Billow Kerrow

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Report on the Table of the Senate, today, Thursday, 15th June, 2017: Report of the Mediation Committee on the Division of Revenue (No.2) (National Assembly Bill No.22 of 2017) . (Sen. Billow laid the document on the Table)

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Mediation Committee on the Division of Revenue (No.2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.22 of June 15, 2017 SENATE DEBATES Sen. Billowpursuant to Article 113 of the Constitution...

Sen. Billow Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I beg to move the following Motion:- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Mediation Committee on the Division of Revenue (No. 2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 22 of 2017) laid on the Table of the Senate on Thursday, 15th...

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I ask Sen. Zani to second.

Sen. Billow Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I want to thank the Members who have contributed and assure them that the amended version of the Bill will actually be ready. In accordance with Standing Order No. 155, it will be forwarded to the June 15, 2017 SENATE DEBATES Sen....

Sen. Billow On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, Sir. You heard the hon. Member expressing concern that religious institutions such as mosques and churches are put up in residential areas. Is he in order to suggest that Kenyans should not pray in a church or a mosque? Certainly, does...

Sen. Billow Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. The Mediation Committee was made up of four Members from the Senate and an equal number from the National Assembly. The Chair of the Mediation Committee was Hon. Mutava Musyimi of the National Assembly. We had two meetings and disagreed. Following that the...

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following report on the Table of the Senate:- Report of the Standing Committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget on the Division of Revenue (No.2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.22 of 2017) . Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. (Sen. Billow laid...

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to add my voice to this debate on the Division of Revenue Bill. It is regrettable that just days before we adjourn permanently, we do not have the division of revenue or allocation of money to counties for the next financial year....

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, the fact that today we have four petitions touching on matters of provision of services to Kenyans before this Senate is an indictment of the Executive and the many independent institutions we have in this country. If institutions carried out their functions and mandate effectively,...

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, the fact that today we have four petitions touching on matters of provision of services to Kenyans before this Senate is an indictment of the Executive and the many independent institutions we have in this country. If institutions carried out their functions and mandate effectively,...

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, the fact that today we have four petitions touching on matters of provision of services to Kenyans before this Senate is an indictment of the Executive and the many independent institutions we have in this country. If institutions carried out their functions and mandate effectively,...

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today Thursday, 14th April, 2016:- The Report of the Standing Committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget on the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2016) . (Sen. Billow...

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Statement by the Senator for Meru is shocking. It is not just about a governor, but the Governor for Meru is the Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) in this country. Therefore, he occupies a very important office. Therefore, to imagine that today,...

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Wednesday, 30th November, 2016:- Report of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget on the 2017 Budget Policy Statement. (Sen. Billow laid the document on the Table)

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:- THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget on the 2017 Budget Policy Statement.

Sen Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, the chairperson has not done justice to the question. The challenges on fees in public schools are two. First, some of the national schools in particular, have developed the tendency over the years to defy any directive that comes from the Ministry with regard to...

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker Sir, with regard to the Equalization Fund, Sen. Hargura asked how much money had been allocated to the Fund since the promulgation of the Constitution. The table has been provided in the Statement. The total entitlement for the six years is Kshs20 billion but Kshs12.4billion...

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have two clarifications to seek from the Chairman. One, as said by Sen. Wetangula, some of the schools that were elevated were schools that communities, leaders and counties had worked hard to improve their facilities. Kapsabet Boys in my county is an example. People lost...

establishing these funds at national schools.Secondly, the people, according to what we heard from Sen. Wetangula, he said that money was given and then after evaluation, some money was found to have been stolen. That is the problem of the board of management. They are supposed to take stock of...

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. The Chairperson on the Floor is not just the Chairperson of the Committee on Education, which I am a Member. He is also, as he well knows; a former headmaster of one of the schools involved in this thing. He is...

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Please, prod the Chairperson to move away from that irrational position that he has taken. I thank the Senator for Nyeri for bringing this because it is very important. Could he also – I do not expect him to have this...

Very well.

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as it has come out from the comments by the Chairperson and the other Members, the way these funds are being planned for is not in line with what it is supposed to happen. I agree with the Chairperson that he needs to summon...

Sen. Billownature.Sen. Wetangula, I had called on Order No.21 on the Order Paper. You had only taken five minutes of your 60 minutes. You, therefore, have 55 minutes to continue your seconding.Sen. Wetangula, proceed! Sen. BillowThank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. It is unfortunate the Mover and proponent of this...

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as it has come out from the comments by the Chairperson and the other Members, the way these funds are being planned for is not in line with what it is supposed to happen. I agree with the Chairperson that he needs to summon the Cabinet...

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the purpose of the Equalization Fund was purely to bring those marginalized areas in our country at par with those that are perceived to be developed. Going by my own county, the poverty survey which was done

gone through Ngong, Kiserian, Ongata Rongai and Kitengela and thought that was Kajiado County whereas Kajiado County is about 26,000 square kilometers.Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir we have areas--- Order, Sen. Mositet! I gave you the opportunity to seek clarification not to debate the issue.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we are talking about the National Treasury going to the perceived poor or marginalized counties, however, we still have quite a number of counties which are more marginalized than the ones the National Treasury and the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) had identified as the most...

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to inform the Chair. The Speaker does not want to be informed by you at all.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is on the same matter. You could use the point of order and figure out how to put your information.

On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Would I be in order to let my colleague, Sen, Karaba, know that the sewerage and treatment works in the whole country are done through water services boards mapped out in the whole country? These water services boards are directly under...

Sen. Billow Point of order!

Sen. Billow Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is a matter of life and death. This House has a mandate to exercise oversight over the Executive. Even without demanding for the statement, this House has a mandate to condemn any order that authorises extrajudicial killings in this country. Even without the...

Sen. Billow Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to support what the Senator for Makueni has said with regards to this petition. I do not know the threshold of this particular petition because it sounds like a civil lawsuit. Under Article 225 (3) (a) , Treasury has a...

Sen. Billow I have, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

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Sen. Billow Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to the LAPSSET and its route, I am aware the Samburu leadership gave their suggestions of how the route could be changed for the benefit of the people. However, our views were disregarded. I want to know whose views were included in...

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, could the Vice Chairperson clarify that indeed an initial route for the construction of the LAPSSET corridor had been designed? If so, the population around that route had stopped any plans they had on investment of those areas. Could she, therefore, confirm that the time wasted...

Sen. Billow On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Billow Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, considering that this was one of the grand projects that the current administration promised, and considering that the Chair person says that a decision has not been made, and there are still feasibility studies being undertaken, which means execution has not started; would the...

Sen. Billow Sen. Sijeny, what would you say about all these issues that have been raised?

Sen. Lesuuda, you still want the Floor again?

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I do not know how you will explain where the Chairpersons have been given directives by yourself. Yesterday you were magnanimous and informed them to respond today but they have ignored. They have to come and respond to this grave issue that has wiped...

Sen. Billow First, Sen. Karue, not only do I have good eye sight but it is enhanced to make it better. Just because I did not give you time to speak when you pressed does not mean I did not see your request. Please have a

What is it, Sen. Karue?

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, in relation to the Mediation Committee on the Division on Revenue Bill that was communicated to the House last week by the Speaker, I had sought to advise the Members that the mediation process faces a serious challenge that the House needs to know....

Why do I not stop you from discussing that, because it is coming as a Motion? You can actually prosecute the matter of the date when the right time comes. I request that you go straight to your issue, because we have that as a substantive Motion. Proceed to your...

Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow Just pause a little bit. Senate Majority Leader, I will make a pronouncement. I will need your presence here. You are, therefore, ordered back. (Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki returned to the Chamber)

Sen. Billow I wish you can go further and say why I had to drop 13 Bills today.

Sen. BillowWhereas I appreciate the April 5, 2017 SENATE DEBATES Sen. Billow Very well. What is it, Sen. Wetangula? The Senate Minority Leader (Sen. Wetangula) : On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. It can never have been the intention of the drafters of the Standing Orders and...

Sen. Billow On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I note that the request by Sen. Wetangula would have been appropriately handled by the leadership of this House. I do not remember when I last saw some of the leaders of this House seated here, to the extent...

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Sen. Billow Point of order!

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if you heard the Chairman carefully, he advised the Senator to go to the Ministry of Devolution and seek relief food for residents of Mwea. Is it an admission that this Government has failed spectacularly in managing food security and that our breadbaskets like...

Sen. Billow On a point of order, Mr. TemporarySpeaker, Sir.

Sen. Billow Mr. TemporarySpeaker, Sir, you heard the Senator for Meru saying that no Kenyan has died. This news has been live on our television screens and even our kids have seen Kenyans literally dying in broad daylight. What do you want Kenyans to do? Do you want dead bodies...

Sen. Billow On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I am also a member of the Government that the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture purports to defend. However, one cannot defend the indefensible. I come from Mandera County. As I speak, there is not a single programme...

Sen. Billow Is the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture in order to defend the indefensible? People are dying because this Government cannot feed them. None other than the Head of State asked the international community to give us aid. They declared drought an emergency. If you read the newspapers...

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, my point of order is clear. The reason why our Governments have failed is precisely because of what the Chairman has said.

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I want to bring my point of order.

Sen. Billow I will not touch your ruling, Sir.

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I just wanted additional information in this regard.

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, that is what I was coming to. Could he provide a substantive programme of this Government of dealing with the current drought? He should not ask Senators to go to the ministries. What is the Government’s programme and policy? What activities are there? Let...

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, since you have deferred the statement, he can get that additional information. It addresses most of the questions we are raising per county.

Sen. Billow On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. You are the Speaker and I seek your indulgence. We all know that corruption causes drought and it kills. It causes drought in the sense that it denies the Government the opportunity to come up with intervention measures. People...

Sen. Billow Madam Temporary Speaker, it is unfortunate that the National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya has found it fit to reject the Bill after it has come from the Senate. I think my main worry is that the National Assembly Members do not appreciate that they represent people...

Sen. Billow Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to support this Bill. The reason why I am laughing is the speed at which the Bill was moved. This is a very important Bill and it is one of the key responsibilities that have been given to county governments. It...

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Sen. Billow

Sen. Billow Mr. Speaker, Sir, on a point of order. With your permission, I wanted to ride on that Statement for an additional clarification. Many of the attacks that have happened from Al Shabaab in Mandera from across the border have happened because the area known as the Gedo region...

Sen. Billow Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, 28th February 2017. Report of the Standing Committee on Finance, Commerce and Budget on the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No.2 of 2017) . Thank you. (Sen....

Sen. Billow On a point of order, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I know that the Division Bell has been rung. However, I can see that we may not have the numbers for the Division and this Bill is very important. It deals with division of revenue between the two levels...

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

Sen. Billow Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, was the Senator for Kakamega County in order to belittle the Senate Deputy Minority Leader’s office by claiming that he can deputise for him by virtue of being his deputy of something outside there in Western Kenya? Is he in order to belittle the...