Hon. Senators, I have a short, off the cuff communication to make. As you are all aware, last week, we paid tribute to the late Gen. Jackson Kimeu Mulinge. He will be buried this Saturday. The details of his burial are well with you. Remember he was a colleague; he was not just a General. He was a Member of Parliament and, therefore, he is a departed colleague. If any of you would like to sign the condolence book, it is outside at the foyer of this Floor. Thank you. Next Order! Is there any Member giving a Notice of Motion? Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale is not here. Let us move on.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to inform the House that it is not possible to have the Statement today because it has not been signed by the Principal Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary. They are both in Mombasa attending to official functions. They have promised me that the Statement will be signed in the course of the day, so that tomorrow, it can be released. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Thank you, Sen. Karaba. I notice that Sen. (Eng.) Muruiki is not here. I think tomorrow will be okay although he had expressed urgency in the matter. Any further statements? If there are no further Statements, let us move on to the next Order.

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

Is it on the issue of the next Order?

No, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I wish to seek your guidance on a number of things. First, it regards the operations of the Senate and Senators, as such. I would propose that we have a Kamukunji to discuss a number of things regarding Senators. If you look at the operations of this Senate as we sit today, you will notice that the microphones are not working. For some time, we have been talking about moving the sittings of the Senate from here to the Old Chamber at the Main Parliament Buildings. We do not know what the state of affairs is as far as that particular movement is concerned. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not know about most of the Senators, but I am also aware that there have been complaints from a number of Senators about the level of support they are getting with regard to their operations at the constituency level. We know that Senators are getting about Kshs200,000 for operations and salaries in the counties and some Kshs35,000 for rental of offices. It is becoming impossible for Senators to be able to operate with the allowances that they are getting. Even getting a decent Personal Assistant (PA) is becoming a problem. Therefore, I wonder whether you can give us guidance on this and if we should have a separate Kamukunji to discuss this matter. There is a level at which we can operate so desperately that it becomes impossible to execute our responsibilities. Therefore, I am simply seeking guidance from you on how we should operate, going forward. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

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

Yes, Sen. Haji, is your point of order on something else?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to agree with my colleague particularly when it comes to facilitation. We are now in offices where we do not have telephones to operate. We are forced to use cell phones which sometimes are cumbersome because if you do not get the person, you cannot leave a proper message and he or she understands that it is you who is looking for him or her. Secondly, you will recall that in the first Kamukunji meeting we held in the Old Chamber when the question of office allocation was being discussed, I personally made an appeal. I said that I would have preferred to be given an office on the second floor, if it The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

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

Is it on the same issue, Sen. (Dr.) Machage?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, mine is on the same issue. When you call for the Kamukunji which I assume you will accept the request, we also plead that the Members or representatives of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), all the three Members, be available to answer a few questions directly.

Thank you, Senators. Sen. Kagwe, this was kind of an ambush. I had no indication that this issue would come up. Normally, we do not discuss issues of a Kamukunji or the issues that you have raised in an open House, when we are in the glare of everybody in the republic. Having said that, let me make this short communication. I know for sure that we had another meeting of the Rules and Business Committee. We still expect to move our sittings to the Old Chamber at the Main Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, 1st July, 2014. I can give that as a certainty that we shall be moving because the chamber is now ready for our use. I believe that tomorrow, all things being equal, is the last day that we shall sit here and then move to the other chamber. It is interesting that you have raised these issues because they also came up in the Rules and Business Committee. These are issues of office allocation and a Kamkunji with the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). That is work in progress. It is only that the date has not been given. We expect that, that meeting will be held sooner than later, maybe as soon as next week. That is the issue that has been raised by Sen. (Dr.) Machage. On the issue that has been raised by Sen. Haji about office allocation, I want to believe that these are issues again, we will be able to discuss at the Kamukunji when it is convened sometime next week. As you are aware, the Speaker is not in station. It is important that as we have that

he is there so that I, as the Senator for Murang’a County, am able to raise the issues that I would like to raise. These are issues I may not be able to raise in the capacity that I am in at the moment. These are matters and works in progress. I am grateful that The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Hon. Senators, we are supposed to proceed to a division on this Bill. The matter came up yesterday. Since I cannot see the Senate Majority Leader neither can I see the Whip and the other officers, I do not know how we will proceed on this issue. Does any Member have any instructions on the issue? Sen. Elachi, we are on Order No.8. I do not see Sen. Martha Wangari in the House nor the Senate Majority Leader. I do know what the position on this Bill is. Are we going to Division?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am privy to information that Sen. Wangari is away on official duty in the Middle East. I did second this Bill when it was being moved. I would like to plead with the Chair that the voting is deferred and put together with the other Bills that are coming up. On a particular day, all Members will be informed that it will be a voting day, so that we do not lose important Bills because of lack of quorum. That is my plea.

Based on what?

On personal conviction, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

What part of the Standing Orders are you referring to, Sen. (Dr.) Machage? You cannot just say that we defer the matter.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would not say that it is under Standing Order No.54(3) as a personal message. But if it can fit, then it will be alright. I can read it if you want. Do I continue?

Go on. This is very important for the HANSARD

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Standing Order No.54 (3) says:- “Despite paragraph (2), the Speaker may, on request of a Senator, defer the putting of the question to the following day in which case the Speaker shall thereupon nominate a time at which the question shall be put.”

But today is the following day of yesterday. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, but today also has tomorrow.

So you are suggesting that it can go to infinitum .

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, that is at the discretion of the Speaker as put in Standing Order No.1.

Standing Order No.1 only applies when there is no specific provision.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, guide the House. I know you have the ability.

Well, it is a difficult situation because Sen. Martha Wangari is not here. I am happy that Sen. (Dr.) Machage, you have said that you have personal knowledge of where Sen. Wangari is. Yesterday, we did not have that knowledge and I used my discretion to defer the division to today. But now that you have stood and you seconded the Bill and you say you have that knowledge, it is good to know that. Sen. Elachi, would you like to make a contribution to this? Should we defer the division to tomorrow or to a day when Sen. Wangari will be here?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also want to thank Sen. (Dr.) Machage but I also wish to request that you guide us. Let the division be deferred until when the Mover of the Bill is back.

I do not know whether that will be the following day if we follow the rules. But in this instance, I will have to use my discretion. Although the Bill is the property of the House, once it is moved and seconded, it is reasonable and fair, because it is a Bill personal to Sen. Wangari, that we defer the division up to the time that she will be here. So, that we have a definite date, may I propose that we go to division on this Bill on Wednesday, 2nd July, 2014 at 2.30 p.m. Is that okay?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, since I know she will not be there, I beg that you defer the division until 7th July, 2014. She will be back on 6th July, 2014.

What day is Wednesday?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, 9th July 2014.

We shall have the division on 9th July, 2014. It is so ordered.

Next Order. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

This is a Motion by Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki. He is supposed to reply, but I cannot see him.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, through your request, I wish to reply on behalf of the Mover. He is still at State House, but I believe he is on his way coming back.

Are you duly instructed to reply?

Yes, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

You know, for a Motion, there does not have to be a reply. But if you had instructions--- The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Yes, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

On what basis then would you reply? You have already contributed once.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wanted to propose somebody to reply on behalf of Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki.

Sen. Elachi, first, you have contributed to the Motion. Secondly, if you refer to Standing Order No.86(3), it states clearly that:- “The Mover of a substantive Motion may surrender all or part of his or her right to reply to another Senator or Senators nominated by him or her who has not already spoken to such Motion.” Therefore, you cannot possibly reply. But having said that, like I said, a Motion does not have to be replied to. The Mover does not need to reply. If he is not here, the Motion does not die. All it does is that there was no reply to the Motion, then it goes to division. I think that is the legal position but you cannot reply to the Motion because you already contributed.

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. With your grace and favour, may I request that we defer this Motion and move on to the next business? The reason I am requesting for this is because considering the weighty nature of this Motion; it is a Motion that has profound implication on what is happening currently in the country on matters security. It is good to continue picking the brain of the Mover a little bit. Although the law says the Mover does not have to reply, but it would be nicer if he was here to wrap it up.

What are you asking me to defer? Is it the voting or the whole item as listed on Order No.9?

Yes, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Again, what are you basing this on?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with your leave, allow me to pick the Standing Order. It is Standing Order No.99.

Can you read it?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it states:- “A Senator who wishes to postpone to some future occasion the further discussion of a question which has been proposed from the Chair may claim to move “

or, in Committee of the Whole

. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with proper interpretation, it falls within that Standing Order. With your permission – you know you are very powerful through Standing Order No.1. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Coaxing will not help you!

Where there are gaps---

I know that, but the gaps are only there if they are not written. That is the truth.

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. It must go on record that the other side of the House is not very serious in the manner in which they are carrying out the business of this House. We have just postponed the voting of an important Bill, Bill No.2 of 2014 because one of them is not in the House. Again, another Motion by the Senate Majority Leader is to be postponed; two important businesses in a row from the Government side. It is important for the House to take note that the other side of the House, which is supposed to be in Government, is not serious in the manner in which they are conducting the business of the Senate.

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Correct me if I am wrong, but I do not think Sen. Musila is in order to generalize on whichever side a Member is sitting. Even if you count the number of Senators who are in the House now, this side has more. Secondly, and most importantly, is that a Motion is moved by Member notwithstanding which side of the House they are sitting. No other Senator will take responsibility for a mistake made by a Senator who was moving a Motion on his or her capacity. It is not a Government Motion, it is an individual Motion.

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. You have heard what Sen. Murkomen, who I respect a lot has said. This Order Paper was prepared. It is upon the Senate Majority Leader and the Whip to ensure that those people that are supposed to do business in this House are there. On our side, whenever anything is put on the Order Paper, we make sure that those who are supposed to carry out that business are present. We cannot understand why the other side of the House is taking this side for granted. We must be serious in the manner in which we conduct the business of this House.

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

Is the point of order on the same thing?

Order, Sen. Kittony! You cannot stand on a point of order and then start walking towards the microphone. I have not even allowed you. You can now give your point of order. I will give you the special dispensation but you cannot just stand in your place and start walking.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to defend ourselves. We are in the House and are very serious with our business. Sen. Musila should not generalize because we are very serious Senators and we take the business of the House very seriously. So, if it is an individual, let him name him or her, not all of us.

Thank you, Sen. Kittony. The only thing I would like to say is that it is good and courteous that when you have a Motion, The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

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

On what? Go on now.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my point of order is on the same line of ruling that you are doing. My understanding is that all travelling of Members of this House is approved by your office. Therefore, is it not true that the Speaker’s office was aware that these Members were out of the country?

I do not know. I have no knowledge. Not everybody gives notice that they have gone.

Will I, therefore, be in order to request that you order the Clerk’s office to always inform you which Members are out and when?

Sen. (Dr.) Machage, let us not go to the administration because you have no capacity to deal with matters of administration of the Senate. Let us just agree that you inform me and that is very important. Now, Sen. Murkomen, you were making application. Go on.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in other countries, you would be called Your Excellency but in the House, you are the hon. Speaker. I was making this request that considering the weighty nature of this Motion, we postpone Order No.9 and move to the next Order so that we can properly prosecute this issue in due course. That is what I was doing then.

Yes, I wanted you to finish what you were doing so that we can move to the next Order.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I still insist that considering that even if the Majority Leader is here, you are on record to say that there are Senate things he did not do right. I think it should just be left like that and we move to the next Order.

I agree with you, Sen. Murkomen. The only thing is that under Standing Order No.99 that you referred to, and this is for the record, you have to move and be seconded so that we can move to the next Order. Having said that, I notice that the Leader of Majority is here and we are still on Order No.9. So, can you call Order No.9 again?

(Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki): Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I first want to apologize for coming into this Chamber late. I had already requested the Majority Whip to convey my apology and this should not be seen as any disrespect or neglect of my work in this House. As I have said many times, I am very conscious of my obligations and I have the deepest respect for the process and business of this House. Having said that, I beg to reply.

Is that it? Now it is official. We can now go to division. Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki, we are going to division on your Motion.

(Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki: Sorry, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I have consulted further and I have also looked at the numbers we have. So, I am requesting under Standing No.54(3) if you can direct that the vote on this Motion be deferred to the following day. I seek your indulgence. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

It is quite obvious you do not have a threshold to conduct the vote. So, again, we are going to vote on this Motion, tomorrow, Thursday, 26th June, 2014, after 2.30 p.m.

Next Order! CONSTRUCTION OF BOARDING SCHOOLS IN ARID AND SEMI ARID AREAS THAT, aware that 80 per cent of Kenya’s land comprises arid and semi-arid areas; further aware that nearly 30 per cent of the 47 counties are inhabited by pastoralists who live in arid and semi-arid areas; concerned that these pastoralists are marginalized and face a myriad of socio-economic and physical constraints that make it difficult for their children to access education; appreciating that Article 56(b) of the Constitution of Kenya obligates the state to take affirmative action measures to ensure marginalized groups are provided with special opportunities in educational and economic fields; the Senate urges the National Government to construct boarding facilities in at least three established schools in every ward in arid and semi-arid areas as a means of facilitating nomadic children to access education.

This is resumption of a Motion of Sen. Halima Abdille and it has a balance of one hour and 45 minutes.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you very much for allowing me to contribute to this Motion. According to me, this Motion it is very important and that is what we have been talking about all through, that is, marginalization. It is very important to note that many parts of Kenya, the way the Motion states, arid lands comprise of 80 per cent which could even be more going by the rate at which deforestation is taking place in Kenya. It is also important to note that in such areas, there are people living there. There are nomadic pastoralists who keep on moving from one place to another in such of water and pasture not because of their fault but because of nature. Environmental problems facing such areas are so much such that they cannot do anything else apart from doing what they do, that is, moving from one place to another. That is the state in which they live. So, we cannot therefore complain about what they do. They have to bear with that kind of environmental problems and hazards. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have been to some places like Nigeria where the Fulani pastoralists who undergo the same problems as in Kenya, the Government of The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the Mover of this Motion, Sen. Halima Abdille. This is not the first Motion of its kind. During my 15 years in the National Assembly, I have gone through a series of Motions of this nature where movers call upon the Government to provide educational facilities to marginalized areas of this country. After we have gone through this Motion, the Government will take this matter seriously. It is now 51 years since Independence and I am sorry to say that we are still talking about the same thing. We have some marginalized areas of our Republic where people do not have facilities. We are talking about arid areas mainly North Eastern Province and northern part of Rift Valley and Eastern Province. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, yesterday when we were prosecuting the Motion of Adjournment, issues of insecurity were cited and education was also given as one of the reasons which lacks in certain communities. That is why we keep on having certain practices which we should not have at this age and time, particularly cattle rustling. If the communities we were talking about yesterday had been given much education as every other area of this Republic, some of those practices would not be there. I am sure we would not be talking about cattle rustling in northern Kenya or people burning others in their houses for very flimsy excuses and so on. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is time that our country takes the issue of marginalization very seriously not only in education but in other sectors including infrastructure, education and so on. We should bring the inhabitants of this great Republic at par in terms of education and in terms of all facilities. I want to support very strongly that these areas which have been neglected in the past and because of the arid nature of the areas involving the practice of moving from one place to another, it is not possible for children to access education when they are not boarding. Usually they go to school but when they move, they have to interrupt their education. I know that the Government has tried to do something in the past but the boarding schools that they built are not adequate. You will find one or two schools in a county and it is not enough because the population has also increased. Therefore, it is important that the Government makes sure that we have adequate boarding, secondary and primary schools in arid and semi-arid areas so that children can study effectively. As Sen. Karaba has indicated, those children are just as clever as others and it has been demonstrated when they have been given chances in national schools like Alliance High School. They have done very well just like others. Therefore, it is unfair for us to keep some sections of the population with fewer facilities and expect that they will move along with others. In fact, I dare say that the insecurity that we have in this country is as a result of unequal education opportunities in our county. Therefore, this Motion is very valid and I would like to urge that this time round, the Government should The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

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

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I agree to get that information.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I agree with what Sen. Musila is saying because today at 10.00 a.m., a girl came to see me in my office because she cannot get her certificate for failure to pay Kshs30,000 and I had to give her that money.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I applaud Sen. Haji and others who have been able to pay for these children who are so many. The only solution – I am surprised that the Government is being magnanimous; they have already said that from next year, there will be no examination fee and increased the tuition fees from Kshs1,300 to Kshs1,500 per student, but it is omitting this very important aspect where children finish school and languish at home in poverty and the Government is not pronouncing itself to this problem. I would like to ask the Senate Majority Leader, with all the power that he has---

Which power? He does not have any!

I respect him very much and he should ensure that he meets His Excellency the President. I am sure if the President is informed of this problem, he is going to oblige. Therefore, whether he has power or not, I want to appeal to my friend and neighbor, Sen. Kindiki, the Senate Majority Leader, to make it a point and visit the President and inform him of this matter and ensure that all certificates that have been held since 2006 are released.

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

I accept the information.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, indeed the Senate Majority Leader has power, but I wanted to say that my understanding of the Government paying the examination fee is actually to delink the certificate from the school so that once the certificate is not the property of the school, you are able to get your certificate because you have paid for the examination. That is the intention. If it is not, then we should make it clearer. When I asked somebody who works with the institution, they said that the objective here is to delink just like the way people do in KNEC examinations and other The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I appreciate that information but Sen. Murkomen is talking about tomorrow, and I am talking about yesterday and now. These certificates are being held, they are of no use to anyone; neither to the school nor to the Government. This is just denying our children opportunities. I urge that the Government builds boarding schools in arid and semi-arid areas. The Government should also move with speed and release the certificates because they will go a long way in alleviating poverty in this country. I beg to support.

Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. From the outset, I wish to start by supporting Sen. Musila and say that during my tenure as the Chairman of the Education Committee, I pursued this matter through the Ministry of Education and they promised that they will do something about it, but so far, nothing has happened. I would urge that in the same vein, that action be taken on this matter because you will recall that Sen. Musila moved a Motion in the Ninth Parliament which actually became law and therefore, it is against the law to withhold the certificates for children. Having said that, I also rise to support this Motion by Sen. Mohamud and say that equal opportunity in education is paramount for equality in the country. That is why in passing the devolution aspect in Schedule Four, we allow that the ECDs are going to be taken care of by the county governments, but secondary schools and primary schools are still in the hands of the national Government. Therefore, I would urge two things in supporting this Motion; first, the county governments should start by building boarding facilities at the lower levels. We know that we have got an Equalization Fund and a fund for ECDs and we would urge that the Senators from the semi-arid and arid areas urge their Governors to immediately start investing in ECDs and also in polytechnics. We hear that Governors want to build primary schools, secondary schools and so on. It makes no sense to say that you want to build a primary or secondary school which is the work of the national Government and you have not built any ECDs which is your responsibility. So, long before you go into seeking responsibility that belongs to other levels of Government, let the Governors and the CECs responsible for education invest in ECDs and polytechnics. The contributions that have been made in this House makes it very clear that the purpose of education is not just to bury the youth in an information overload; the purpose of education is to foster creativity and widen the thinking of individuals so that education can impact not only on peace or education itself, but also change in culture so that they can inform dynamism in our thinking. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would, for example, like to imagine that cultural activities such as Female Genital Mutilation which is widely practiced in some of these areas would be reduced dramatically and in the same manner as we would be changing the societies so that we stop the aspects that stop the education of our children, particularly the education of girls. I would like to imagine that in thinking through the support of semi-arid and arid areas, it is not just a question of infrastructure, schools are The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

What of the women in Kajiado?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, can I be protected by the Senate Minority Leader? I will not respond to him specifically on Kajiado, but I do know that it is a practice that is going on in many parts of this country and one that we as a Senate must fight to ensure that it does not continue. I support this Motion with all the energy that I can and hope that the Government takes measures to ensure that what Sen. Mohamud has proposed is implemented.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Sen. Wetangula should wait for his time to speak. I want from the outset to congratulate Sen. Mohamud for pointing out this at this time. As a country, having enacted the new Constitution four years ago, everybody must have basic human rights as stipulated in Cap.4 of our new Constitution. Allow me to read Article 53 (1) (b) which states:- “Every child has the right to free and compulsory basic education” This applies to every child in Kenya including the areas that the Mover has stated. Article 54 (1) (b) states:- “A person with any disability is entitled to access educational institution and facilities for persons with disabilities that are integrated into the society to the extent compatible with the interests of the persons”. We also have the same people in the areas that the Mover has stated. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will proceed to Article 55 (a) about the youth. It states:- “The State, shall take measures including affirmative action programmes to ensure that the youth access relevant education and training” The areas that the Senator has mentioned are supposed to benefit. Finally, we have areas that we call marginalized which resemble these ones that have been mentioned in Article 56. They are called minorities and marginalized groups. It says:- “The State shall put in place affirmative action programmes designed to ensure that minorities and marginalized groups: (b) are provided special opportunities in education and economic fields”. I want to say that the new Constitution has categorically recognized and taken into account some of the areas that we somehow forgot for almost 50 years now, like West Pokot and other counties that are in the pastoralist region. I do not know whether it was deliberate, but time has now come when we need to see how the national Government, given that primary and secondary education all fall under it Schedule Four of this Constitution, that in order to mitigate and make sure that some of these issues are addressed and that every child is taken care of, that boarding facilities are available for children of pastoralists. Some people do not know who pastoralists are. In fact, these are people who move from one place to another looking for pasture with their mobile wealth, that is, animals. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I laud Sen. Halima for bringing this Motion, which is in line with the aspirations and, in fact, mandatory provisions of the Constitution. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Where?

It is happening. You provoked me; I will give you in the same measure.

On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Did you see the Senate Minority Leader having an altercation with one Member of the House without coming through you, and pointing fingers? Is that really in order?

It is very much out of order! If you look at the HANSARD I have ruled on that many times, but sometimes, I just let you. It is totally out of order!

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you have watched Italians speak, they speak figuratively. That is what I was doing. I was speaking like an Italian, but Sen. Murkomen apprehended and thought that I was pointing at somebody. I was, in fact, making my point figuratively.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if you will allow me to continue, I want this Senate, as the custodian, protector and defender of counties, to be encouraged that, in fact, part of what Sen. Halima is asking can actually be started at the county level. If we go and address our county assemblies, like I sometimes do, and encourage them to legislate also The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Bw. Naibu Spika, namshukuru sana Sen.Halima kwa Hoja aliyoileta katika Bunge hili. Kuna mengi ya uchungu ambayo wakati mwingine ni magumu kuyataja na kuyazungumza hapa. Wakati mwingine ukizifikiria zile sehemu zilizosahaulika tangu siku za ukoloni mpaka sasa, badala ya kulia utaangua kicheko, kwa sababu si jambo ambalo halijajulikana na Serikali wala kudhihirika. Nafikiri hili ni jambo ambalo limetendwa kwa nia ya kuua utu wa Wakenya wengine nchini. Wakati umefika ambapo sisi, hasa wale tunaotoka sehemu hizi ambazo sasa wameziita “ marginalized” kwa kimombo, kwenda kotini. Tutaenda kotini tukidai riba kwa dhulma ambayo tumetendewa na Serikali hizo zote mpaka leo. Tumenyimwa haki zetu za kiutu. Sasa hivi ukiwasikia wenzangu wakisema “Oh! Msifikirie ni nyinyi peke yenu; hata wale ambao wameshapewa nafasi, ukienda kwao pia wako na maskini ambao wamesahaulika.” Hii ni kusudi Hoja kama hii ikipita, chochote kile kitakachopatikana, tena wakichukue wapeleke huko kwao. Huu ni ukoloni mambo leo. Hii ni desturi ambayo imeimarishwa ili The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Sen. Kuti.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I beg to support this very important Motion by Sen. Halima. But I would like to speak about what exactly is going on, on the ground, as much as we also seek support from the national Government. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, my 10 years or so experience leading this Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS) constituency has shown me that marginalization is sometimes actually inflicted by other forces or influences, and it impacts on education negatively. One of the experiences that I would like to share here today is the impact of relief food on education. When I joined Parliament as a Member for Isiolo North Constituency in 2003, there were several large villages where the relief food was distributed. These large villages had a school and a Mosque. Over time, you realize that these large villages split because an old man or someone who has influence in the village is maybe competing with another old man. So, they split the village to form another village a kilometer or two away from that big village. This new small village will demand for a school and a Mosque. They will demand for the appointment of an assistant chief or a chief in order to attract aid as a new registered centre for relief food. Then you will realize that after another two or so years, the same village has again grown big maybe due to immigration of people who lose animals due to drought. Eventually, the two villages transform into four villages. You will still need four small schools. They will be very poorly equipped and staffed. So, because it is the same teachers, if that initial large village had four teachers, now each of those four schools will be left with one teacher. In any case, the teacher deployment in those areas is much The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. First, I wish to thank my colleague, Sen. Halima, for bringing this Motion to the House. From the outset, I support this Motion. Mine is to suggest how this should be implemented because it is a clear fact that these schools are required in these marginalized areas in order to give an opportunity to children to go to school. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to contribute to this important Motion. First, I want to thank Sen. Halima for having thought of this issue. It is something that needs everybody to come together to achieve. The issue of having boarding schools reminds me of something we normally talk about, that of having special schools for children with disabilities. I have corrected myself by saying that if we have such boarding schools, this will allow integration of vulnerable children together with other children. This will improve the social well being of these children because they grow up interacting and understanding the challenges of each other. I support this Motion because in 2011, I managed to visit Turkana County. It was difficult to move around because Turkana has a lot of sand everywhere. It was very difficult for me to move around on a wheel chair because it would sit in the sand. I asked myself: How are the people with disabilities and especially school going children managing because it would take time for them to access the learning institutions? If we have such facilities, I am 100 per cent sure that the admission and retention of vulnerable children in learning institutions will go up. I also support this Motion because education is the key foundation for the well being of every Kenyan. As we embrace and have passion for this, it is an indication that we, as leaders, are building a strong foundation for our young Kenyans who in the future will be able, across the country, to compete well in the job market because each of them will be well catered for education wise. Children from these areas will be able to compete in the job market like other Kenyans from different areas. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, why should we rally behind this Motion of having boarding schools in the ASAL areas? I agree with Sen. Wetangula when he said that this Motion needs an amendment because when it comes to disability and vulnerable children, it does not matter where one comes from, the challenges are the same. In some of the institutions, the principals or headteachers sometimes quote some words that send away teachers teaching learners with disabilities or vulnerable groups because of separating special schools from other schools. As a result of difficulties of the vulnerable children, it reaches a time that the issue of mean score becomes a problem to retain such children because they have a lot of difficulty accessing education; the material that they need are also expensive. If we support this Motion and it is operationalised, we should ask the Government that if we have these boarding schools then they should have reasonable accommodation where the needs of the vulnerable are met based on their challenges. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this Motion is important because it will improve the learning standards in each county now that we are operating in the context of counties. As we support this Motion, we want it to be such that each Kenyan will benefit from it. We The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Sen. Lesuuda.

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

What is it Sen. Hassan?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, my order comes on the basis that before you granted Sen. Lesuuda an opportunity to speak, she walked to your Chair and immediately she went back, my own reading of your body language, was that you struggled to accord her an opportunity. Yesterday we were warned by the Chair that Members must not canvas. Is she in order to have canvassed?

Order, Sen. Hassan! First of all, you are completely out of order. You have just arrived in the House and you even do not know how many times she tried to catch the Speaker’s eye. In fact, for avoidance of doubt, Sen. Lesuuda was to come earlier, but I thought Sen. Omondi should come first because she had also waited for too long. So, I decided to balance. You cannot cast an aspersion on the Chair. You have to withdraw and apologize. You know that the Chair ruled yesterday that you cannot question the Chair.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, after explaining to me eloquently how Sen. Lesuuda has struggled to get an opportunity to speak to this very important Motion, I find my comments barely rushed. Therefore, I withdraw and apologize to the Chair for the insinuations that I made on your person and the Chair.

Very well! Proceed, Sen. Lesuuda.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thank you for this opportunity. I doubt whether the Senator of Mombasa actually knows what we are discussing this afternoon. Maybe he can acquaint himself with the Motion first. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, first of all, I would like to congratulate Sen. Halima for coming up with this very important Motion. This is an issue that we have discussed severally on issues to do with education, especially of children who come from areas which are considered marginalized for one reason or another. I also thank my colleagues who have contributed to this Motion because over time, as Senators, we have shown that we discuss all Motions giving them the weight they deserve, whether it touches on your county or not, we take them seriously. We cannot belabour why this it is important to have boarding schools in these counties. As it was alluded to earlier, these counties also have heavy cultural issues which are retrogressive. If we have boarding schools for these children, we will be protecting them for a longer period rather than when they are at home exposed to these challenges. For example, the issues of earlier marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) for the girl child, the longer we keep them in school the better. If we feel that they are not safe at home, we can keep them in school for longer during holidays. They can be protected because we know it is a right for our children to access education and also to be protected from any harmful practices. This is one of our responsibilities as a state and as leaders. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Sen. Hargura, you have two minutes. You better save the two minutes. The balance for the debate on the Motion was one hour and 45 minutes and so there are two minutes to go.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I would like to thank my sister Sen. Mohamud for bringing up this Motion because this is actually a solution to a problem we have all known and have been trying to address. We are saying these issues because the Government has a responsibility. The literacy levels in this country are so varied. That is why the Government should put in place an affirmative action and build these schools because inequalities in education opportunities result in inequalities in social mobility. People in these areas are still lagging behind because they have not got what got the other Kenyans off. The route to abandoning the traditional lives and embracing the modern way of living is education. For the pastoralists, this is very crucial because the change of their ways of life will depend on education. The way out of poverty will also depend on how educated they are and it also reduces conflicts. We are having conflicts in these areas because people have not gone to school. Those who have gone to school will develop along other social systems. They will join the job market and will not be there to engage in the conflicts that we are experiencing now. It is also a cause of economic diversification for these people. These schools are necessary because for the pastoralist child, it makes a very big difference. We have gone through that system. When you leave school, you are supposed to join the family in looking after animals. You will not have time to study while the other child has time to study. The children from those areas do not have time to concentrate because they are affected by drought and insecurity while the boarding schools will insulate the children from all that and enable them to attain their potential. They will also enable those children to compete with others at secondary school level. Education opportunities are usually affected by poor infrastructure. Thank you. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Sen. Mohamud, it is now your time to reply. If it is in your interest, you can take care of Sen. Gwendo, Sen. Bule and any other.

Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. With due respect and the interest that Members have in this Motion, I would like to donate two minutes of my time to Sen. Ongoro, two minutes to Sen. Bule, two minutes to Sen. Gwendo and another two minutes to Sen. Omar. I will take the remaining two minutes, if that is okay with the Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, a lot has been said, but I just want to add my voice. It is said that education is the key that opens many doors. All the other social ills that we are handling in this region could be sorted out with just this one move. They include the eradication of poverty, insecurity and cattle rustling. If you engage these minds to know that there is something else apart from cattle. This would lead to improved sanitation, improved maternal and child care and inculcate the culture of saving. Having said that, even as we support this Motion, we should urge the Government to put in place sustainable policy and institutional framework that will sustain the creation of these boarding facilities and improve the welfare of teachers in order to attract quality teachers in those regions and put adequate infrastructure in place to ensure that even as we construct the boarding schools, but they are sustained. We should also have sustained civic education so that the parents see the need to take their children to those institutions so that we do not have empty institutions. This will discourage early marriage and also give incentives to the parents. The other reason parents from these areas do not take their children to school is because of the labour that those children offer to their parents in terms of taking care of the cattle. This loss of labour should be adequately compensated. Finally, before we do that, we must ensure that there is adequate security in those areas. We can put up the best facilities. However, without security, they could be run down or burnt down in a very short time. With those few remarks, I support.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. First and foremost, before I proceed with my contribution, I want to thank Sen. Mohamud for the timely Motion that she brought. This Motion actually touches me so much. I come from some of the marginalized communities which suffer more. So, this would be one way of eradicating problems in Kenya. We have problems where people are marginalized. The pastoralist communities are the most marginalized. This would be one way of eliminating problems from those communities. Putting up boarding schools in every ward is a fantastic idea which can change the lives of many Kenyans. Where I come from, we have some locations where we do not even have a single school, let alone a boarding school. If we get modern boarding schools and equip them with modern facilities, the problems being faced in these areas will reduce. The Government should implement the Constitution that we voted for and implement this Motion if it is passed, so that we can ensure free and compulsory education for all in Kenya. This is the only way because there are children who cannot go The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me an opportunity to support this Motion. I will just start like Sen. Ongoro started; a lot has been said, but one thing for sure, if you want to bring changes in any community, education is the first weapon that anyone needs. It is time we gave the marginalized communities a supportive pillar to hold on to and to be able to catch up with the rest of the country considering that the Constitution provides them with the right to basic education. Normally people with ability will take their children to private schools and when they get to Standard Eight, they are removed from the private schools and registered in those same areas that are looking for facilitation. Those children then perform well and get the opportunity to go to national schools. Meanwhile we forget that if we empower the children from the marginalized areas, they will be able to compete with the children in private schools and also go to the national schools. I support this Motion because I believe that if we facilitate the marginalized communities with the right facilities, for example, the boarding schools thus creating a conducive environment to learn. We will be moving not just these communities, but a county or a country towards the right direction. They will be able to compete with children from other areas. A child in Alliance Boys High School will be able to compete with a child in Mandera Boys High School, with no challenges. Thank you.

Finally, Sen. Omar Hassan and bear in mind the remaining time.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, first and foremost, I want to thank Sen. Halima for this Motion in its totality. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I just want to raise one particular issue about promoting equality through education. You do recall during the civil rights movement of the United States, education was used as a very paramount avenue to promote equality. For us to be able to give our children in this country a fighting chance and any form of hope in the future, we need to ensure that we promote education and make it accessible to all. In fact, it is a constitutional requirement at this point in time. We also have the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of 215 among others which require that we make quality education accessible to every young child. This Motion sets the pace for the Senate to create equality of counties and people, through the provision of education. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to support.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me take this opportunity to sincerely thank my colleagues. I am sure that three quarters of the Senators have supported this Motion. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, those who have contributed have raised very important recommendations. I promise that we will consider all those recommendations when we seek to amend the Education Act. It is my hope that this very important Motion will see the light of day, so that it can be implemented. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Thank you, Sen. Halima. Your request is not granted because the Chair finds that this is not a Motion concerning counties. This is because the function that is supposed to be done under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution is a function of the national Government. Therefore, we should just vote via simple majority. I, therefore, wish to put the Question.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the following Motion:- THAT, aware that Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) is a critical component in effective service delivery in all sectors of our economy; further aware that the fibre optic backbone (FOB) is already laid in most counties; appreciating that advanced medical equipment is now available in county medical institutions; acknowledging that medical diagnosis and care is critical and costly; concerned about the shortage of medical personnel trained in various specialties in the health sector; cognizant of the beneficial role of telemedicine in consultations irrespective of the physical location of consultants; the Senate urges the National Government to provide fibre optic connectivity to referral and level 4 and 5 public hospitals in all counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we are all aware of the significant role that ICT plays in our daily lives and the lives of institutions. It has broken all the barriers of time and distance in our communities and societies where we live. It has proven itself as being very capable in a wide applicability in all sector of the economy, social life and all the other sectors in today’s societies. So, ICT is so crucial and important that it should be incorporated in all other aspects of our lives.

Madam Temporary Speaker, since we devolved our Government functions in the new Constitution we have created units. Some of the units include hospitals in our counties. However, some of the counties lack in various aspects and it is difficult for them to operate. I want to refer, particularly to the lack of consultants, doctors and surgeons in literary all the county hospitals that we have in all the 47 counties in our The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Madam Temporary Speaker, as I rise to second this Motion, I want to thank my colleague Sen. (Prof.) Lesan who is a specialist in the field which the Motion is touching. The subject that we are discussing today is very important to the lives of the people of Kenya and to the world in general, noting that we have gone into counties. I remember not long ago in the previous session, we talked about a Motion where the Government was asked to see how it can establish at least a referral hospital in each of the former provinces. At the moment, we have about two only, that is, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret. We also said that we should at least have one Level 5 or Level 4 in every county, so that the people of Kenya can easily be attended to in their counties. Why did the Senate think so? It is because as we know, there is a saying which says where your health is, is where your heart is. If we, as a nation, are depending on the human resource of the people of Kenya, we have to look at their health seriously. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I saw the professor wondering why it should be me, but I would like to inform him that I was the only one on the other side. Secondly, I am humbled that this is a Motion which has been moved and seconded by professors and then the third professor wanted to speak. So, I needed to break that monotony. I am aware that ICT is a critical component of effective service delivery in all sectors of the economy and not only in medicine. I will give you a small example. I was in Chicago, in the United States of America (USA) and I wanted to call home. I bought a card which I wanted to use in my hotel room because if you use the hotel line, it becomes too expensive. I bought a card for US$10 and when I called Nairobi, I was told that I had 80 minutes to speak. I did not find the person I was calling at home. So, I called somebody else in London and I was told that I had 30 minutes to speak. That is the difference between calling Nairobi and calling London when you are in the USA. Then I did not find the person in London. So, I called New York and I was told that I had three hours to speak. Madam Temporary Speaker, Sir, therefore, ICT can solve so many problems because communication is very expensive, especially for the third world that nobody wants to deal with us. In fact, you can have all the professors in the world wanting to consult for us, but at this cost, it is not even possible. Teleconferencing, E-learning and diagnosis become too expensive because we cannot just afford them. I think that is one of the major issues that are quiet, but I think the country should celebrate the former Government for connecting Kenya to the FOC. In fact, at that time when I was trying to speak, it was cheaper to speak to South Africa than to speak to Kenya because the cable went to the Cape of Good Hope and ended there. The courage with which this country decided to connect from South Africa, irrespective of whether Mozambique or Tanzania were in or out and did it again from the Horn of Africa was something that has put us in another level that I think we should now utilize. We cannot spend so much money and even lay a cable from Mombasa to Nairobi and even lay it from Nairobi through Kisumu to Busia and not use it, because that is where we are now. If you try the telephone, it is too expensive and sometimes if you try other communication, it is so slow. The beauty with the FOC is that it is fast. It can also The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

(Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki): Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker, thank you for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this Motion. This is a very good Motion, touching on public health, which is one of the big pillars that this economy and country can build on, if we want to see the country prospering. Madam Temporary Speaker, I want to thank Prof. Lesan, who is a well known Professor of Medicine in this country - in fact, I am told that he is a Professor of Restorative Dentistry – for moving a Motion which is very good and well thought out. These are the kinds of things that we want to see where people’s professional background The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Senate Majority Chief Whip, Sen. Beatrice Elachi.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I also rise to support this Motion, first, by thanking the Mover of the Motion. I support this Motion knowing very well that, today, when we look at the new technologies that we have, especially within our hospitals, and the lack of facilities that we have been crying for, for many years that, indeed, if we can find connectivity, we will even manage to liaise one county to the other counties. Madam Temporary Speaker, when we talk about technology today, I want to also thank the Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University, Prof. Olive Mugenda, who has done a tremendous job. I think she has one of the best medical schools now, with the best facilities not just in East Africa, but in Central and Sub-Saharan Africa. But I know that the challenge we are facing now is even to have those who understand the technology of those machines and to work with it. Therefore, she has managed even to send some of the personnel to Boston, in the USA, to train so that they can come back home and now assist. If you look at the diseases we face today like cancer, this is one disease that, indeed, we need technology and personnel who will understand how to deal with these machines and technology. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Madam Temporary Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute towards this Motion. As I support it, I wish to say that installation of fibre optic cable to Level 4 and Level 5 hospitals is a thing that would have been done like yesterday. I wish to say that in order for hospitals to be efficient, fibre connectivity is a matter of priority and should be implemented by the Government. As we talk now, hospitals have facilities which are well advanced but we lack fast communication. Therefore, I wish to request the Government to divert most of its resources by installing fibre optic cable so that hospitals can serve our citizens as fast as possible. It has been very difficult sometimes, because of the poor state of roads for The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

I now call upon the Mover to reply.

Thank you very much, Madam Temporary Speaker. First and foremost, I wish to take this opportunity to thank my colleague, Senators, who have contributed to this Motion. I am grateful that they have emphasized on some of the critical aspects of this Motion. I am very grateful to Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo and the Senate Majority Leader who have made contributions. I will not also forget the Chief Whip and Sen. Njoroge. Sen. Kajwang but I am also grateful for his contribution.

Order, Senator. I can see Sen. Kajwang in the House.

My apologies, I look at this side and could not see him. Thank you very much, Senator, for your contribution and in fact, you referred to some hospitals who are attempting to do this project. I am grateful to hear that some hospitals are trying to carry out this programme. Madam Temporary Speaker, I do not want to repeat what has been said by my colleagues but I want to echo some of the things that have been mentioned particularly the cost of implementing Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) and its usage is high. Whereas I want to agree with that, I do not see anything higher in terms of cost than life itself. We can save his life, for whatever price. I would think that this is adequate enough to be able to spend than the cost. Misdiagnosis is a very expensive venture, and I think if we can spend some money to save misdiagnosis, then I think we would have spent that coin wisely. A few years ago, it was costing US$7,500 to do an international connectivity. By the year 2011, it had come down to US$650 to do international connectivity. I am sure by now, this cost has significantly come down and even the connectivity locally is even lower. I think this should be affordable to our institutions. Madam Temporary Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to implore the Governors and those people who are responsible for building the infrastructure for medical purposes or delivery of health services in the county to invest in the training of medical personnel. This is a very important aspect because these personnel are the drivers of these tools. Unless we have well trained medical personnel on the ground, then it will be useless putting the ICT systems in place. It is very important that we continue, in the meantime as we develop this system to also continue training personnel. I mean personnel who are experts in their various fields. There is this belief in the counties that anybody who is wearing a white coat is a doctor. I want us to move away from this. It is this denial of the fact that there is a whole lot of difference between anybody wearing a white coat and a recognized and a registered consultant in this country. We must be able to recognize that and go out of our way and train these personnel. It is only with this personnel that this country can offer the kind of The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

Hon. Senators, this Motion does not affect counties and I will, therefore, proceed to put the Question.

Next Order! RESTRUCTURING AND EXPANDING OF KURA MANDATE TO COVER COUNTY HEADQUARTERS

Sen. Mositet happens not to be in the House. I make reference to Standing Order No.39 which sets out the order in which business shall be undertaken in the House. However, I make further reference to Standing Order No.39 (2) which states that:- “Business shall be disposed of in the sequence in which it appears in the Order Paper or in such other sequence as the Speaker may, for the convenience of the Senate direct”. I hereby direct that we move on to the Motion on Order No.13 by Sen. (Prof.) Lonyangapuo for the convenience of the Senate.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to move:- THAT, aware that research is a mystified domain which remains a preserve of selected Government agencies, academic institutions of higher learning and a few other organizations; concerned that even in the said institutions of learning, research is usually introduced at post-graduate level; further concerned that research has not been prioritized and very low funding is channeled towards it; the Senate calls upon the National Government to:- (a) take deliberate measures to cascade research to lower levels of education right from early childhood education level; The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

(Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki): On a point of order, Madam Temporary Speaker. As you can see, I am at home with the subject matter in this Motion but I just wanted to inform the Mover that the Books and Newspapers Act has already been reviewed significantly but more importantly, it is Cap.111 and not Cap.11.

Thank you very much. I thought I mentioned Cap.111 and not Cap.11. I said that they need to be amended so that they capture research as a driver for what is presented inside. If we go that direction, we will get a clear policy that is specifically dedicated to driving this nation. Research is the engine behind which every developing country can anchor itself. Lastly, I went to Singapore and I was very surprised the way their syllabus is taught in the nursery school. Every child is supposed to discover something. Somehow, they spent money on research and that is why they left Kenya behind. We were at the same level in 1967 but there is nothing that can stop us from moving to that level if we put things right. Madam Temporary Speaker, I wish to end it at this point and call upon Sen. (Prof.) Lesan to second.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I rise to second the Motion. The Motion which has been moved is a very important one and very significant in its implications to our everyday lives and in the future. I would want to say that, unfortunately, this country has never placed research at the correct pedestal given the set up that we have in the country. This is exemplified by the level of funding that research gets in this country. There is a lot of evidence to show that countries which carry out research and particularly relevant research and continue to use the outcomes of that relevant research, those countries have made significant progress. That progress is signified in the quality of life in those countries. I have an example of a little Island country called Japan. Japan invested in two important researchers of Toyota. They used the research findings to produce a gadget which is the phenomenon of the Japanese car, Toyota. This is a product of relevant research that has been applied and a product produced to better the lives of individuals. Madam Temporary Speaker, in this country, we would have conducted research on very simple things to improve on them, patent them and use them. The kiondo is one such example . The kiondo is an innovation of this country, but we are aware of how it left this country, slightly improved by some other researchers who patented and registered it. It is now a carrier that is used worldwide in many places and the royalties emanating from that product do not come to our country for research purposes. This is because we do not attach a lot of importance to research and that is why we would let go of innovations that have started in our country. This Motion is very important in that it is now calling upon us to recognize the significance of research. We need to understand that research is an expensive undertaking. That is the starting point about research. On the short-term, it is expensive but on the long-term, it is worth the while and the abilities that you spend. I think we should look at research differently in this country. The starting point of looking at The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.

You still have a balance of five minutes, but if you have concluded, this Motion still has two hours and 35 minutes when next it will be on the Order Paper.

Hon. Senators, it is now 6.30 p.m. and the Senate stands adjourned to tomorrow, Thursday, 26th June, 2014 at 2.30 p.m. The Senate rose at 6.30 p.m. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate.