Oketch Eddy Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Through you, your honour, of course, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Thursday, 18th June, 2026- Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the County Government's Equitable Share Cash Disbursement Schedule...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Thank you once again Mr. Speaker. Again, through you, your honour and on behalf of the Chairperson Liaison Committee, the Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Thursday, 18th June, 2026 – Report of the Liaison Committee on...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, once again. I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate today, Thursday, 18th June, 2026. Report of the Standing Committee on Roads, Transport and Housing on its consideration of The Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill (No.3) (National Assembly...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru I thank you once again, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to give notice of the following Motion – THAT, the Senate adopts the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the County Governments (Equitable Share) Cash Disbursement Schedule for Financial Year 2026/2027, laid on...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Thank you once again, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I beg to give notice of the following Motion- 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 Orders No. 224 (2) laid...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, as a Member of the Committee on Finance and Budget, I assert that this is a procedural Motion because the bulk of the work was the passing of the Division of Revenue Bill and the County Allocation of Revenue Bill, which give money to...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I understand the veracity of this matter. I also understand that Sen. Okiya Omtatah is keen to substantiate the document that he has brought here and we need to understand it too. However, the rules of this House are very clear on the...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch GicheruPerhaps, I can give you some figures. The road transport is a dominant mode of transport in our country to the extent that approximately 93 per cent of all freight and passenger transport are dependent on roads. The country's road networks, however, has had a problem of bias...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru: Sen. Oketch Gicheru:

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This is a very special delegation to us, as a House, especially because we have seen a number of things happening in our schools today that we did not expect. It is amazing to see many students who are committed to continuing...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Sen. Wambua.

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Hon. Cabinet Secretary, proceed to give your response. The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) Ask your question. Sen. Oketch Gicheru I am coming to the question, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. The Deputy Speaker (Sen. Kathuri) Everybody seems to be an expert in Vision Sen. Oketch Gicheru

June 17, 2026 SENATE DEBATES 30 Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my question stems from financial accountability, especially for county governments in relation to exchequer releases by the National Treasury. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in his own words, the Cabinet Secretary said that there are delays in terms...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheruuko sehemu za nyanja ya juu. Watu wanaambiwa stori nyingi. Wengine wanatumia hela nyingi.Wengine wanapelekwa mahali ambapo hapana huduma za kiafya zinazofaa kusimamia na kutibu shida kama hizi. Hii imekuwa ni shida kwa wananchi wetu wa hapa Kenya na watu wa Tana River wenye matatizo ya kukosa mtoto...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise from the outset to second the position as put by the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget. Given that several Senators wish to participate in voting on these issues, I will not belabor the point. I only wish to emphasise...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise from the outset to second the position as put by the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget. Given that several Senators wish to participate in voting on these issues, I will not belabor the point. I only wish to emphasise...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, and perhaps my Chair of the Committee on Finance and Budget could help here, because we are facing a thin balance, where we can have excuse for mischief on governance on this issue of Disbursement Schedule. I have the Disbursement Schedule that was already...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, and perhaps my Chair of the Committee on Finance and Budget could help here, because we are facing a thin balance, where we can have excuse for mischief on governance on this issue of Disbursement Schedule. I have the Disbursement Schedule that was already...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, my request then is, because of integrity issues, if the Senator of Nandi is debating that the CS for the National Treasury and Economic Planning has not sent that schedule to the House, and continue debating as such, then we are just excusing the...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, my request then is, because of integrity issues, if the Senator of Nandi is debating that the CS for the National Treasury and Economic Planning has not sent that schedule to the House, and continue debating as such, then we are just excusing the...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, I rise from the outset to second the position as put by the Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget. Given that several Senators wish to participate in voting on these issues, I will not belabor the point. I only wish to emphasise...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, and perhaps my Chair of the Committee on Finance and Budget could help here, because we are facing a thin balance, where we can have excuse for mischief on governance on this issue of Disbursement Schedule. I have the Disbursement Schedule that was already...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, my request then is, because of integrity issues, if the Senator of Nandi is debating that the CS for the National Treasury and Economic Planning has not sent that schedule to the House, and continue debating as such, then we are just excusing the...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you for this opportunity as I also appreciate Sen. Ledama Olekina for bringing this statement. Time without number in this country, we have seen that when disaster is looming, there is no serious preparedness. There is no organisation at the national and...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to make a brief comment on the Statutory Instruments (Amendment Bill) (National Assembly Bill No.3 of 2024) . My colleagues have already highlighted the dangers of allowing the Executive to control legislation. Parliament has been given the power of the purse....

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to make a brief comment on the Statutory Instruments (Amendment Bill) (National Assembly Bill No.3 of 2024) . My colleagues have already highlighted the dangers of allowing the Executive to control legislation. Parliament has been given the power of the purse. When it comes...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Very well. Honourable Senators, having no other Senator willing to contribute, I call upon the Mover to reply. Since the mover is not around, I defer the reply of the Bill. June 3, 2026 SENATE DEBATES 42 Sen. Oketch Gicheru element in such a sector that it...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru(Applause) May 12, 2026 SENATE DEBATES 40 Sen. Oketch Gicheru Consequently, there are Members who are stuck outside because the bar was not drawn, and it would be important for them to put a vote for this Bill. I plead with you to reconsider, to add one more...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. This is a very good Bill and I hope that Sen. Crystal Asige will see the need to be educated by an agroforestry expert. You learn knowledge in the middle of debate. Perhaps one of the things that this House does...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru: Sen. Oketch Gicheru:same way by eucalyptus. I will argue my case to help us rework this Bill for it to have a coherent approach that does not limit it.I will start with the cons or the demerits of planting eucalyptus. The Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) has...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, I seek your indulgence. My question was actually in the previous question and I tried to seek your attention. The Speaker (Hon. Kingi) Unfortunately, we have already passed that bridge. Sen. Oketch Gicheru It is a very important question, Mr. Speaker, Sir. The Speaker...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I believe the issue of outages in the country, seeing from my colleagues, certainly not only during weather times, because in Migori County, and the CS is very well familiar with Migori County--- We have travelled with them to deal with the issue...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, I wish to express my concern. This is a very delicate matter, since I would never wish to be in the bad books of the Speaker by appearing to vary your decision in this House. However, in the interest of the House, once a...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Thank you, Mr. Temporary, Speaker, Sir. First, I thank the Cabinet Secretary. There are 13 county projects that have been flagged out under the CAIPs and Mandera County is among them. As the Cabinet Secretary alluded, the status of most of these projects is not known. As...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru He does not have time even to respond.

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Very well, Senator. We have understood you. Cabinet Secretary, maybe you can just make a commitment that you will respond in writing. The Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry (Hon. Lee Kinyanjui) : Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I was just responding to Hon. Mandago...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank you for this opportunity. I want to quickly comment on the quarterly report that was issued under this Statement Hour by the Senator for Wajir, Sen. Abass, regarding the work that has been done by the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations....

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is indeed an honour to second this Bill as moved by the Majority Leader, Sen. Aaron Cheruiyot. In the same spirit, I urge the House to pass this Bill as has been tabled in this House, without amendments, for the reason that this...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru On a point of information, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Sen. Sifuna has alluded to something very important, which I also had talked about, but I need to inform you on something here. He has alluded on the amount of money on this Equilisation Fund Appropriation Bill, which is Kshs16 billion. What I want to inform him...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I thank you for this opportunity. (Sen. Cherarkey spoke off record) Mr. Temporary Speaker, may you protect me from Sen. Cherarkey? (Interruption of debate on Bill)

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the Senate, today, Wednesday, 6th May 2026- May 6, 2026 SENATE DEBATES 33 Sen. Oketch GicheruReport of the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget on the Equalisation Fund Appropriation Bill, 2025 (National...

Sen. Oketch Gicheru Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I would like to contribute on the statement by the Senator of Nairobi City County, Sen. Sifuna, on the status of unremitted statutory salary deductions. This is an issue that we have really struggled with even in the Senate County Public Investments...