemented several initiatives to enhance affordable access to assistive devices and technologies as follows: We have made strategic partnerships. First, let me inform you that the Ministry has been heavily underfunded. We have been discussing with my Principal Secretary,

Bwana Motari, the things we would like to do for people who are disabled. However, the cash is not available. The Ministry is always underfunded.

Despite severe budgetary constraints across the Ministry, we have partnered with key stakeholders in assistive technology to provide needed devices. These includes, the Association for the Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK), Hope Mobility Kenya, BethanyKids and ATscale.

We have also developed a catalogue of assistive devices exempted from import duties to lower their overall cost. We are lobbying for the inclusion of a broader range of assistive devices and technologies under the Social Health Authority (SHA) coverage.

I submit, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

I would like to ask specifically in relation to labour laws especially regarding construction sites and the matatu sector and others who work in noisy places. What are they doing as a Ministry to ensure they have data and also prevent people from having permanent hearing disabilities? I believe that is work under his Ministry.

changing every day. They report to us, then we go to the Ministry for verification. I can provide this honourable House with the latest statistics once we get the information from the Ministry of Health, as I have said, by mid next week.

In terms of the budget, yes, we have been lobbying. My Ministry is one of the most underfunded because there are issues of labour and social protection. For example, this year, we put a line item with some money for PWDs and others to enable us do some of the work but it was not included in the budget because, as you know, there are many needs in this country. Therefore, we are still lobbying and, hopefully, we will get it. The good news is that any PWD in this country is entitled to free treatment as long as they are registered by the Social Health Authority (SHA). The treatment is 100 per cent free.

There was a good question about children and early detection. When early detection on children below 5 years is done, they get treatment. Once it is detected, you are put on a treatment module and you are also guided.

This Government has brought on board the Community Health Promoters (CHPs). One of the mandates we have given them as part of their routine as they go door- to-door is to report to us any form of disability or illness that may progress with time especially in small children. Therefore, we are able to get data and address issues early enough.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, there was also a question about loud noise from construction sites. It is quite interesting to hear that a rocket ring fell in Makueni causing a big bang. I am not sure scientifically whether the falling of the rocket ring caused any hearing problems that are long-term. I think people got shocked and troubled because I have relatives down there.

I think the main issue the hon. Member wanted to put across is that it is important for us, as a country, to realise that loud noise, whether in matatus, construction sites, churches, bars or discos, can have a long-term impact on the lives of people. I am going to ensure there are occupational health standards. I will publish a few guidelines very soon on what we expect in terms of decibels. Under the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), county governments are mandated to ensure there is noise protection and all that but we are going to look at it from a medical perspective.

There is a point that was brought up by I think Sen. Mandago regarding some contractors having protective gear for their ears but their workers do not have. That is something I will investigate. I will put it down as part of the checklist of my team as they go round.

There was also a question about hearing aids. Perhaps, my answer was not clear. We lobbied and as a result, people who import hearing aids have to write to my Ministry so that we give them a waiver so that they do not pay any taxes. That lowers the price. Therefore, that is already in place. I gave my Principal Secretary permission to do that and he approves every day because we care.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, my answer is very clear. We are going out of our way to ensure that we show that we care. I believe we can do much more and I will streamline the system to ensure that we do much more. I am also open to coming to this House at any time to provide new data and to update you on what we are doing. Therefore, do not be challenged or shocked if you see me walking around shutting down construction sites, or

stopping people who create excessive noise, or who are behaving in a manner that is not proper, especially towards Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). The law is very clear. We have passed the Persons with Disabilities Act.

If you have a building, for example, that building needs to be compliant. You need to have ramps and lifts that once a blind person touches the handles or the buttons, he/she is able to read them, as in other countries. The blind person can tell that this is Floor 1, Floor 2, Floor 3 or Floor 4.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, do not be surprised if some Senate buildings are shut down because they have not complied. We will enforce this to ensure that all government agencies, whether in the national Government, the Judiciary or here in the Senate, are complying with the law. This is an indicator that we are not taking this matter lightly. It is very important for our people.

Thank you.

not paying the SHA. How do they get to enroll? How do SHA officials identify PWDs so that they can be treated without paying? Must they have that special identification card? What are you doing to ensure that all of them have it?

SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES AND BENEFICIARY DATA

1. (a) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide comprehensive data on beneficiaries of Government social protection programmes, disaggregated by programme, category of vulnerability and county?
2. (b) When was the current Social Protection Register updated, and what mechanisms are in place to ensure its regular review, accuracy and integrity?
3. (c) Could the Cabinet Secretary indicate the total funds disbursed under the various social protection programmes in the last three years and clarify whether

there are policy measures in place to review and enhance these allocations, considering the rising cost of living?

Thank you.

1. (a) The Government, through the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, is implementing various social protection programmes for older persons and (Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
2. (1) Inua Jamii Persons Cash Transfer Programme: As at the end of March 2026, this had covered a total of Kshs1,149,181 Older Persons Cash Transfer beneficiaries and Kshs63,958 Persons with Severe Disability Cash Transfer (PWSDCT) beneficiaries. That brings the total payroll to 1.2 million beneficiaries. If you look at the appendix at the back, it outlines, for each county, the number of members covered under this programme.
3. (2) Disability Inclusion Programmes: We have the Economic Empowerment Programme. The programme includes initiatives designed to support entrepreneurship, employment and access to financial resources for PWDs, such as start-up capital and tools of trade. This provides start-up capital for small businesses, tools of trade aligned with beneficiary skills, entrepreneurship training and financial literacy training. So far, we have 264 beneficiaries supported in the last two financial years, with a total investment of Kshs12.28 million.

The support is based on what we have in the budget. We also support groups of PWDs through grants, registered groups, established income-generating programmes and projects in sectors such as agriculture, livestock production, small-scale trade, etc.

A group of eight was supported with an upward of Kshs7 million in the last two financial years. We also do Local Purchase Order (LPO) financing programme which supports businesses owned by PWDs through their Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO). It provides financing to enable business-owned by PWDs to fulfil Government supply contracts. Out of this, a total of upward of Kshs16 million was disbursed to businesses owned by PWDs.

We also provide assisted devices and services to promote mobility, independence and participation of PWDs in education, employment and community life. This means that we have been able to provide wheelchairs, hearing aids, white canes, prosthetics, arthritic devices to close to 5,000 beneficiaries. We also undertake mobility and orientation training with acquired disabilities and independent living and 87 beneficiaries were supported in the last---

For example, people get diabetes and become blind. So, we are able to assist them as they orient to their new way of living.

We also have the Kenya Sign Language Training Programme which is implemented with the Kenyan Institute of Social Education (KISE) to sponsor public officers for training in Kenya Sign Language. We took 375 public officers in eight regional centres in the last financial years. As you know, these are critical for communication.

We also have an education scholarship which provides scholarship across different levels and a total of over 3,000 learners were supported last year through this scholarship programme. We have an autism programme which supports people with autism and related development disabilities by delivering essential therapeutic interventions.

In this financial year, 10,684 have received therapy services. This is in collaboration with the Nairobi County health facilities, Kenya International Community (KIC) and also with Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). The Gulf Council is also providing medication to over 3,000 individuals. 1,182 individuals have received other items of support, such as diapers.

1. (b) There was the other question of when the current social protection register was updated and the mechanism in place to ensure its regular review.

The current social protection registry, the Enhanced Single Registry (ESR) has Kshs4.4 million households and over Kshs16.6 million. The ESR was last fundamentally updated in 2024 but is constantly updated through on-demand update mechanisms. I would like to point out that the President has given us a directive and we are on the ground currently undertaking a survey to be able to update this.

Several institutional, technical and operational mechanisms have been put in place to ensure ESR data remains reliable. We have designed it to collect, update, link and ensure quality of data on vulnerable households. This is through periodic mass registration, census approach and on-demand registration, where somebody can go and say we have a problem.

I would like to point out that, if there is somebody who is out there and is not receiving cash transfer yet they are eligible, all they need to do is report to the nearest chief and we will get that information. So, that is a mechanism we are using and we are able to read that data.

Also to point out that people who are working and are on pension are not seen as vulnerable and so they cannot receive the same amount of money. There are some families, through our data, where, wewe ni mzee uko nyumbani but you have a big farm that is giving you so many acres of maize. Or you have children who are supporting you and they even bought you a nice suit to go to church with. So, we are looking at people who are downtrodden with nothing that is hawana familia ya kuwasaidia na familia pia imefilisika. They have nobody. They are really poor. Those are the ones we are targeting.

This is because the Government does not have the resources to pay. We are transferring billions of shillings. This month alone, we are transferring Kshs2.7 billion. If you do the math, it is a lot of money by the end of the year. We also have data that is collected through a standardised instrument, HTT. It promotes consistency in data collection, comparability across counties and objective poverty and vulnerability assessment. Data collections involve centralised verification and community structures, that is, enumerators at the household level and local administrative structures and as I said, chiefs and county officers. We use them to verify. If somebody is able, we use that Government machinery to verify.

Lastly, the ESR integrates data from multiple programmes, cash transfers, partners and allows two-way data exchange with our management information systems,

such as the hunger safety net management information, consolidated cash transfer programme, community development management information and integrated population system which enables us to update beneficial information continuously.

1. (c) The other question was to indicate the total funds disbursed under the various social protection programmes in the last three years and clarify the policy measures put in place to increase the allocation.

My response is that the annual disbursements in direct cash transfers for the Inua Jamii Cash Transfer Programme for the last three years of 2022/2023 up to date is as follows-

One, older persons' cash transfer programme was Kshs17.83 billion in the first year, Kshs18.69 billion the next year and Kshs26.39 billion the last financial year, respectively. This brings the total amount disbursed to Kshs63.92 billion for the last three years of Kenya-Kwanza Administration. It is good for you to note that the President gave a directive that money is transferred for Inua Jamii and the disabled before salaries of Government workers and the Executive are paid. So, that is to up to date. The President is paid last in this country after all the other payments have been done.

We have persons with disability cash transfer programmes which were at Kshs908 million, Kshs101.02 billion and Kshs1.36 billion, respectively. The Social Protection Act, 2025 provides legal authority for reviewing and adjusting benefits under two key provisions. One is a review on benefits allowing the Social Protection Board to review the nature and extent of benefits where a beneficiary situation changes. This would be triggered where there is evidence of change in socio-economic conditions, improvement or even going down.

Section 39 on this index section of benefits provide that the board may, in consultation with the National Treasury, periodically review the social assistance benefits to accommodate changes in real value. For example, now we are giving Kshs2,000 per individual. We are waiting to look at the economic trend and the amount of money to see whether that money can increase depending on inflation and what there is in the country.

Finally, the Social Protection Act therefore, leaves the determination of the specific transfer amount to the budgetary process, which have continued to prioritise horizontal expansion, increasing the number of beneficiaries or a vertical expansion that is increasing the amount per beneficiary.

I humbly submit. Sen. Joyce Korir, do you have any supplementary question?

officers na hiyo ndiyo sababu maofisa hao hawakupei ripoti kuonyesha ya kwamba malipo ya hizo kampuni ni duni.

Malipo ya hizo kampuni haiko sawa na zile kampuni ambazo ziko Mombasa ama sehemu zingine ambazo zimetangazwa kama municipalities. Wizara yako inachukua hatua gani kuona ya kwamba kampuni zinapea wafanyikazi haki yao kulingana na sheria ya minimum statutory government wages?

I do not know what the Constitution says about pensioners getting their money after investment. Instead of investing, they are building a lot of houses; CPF is now contributing to roads yet, the contributor is suffering. They do not get to benefit from that investment.

Thank you.

I have answered the question about distribution. I wish we had enough budget so as to give everybody money. Just because you hit 70, it does not mean that you automatically qualify. If you hit 70 and you are driving a Mercedes-Benz, it does not mean that you qualify. You really have to be needy and we have been a bit strict in terms of using a testing system to ensure that people qualify according to how much they need.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think Sen. Cherarkey was not here when I was giving that answer. It is very clear that we actually need Kshs70 billion per year, minimum, but the budgetary allocation is Kshs26 billion. We do not have Kshs70-80 billion. That is what we really need to cover the budget. So, this House can help us to mobilise more funds, but the fund that we are opening up with the new board will help us get some of this money.

In terms of the question about NSSF, this is a very good question. It is a loaded question. I do not have the capacity right now to answer that question. I need to get statistics, figures and the work that we have been doing. So, maybe you can ask that question as a substantive question. I am ready to come here and give you a very strong and accurate answer.

There is the question about disability, income and the breakdown. I will also be able to provide that to you on Monday. I will provide this House with that information for the hon. Members are to see the breakdown of the different categories. I did not have the information with me today. I will be able to provide that information so that you can see how they are going.

Just to let this House know that this Government is very clear. For example, the President has led with the National Youth Opportunities Toward Advancement (NYOTA) initiative. In that NYOTA initiative where we are giving start-up capital, we are supporting young people in this country. We also have a component that supports people who are living with a disability and we are giving them money. If you look at the programme as the executives and presidents launched it, you see we are not leaving anyone behind. People with disabilities are also covered in the NYOTA programme and also other Government programmes because this Government really cares.

Finally, is on the question about the update and the system that is used. I want to humbly refer Sen. Cherarkey, because he is a busy man. He came in just a bit later after I had already responded to that question. You can look at the reply I gave in the response that is on page 4. It is very well enumerated. I do not want to have to read the whole process again.

I submit, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

watapata gazette notice ya nyongeza ya mishahara kufika status ya municipality na sio kama ilivyo sasa hivi ambapo wananyanyaswa wakifanya kazi huku wanalipwa mshahara ambao haulingani na manispa.

As I said in the beginning, Kenya is not a country that practices slavery. People work; they need to be paid, and they need to be paid what they are owed and they need to be paid what is right. People, for a long time, have been just making tons of money, thinking that you can get away with it. They need to know that this Government will not allow that. People need to get their rights, and it does not matter what. If you are working, you need to be paid and on time. If you are not being paid on time, there needs to be a programme for when you will be paid.

I would like to clarify on the transfer from Kisii that I am not aware of anything stalling. It has not come to my attention. All I know is that we have a deficit of only three weeks because June's payment was not paid, but we are paying June and July together this month.

At times, our people can come to you panicking and people complain. If they do not get it for one week, you would think they have not received it for one year, and this is because it is a very important social protection. So, my apologies. It was not paid because of the closure of the year, and we did not get the funds, but we have already prepared all the documents. My officers are here. We are just waiting for the money to come in this week. We are pushing the button. Next week, they will get their double payments.

Lastly, I totally agree. My apologies for not answering the question. The caregivers are not covered. They are not paid anything because of the same problem of budgetary allocation. That would mean we would be paying double, and we would have to reduce others. So, we are looking at a system where we can be able to give them something and that is work in progress.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I submit and thank you very much. This has been a very enlightening moment and it is very important. I am very happy that the Members of the Senate really care about what is happening to our people through the labour movement and also through our disability programme. I appreciate it and I am ready to come back any time to clarify matters.

Shukran.

That applause is not about the gentleman from Gusii, but in response to the remarks directed to the Honorable Cabinet Secretary. You might be surprised by the foot- stamping and clapping.

Asante sana, Waziri, kwa muda wako. Tumeshukuru sana, na tukipata nafasi nyingine, tutakualika ndio tusaidie Wakenya pamoja.

[The Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection (Hon. (Dr.) Alfred Mutua) was ushered out of the Chamber]

Hon. Members, before we proceed to the next Order of business, I wish to make a brief Communication. We have in the gallery a delegation of teachers and students from Lukenya Academy, Athi River, Machakos County.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

VISITING DELEGATION FROM LUKENYA ACADEMY IN MACHAKOS COUNTY

Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence of a visiting delegation, in the public gallery, of five teachers and eight students from Lukenya Academy in Athi River, Machakos County. The delegation is visiting the Senate for an academic exposition.

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

Thank you. Sen. Kavindu Muthama, please, welcome the delegation. (Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale spoke off record) Let us first welcome the visitors and then you can ask later.

I therefore request that you allow me to also join Sen. Kavindu in welcoming them.

It would also be inspiring for these children to know that in this very Chamber, their historic leader, Mr. Paul Ngei, once addressed the nation as a Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament for Kangundo.

I thank you.

MOTION

PROVISION OF COUNTY GOVERNMENTS’ IFMIS REPORTS TO THE SENATE

THAT, AWARE that, Article 96 of the Constitution provides that the Senate represents the counties, and serves to protect their interests, determines the allocation of national revenue among counties, as provided in Article 217, and exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to the County Governments;

FURTHER AWARE THAT, in the case of Senate v Council of Governors and 6 others (Petition 24 and 27 of 2019 (consolidated) 2022) KESC 57(KLR), the Supreme Court affirmed that the Senate’s oversight authority extents to both nationally allocated and locally generated revenue;

CONCERNED THAT, that Senators are constrained by lack of access to real time to data from the IFMIS system for the respective counties they represent, thus affecting effective oversight of County Governments;

FURTHER CONCERNED THAT, in some instances data and information presented to the Senate by the Auditor-General and the Controller of Budget are received and considered late as a result of the backlog resulting into too much information not getting properly reviewed by Senators;

NOTING THAT, as a result of unchecked financial information and systems, County Governments have continued to accumulate pending bills resulting from unplanned expenditures, unaccounted for and inflated cost of projects;

NOW THEREFORE, the Senate resolves, that the Cabinet Secretary in charge of the National Treasury shall on a monthly basis forward to the Clerk of the Senate all IFMIS transactions and reports for each County Government for onward transmission to the respective Senator for information on accountability and transparency, in order to strengthen their constitutional oversight and promote good governance in the management of public finances.

(Sen. Okiya Omtatah on 15.07.2026) (Resumption of debate interrupted on 16.07.2026 - Afternoon Sitting)

Clerk, do we have quorum? (The Clerk at the Table consulted with the Deputy Speaker) We defer the putting of the question on amendment. (Putting of the Question on the amendment to the Motion deferred) Let us move to the next Order.

MOTION

MAINSTREAMING A FRAMEWORK FOR CLEAN COOKING IN KENYA

THAT AWARE THAT, Article 42 of the Constitution guarantees every person the right to a clean and healthy environment, which includes access to safe energy options;

FURTHER AWARE THAT, over 900 million Africans, including more than 90 per cent of households in Kenya’s rural areas, still rely on traditional biomass (firewood, charcoal, animal waste) for cooking, resulting in high levels of indoor air pollution that cause premature deaths, particularly among women and children;

CONCERNED THAT, in Kenya, indoor air pollution has been linked to over 23,000 annual deaths, with women and girls bearing the disproportionate burden of time spent collecting firewood and cooking, limiting their education and economic opportunities;

NOTING THAT, traditional cooking methods contribute significantly to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate vulnerability at the county level, undermining national commitments under the Energy Act, 2019, the Climate Change Act, 2016, and Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);

RECALLING THAT, the Africa Clean Cooking Summit (Paris, 2023) mobilized USD 2.2 billion in commitments for clean cooking, and the International Energy Agency has recommended urgent financing and policy action to achieve universal access by 2040;

ACKNOWLEDGING, the efforts of some counties, development partners, and private sector actors in piloting clean cooking projects, but recognizing that these remain small-scale and fragmented;

NOW THEREFORE, the Senate resolves that the:- i) Council of Governors develops county-level policies, frameworks, and budgets that mainstream clean cooking into devolved energy and health functions;

ii) National Treasury and Ministry of Energy prioritize clean cooking in financing frameworks, including results-based financing and blended finance models to de-risk private investment;

iii) County Governments incorporate clean cooking targets in their County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) and ensure public institutions such as schools, health facilities, and prisons adopt clean cooking solutions;

iv) National Treasury and County Governments to fast-track letters of authorization to unlock carbon finance markets (Article 6.2 and CORSIA) for clean cooking projects; and

v) County Governments engage the private sector actors, and community organizations to expand clean cooking access, create local jobs, and reduce pressure on forest resources.

MOTION

PROMOTION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AND INNOVATION POLICY IN KENYA

THAT AWARE THAT, the Fourth Industrial Revolution is redefining economies globally through emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, and financial technology (Fintech);

FURTHER AWARE THAT, Kenya has made commendable strides in digital infrastructure and mobile innovation, positioning itself as a potential leader in Africa’s tech-driven future;

NOTING THAT, in a landmark decision, the African Union Executive Council endorsed the Continental AI Strategy during its 45th Ordinary Session in Accra, Ghana, on July 18-19, 2024 to underscore Africa’s commitment to an Africa-centric,

development-focused approach to AI, promoting ethical, responsible, and equitable practices;

COGNIZANT THAT, the Continental AI Strategy calls for unified national approaches among AU Member States to navigate the opportunities of AIdriven change, aiming to strengthen regional and global cooperation and position Africa as a leader in inclusive and responsible AI development;

APPRECIATING THAT, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy recently formulated and launched the Kenya National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy 2025-2030;

RECOGNIZING, the need to align Kenya’s development with global standards in AI adoption while also safeguarding national values, inclusivity, and employment;

CONCERNED THAT, the absence of a comprehensive framework may hinder innovation among local start-ups and youth-led tech enterprises and slow down Kenya’s ability to harness AI for inclusive growth;

NOW THEREFORE, the Senate resolves that the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy develops a Policy to promote Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies with particular emphasis on:

i) Promoting research and development of locally relevant AI solutions; ii) Facilitating ethical guidelines to ensure responsible and beneficial application of AI;

iii) Creating innovation-friendly ‘Sandboxes’ for supervised testing of AI and emerging technologies;

iv) Strengthening public-private partnerships to build digital skills and innovation ecosystems; and

v) Integrating AI and coding into the education curriculum to prepare the next generation for the digital economy.

MOTION

NOTING OF REPORT ON ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS OF SELECT COMMITTEES DURING THE THIRD SESSION (2024)

THAT, the Senate notes the Report of the Liaison Committee on the activities and operations of Select Committees during the Third Session (2024) pursuant to Standing Order 224 (2), laid on the Table of the Senate, on Wednesday, 28th May, 2025.

MOTION

NOTING OF REPORT ON ACTIVITIES AND OPERATIONS OF SELECT COMMITTEES DURING THE THIRD SESSION (2025)

THAT, the Senate notes the Report of the Liaison Committee on the activities and operations of Select Committees during the Fourth Session (2025) pursuant to Standing Order 224 (2), laid on the Table of the Senate, on Thursday, 18th June, 2026.

ADJOURNMENT