Clerk, confirm whether we have quorum?

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

What is the situation now Clerk? Are we okay?

Ring the Quorum Bell again for another 10 minutes.

We have the quorum now. You can stop the Quorum Bell. Call the next Order.

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I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Hon. Murkomen, to this House. He is a former colleague. Cabinet Secretary, karibu sana to the Senate. This has been your House for quite some time. When you were the Senator for Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Cabinet Secretaries were not coming to this Floor. This is a new regime. I welcome you on behalf of all the Senators, so that you clear this mission. We start with Question No.47 on the Order Paper, asked by Sen. Tobiko. I understand she has delegated this responsibility to the Kajiado Senator, Sen. Seki. Are you ready? Go ahead.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. (a) Is the Cabinet Secretary aware of the absence of speed bumps at crucial locations along the route from Imaroro to Isara in Kajiado County, particularly around market centres, schools and near bridges, which has contributed to numerous accidents in these areas? (b) Are there plans to erect speed bumps strategically along the route? If so, could the Cabinet Secretary indicate the timelines for the same? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have Question 48.

No. Let us first clear with Question 47.

Okay.

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Cabinet Secretary, it is your turn now to respond to the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. It is always very nostalgic to be back home. I consider the Senate my home even more than the Ministry where I am. This is where I established my career and was catapulted to national limelight because of the work we did here. I appreciate and respect this House so much. I wish to tell colleagues who are here, make the best use of this place while you are still here. Sometimes when you are out there, you wish you had this platform to make certain pronouncements that are important for posterity. I really appreciate. Secondly, before I respond to this Question, I wish to thank you for indulging me. I was invited to come to the Senate and, on the first instance, the Senate postponed my appearance because of the matter of Meru County. I agreed to the direction of the Senate and, therefore, I did not appear. Last week, I was asked to appear before the Senate and in consultation with the Speaker, I was asked to be here at noon. I was here five minutes to 12.00 p.m. However, I was told that the Senate, in its own wisdom, had decided that I should not appear that noon. Unfortunately, some propagandists created the impression that I was uncomfortable coming to this House. They went posting messages online that I ran out from this Chamber. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, if there is anything that gets me excited, it is being here. If I can come back tomorrow, I want to be here. It is because I held others to account, and I am also ready to be held to account by this House. What is there to fear from being accountable to the people of Kenya? There is no reason any Cabinet Secretary should run away from this House. I want to assure Sen. Mungatana, Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale and others that I cannot run away from this Chamber. I respect and love this Chamber. Mr. Deputy Speaker, allow me to now respond to this Question, which is no less straightforward. I wish to clarify that the Ministry, through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), installed speed reduction measures in form of road bumps, rumble strips, speed control signage and warning signs along the Imaroro-Mashuru-Isara Road project during its construction. The areas where the speed control measures were put in place are indicated in the table below, which I already submitted to this House before.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. I can see the rightful owner of this Question has just entered the House. Sen. Tobiko, do you have the response from the Cabinet Secretary?

Yes, I do, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Okay. You now have the opportunity to ask two questions. Maybe you can allow other Members to ask their questions, if you want to settle down first. Sen. Seki, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. The supplementary question regards Imaroro-Mashuru-Isara Road. I request the Cabinet Secretary to tell us the plans of maintenance and repair of that road. It is completely worn out? It is just a new road, but has so many potholes. Is there any plan by the Ministry to maintain and try to fill the potholes that are causing many accidents on the road?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary (CS), please, respond.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, first of all, this is part of the roads in the country that were constructed under low volume seal. You will agree with me that almost all counties, including your county, had at least a low volume seal road. The intention then by the Government in the first term of the Jubilee administration was to accelerate achieving the 10,000-kilometer road. It was important in the rural areas where there was no much traffic to build a road to be used locally by few cars because the statistics then showed that there were very few cars.

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Fortunately or unfortunately, every time you construct a road, it attracts higher traffic volume. The problem is that in your area there are also big lorries that are using the same route. It was never intended that lorries should use that route. As a result, we have decided that going forward, low volume seal roads are not going to be constructed in future. We will only use the existing standards that were there and that are being used by Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), to construct all the other rural roads. However, that particular road is under performance contracting. We are going to seal the number of areas that have potholes. We are aware about the same. We are also going to introduce axle load to weigh the kind of vehicles that are going to use that road, so that trailers and big lorries are not going to use that particular road because it was not intended and gazetted for their use. So, the plans are underway, as indicated in the Statement. However, I would like to assure you that, going forward, resources permitting, we will upgrade the road to a higher standard beyond the low volume seal.

Sen. Chute, please proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Let me thank the CS for coming before us today. My question is in regards to the El Nino rains. The El Nino rains have caused havoc and devastation on our roads, specifically, in Marsabit County. People are starving to death now. There is a big problem. There is food in the next center, but because the roads are not there, people cannot access that food. I would like the CS to tell us what measures he has put in place to make sure the current rains are not going to create problems for our people. The road between Laisamis and Namare is completely gone and the road between Logologo and Korr is impassable. Could the CS please tell us what he can do on a temporary basis for now, so that the food, water and other essential commodities can reach the centres? Also, in future, what measures is he going to put in place, so that this situation cannot repeat itself again?

Speaker (Sen. Kathuri): Hon. CS, please, respond.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the El Nino phenomena is a big problem now, and this is a whole topic on its own. The northern part of the country is severely affected. The North Eastern part of the country and the upper Eastern are the ones that have received the highest volume of rain, not just in the country, but also in the neighbouring countries, especially Ethiopia. That is why Marsabit County is affected in Logologo area and all those parts of Marsabit County. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as you might have seen, the rains in your county, Meru County, have also severely affected roads in Garissa and Samburu Counties. For instance, the road from Garissa to Wajir, the road of Nuno Modogashe, the road from Wajir to Mandera, the road in Tana River, including Hola Town, where the only tarmac road we had in the town, was swept. We have had a meeting chaired by the Deputy President on response of El Nino, and the response is beyond my Ministry. Our Ministry is just dealing with the infrastructure challenges. At the moment, there is very little we can do to continue

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construction of roads. We cannot attempt to even restore the roads because the rains are not over yet. We appointed KeNHA to be the lead agency in terms of emergency response, even if the road is KeRRA or KURRA. We have stationed contractors who are having performance-based contracts in the various parts of the country to be on standby to help in opening the roads. We are also trying to construct temporary box culverts that will allow us to manage traffic for now and allow some of the goods to be transported to other parts of the country. I would urge colleagues from that region to remain patient, work with Government, first of all, to make sure that we sensitise our citizens not to cross the seasonal rivers by force because the consequences are devastating. We have lost lives because people are taking unnecessary risks. In reference to the question on food, the relevant Department of Government is working to see if they can airlift food using the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) team. I should be going to that region with my colleague, Hon. Duale, other Cabinet Secretaries within or towards the end of the week, but the key issue is to make sure that we remain vigilant. We have been told by the Meteorological Department that this phenomenon may continue up to April. That means we need to be ready to face this challenge for the long period of time that is ahead of us. Lastly, we are preparing ourselves to every day assessing the damage, to see what we are going to do post the El Nino period to restore the infrastructure because that is a big issue. We have had meetings with development partners. We were with the World Bank last week. Some of the discussions we are having is what are we going to do because we already have a constrained budget. Now with the destruction of infrastructure, resources are likely to be diverted even further for emergency works to restore the roads, to make them passable. So, I believe that comprehensively after this El Nino, we shall have a clear budget and see how to work with the National Treasury and National Assembly, to see that those resources are provided for. I look forward to meeting Sen. Chute and the leaders from Marsabit County anytime between this week and next week, to see specifically which areas we can deal together. We had a meeting with Mandera County Government the other week. We are having a meeting also with Tana River County soon. I think that meeting will happen between now and next week, so that we can iron out some of the things that we need to deal with locally.

Thank you. CS, matters roads are emotive, especially at this time. If I look at my screen, almost every Member in this room wants to speak or to ask a question. As I guided when we started, I will be taking 20 minutes per Question. So, if you have not asked on this Question, you still have an opportunity because he has six Questions to go. However, I have three minutes.

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Sen. Sifuna, please proceed. Let us be as brief as possible. CS, just be specific and to the point. I can see that you really miss this Floor, so you are taking advantage now to express yourself more since you are here.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is a terrible situation unfolding at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, where passengers are dropped off almost 100 metres from the terminals in the rain. I would like the CS to explain to me the rationale of dropping passengers all the way, away from the entrances of the terminals in this particular season when it is raining. We have seen mothers carrying their children through the rain. The CS is a travelled man. He has seen what other international airports look like. Why can we not drop passengers at the doors of the terminals because we already have a security check at the entrance of the Airport? Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Cabinet Secretary, that is a very direct question.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is not that I do not want to answer the question. However, I need your guidance even if it is not now, but for future. Is there a latitude to answer any question even where the Ministry has not prepared a response? I have no problem answering the question, but we move from a road to the---

The guideline is that a Member should stick to a particular question. However, one or two questions is not a bad thing, just to give guidance because we cannot restrict Members to questions concerning that Kajiado Road only. If you cannot answer now, you are allowed to go do your homework and then report.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it would have been more appropriate to respond to Sen. Sifuna’s question under the other question on Kakamega Airstrip. It would have been more relevant than under that question. Nevertheless, the airport dropping areas are determined by security plans within the Airport. I landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) this morning. Like many other passengers, the President and I were dropped far away from the terminal and we had to walk through the rain with umbrellas to the terminal itself. Nothing has changed because of the rains. The plans are already in place for where an airplane is designated where they park. The ones that are able to use the ladder - there is a name for it - which helps enter the Airport directly, are helped to do so. However, in the long-run, as I have said before, our infrastructure at the JKIA is constrained to accommodate all the airlines and all the parking that we require. That is an issue that will be resolved by building a new terminal. I have said several times before that we are in the process of working on a new Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model of a new terminal that we should be advertising by 15th January, 2024. I hope that we will get the relevant contractor by June, so that in the next three years we have a new complete Airport.

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When I was being vetted to take up office, I promised that I was going to resolve the dispute that was there between the China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation (CATIC) and the Kenya Aviation Authority (KAA). The contract of the CATIC Limited was unfortunately terminated in 2015, when we should have built a new terminal. I report to the country that we have resolved that dispute in record time and saved the country the claims they were making of Kshs25 billion. The Greenfield is now free, open and vacant for us to advertise for a new PPP contractor to build a new terminal. I shall be able to say more later when I respond to the question of Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale on the Kakamega Airstrip. I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Thank you, Hon. Cabinet Secretary. Sen. Tobiko, on Question No.47, do you have any supplementary question? The next Question 048 is from you too.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I have a follow-up supplementary question that Sen. Seki had asked on Isara-Mashuru-Kajiado Road. I needed the Cabinet Secretary to understand the situation on the ground. I am sure he was responding to the questions based on the data given to him by the Ministry officials, but we are the users of this road. I want to give the Cabinet Secretary a better picture of that road. Although the entire road was meant to be low volume, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) did part of the road from Kajiado to Imaroro. The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) did the other part of the road from Imaroro to Isara. This is where you see the difference in workmanship of different government agencies. The part that was done by KeNHA from Kajiado to Imaroro is good, although it is low volume and being used by the same lorries, including heavy trucks and sand harvesting trucks. However, the one from Imaroro to Isara, which was done by KeRRA, is where we have problems. This is where we have bumps missing at strategic places like towards bridges. This is also where we have all the potholes on both sides of the road. Although the road is meant to be low volume, you can see the workmanship by KeRRA was terribly poor, while the one by KeNHA was fairly well done. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, the part that was done by KeRRA really needs to be---

Hon. Senator, kindly be specific in your supplementary question.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am very specific. The part that was done by KeRRA from Imaroro to Isara is in terrible condition. It has potholes. It is causing accidents. That is where we need the Ministry to intervene immediately. Thank you. Then I had another question.

I think that is a similar question that Sen. Seki had asked. However, I can give just one minute on that dilapidated road.

It is not true, as the Senator has said, that KeNHA did part of the road. The KeRRA did both

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sections of the road. The difference is that the road from Kajiado to Imaroro is by KeRRA through the annuity programme. This is a programme where we were signing up with a private investor to construct and maintain at very exorbitant prices and cost. Since I came to the office, I have terminated that programme because the cost was exploitative. We will discuss that at another time. However, the second part was done under low volume. That makes the two differences. The difference is that the other one is under annuity and the second part is under low volume. Therefore, the rest of the answer that goes low volume, I had already put it on HANSARD. I do not know whether the Senator was already in. However, in a nutshell, it is just to say that the low volume programmes have caused problems across the country. We have roads that before they are complete also have potholes. We have decided that we will not continue with low volume. Even for the ongoing roads, we will try to make sure that we do it to the standard level, to avoid the situation we are in. Hon. Senator, I promise that we shall attend to that road as part of our maintenance responsibilities. I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Tobiko, kindly ask the next Question 048.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, can the Cabinet Secretary state whether there are plans to upgrade the Isinya-Konza Road to bitumen standard and, if so, indicate the projected timelines for the same.

Cabinet Secretary, you may respond.

Following your directions, I will just be brief. That road is extremely important; it is strategic. Konza Techno Polis is a Silicon Savannah and it is very important for us to make sure that we support the infrastructure around it. I was part of a delegation with the President that went to Korea late last year. Part of the roads we submitted for possible consideration for financial support from the Korean administration or Government is that road. I assure Sen. Tobiko that, yes, the Ministry, through KeNHA, has plans to upgrade the Isinya-Konza Road to bitumen standards. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has completed the design and tender documents are ready. The timelines for works will only be set upon us finding the funds. I can assure you that we are working on it. If I had time, I would tell you about the humongous responsibility we have to complete the pending roads before we come to this road. Since we cannot finance that road under the Government of Kenya (GoK) funding, the only way is to work with

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development partners. The Korean Government is one of those development partners we are trying to work with to support this road. I thank you.

Hon. Senators, I want to give further guidance. Once we read the Question by the Senator and the Cabinet Secretary responds, I want to get a specific supplementary question from the Senator and then we move to the next Question. I want to spare 40 minutes at the end of this session, so that I open up to Senators to raise any other issue that they might have. Therefore, so that we save time and track the real supplementary question, I will allow Sen. Tobiko to ask the Cabinet Secretary a specific supplementary question on this specific road.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is a bit difficult to speak on that specific road. This is because, as the Cabinet Secretary has said, they are waiting for funds. Nonetheless, allow us to make connected supplementary questions. I want to inform the Cabinet Secretary that I have lamented on the Floor of this House and brought the cry of the people of Kajiado, specifically on the issue of raising a number of our roads to bitumen standards, particularly Isinya-Konza Road. This is because, as you said, it is connected to the Konza Technopolis, which is the city of the future. Therefore, Kajiado wants to get connected to that city. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to give the Cabinet Secretary the scenario in Kajiado. On Mombasa Road right from Namanga Junction as you go towards Machakos Junction, at Kenya Meat Commission (KMC), there is a road that has been raised to bitumen standards going to Kinanie on the Machakos side. However, on the Kajiado side, there is nothing. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, before you reach Machakos Junction, there is another road towards Mua Hills, going to Hon. Sonko’s home and other environs. However, on the Kajiado side, there is no road, while on the Ukambani side, there is a tarmac that has been raised recently. Of course, at Machakos Junction, there is a road going to Machakos headquarters and town, but there is no road on the Kajiado side. After the Machakos Junction, before you reach Konza Junction, there is a new road although I do not know what it is called. Sen. Kavindu Muthama can tell us. It has been done to bitumen standard, towards Ukambani side. In the same breadth, on the Kajiado side, there is nothing. At Konza Junction, there is a road going towards Machakos Junction; the one we want you to connect to Kajiado. However, on the Kajiado side, there is nothing. Additionally, when you reach Salama, there is a tarmacked road going to Wote, but on the Kajiado side, there is nothing. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, Kajiado voted for this Government of William Samoei Ruto. It is the only one that can rescue the people of Kajiado, so that we are also considered as Kenyans. I want the Cabinet Secretary to get our picture because it is painful. This also applies to electricity, which is only on the Ukambani side. On the Kajiado side, maybe they think we want electricity for cows, but we need it for human

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beings. Kajiado needs development. I really pray that the Cabinet Secretary understands this. I am the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Roads and Transportation and Housing. I hope the Cabinet Secretary is getting the pain that I am carrying for the people of Kajiado because it is real. We feel like we have been left out.

Sen. Tobiko, I also want to understand. Do you mean the road is continuous from the Ukambani side, crosses the tarmac and then the other side is continuous?

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

There is a point of order from Sen. Kavindu Muthama.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I want to tell Sen. Tobiko that most of these roads that she has mentioned are not constructed by the Ministry, but by the County Government of Machakos. For instance, the Mua Road was done by the County Government of Machakos. The particular road that you are talking about goes to the church of one of the prominent businessmen in Machakos, and he did it personally. So, most of these roads are made by the county government; they are not constructed by the Ministry. So, maybe your county is sleeping on this.

Sen. Kavindu Muthama, that was a point of information not a point of order.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, while I agree with Sen. Tobiko that a number of roads have been done in Machakos County on the left side of the Mombasa Road, I disagree with Sen. Kavindu Muthama that it was done by the county. It was actually done by us, the national Government.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we do not do roads in county A because it has been done in county B. Kajiado County does not deserve roads because Machakos has roads. Kajiado County deserves roads because they have a right to have roads. It should not be in comparison to Machakos County. That is where I disagree with Sen. Tobiko because it is not Machakos County versus Kajiado County. The entity that is supposed to develop our country and the Ministry that I preside over, should look at the needs of every county and respond to those needs independent of what is happening in another county. This is to ensure that we are not pitting one county against the other. Therefore, for that reason, it does not mean that there is no work going on in Kajiado County. Kajiado County is one of the biggest in the country. It is a very vast

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county. That is why even if we do 200 kilometres, they do not feel it because the county is big. Therefore, a lot of work needs to be done. I want to report to the Senator that the road from Isara-Imaroro-Kajiado up to Kiserian Ngong’ is parallel to Mombasa Road. However, our job is to make sure that we connect the remaining connectors on this parallel road, including the one you have raised. Additionally, also to report to you that the road of Illasit-Njukini that is connecting Taita-Taveta and Kajiado County is under negotiation to move it from the annuity programme that was and deliver it under a different format, in this case, Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC)

Thank you. Since, this matter is touching on Kajiado County, let me allow the Senator for Kajiado County, to ask a supplementary question.

Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I also want to thank the Cabinet Secretary, particularly on the Illasit-Njukini Road, which he has also given a commitment of March, next year. I look forward to seeing it being successful. I will go straight to the supplementary question in regards to the connection of Rongai-Twala-Kitengela Road. Are there plans within the Ministry and Government to do that road and the 65 kilometres Kajiado North Roads that are yet to be completed? Please, just give a commitment on the same because it is something that you understand. You might not need to go back to the office to inquire on the Kajiado North 65 kilometres that are yet to be connected along the Kajiado North and the connection between Rongai to Kitengela Road. I thank you.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary proceed.

The bypass from Kitengela to Rongai is about 24 kilometers. It is at the design stage. At the moment we are at the same fate; we want to see how to raise funds. Initially in the past, we thought we should do a Public Private Partnership (PPP) from the Galleria junction; a ring road going to Karen via Rongai-Kiserian-Kajiado to Kona Baridi. Those plans are still being thought through; whether it is economically viable to deliver it through PPP. The junction you are talking about that links Rongai

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straight to Kiserian is something we are working on and designing. Hopefully, we can raise the funds to make sure we deliver it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I had a meeting with all the leaders of Kajiado County. I got a number of the proposals including from Sen. Tobiko and all the elected leaders. We discussed on how to deliver a number of roads. The elephant in the room is the pending roads. Once we deal with the pending bills then we will see what to do. We can only build new roads if we have the support of development partners. As the country stands now, there is a huge pending bill of Kshs155 billion. There is another problem which is committed roads. They amount to Kshs700 billion which we ought to deliver against an annual budget of Kshs50 billion. We are facing a challenge as a Ministry. However, we are doing everything to ensure that we deliver the pending roads and see what to do with the new ones being designed.

Thank you. Let us go to the next Question by Sen. Gataya Mo Fire.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I seek to know from the Cabinet Secretary who also happens to be very conversant with Tharaka Nithi County. (a) Why has project RWC 150/D474 for the construction of Kajiunduthi-Iriga- Chogoria-Weru-Mutindwa-Kiriani-Marima Road in Tharaka Nithi County stalled since its launch in 2016? (b) What measures is the Government taking to ensure the completion of the project, and could the Cabinet Secretary provide a timeline for this? (c)What stopgap measures is the Government taking to ensure that the roads remain motorable in all seasons, particularly in Gitumbani, Mutindwa, Gantwaki, Kajiunduthi, Kiriani and Marima areas?

Thank you. Hon. Cabinet Secretary---

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also have a supplementary question. I do not know whether---

Let him answer because it is due.

Okay, thank you. I thought he could answer---

Proceed, Hon. Cabinet Secretary.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I agree with the Senator of Tharaka-Nithi County, my friend Sen. Gataya Mo Fire. I have visited that road and his village when he was the Member of County Assembly (MCA) of the area. At that point I was serving in this House. Allow me to use that opportunity to give a global picture of what is happening. We have a pending bill of Kshs155 billion. That is work already done by contractors

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across the country. It includes Kshs45 billion for acquisition of land and Kshs105 billion for payment of work done already by contractors. We have a commitment and final auditing is being done for over Kshs700billion to complete these roads eventually. Mr. Deputy Speaker, we also have a challenge because every pending bill is accruing interest and other charges as we progress. The total cost of the pending bills eventually cannot be determined now because it is a moving target. This is including claims on equipment and so many other things. This is a humongous issue. The President has established a Pending Bills Committee, which is trying to look at all these roads. I know Senators - if Members of the National Assembly were here - they would ask the same question on why some roads are pending such as the one in Tharaka-Nithi, since 2016. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, give me one minute to read this. We have a problem across the country. A road such as the one in Meru County, Igembe region was awarded contract in 2016. Also, the road from Maua, Athiru, Kilili to the National Park. The road links Ogen to Tharaka-Nithi. It is incomplete. Only 30 percent is done. A road in Makueni County, from Kali-Kikima-Utangwa township. Again, that is pending since 2020. We have the Mara-Chuka Road, which have been pending from 2018. We also have roads in Kitui County, which have been pending since 2017. We have a road in Mandera County too which has been pending since 2018. This is a challenge. West Pokot County has a road; Kapsangar-Tambach road that has been pending since 2018. Nandi County has roads pending from 2017. There are some roads in Elgeyo-Marakwet County that are not done. There is a road in Nandi County; Timboroa Road which is pending from 2017. I am saying this because when I visit parts of the country, most of the leaders, including Senators will create an impression that a road is pending only in their village or county. This is a national phenomenon and an inherited problem. I wish to acknowledge that the Kajiunduthi-Iriga-Chogoria-Weru-Mutindwa- Kiriani-Marima Road in Tharaka-Nithi County, was awarded in 2016 and has halted since 2021 following the withdrawal of the contractor’s assignee, sighting non-payment of certificates. The 23 kilometres road project was assigned to the M/S Don Woods Company Limited in November 2016 at a sum of Kshs978, 662,957 for construction of works and Kshs106,648,784 for maintenance works. The contract period was 24 months with the initial date of completion being 21st November, 2018. However, the contractor only achieved 10.3 percent, which translates to 2.3 Kilometres of tarmac having faced significant constraint in completing the project. The contractor consequently sought leave to assign the project to M/S China Jiangxi International Limited, which was granted to allow the completion of the project. The assignment commenced on 2nd September, 2019 for a period of 20 months which revised the project completion date to 1st May, 2021. Following the assignment, two additional milestones were achieved at the project amounting to 6 Kilometres of tarmac, bringing the cumulative achievement to 9.32 Kilometres.

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Unfortunately, the assignee suspended works at the project on 27th November, 2021 due to pending bills of Kshs121,976,886.08. The achievement to date therefore remains at 9.32 km, which is 37 percent aggregated progress. So far, the Ministry through the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) has since paid a portion of the amount owed to M/S China Jiangxi International Limited amounting to Kshs38,209,131.66. this revises the pending amount due to the contractor to Kshs89,769,822.07. The Ministry has since advised the contractor to resume works and ensure completion of the project as arrangements are put in place to settle the outstanding bill in the next financial year. We therefore envisage completion of the project by 30th June, 2024 subject to adequate budgetary provisions and sustained disbursement. Upon resumption of works, the contractor is instructed to prioritize and undertake maintenance of the remaining sections of the roads ahead of the main works to ensure the mortorability and usage of the roads. M/S China Jiangxi is under instructions from us once he resumes work. I want to beg for an understanding from the leaders. We have to negotiate with some of the contractors. For instance, if we owe them Kshs100 million, we beg them to take Kshs30 million and return to the site. Some of them graciously have done so. Most Chinese contractors have spent much money sustaining their presence on the ground partly because they have good support from their country and can access credit better. Our local contractors are struggling because of the burden of pending bills, especially if they had borrowed from our commercial banks. The interest rates from banks are in double digits, sometimes up to 20 per cent. I assure the Senator that I will work hard to ensure that this contractor comes to the site. I have seen some Senators complaining, but they should be grateful that some of the work being taken by the Chinese contractors can be sustained. Some people here are uncomfortable with having a foreign contractor not understanding the dynamics we have to go through to ensure they deliver for the people. When you give a tender to a local contractor, the locals will state they want the foreign contractor to do it first. It is not because all our local contractors are incompetent, but the access to credit and huge pending bills have made local contractors struggle to deliver.

Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, ask your supplementary question.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have a supplementary question. One of my constituencies in Tharaka-Nithi County has been politically neglected. I need your protection; there are loud consultations.

Order, Sen. Dullo. Sen. Gataya Mo Fire cannot concentrate.

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Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, one of my constituencies has suffered historical injustices regarding the road network. This is Tharaka Constituency. My county has three constituencies; Maara, Chuka-Igambang'ombe, and Tharaka. Tharaka Constituency has, for an extended period, suffered some historical injustices in terms of road network. I do not understand the logic behind contractors who build roads in my neighboring county and when it reaches the border to Tharaka Constituency the road ends. An example of such a road originates from Meru County to some part of Tharaka Constituency in a place called Miaponi. There is another bitumen standard road which originates from Maua up to Atithini. When it reaches Tharaka Nithi, the road does not continue. The only road in Tharaka Constituency is from Gatunga to Chiakariga, which has stalled. This road was launched in 2014, and up to now, it is not motorable. The Cabinet Secretary should tell this House why Tharaka Constituency has suffered historical injustices regarding the road network for the last 60 years. What plans does the Ministry have to ensure that the roads that end at the border of Tharaka constituency extend to areas that need the bitumen standards? The Miamponi road is supposed to connect Mukothima to Gachongo to Ngondi, Marimant, and Tharaka University. The road that is supposed to come from Katilinge to Kachiongo, Mukothima and join the other road to Tharaka University. What measures is the Ministry putting in place to ensure that Tharaka Constituency enjoys the best road network like any other constituency in this country?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, proceed.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, while I may not have an answer to why Tharaka Nithi County has been marginalized in the past, I have seen some people being jittery when I attribute the historical problems like the ones the Senator has said to past Governments. It is an incontestable fact that Tharaka Nithi County has been marginalized. Several places in the country, including the northern part have zero tarmac road network. It is not my responsibility to write the Book of Lamentations. We came to office to solve problems. One of our problems is ensuring that in every part of this country, everyone tastes some level of development from the equitable distribution of infrastructure. Sen. Tobiko raised issues about Kajiado County, in the same way the Senator for Tharaka Nithi is asking. There are plans to tarmac Miamponi-Mugothima- Gatunga, and Tharaka Road. We are also alive to the fact that I was here with Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki my teacher, who is the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration. We went to see the Chiakariga-Marimanti road which has been pending since 2014. We are trying to resolve the pending bills for several roads in this programme. Also, we will ensure that your county’s marginalization is addressed. Many people are disillusioned because of the state of infrastructure pending from 2014, 2015, 2016 to date. I assure the people that the Government of President William Ruto and the Ministry of Roads and Transport, under my watch, are working with our development partners. You have seen the progress we have made, especially with the

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support we are receiving from multilateral agencies; the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, that you saw this week. The President has sent me to talk to the Chinese Government. I have been there three times. I have acquired the notoriety of being closer to the Chinese administration. A significant portion of these roads are being delivered by contractors from China. There is a programme we are working on together. It should give us hope that most of the roads will be under construction in the next two or three months. I assure most of the Senators here that by the time we go to the next election, we will have made significant progress in sorting out the pending roads across the country. I am working hard, but unfortunately; infrastructure projects are not like instant coffee, where you brew it at a press of a button. You must work hard to plan, strategize, and negotiate financial support. You have seen the President traveling out of the country on and off. I went with the President this weekend to Europe. For three nights that we were out of the country, we slept in the plane for two. We slept in Europe for one night. The negotiations we were making are massive infrastructure matters, and you will see the results. These things require careful planning. One philosopher said ‘It is better to take one-year planning and deliver in six months than to try to do something quickly in three months and fail to deliver’. We shall deliver.

Thank you. It would help if you had informed Sen. Gataya Mo Fire that it is not Meru County that has marginalized Tharaka Nithi County, but previous Governments.

You are right, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. In the same way, I told Sen. Tobiko that the absence of roads in Kajiado County has nothing to do with the leadership or the people of Machakos. This applies to Tharaka Nithi County’s marginalization, which has nothing to do with you, the people, and the leadership of Meru County.

Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. We will proceed to the next Question from Sen. (Dr.) Murango. Sen. Wamatinga, are you representing Sen. (Dr.) Murango?

Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I am holding brief for Sen. (Dr.) Murango who is attending an opening ceremony in his county.

Hon. Senators, we are doing so well. In the next 10 minutes, I will open the Floor up to 11.30 a.m. for Senators to ask any general supplementary questions. Cabinet Secretary, this is a direct one again. Please respond in two minutes.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, first, I thank Sen. Murango because he was part of the Kirinyaga County leaders’ team who came to my office on 2nd August and we had an extensive discussion about all the roads that are being delivered in his county and the possible CSR programmes we are going to undertake. I wish to clarify that any undertaking of CSR is purely voluntary. Currently, there is no contractual obligation on the contractors to carry out CSR. Nonetheless, we confirm that several CSR initiatives have been undertaken in Kirinyaga County by respective contractors and projects supervised by the Ministry’s agencies. The details of the afore- stated initiatives are captured in the table below. For the Stecol Corporation, which is constructing the road of Njegas-Mutitu- Gatwe-Kangaita/Kiaga-Kianjage-Mukinduri roads, the following are the CSR programs it has undertaken: Leveling of Gatwe Primary School playing field, leveling of the Kiburi Primary School play field, leveling of Karindundu Primary School play field. For the Jiangxi Water and Hydropower Construction Company, which is doing Kerugoya-Kiandire-Gitumbi-Old-Kangaita/Baricho-Njegas-Ngaru Gakoigo all the way to Mukinduri roads, there is the construction of modern washroom at Ngaru Primary School, construction of a basketball pitch at Ngaru Girls Secondary School, leveling of the Ngaru Secondary School playing field and leveling of Kiranja Secondary School playing field. For the China Wuyi, which is doing the highway of Mutithi-Kagio/Baricho- Getuya-Kagumo all the way to Karira Mission Hospital-Ngurubaini roads; they are doing the construction of a dormitory at the Ngaru Girls Secondary School. I reaffirm that due consideration was made of primary and secondary schools infrastructure needs in the project following various consultations with the stakeholders. The contractors have since completed the listed projects and handed them over to the respective institutions. I thank you.

Sen. Wamatinga, are you versed with those locations?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, coming from the neighbouring county of Kirinyaga, this is my second home. Therefore, I am quite conversant with that.

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Do you have any supplementary question?

I will skip on that. I will go to the next question after which I can ask my supplementary question.

Okay, ask Question No.060.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport: (1) Why has the project for the upgrading to bitumen standard of Mururi- Urumandi-Ngucui-Mahigaiini- Nyamindi-Kianungu-Kiumbu Road in Mwea Constituency, in Kirinyaga County, not commenced, despite the award of the contract? (2) Could the Cabinet Secretary indicate the status of the contract for the construction of the said project, considering the delay in its execution? (3) What measures is the Government taking to ensure the commencement of the project, and could the Cabinet Secretary provide a timeline for its completion?

The Cabinet Secretary, please respond.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to state that the project for upgrading to bitumen standards of Sagana-Kathaka-Thiguku/Mururi–Urumandi-Ngucui-Mahigaiini-Nyamindi- Kianugu-Kiumbu all the way to Kangaita roads has commenced. However, the project has registered a slower progress than anticipated arising from several challenges including financial constraints facing the contractor and adverse weather at some sections of the project. Given the factors mentioned above, the project has so far achieved approximately 10 per cent progress to date translating for five kilometers being completed to bitumen standards, which is one milestone. A second milestone is underway with works currently ongoing on site. To facilitate its completion, the Government has provided a budget line of Kshs240 million this financial year towards this project. To date, the project has been funded to the tune of Kshs140 million which was utilised to pay the bulk of the contractors outstanding dues and the contractor has since fully resumed operations and is on site. The contractual completion date for the construction phase of the project is 16th July, 2024. I thank you.

Sen. Wamatinga, you may have the Floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, and the Cabinet Secretary for that comprehensive answer. I will ask one supplementary question.

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There is a dual carriage road that traverses Murang’a, Kirinyaga and Nyeri counties. The Cabinet Secretary has addressed the issue of the compensation of the people who have been affected. Could the Cabinet Secretary please give us an indicative timeline within which the affected people will be compensated because, we have been promising them that it will be done every end of month? Thank you.

The Cabinet Secretary, please respond.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the compensation, I will follow up with Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA) as to how many people have been documented to be compensated. These are the roads that form the network of the Mau Mau roads. Most of the roads were actually passing through existing road network. There are a few places where there was compensation issue. If I can do it off head because it is a supplementary question, we had an extensive discussion with the leaders of both Nyeri and Kirinyaga Counties on the question of compensation. I think it is for us to follow up to see how far we can go to make sure there is compensation. However, the good story is that these are people who accepted the road to progress without really erecting road blocks. The same situation happened in Sen. Wambua’s County in Kitui where in a number of places citizens give in as you work on the compensation. I will follow up to make sure that that compensation will be prompt and adequate. I thank you.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The next and last Question is from Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale. Question No. 065, for the record.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to ask the following Question to the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport- (1) Could the Cabinet Secretary confirm that, following the presidential directive to upgrade Kakamega Airstrip to an international airport, the leadership of Kakamega County undertook public participation, obtained consent to relocate residents from the earmarked land and conducted a survey and valuation of the land for purposes of compensation? (2) What steps is the national Government taking to execute the presidential directive?

Cabinet Secretary, please respond.

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Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I am pleased to appraise this House on the information sought regarding the status of the upgrading of Kakamega Airstrip to an international airport as requested by Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale and as communicated in the letter to my office. The Kenya Airports Authority KAA) received an invitation dated 10th August, 2023 from the County Government of Kakamega requesting for technical assistance in planning and the proposed expansion of the airstrip. Subsequently, a team comprising of the representative of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), National Land Commission (NLC) and the County Government of Kakamega carried out an inspection of the Kakamega airstrip on the 18th and 19th of October 2023 to assess the proposed upgrade of Kakamega airstrip. I wish to inform the Senate that the Kakamega Airstrip was initially designed for DHC 6 aircraft, with a capacity of 13 passengers as the critical aircraft, and was to be upgraded to accommodate Fokker 50 aircraft to 60-seater. The biggest aircraft currently operating at the airstrip is Dash 8Q100. I launched this service from Wilson Airport by Skyward and limited it from Wilson to Kakamega early this year with a 37-passenger seat capacity. Based on the design aircraft and considering the topographical and environmental constraints, planning studies conducted by the authority indicate that the runway can only be extended up to a maximum of 1,400 meters. Ultimately, in the future, when traffic may necessitate bigger aircraft requiring a longer runway, then airport relocation would have to be considered. The proposed upgrading of the airstrip would require the acquisition of approximately 20 hectares of land. This is to allow the development of critical facilities as well as comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's recommended standards in terms of critical suppression and obstacle limitation requirements. During the site visit at the Kakamega Airstrip, the County Government of Kakamega appraised the team from KCA on the survey and evaluation of the parcels of the land affected by the proposed airstrip expansion. However, the evaluation of the affected parcel of the runway is to be verified by the NLC, the Lands Act, 2012 and the National Land Commission Act, No.6 of 2012. Further, the authority will undertake the environmental social impact assessment and resettlement action plan for the airport expansion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the technical report talks about 20 acres, but I do not think that we need the 20 hectares per se to extend to the 200 meters. I have had a conversation with my team that it is possible to achieve 200 meters first, even before we acquire the full 20 hectares. I have asked them to go back and check the limited number of acres we need specifically to extend to 1,400 meters so that it can accommodate slightly bigger planes of about 60 to 70 capacity.

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A multi-agency team comprised of KCAA, KAA, and Kenya Metropolitan Department proposes to undertake an aeronautical study to assess the suitability and potential impacts of the proposed extension of the runway to 1.4 Kilometres, and in addition, evaluate the possibility of relocating Kakamega Airstrip to Shikusa as proposed by the county Government of Kakamega. However, again, as I consulted my team, Shikusa is Government land under the Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources, and to acquire it will require a big process, including excising that land, and it will require parliamentary approval before we can be able to do so. I thank you.

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale has been very attentive and on your eyes. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, what is your supplementary question?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I am lost because the Cabinet Secretary has come to this House with a casual answer, describing stories of aircraft, size of aircraft, and other things which have nothing to do with the Question that I raised.

This is a casual answer Hon. Cabinet Secretary. You and I know that we enjoy leadership positions in this Government. We can talk to each other here, and talk to each other behind the tent, and talk to each other in our private offices as we do. The purpose of this Question, Cabinet Secretary, is for us to now bring it in the open and to the public in Kakamega to know the progress of this project. The seriousness is that 611,000 people voted for President William Ruto against 955, 000 for the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga. There was work that was done. Now, you treat us casually like this. You know that on the 8th of December, 2022, the President came to Kakamega---

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, can you be very specific on your question, not the history of voting.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, because he was casual---

Not the history of voting and what happened, just go specifically to what you need to be addressed.

Your indulgence, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, please. If I do not do this, I will lose this House and I will lose the public. On the 8th of December 2022, the President came to Kakamega and launched this project, alongside commercial aircraft, which have been ongoing. He came again on the 18th of June, this year, and announced the construction of an apron at Kshs50 million, the Cabinet Secretary knows. Lastly, on the 25th of August, the President stayed in the county for five days, and this was the project. I was expecting that the Cabinet Secretary was coming here to tell us only two things. When is the payment for residents going to commence because, from last year,

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they stopped doing any development knowing that they were moving out? Secondly, to tell us when is the construction starting.

Those are very pertinent questions and they are very direct.

Yes, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I feel extremely offended that this is how we are treating the public that gives us the same money that we use to develop projects

The best is to wait for the answer. You wait for it, then later on, you can react to it.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have maximum respect for Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, not just because we served together in this Chamber, but because he is at the top leadership of this administration. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have answered and that is the answer. The answer is that first; we cannot go beyond 1.4 kilometres. The international standards that are observed for the establishment of an airport tells us that in terms of the approach to that runway, we can only accommodate 1.4 kilometres, and to do so, we must acquire land. I spoke to the Governor of Kakamega County, Hon. Barasa this morning, on the same issue because Sen. (Dr.) Khawale knows one thing, in the said meeting, the county government offered to acquire the land, and that is why there was a meeting between KAA, KCAA, and the county government. The answer is very clear, it says, that the acquisition of land can only be achieved under the law through the NLC. The answer is also very clear, that to achieve an international standard, a different place must be sought to establish an international airport. An international airport cannot be built in the location where we have it, and with the expansion that is needed, it would require billions of money to even try to move people. That is our Government, that is the situation we found ourselves. Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, you were in the meeting, and the answer to the Kshs400 million was required in the discussion in the meeting. The county government said that to acquire that land they need Kshs400 million from KAA and the national Government. The President made it clear that the support would be needed for expanding that land from a partnership with the county government. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Hon. Cabinet Secretary cannot come to the Senate; a very respectable House, and give an answer that is outside the technical advice that comes with the specification of what an airport looks like. However, I appreciate the passion with which Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale is prosecuting this matter. It would help my Ministry if it was possible for Parliament to appropriate some money for that acquisition, if that passion also can be channelled to the National Assembly to look for the resources. We know the circumstances under which we are

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operating but we must keep certain levels of fiscal discipline because of the challenges we have as a Government.

As per my directive, I want to open the next 30 minutes to the Senators to ask supplementary questions, especially on airports or a similar supplementary question, so that we tidy up this process. Just two minutes each. Sen. Sifuna, please proceed.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, just like Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, I believe with great respect that the Cabinet Secretary (CS) misunderstood the question that I asked and he answered the wrong question. The question I was asking is, if you look at the design of the terminal of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), provision was made for drop off points of passengers coming in, not the ones on the air side. You are talking about passenger boarding bridges. No, that is not what I am asking. Provision was made for drop off points at the terminal entrances, but those accesses were blocked. That is what I am asking. Why is it not possible? What is the rationale? In this House, we will insist on honesty. I want the CS to be honest with the people of Kakamega County. There is no business case for an international airport in Kakamega County. Say that the President lied. That is what you need to say so that we move forward.

Hon. CS, please proceed.

(Hon. Murkomen)

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale, I believe all those answers are very comprehensive and you know where to go for more answers; nyuma ya tent. Allow me to give other Senators.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, just to thank the Minister for this. I have no idea where the story of acquisition of public land is coming from. As you know, in a meeting where the President talked to you and he was meeting with me, he told you that the governor has found it difficult to raise Kshs400 million. Could you now talk to him so that the national Government will pay half and the county government will pay half? You remember the conversation.

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You should be coming here telling the people of Kakamega County that the national Government is paying half and the county government the other half, and people will start moving away. If you are choosing to treat it casually the way you are doing---

Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale!

If I do not ventilate in Parliament where will I speak from? A funeral?

I know you are talking to the people of Kakamega County, but the CS has requested Kakamega County leadership to have a meeting. That is where you can converse all these things.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, with the respect to the people who vote for us, allow me to tell the Minister that the go around that he wants to give me with the Governor when the people are waiting to be paid, does not require leaders to meet. We have already been to those people's homes. They have given us their consent; their properties have been valued and payment must be made. Minister, have you changed your mind as Government on payment of these people, or are you going to pay? If you are going to pay, when are you paying? Life has to go on.

Let us conclude that matter. What we can say is that your question is not satisfactorily answered. Then we have another opportunity for the CS to answer.

(Hon. Murkomen)

We conclude that matter on Kakamega.

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Proceed, Sen. Abdul Haji.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I take this opportunity to first thank the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Public Works for the good answers that he has been giving this House. Unlike some of the Members in this House, I think the Cabinet Secretary is one of the very few who is doing a commendable job in his Ministry, which is a very big docket. Considering the fiscal challenge that the country is having, he has been doing a tremendously good job. We thank him for that. Going straight to the question, I think the Cabinet Secretary is aware that with the current rainfall that we have been having, the regions of North Eastern have been facing many challenges in terms of poor roads. We already have the poor existing roads and most of the roads have been blocked or cut off. Could the Cabinet Secretary tell this House if the Ministry has any emergency programme in terms of ensuring that these roads are back to being serviceable? At the moment, Wajir, for example, has been airlifting food, medicine and fuel. There is a shortage of fuel right now in most areas of the North Eastern region. The roads leading to Wajir, the Garissa-Wajir Road and Wajir-Mandera Road are international trunk roads. For the last two weeks, trucks are stuck on the road. There is no food, fuel, or medicine. We have to airlift yet most of the airstrips in these regions are in poor condition. We have been forced to seek assistance from the military to airlift some of the foodstuffs with their helicopters, but the tonnage is very small. It is not able to alleviate the problems that we are facing. I wish the Cabinet Secretary could address the issue of roads in the region. There is also a particular road, which is very dear to me. The road connecting the south of Garissa County, that is, the Boji-Masalani Road. It is a very small stretch of five kilometres and it has never been repaired. There is the Masalani Bridge which has not been serviced or maintained since it was constructed in 2008. Could the Cabinet Secretary also address this matter? Thank you very much.

Kindly take two minutes, maximum.

Okay, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. First of all, I thank my---

Cabinet Secretary, you know these are issues on El Nino . Just give a statement that will cover all the issues of El Nino .

This is for the benefit of Sen. Abdul Haji. I had done it earlier, it is on HANSARD. We have all the plans we have under the leadership of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) in trying to facilitate opening up the roads in an emergency situation for access. Sen. Abdul Haji, I appreciate your support and partnership. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Sen. Abdul Haji, and his team were able to raise to questions of marginalisation of roads in the Garissa area and we were able to address them. I hope we did it in a comprehensive manner. On the question of Buji-Masalani Road, it is a very small link of five kilometres, but it has multiple structures. It needs about Kshs1.6 billion to do it. We have just

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advertised the Garissa Bridge and we are doing it again for Kshs1.7 billion. So, because of the challenges, I assure you, Senator, that the Hola- Ijara Road is complete but we are working on getting the resources for the remaining section of five kilometres. This is also because of the importance of the delta region and the irrigation programs we have. Thank you.

Sen. Karungo wa Thang’wa, I know you are the Chair of the Committee. After everybody has spoken, you will be able to summarise because this is your Committee and maybe what we were asking will be relevant for you to sum up when you will be closing. You are a big man in that Committee. Next, is Sen. Cheptumo.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I wish to thank the Cabinet Secretary for answering the questions from this House. You know the Cabinet Secretary was my former Senator. I recall when he was being removed as the Majority Leader in this House, he said he would come back strong. It is true, he has now come back as the Cabinet Secretary. Baringo County has three major roads that have stalled for a while. That is Oinobmoi-Tenges Road, Kipsaraman-Bartabwa-Kinyach-Arror Road, then Karandi- Muchongoi-Marigat Road. Three months ago, we had a session as the Baringo leaders with the Cabinet Secretary. At least I am aware that there is an advertisement to replace the contractor on Bartabwa- Kinyach Road. The one that was there was not able to perform the functions of doing that road.

My question to the Cabinet Secretary is: when is the construction of these roads going to commence because these roads were stalled for reasons that we all know? A road like Karandi-Mochongoi is very important. It connects Baringo to Laikipia and has a lot of economic value, just like the Oinobmoi to Tenges and from Kipsaraman all the way to the Elgeyo Marakwet County where the Cabinet Secretary comes from. Cabinet Secretary, I know you shared with us three months ago, but I would like on behalf of the Baringo people to know when the work will begin.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, as a resident of that region, I am very familiar with the roads as raised by Sen. Cheptumo who has been very passionate about completion of these roads. Particularly, Karandi- Mochongoi-Marigat Road is important, not just for economic connection but also tourism and security in that area. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we have been negotiating with the contractor to see if he can come on site on an agreed fee. As I said earlier, sometimes the amount of money we have to give to these contractors are little, so we first need commitment from the contractor before paying them a portion of what they deserve as part of the pending bills.

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On that road of Karandi-Mochongoi-Marigat, I insist that as we work on the resources, we are going to return the contractor to site. He has done a good job so far but the financial constraints is the reason why he is not there. On the Oinobmoi-Tenges and Kapkayo-Kipsaos Road, I was with Sen. Cheptumo about three months ago at Kabartonjo. I had promised that the contractor was going to be on site within two weeks. Unfortunately, that contractor ran away because he was not willing to continue working. We have had to work together to negotiate an assignment to another contractor. That negotiation is ongoing. I hope we can reach an agreement in two or three months. Interestingly, it is not finances that has made the contractor to run away. I think he had a change of mind in terms of operating within the country and wants to wind up the programmes that they have so that he can move to another location. That negotiation is on-going and I hope that by January or thereabouts, the new contractor will come on site to replace the one that is exiting. On the Kipsaram-Bartabwa Road, up to Aror and Kapsowar, we have advertised that road. As soon as it closes, in a week's time, an evaluation will be done and the contractor will be awarded based on the budget that we used to have with a slight bit of enhancement. We are going to give a contractor who is going to be responsive. When I was in Baringo with Sen. Cheptumo about three months ago, I promised that I was going to do that. We did the same thing for two roads in Meru County. We also did the same for two roads in Kakamega County. We re-advertised the road. In Nandi County, we did the same for the road in Mosop in Kaiboi and the road that comes from Kobere to Timboroa. The contracts are closing next week and then evaluation will be done. I believe that we shall deliver for the people of Baringo County.

Thank you, Hon. CS. Hon. Senators, we only have 20 more minutes. We need to be quick with our Questions so that we can release the Cabinet Secretary. Sen. Olekina, please, proceed. Please make your question very brief.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, ordinarily, I would not ask questions, but the matter was determined in court and I respect the rule of law. I was listening to my good friend, former Senator, and at one point, I thought he had changed to become a Senator when he was responding to the question by the Senate Majority Whip. My question to him is clear. My question has to do with the road from Suswa to Ngong, which is only 60 kilometres. If you are a frequent traveller to Narok by road, you know. Many people nowadays use choppers so they do not really feel it.

Once the Maai Mahiu-Narok Road is clogged or there is an accident, you actually end up spending a lot of time there. You spend the whole night, you sleep there and we lose millions of shillings. My Question to Waziri Murkomen is: What happened to the contractor on that road? Why is it that it is only where there is a bridge or a culvert that is

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not completed, yet the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) started and completed when that road was still under construction? It is a beautiful and scenic road---

Sen. Olekina, please I will urge you to be brief.

I will be done in five seconds. I would like to request Hon. Murkomen to provide us with clear information on what happened to that road, and prioritize completing that road, because it is less than six kilometrers, which is remaining for us to have an alternative road to Narok, Bomet and Kericho.

CS, with your indulgence, can we take another question and then you can answer two questions?

Okay, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Veronica Maina, please proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity. Welcome, CS for Roads, Transport and Public Works, Hon. Murkomen, to this House, once again. We appreciate the efforts you are doing in your Department, and I can assure you your work is cut out and you will need to do more. I am happy that you are a young person, because you need to put much more effort so that we can see tangible infrastructural development in our country. Hon. CS, I would like to, first, take up the issue of the unnecessary annoyance and inconvenience that is being experienced in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by passengers who are coming into Kenya, either as tourists, returning Kenyans or Kenyans travelling. I wonder whether you have a multi-agency stakeholder coordination team that gets to process the customer experience that people are having at the JKIA because it has been awash in the social media. So many passengers have complained. I have seen students who are being ransacked in their bags looking for new items to be charged by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). Is that necessary and can that be stopped because you are able to tell when it is a student? What items do you expect to find in the bags of 19-year olds in order to tax? Can we do things in a much tidier way at the airport and use a multi-agency stakeholders’ approach?

Sen. Veronica Maina, I wish you would be brief with your question.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I have not even asked a real question that I want to ask.

Please, go directly to the question.

Let me ask that question. The Mau Mau Road is a low hanging fruit for your Ministry, because a big percentage of that road has already been completed. There is a portion and connection that has not yet been done. The Kangari- Nguruweini-Makomboki Road, which would give connection to Gituro-Gatiaini and that would effectively connect Murang'a to Nyandarua County, Nyeri County and connect to the Mount Kenya region counties. What are the projected dates for completion of these

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roads? Why are you not taking advantage of the fact that it is almost done and can be completed and serve over 11 counties?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I understand the pressure of time, so I will be quick. On the issue of Suswa-Ngong by my friend, Sen. Olekina, I feel like I am back to Senate. I was assuming you are there and I am here. The connection between Ngong and Suswa is serious. We have only three kilometers to go. We have negotiated with the contractor, Zhongmei. They should be mobilizing now to go on site in a week or so, they should go back on site. That will be a connection from Suswa to Ngong to Emali. That will be a short cut. You will not have to come all the way to Nairobi City if you are going to Machakos. When we do, as I said earlier, before you came in, Ilasi in Njukini, it will now help us to go to Taita. You will also be able to go to Holili and then to Arusha. There is room for doing that connection, it will be completed. We will also put a weighbridge, because as soon as we complete that road, the trailers will want to cut our short cut. That road will only be for passengers and smaller vehicles. The trailers will continue using the normal road. On the question by Hon. Veronica Maina, it is true that the work is cut out for me. However, this is teamwork in the sense that, as an administration, we have come to Government at a time that we have to employ very heavy fiscal discipline. As you do so, the sector that has suffered most is the infrastructure; a sector that was neglected from the last term. Therefore, we are asking ourselves, how best can you deliver this? That is why you see the negotiations we are having with development partners and so forth. There is hope. I see light at the end of the tunnel. In this coming financial year, we will be able to return most of our contractors on site, and we will complete the 3,500 kilometres remaining of the 10,000 kilometres that we promised the people of Kenya as the Jubilee Administration in 2013. Based on our policies, I believe this administration will deliver the remaining balance of that road. I am tasked with that responsibility. That is why I take personal initiative to speak to some of these contractors, negotiate with them, implore and request them to go on site. I will give you the example of the road of Thika-Magumu. I had to sit over and over, despite the termination that was almost to ensue, and the contractor accepted to go on site. We are now past 30 kilometres of that road. Based on your question, so many of the Mau Mau Roads are yet to be delivered. I assure you, Sen. Veronica, that road is in the programmes that are likely to start in the next three months, based on those negotiations we are having because most of them are delivered by our friends from the Chinese Government. With the administration helping us, we should be able to make progress. Lastly, for many years, there has been a clamour for airport charter that brings together all the players at the airport. The problem is that the Ministry of Roads and Transport and the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) sometimes takes a beating for things that are done by the immigration officer or the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officer at the airport.

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Now, for us to take that responsibility fully, we need to implement the airport charter. The draft of the airport charter is supposed to be presented to us by 30th of this month. Thereafter, I will sit down with my colleagues, Prof. Kindiki because he is one of the main contributors there, and Prof. Ndung’u, KRA, immigration and police in the area to see how best we will allow the Managing Director of KAA to provide leadership under the airport charter the way it happens in other airports in the world. This will aggregate the decisions that are going to be made and have a proper channel of decision-making so that the blame is laid where it belongs. At the moment, it is scattered to the police, immigration, KRA and KAA. We want to make sure that the airport as the landlord and its main owner KAA, takes full responsibility when the charter is followed. That is not new because, at the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the MD of the Authority takes responsibility on behalf of other agencies because we have a port charter that gives that direction. I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Wambua, please, be very brief and straight to the question.

I will be straight to the question. I wanted to stand so that I could see the Cabinet Secretary properly. These days, we do not get to see a lot of him. My question is on the Kibwezi-Athi-Mutomo-Kitui-Migwani-Godoni Road. My friend, the Cabinet Secretary, sat with me in the Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing in the last session. He understands that road very well. He is being economical with the truth. When he read the list of the inherited problems from the former administration, he included that road in that list. The truth of the matter is that the problem that we have today on that road is of the Kenya Kwanza administration. This is because the contractor moved out of the site in November after the elections. My question is: When is the contractor resuming work on that road? He had done more than 190 kilometres and remaining with only around 17-20 kilometers to complete the road and has moved out of site. The other difficult questions will be asked next Wednesday. I thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Mundigi? Very quickly, please.

Asante, Bw. Spika wa Muda. Kaunti ya Embu huwa tunalima miraa, muguka, avocado, kahawa na majani. Tumekubali kulima kabisa. Je, Bw. Waziri, unafikiria namna gani kuhusu kutujengea uwanja wa ndege ambao utasaidia kaunti za Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, Kirinyaga na pia upande wa Meru? Uwanja huu ukijengwa tutajivunia matunda ya Kenya Kwanza kwa kipindi cha miaka mitano. Pale kuna na uwanja wa ndege usiotumika. Kwa hivyo, kama Serikali ya Kenya Kwanza haina pesa, mnaweza kuturuhusu tutumie uwanja huo? Magari mengi yanayobeba miraa yamekuwa na shida kwa sababu ya kuuwa watu. Asante, Bw. Spika wa Muda.

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Asante, Seneta. Can we take another question from Sen. Kavindu?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I also thank the Cabinet Secretary for coming. My question is about the road from Caltex-Umoja- Kangundo Road. I hope you are paying attention. There is a lot of traffic jam on Kangundo Road. Most of my people live in Kangundo and work in Nairobi. Once they leave Nairobi at 5:00 o'clock, most of them arrive at home at midnight because of traffic jams. So, I am wondering what you are doing to complete that road. Also, can it be made a dual carriage all the way from Caltex to Tala and Kangundo? I also want to know the state of the Tala-Thika Road. When you were counting the roads that are pending, I did not hear you mention that road yet it was started in 2017 and is still unfinished. We need that road to be finished. Could you give me the timeline? I also want to know about Tala---

Senator, those are too many questions.

No, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Let me finish because you have given me the time. We are not going to call him here again tomorrow. I have one question. I also want to know the status of Kangundo-Mwala Road, which has been the same way from the colonial times to date.

Thank you, Senator. Those are enough questions. Sen. Tabitha? Very quickly. One question or should we get the answers?

No. They had not given me the microphone. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Hon. Waziri, I congratulate you and appreciate the great work that you are doing. Do not be intimidated by some of the negative sentiments. I just want to ask a very simple question as a Nairobi delegate. We saw what has been happening at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). We want you to tell us the plans for repairs, the timelines, whether you have formed a committee and what the strategy is.

You are welcome. However, that question was addressed. Cabinet Secretary, please, proceed.

First, Sen. Kiio. I do not know where he is. He was here.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Hon. Senators, the previous Speaker had mentioned that the last question will be asked by the Chairperson for Roads and Transport Committee. Therefore, since we have to complete this session of Questions, I will allow on this side Sen. Madzayo to ask a question. He will be followed by the Chairperson of Roads and Transport to finish with the last question as we do not have any more time. Senators, I extended the question session by another half an hour. The problem we are having is that the Senators are taking too long to ask questions. Proceed, Senator Madzayo.

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

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

Yes, Sen. Kavindu Muthama.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the reason the Cabinet Secretary did not answer my question is because he did not hear it properly. He was communicating with his people when I was asking about the Caltex-Umoja-Kangundo Road. At this Kangundo Road, there is a huge traffic jam there and people are getting stuck there up to midnight.

He will answer that with the other questions. Sen. Madzayo proceed and be quick.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I have one question for the Cabinet Secretary. When is the Malindi Airport going to be expanded?

Thank you, Senator. Proceed, the Chair of Roads, Transportation and Housing. Sen. Cherarkey, you cannot have a point of order on the Chair. There is no point of order on the Chair.

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Many people have been sitting here from 9.00 a.m.

Sen. Cherarkey, I understand your frustration.

Let the Chairperson for Roads, Transportation and Housing ask the question and then the CS will come back to you.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I believe if I am given the opportunity, then Sen. Cherarkey---

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

Sen. Cherarkey, approach the Chair.

Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. Did I hear the Cabinet Secretary say that Embu is close to JKIA? If you look at those people who asked questions and as the Chairman for Roads, Transportation and Housing, I have noted that almost every Member of my Committee asked a question. Probably, that is to tell the department and my Committee, there is a little bit of disconnect. However, the Committee understands that the Cabinet Secretary is a busy person. The remedy for that is that the Committee made a resolution that before we invite the Cabinet Secretary, we will be inviting his Government agencies. These are the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA). Yesterday, we had the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA), so that once we understand what they are doing, we will now be able to go to the Cabinet Secretary himself. It is my commitment as the Chairperson for Roads, Transportation and Housing, that I will follow up on everything that has been said here today.

Senator, be very brief. Go straight to the question.

As the Chairperson of that Committee, please, give me a few minutes. The reason I do not have so many questions on everything that has been mentioned here today regarding the Kakamega Airport, the roads in Kiringaga, Tharaka- Nithi, Kajiado and Kiambu, is because we meet with the Cabinet Secretary more often. My question is about compensation. The people of Wangige, Gitaru and Kabete, since 2018, have not been compensated for the land that they gave for the construction of the Western bypass. We have been trespassing on people’s land.

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I would want the Cabinet Secretary to tell us when they are going to be paid. I also propose they be paid in the current market rate not the one that was evaluated in 2018. The Cabinet Secretary, you can respond on that.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am done or I can continue?

Senator, you have already asked your question. Can we have the Cabinet Secretary answer?

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on the Kangundo Road, I understood it. Thank you, Sen. Kavindu Muthama, for that question. The Kangundo Road requires dualling because of the congestion which is making it impossible for those of you who operate from Machakos to come to work. That discussion is on-going on dualling of that road. It requires significant resources, but we are now at the design stage. Hopefully, that design will lead to the proper construction. Secondly, on the Malindi Airport, the Minority Leader, you know the question of the squatters that we are dealing with. That negotiation is on-going to see how the squatters can be compensated before that can be sorted out.

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

Let the questions be answered first by the Cabinet Secretary.

You cannot raise a point of order. Let him finish the question, then you can rise.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on the question of Tala-Oldonyo Sabuk Road, it is an ongoing contract that connects Tala to Thika Road. It is 40 per cent complete. This connects Machakos to the Garissa Road and was awarded in 2020 for a contract sum of Kshs1.4 billion---

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

Cabinet Secretary, wait for a moment, please. Sen. Cherarkey, at this point, I will have to find you out of order. I am not trying ---

This is not a funeral.

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Sen. Cherarkey, I have actually showed you the dashboard. At this point, I will have to ask you to leave the House. Please, leave the House, so that we can continue with the business.

Sen. Cherarkey, we have heard you. Kindly, leave the House.

Cabinet Secretary, my apologies. Kindly proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I left this House maintaining a very high level of dignity. That should be kept because we really trust and treasure you as the leadership. We appreciate the work you are doing. My colleague, Hon. Ababu Namwamba, is ready. I have taken so much time. The Tala-Ol Donyo Sabuk Road in Garissa County is ongoing. It suffers the same fate as other roads in the country. Forty percent of the road is complete. It has a pending bill too. It was awarded in 2020. We are working together to make sure that is completed. On the question by the Chair of the Committee, Sen. Thang’wa, you should be helping me to ensure people do not exaggerate the compensation they need. It is just about becoming prompt and adequate so that we do not have problems where projects are pending forever. We should borrow from the example by Sen. Wambua and a few places in the Mau Mau Roads, where people allowed us to complete roads as we work on compensation. I think that also includes the road you are talking about. We will make sure that we compensate the citizens because we are enjoying the benefit of the road herein being constructed. I thank you.

Thank you, Bwana Cabinet Secretary. At this point, we have concluded the Question time. Hon. Murkomen, I thank you for your time and answers you have given to the House. I wish you all the best in your work. I will not add too much to that. We wish you were still in this House but we are also happy with where you are now. I thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

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Hon. Senators, I would like to acknowledge the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery this afternoon, of visiting delegation of lecturers and students from the Maasai Mara University in Narok County. The delegation is in the Senate for a one-year academic exposure.

Hon. Senators, in our usual tradition of receiving and welcoming visitors to Parliament, I extend a warm welcome to them and, on behalf of the Senate and on my own behalf, wish them a fruitful visit.

I thank you. I thought the Senator for Narok County was here so that he could welcome them. However, the Senate Majority Whip, would you be kind enough to welcome the delegation?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. It gives me a lot of pleasure to receive through my remarks, the delegation from Maasai Mara University, in Narok County. Only a few years ago, we could only talk about the University of Nairobi. The exponential expansion in higher education in this country is evidence of the fact that we are ready for a Kenya in the next century. I encourage the students and lecturers to work with us because we are clear that it is not enough for us to get a university education. We must only see the value of that education by making sure that at the end of the training, our children are placed in places of employment. I thank you. Welcome.

Hon. Senators we have received communication from the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning that he is engaged and unable to attend today. The Questions to the Cabinet Secretary will be deferred to next week, 29th Wednesday, 2023. The Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports is here. We are going to defer Questions No. 67 and No. 74.

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Hon. Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, welcome to the Senate. Thank you for attending. Can we have Question No.70 by Sen. Kisang?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I wish to raise three Questions. The Cabinet Secretary was in my county recently. He attended the Iten International Marathon and we ran the five-kilometre race together. I won and he came in second place. (a) Could the Cabinet Secretary state the number of sports training camps in the country and, Elgeyo-Marakwet County in particular, and indicate whether they are duly registered and licensed? (b) How many foreign athletes are currently training in the said camps? (c) Could the Cabinet Secretary clarify whether the foreign athletes are registered, and indicate the type of visa granted to them? (d) What is the Government doing to facilitate knowledge exchange between local and foreign athletes using Kenyan training camps, and to ensure that local talent is not overshadowed? I thank you.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir for affording this opportunity to share with this honorable House on the issues raised before us. For purposes of the record, Hon. Sen. Kisang raced with me for a five-kilometre marathon at Iten International Marathon. As to whether he won or not, that is a matter of debate for another time.

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Allow me as a preliminary, to just say that the Ministry is restructuring and re- aligning all our operations to be in sync with the bottom-up economic transformational agenda of the Government. This restructuring and re-alignment includes the following, some of which are relevant to the Question Sen. Kisang has asked- First, for the Safari Rally Project, we are embarking on a fresh three-year contract following an amendment of the initial contract extending the period for hosting the WRC Safari Rally from three to six years. We are using this transition phase to restructure the whole WRC Safari Rally Project. I am pleased to report that we already have succeeded in returning the Safari Rally to its traditional Easter Season in June. Secondly, on training camps, we are instituting a mapping exercise, including enacting rules for registration, operation, reporting and monitoring of these camps. On funding, we are ring-fencing the Sports Arts and Social Development Fund (SASDF) to primarily focus on the development of sports and the creative economy. Further, we are introducing measures to enhance transparency and accountability; transparency including disclosure of any co-funding from sponsors before any federation is disbanded by the government. Those are some of the things we are doing, generally. Now allow me to move right away to move from Question No.70 on the training camps. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, and hon. Senators, Section 46 of the Sports Act, 2013 as read together with Regulation No.4 of the Sports Registrar Regulations of 2016, places the responsibility of regulating professional sports persons and bodies through licensing on the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports. This includes training camps, sports academies, athletes, referees, agents and coaches. It is important to note for the record that, indeed, training camps bear some benefits, including talent development, performance enhancement, skills transfer, knowledge sharing, exposure to international competition and other economic benefits. I will disclose to this august House that when we came to office, we realized that the benefits of training camps notwithstanding, the Ministry had not been undertaking the important task of registering, monitoring and overseeing the operations of training camps. This is a responsibility that had been relegated to Athletics Kenya. It has been a gap. To address this gap, I directed the Office of the Sports Registrar and the Anti-doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) to map all training camps immediately. The mapping exercise took place from 27th March to 3rd April, 2023, with the primary objective of identifying all training camps and gathering important information. The exercise was conducted in 53 training camps. Under Annex A, we have provided information obtained from the mapping exercise I ordered undertaken. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the team that undertook this mapping exercise ran into several challenges that I have to bring to the attention of this House. Some camps closed to evade access by the team undertaking the process. We noticed an apparent unwillingness of camp managers to share relevant information for the mapping exercise. There was a lack of awareness and understanding of existing laws and policies among the people who manage these spaces. You could notice sensitivity surrounding issues such as doping and licensing, making camp residents hesitant to provide the

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necessary information. There were instances of camp managers disappearing, making it difficult to undertake this exercise. Nonetheless, the Ministry issued 1,018 licensing application forms to the 53 training camps and other relevant target groups. These forms have yet to be returned. This is a process that is being followed up. I instructed the Sports Registrar to distribute licensing application forms to Athletics Kenya (AK) in February this year. The Federation is responsible for managing athletics in the country. A total of 300 application forms were provided to AK, who have committed to return the duly filled forms to the Ministry. Regarding Elgeyo-Marakwet County, it is worth noting that Elgeyo-Marakwet County currently boasts the highest number of training camps, primarily due to its high- altitude location and incredible beauty. I visited the other day, and I had difficulty leaving. Because of all these factors combined, Elgeyo-Marakwet is a popular destination for training camps. Some of the notable training camps in the county include- 1. Iten Athletics Training Camp, Jojo Camp (Asics Sponsored Camp), 2. Esmi Athletics Training Camp. 3. Kechei Ikaika Athletics Training Camp. 4. Kiprun Training Camp. 5. Volare Sports Training Camp via Runex. 6. St. Patrick's Iten. 7. Kapsait Athletics Training Camp 8. Sparks Training Camp in Kapcherop. 9. Kamwosor Community Athletics Camp. 10. Global Sports Communications Training Camp in Kaptagat, 11. Mokwo Training Camp, Rosa Athletics Camp in Kaptagat, 12. Kapnge'tuny Training Camp. The Ministry remains committed to ensuring that this whole space is better managed. We have put together a robust multi-agency team to help us deal with the challenge of doping. We have also given the team headed by the former Member of Parliament and elite athlete, Mr. Wesley Korir, the responsibility to start this exercise. I have information that they have started this process. Among the things they have done is to include a register of athletes. Currently, we need a database of all our athletes. This makes the anti-doping efforts quite problematic. They are creating a database for athletes and training camps to encourage athletes to be part of the programme. We have suspended a fee of Kshs2,000 payable for athletes to register to enter the database. We have waived this fee. I am encouraging all athletes to take advantage of this waiver and write for free to be part of the database. This database will include their training camps. Segment (b) of the question is how many foreign athletes are training in the camps, as mentioned above. As mentioned earlier, registering training camps and sportspersons in all training camps is an ongoing process. I must admit to this, hon. House, that it was an oversight for this Ministry not to have this information together previously. However, we are fixing

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this. While I may not give the exact number of foreign athletes in the country, within 30 days after the conclusion of the ongoing exercise, I will provide this information to Sen. Kisang and the House. I am glad that we have included a cross-government effort to include the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), National Social Security Fund (NSSF), and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). I have also provided information regarding the time and seasons you expect these athletes in the country. Athletics are seasonal. From the foregoing, it is important to appreciate that the peak session of foreign athletes in Kenya is between January and March, according to the mapping of the seasons. Segment (c) requires me to clarify whether foreign athletes are registered and indicate the type of visa granted to them. The process of mapping, registration and monitoring is ongoing. We have brought a structure to that space and provided sufficient resources to help us manage that space. We will indicate the exact status as soon as we conclude this exercise. Foreign athletes who come to our country are typically issued tourist visas, as their stay is temporary and seasonal. After the tourist visa is granted, a license is supposed to be issued. We have had this issue because this space has not been well governed. This is something we are fixing. We also intend to make changes to the policy and legal framework by taking a fresh look at the law to manage this space better as Kenya becomes more attractive to foreign agents and athletes. Segment (d) is on the exchange between local and foreign athletes using Kenyan training camps and ensuring our visitors do not overshadow local talent. Hon. Members, to ensure that knowledge exchange occurs between local and foreign athletes using Kenyan training camps and to prevent the overshadowing of local talent, the Ministry undertakes to invest in licensing, making sure collaboration between the camps, the Kenya Academy of Sports, the State Department of Immigration and education institutions where a lot of our athletes are domiciled. We are also developing policy guidelines on this whole area of camps, reviewing the Sports Act and the National Sports Policy to manage that whole eco-system better. However, I can say that even now there is a very symbiotic relationship between our local athletes and foreign athletes. We have had some really top level elite athletes such as Mo Farah training here with us. Definitely, there is benefit for the two sets of athletes training together. Besides the fact that under our sports safari project where we are using sports to promote tourism, this also helps to market our country and attract increased number of visitors promoting areas such as Elgeyo Marakwet and other parts of the country to the outside world. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I submit.

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Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Sen. Kisang before you ask your supplementary question, I give this opportunity to Sen. Olekina to give some remarks to the delegation of lecturers and students from Maasai Mara University, Narok.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, let me appreciate you for your magnanimity in allowing me to welcome the students and the leaders from Maasai Mara University. I want to encourage them that as you are vising here today, this university has turned Narok into the go to place. The prices of property in Narok have now escalated because of the fact that we now have a university. I encourage and advise you that when you visit here for an academic exercise, please go back to Narok knowing very well that you are fully represented. Ensure that you engage all the businesses in Narok Community so that you can get internships. Kindly ensure that when you are in college, before you graduate, you have already lined up your job. I encourage you and others who are not here to always come and visit. Most importantly, ask yourself, what is in it for me? What is my visit here for? You see us arguing here. I am sure you were entertained with the back and forth argument from the Senator for Nandi County. That is normal. That is representation. Maybe the Senator felt there was something which he really needed to say. Take this opportunity to learn. I thank you for coming. I will be definitely be visiting the university so that we can engage to see how we can create opportunities for yourself within the business around Narok County. You do not need to come to Nairobi to look for job opportunities; we can realign the existing resources. I know the former Chancellor who had many challenges had started a cooperation with the Chinese to produce medicine. I hope the lectures who are here can continue engaging further in collaboration with other universities abroad so that we can make Maasai Mara University a university of choice. Maasai Mara University can now begin packaging perfumes and a lot of other things because of our environment. I thank you and welcome you again.

Thank you, Sen. Olekina. Sen. Kisang, what is your supplementary question?

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. The Cabinet Secretary has not answered my two of the questions, but I will wait for the 30 days he has requested. He said they started the assignment around February or March and that they will complete it in due course.

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I have two comments. First, I urge the Cabinet Secretary to have that desk in his office within the Ministry for the young athletes. Sometimes, they get invitations to go and run out of the country, but it takes time for them to get the passports. It is important that you set up a small desk between yourselves and Athletes Kenya (AK) to help. This is so that they do not miss an opportunity to go and show the talent and make money. It is important you have that desk to assist even if they do not have money. Sometimes, as leaders from those regions, we contribute money to give them money for processing passports. I hope the new fees that were proposed by the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. (Prof.) Kithure Kindiki, will not be implemented and that we revert to the old rates because of our youth. Secondly, I would like the Cabinet Secretary to tell us the plans he has for the athletes who run outside the country, get tokens and make some money, but they do not have knowledge in terms of investment. The Ministry, in conjunction with the county governments, should assist. They can collaborate with local universities and colleges around the region, so that they can impart knowledge in terms of investments and entrepreneurship to the athletes. This is a seasonal talent. By the time you are 38 or 40 years and you get an injury, it becomes the end of you in nurturing that talent. What plans do you have to impart knowledge so that they can invest and have quality life after retiring?

Cabinet Secretary, you can have the Floor.

Thank you, CS. The next question is Question No.71 which will be asked by Sen. Wamatinga on behalf of Sen. (Dr.) Murango.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise to ask Question No.071 on behalf of the Senator for Kirinyaga County who is attending an official visit outside this county. (a) What has occasioned the delay in the completion of the project for the construction of Wang'uru International Stadium in Mwea Constituency in Kirinyaga County, which was launched in 2020? (b) Could the Cabinet Secretary disclose the pending works and state the projected date of completion? (c) What is the total budgeted cost of the project and could the Cabinet Secretary provide the status of payments to respective contractors, and also disclose the outstanding payment?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed to answer.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Sen. Wamatinga, do you have a supplementary question?

Yes, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Then go ahead and ask

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, and Hon. CS for that comprehensive answer. My question is, several studies have been commissioned by the previous regime and they lacked a uniform design. One of them is Wang’uru Stadium, there is one in Embu County and another in Ruring’u which have all since stalled at different development stages. What is the Ministry doing to ensure that moving forward, we have a uniform design that will be easy to oversight, follow up and most importantly, control the cost factor, which has been escalating?

Cabinet Secretary (CS), if you could please be brief on the supplementary answers so that we can move faster.

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We will move on to Questions No.72 and 73, which are by the Senator for Kisii County, Sen. Onyonka. Sen. Mbugua will ask these Questions on his behalf.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to ask Question No.72 on behalf of the distinguished Senator for Kisii County, Sen. Onyonka. (a) What was the total amount of money utilised by the Government in organizing and hosting the 2023 World Rally Championship Safari Rally event and could the Cabinet Secretary provide a breakdown of the expenditure and disclose any funding received from WRC-International? (b) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide details of the audit findings of the Office of the Auditor-General on the utilization of public funds in organizing and hosting the WRC Safari Rally? (c) Are there any outstanding bills related to the WRC Safari Rally, and if so, could the Cabinet Secretary provide information of the nature of the bills and the projected timelines for their settlement?

Sen. Mbugua, proceed with the next question as well so that the Cabinet Secretary can tackle both Questions.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I rise again to ask Question No.73 on behalf of the distinguished Senator for Kisii County, Sen. Onyonka.

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(a) Could the Cabinet Secretary disclose the total funds received by the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund (SASDEF) since July, 2022, and indicate how the funds have been expended during the same period? (b) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a list of all the stakeholders, organisations and individuals that have benefited from the grants from the Fund stating the specific purposes for which these funds were allocated to each recipient?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, please proceed.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, there was Question No.73 as well.

(Sen. Abdul Haji)

Yes, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. On Question No.73 on the Sports, Arts and Social Development, I have gone through the recipients and it seems that the Ministry prioritized sports and somehow ignored arts and social development, where persons with disabilities would benefit. I would want the Cabinet Secretary to address us on that as well as comment on the mistreatment of the special Olympic teams when they went to represent Kenya. They suffered because they did not have any proper funding.

Proceed, Cabinet Secretary.

Hon. Senators, we are going to allow questions from the Floor. Since we only have 15 minutes, for the convenience of this House, I will use Standing Order No.34 to extend so that we go up to 1.15 p.m., to ask the questions. I urge the Senators that I will call to be brief with the questions because there are many Senators who want to ask questions. Proceed, Sen. Chute.

Thank you very much, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I will be brief. I take this opportunity to thank the Cabinet Secretary for his quick action. He flew to Marsabit to look at the stadium and the matter is being sorted out. On behalf of the Marsabit people, we thank him very much. Going back to my question, we have 20 wards in Marsabit County. Each of them will be having tournaments. We have about six teams in each ward. The Cabinet Secretary knows very well that Marsabit is prone to banditry attacks, cattle rustling and drug menace like miraa and others. I would want to know what he can do to finance those tournaments. If he says ‘yes’, who shall we talk to so that we can expedite the tournament to start as quickly as possible?

Thank you, Senator. We will take another question so that the Cabinet Secretary can answer two questions at a time. Proceed, Sen. Sifuna.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. It is nice to see my good friend, Hon. Ababu Namwamba, who is my predecessor as the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Although he once publicly denied knowing me

, I still consider him a friend and political mentor.

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Mr. Cabinet Secretary, in the run-up to the elections in 2017, the then Deputy President made a certain pronouncement on the status of the construction of nine stadia. I know you have the list that includes Kamariny, the one in Wote, Moyale, Mombasa and Kisumu. Recently, the country was awarded rights together with our regional neighbours to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). I must say that I was pleasantly surprised because I do not expect much from the current regime. Now, that we got the hosting rights and we announced the construction of other stadia for that particular tournament; is it the position of this Government that the nine stadia that were listed, including Kamariny, Wote, Moyale and others, are no longer a priority for this Government? Is it the position of this Government that they will not be built to the international standards that were promised back then?

Thank you, Senator. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you can tackle the two questions.

Thank you, Hon. Cabinet Secretary (CS). The next two Questions will be asked by Sen. Thang’wa on this side and Sen. Olekina on the other side.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I would like the Cabinet Secretary to elaborate the Talanta Hela Inter-County Cup. We have World Cup where all over the world, teams meet to get to know which one is the best. We have the Africa Cup of Nations where all African countries get together to find out which one is the best. What about Kenyan Cup? Is it the same thing you are talking about as Talanta Hela Inter-County Tournament where 47 counties should compete to find out which is the best? Secondly, you have talked about the stadia---

Sen. Thang'wa, please let us stick to one question.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, you had said two questions.

Yes, one question from you and another question from Sen. Olekina.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, this is going to be quick. I seek your indulgence. Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County is complete, but it is not open to public. It is only used by the Governor to holds public events. When are you going to hand it over and open it to members of public?

Thank you. Sen. Olekina, please proceed and be brief.

Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, my questions will be brief and to the point. Cabinet Secretary, it is not enough to say that you are making plans. Article 153(4) requires you to submit regular reports on matters. So, I request that you do so. I have two specific questions and I have jotted them down so that I ask them specifically. One is following up on the Question that was asked on behalf of Sen.

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Onyonka on the issue of budgets. What specific measures are being taken to ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation and utilization of the sports budgets in Kenya? If you are unable to substantiate now, you can submit to this House later on. My second question is also following up on your replies, which I said is not enough, what specific strategies and initiatives are being implemented to ensure equitable talent development across all 47 counties in Kenya? How is the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports working to identify and support talented individuals in under-represented regions? I ask that knowing that your budget is Kshs6.4 billion.

Thank you, Senator. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, please proceed to briefly answer those questions.

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

It is okay. There is no engagement.

Hon. Namwamba): I am informing him that it is a platform that we have provided to tap talent across the country. Even if you are in the remotest part of this country, you can interact with this programme and we can pick your talent. However, we are also sending scouts physically to those places where we may have challenges with access to this application. We are recruiting some of our top legends from the past to play this role of scouts. I submit.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The last two questions will be asked by Sen. Tabitha on the Senate Majority side and Sen. Madzayo on the Minority side. Very quickly, please.

Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. Let me start by appreciating Waziri for the great job that he is doing. Just to narrow it, as far as Talanta Hela is concerned in the 47 counties, do you have a data of how many talents you have been able to create in each and every county and constituency? Lastly, I am a Member of the Finance and Budget Committee. I have looked at the feedback that you have given on what Sen. Onyonka had asked concerning the budget of the Safari Rally. Looking at it, you talked about a cut of Kshs1 billion. This makes me ask you, what was the benefit either directly or indirect for the people of Kenya after this rally took place? As you say that you cut the budget, your report indicates clearly that you have pending bills, which is a very big animal in this country. How do you justify reducing the budget by Kshs1 billion and you still have pending bills for Kenyans in this country? Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir.

Sen. Stewart Madzayo? Very quickly, please.

Asante, Bw.Spika wa Muda. Swali langu ni moja au mawili hivi kwa Waziri wa Masuala ya Vijana, Michezo na Sanaa. Waziri, ni mipangilio gani ambayo umeifanya kufikia hivi sasa ili kuona ya kwamba kuna uhusiano baina wa FKF, wale waliyo ndani ya ofisi hivi sasa na wale

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waliokuwa pale awali na mashabiki wa mpira? Tunajua watu wengi wanapenda mambo ya kandanda. Nchini Kenya kuna wafuasi wengi wa kandanda. Ni mipangilio gani umefanya kuona ya kwamba uhusiano umerudi? Tunaelewa kwamba uhusiano kufikia hivi sasa bado umezorota sana ilhali tunajua kwamba mwezi wa pili utaweza kusimamia uchaguzi wa uongozi ndani ya Kenya kuhusu kandandana. Swali la pili ni kwamba ---

Samahani, Seneta swali moja tafadhali kwa sababu wakati umekwisha. Wacha Waziri ajibu hilo swali kwa sababu hataweza kuwa na nafasi ya kujibu.

Shukrani.

Cabinet Secretary, you may answer the questions. You only have five minutes.

Sorry, Cabinet Secretary. At this point, I will have to interrupt. I thank you for your time and for the answers that you have given to this House.