Clerk, do we have quorum?

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

Hon. Kingi): Hon. Senators, I am informed that we now have quorum. Clerk, kindly proceed to call the first Order.

Hon. Senators, according to the Order Paper, there are seven Questions that were due for response this morning. We invited three Cabinet Secretaries. Three Questions were meant to be responded to by the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development; two by the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation; and the last two by the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.

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I am informed that the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is in the House. Therefore, we will start with her. Thereafter, we will move to the two Questions directed to the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. I am, however, informed that the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development is not in the House and he will be able to attend for purposes of responding to these three Questions. I am informed that a letter came yesterday afternoon indicating that he will not be in a position to attend today’s session for purposes of responding to those three Questions directed to his Ministry. When we sat in the Senate Business Committee (SBC) yesterday, we had not received any formal communication from the Cabinet Secretary. That is why those Questions are in today’s Order Paper. Hon. Senators, we are going to have only two Cabinet Secretaries responding to the four Questions. As far as the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development is concerned, we will not have those questions responded to. The three Questions were by Sen. Korir, Sen. Mungatana, and Sen. (Dr.) Murango. Yes, Sen. Mungatana.

Bw. Spika, nilikuwa na swali kwa Waziri anayehusika na mambo ya kilimo. Nilikuwa nataka kumuuliza kuhusu mashamba ambayo yameathiriwa na maji na hatua ambazo Serikali imechukua ili kusaidia wananchi kuanza upya. Nilitoka Kuanti ya Tana River jana usiku. Wananchi pia wanauliza maswali haya. Niliwaambia kuwa Waziri atahudhuria kikao hiki. Ni kitu gani muhimu zaidi kuliko

ya mafuriko ambayo tumeshuhudia? Kwa nini Waziri hawezi kuandika barua au kuja kwenye Bunge hili ili aeleze mambo haya kwa kina? Tunakuja hapa na wananchi wanangojea majibu ilhali yeye amepotea. What is

bwana? Ni juzi tu ametoka kwa---

Sen. Mungatana, you are a seasoned Member of this Parliament. If you choose to use one language, stick to it all the way.

Bw. Spika, ni nini kinachomsumbua Waziri huyo? Juzi tu ametoka kwenye kitanzi na sasa anahepa Bunge hili. Nangoja ripoti ya Kamati ya Kilimo, Mifugo na Uvuvi ili Seneti itoe maoni yake. Hatutaki mchezo wanaofanya kule kwenye “Bunge Ndogo”.

Proceed, Sen. (Dr.) Murango.

Bw. Spika, kama vile Seneta wa Tana River amesema, kuna jambo ambalo limetokea ambapo linastahili Waziri aje hapa. Kuna European Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) ambazo zinapendekeza kukomesha uuzaji wa kahawa katika nchi za nje. Sheria hiyo itaanza kutekelezwa mwezi ujao. Nilikuwa natarajia kuwa Waziri atahudhuria kikao hiki kwa sababu ifikapo mwakani, hatutaweza kufikia soko yetu kubwa kule ulaya kwa sababu ya kanuni za ukataji wa miti. Ingekuwa muhimu awe hapa ili ajibu maswali.

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Tumemaliza ripoti yetu kama Kamati ya Kilimo, Mifugo an Uvuvi na tutaiwasilisha katika Bunge hili. Ripoti hiyo inaeleza mambo tuliyopata katika sakata ya mbolea ghushi.

Hon. Senators, the reason the Cabinet Secretary is not with us this morning, as indicated in his letter, is because he is leading a Kenyan delegation to the launch of the China-Kenya Tea Trade Centre, which is in an event aimed at promoting Kenya tea export to China for improved farmers’ earnings. This particular event is taking place between 14th and 18th May, 2024. Proceed, Sen. Munyi Mundigi.

Bw. Spika, ningemuliza swali Waziri wa Kilimo na Mifugo kama angekuwa hapa. Tangu wiki iliyopita, kumekuwa na vita kati ya wafanyibiashara. Wakulima wa miraa kutoka Kaunti ya Embu hawawezi kuiuza Mombasa na kaunti jirani. Serikali ya Kenya Kwanza ilitupatia pesa ili kuendeleza kilimo cha miraa. Swali langu kwake ni kuwa, je, ametusaidia vipi? Madereva wa lori zinazosafirisha mimea hiyo wanaitishwa pesa ambayo haistahili. Ni makosa makubwa sana yeye kutohudhuria kikao hiki.

Proceed, Sen. Cherarkey.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to request for your Solomonic ruling. This matter has come up. I am standing under Standing Order No.51C. I do not know whether the SBC should define the timeline that warrants a Cabinet Secretaries not to appear. I know that the ongoing China-Kenya Tea Trade event was scheduled. Most of the formal meetings are scheduled. Is it possible that in future, if a Cabinet Secretary knows that he or she will travel to lead a delegation for official business apart from Cabinet meetings, then they should communicate? Mr. Speaker, Sir, I request for two rulings. I request for your direction under the Chairmanship, that any Cabinet Secretary who intends not to appear before this House should give an advance notice because most of the meetings are scheduled. If the Senate Business Committee (SBC) was sure that that Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries would not appear, we would have rescheduled other businesses on the Order Paper, such as Motions, Bills and Statements. Mr. Speaker, Sir, Members should be kind to Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Mithika Linturi. He must be recovering from that horrendous process of facing serious allegations at the “Lower” House. I have noticed that when Members ask supplementary questions, it just dies there. Is it possible that you direct Cabinet Secretaries to provide further information? When a Cabinet Secretary answers a question and the House feels that the response is not satisfactory, what is the recourse to the House? How do we treat such information? Should it be directed to the line Committee or re-engaged in future when the Cabinet Secretary appears?

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At the end of the day, Sen. Mungatana wants to ask questions about the floods, submerged farms, miraa and the coffee in the market. Should it end there when the House is not satisfied or it can be processed further? Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think you should not condone that. We have always relied on you. I am happy that the Senate Majority Leader is here. We should not allow Cabinet Secretaries to get away easily. The powers and privileges provide for mechanisms and systems on how non-appearance of witnesses before the House and the committees is treated. I request that as you rule on those issues that I have raised, the issue of procedure and answering questions by the Cabinet Secretary, the Cabinet Secretaries should be told that Parliament does not sit in vain. There is a reason we are here; it is not a talk show. We expected the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to be here. We would have asked supplementary questions on the issue of non-purchase of maize since we still have maize in our stores in the North Rift. Also, the issue of top- dressing fertilizer for our tea and maize farms because we have now finished planting. Going into the future, if you guide us properly and engage with the Executive, we do not want to be adversarial. We want to work for the common good. I think the intention of the President was to have a clear framework of engaging rather than in funerals or any other forums that are indecisive. Hon. Mithika Linturi should have been here. However, I think the past few weeks have not been easy for him. I am not his advocate, but I am just putting across my observations as a human being. Therefore, in future, he should be here. I thank you.

Thank you, hon. Senator for Nandi County. If you look at Standing Order No.51 (a) (6), immediately a question is approved by the SBC, Cabinet Secretaries are given seven days before they appear in plenary for purposes of responding to that question. Therefore, a Cabinet Secretary has seven days to look at the diary. If they are not in a position to appear before Senate, then they can write to the Senate indicating the reasons they may not appear, and the possible date that they will appear. Now, in this regard, I fully agree with you that this is a scheduled meeting. In fact, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries was cleared by State House to travel on 7th May, 2024. So, at the time he received these questions, he knew that he would be travelling to China between 14th and 18th. So, he ought to have written a letter much earlier. When the SBC sat yesterday, we had no indication whatsoever that the Cabinet Secretary would not be able to appear in Plenary for purposes of responding to these questions. That is why the Questions appear in today’s Order Paper. The wisdom that was given by SBC in this matter is that; one, adequate notice for non-appearance must be filled by the Cabinet Secretary; not just a notice to say “I am not in a position to appear”. In the same breath, that letter should contain a possible date when the Cabinet Secretary would appear, so that we can look at our calendar and try to schedule the

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appearance of that particular Cabinet Secretary. That is the direction that was given by SBC. The Senate Majority Leader was to help SBC in this regard for purposes of communicating or transmitting this information to the Cabinet Secretaries. Now, on the second limb, normally, when a Cabinet Secretary appears here and a supplementary question is asked by an hon. Senator, you will most of the time hear that, “I am inviting the hon. Senator to my office”. Most of the time, it dies there. The Rules and Procedure Committee sat twice last week to look at how to come up with a better mechanism of following up on such commitments. There are some amendments that will be brought before this House to make sure that any commitments given by a Cabinet Secretary are not just left to that individual Member. This is because, once left to individual Members, you can bet nothing will come out of that. That is the way forward on this particular matter. Senator for Nandi County, have I left anything that you sought my directions on?

No, Mr. Speaker, Sir.

Good! Sen. Chute, proceed.

Asante Bw. Spika. Ningependa kuongezea yale maneno Mhe. Mungatana amesema. Mhe. Mungatana ametoka Kaunti ya Tana River na labda amesafiri usiku wote akifikiria kwamba leo asubuhi atawakilisha watu wake wa Tana River. Lazima tukubaliane kama Seneti kwamba Waziri hataweza kufika kama labda ni mgonjwa au ameitwa State House kwa mkutano muhimu sana. Tukubaliane kwamba Waziri yeyote ambaye atashindwa kufika hapa kwa sababu ya safari ambayo mipango yake ilianza miezi miwili iliyopita, ingefaa atume msaidizi wake kama vile PrincipalSecretary . Waziri ambaye hajafika leo ni kama hajali maneno ya Bunge. Hii ni kwa sababu wakati alifika mbele ya Bunge kwa ajili ya mambo ya fertilizer, nilimwambia ajiuzulu kwa sababu responsibility ya kuhakikisha kwamba wakulima wanapata fertilizer kwa bei nzuri na wakati ufaao, ni yake. Wakulima walikosa fertiliser kwa wakati unaofaa. Pia walipata fertiliser gushi. Bw. Spika, tungeleta Censure Motion kwa huyu Waziri. Ingawa ameachiliwa na Bunge la Kitaifa, bado maneno yapo. Ukitazama poll sasa hivi, karibu asilimia 99 wanasema huyu mtu aende nyumbani. Ako na heshima gani kuongoza nchi hii kama Waziri wa Kilimo? Bw. Spika tunakuomba tukubaliane kuwa ikiwa Waziri atashindwa kufika mbele ya Seneti iwe tu kwamba ni mgonjwa au ameitwa State House katika shughuli ya kuzungumza na Rais wa nchi hii. Mambo mengine yote ni njia ya kuchelewesha mipango ya serikali, Seneti au Bunge. Asante sana. Ni vizuri tuchukue hatua ya kusaidia nchi isonge mbele.

Hon. Senators, as far as the Cabinet Secretary is concerned, let us terminate those interventions there. The reason that the Cabinet Secretary has communicated is a valid reason. The biggest problem, which is unacceptable, is the fact that the communication came in too late.

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Clerk, can you confirm that the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is present?

You may usher him in.

Hon. Senators, the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is present. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, welcome to the Senate Plenary. You have two Questions that we are inviting you to respond to. The first Question is Question No.030 by the Sen. Mariam Sheikh. Kindly, proceed to ask your Question, Senator.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity.

, you are welcome. (a) What has caused the delay in the completion of the Mandera Water and Sanitation Project that was funded by the Africa Development Bank (AFDB) in 2016 to address the suffering of the residents of Mandera due to water scarcity? (b) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a breakdown of the project's budget and state the amount paid to contractors and service providers to date, the recipients of these payments as well as the specific work done? (c) What is the status of the project and could the Cabinet Secretary state the measures in place to ensure the timely completion of the project and indicate the projected date of completion?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may now proceed to respond to that question.

Good morning, Mr. Speaker, Sir and Senators. I thank you for inviting me once again to this august House to share information and insight on the Questions raised by the hon. Senator.

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Hon. Speaker, Sir, in response to Question number one, I want to respond as follows- The Mandera Water Supply Project commenced on 31st January, 2019, with an original contract period of 18 months and hence original completion date was 30th July, 2020. However, the contract was extended five times leading to revised contract period of 47 months. The revised completion date was 31st December, 2023. Due to the contractor’s inability to complete the works, the parties to the contract agreed to mutually terminate the contract. The project is currently at 72 per cent in terms of works implemented. It is expected to serve about 400,000 people within Mandera Town and its environs when completed. On the other hand, Mandera Sewerage Project commenced on 1st November, 2018 with an original contract period of 18 months. The original completion date was 30th April, 2020. The contract has been extended four times. Consequently, the revised completion date is 7th July, 2024.Currently, the project is at 73 per cent as per the works carried out and is expected to serve about 80,000 people. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the main causes of delays in the project are as follows- For Mandera Water Supply Project, which is being done by Suhufi Agencies in a joint venture with Shaanxi Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Groups Limited, the first reason for the delay was master list approval. Approval of the master list took about one year and this led to delay in commencement of works. The contractor could not buy materials because exemptions were being waited for. The number two reason for the delay was the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in restrictions that negatively impeded the project's progress. Additionally, price escalations of construction materials were experienced arising from the global effect of the pandemic. The third reason was mobilisation. Inadequate mobilisation of staff, plant and equipment and construction materials by the contractor also caused the delay on the Mandera Sewerage Project that is being done by Sinohydro Corporation Limited. The other one reason for the delay was also master list approval. Approval of the master list took about one year and this led to delay in the commencement of works. The contractor could not buy materials because the exemptions were being waited for. There was also the issue of insecurity. The project was suspended on 12th April, 2019 due to insecurities associated with the abduction of Cuban doctors that occurred in Mandera Town. The works remained suspended until 3rd November, 2020 when the Government managed to provide a secure campsite to the contractor. The other reason for the delay of the Mandera Sewerage Project was the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) issue. Due to the objection of the RAPs, the Government had to change the designs twice, thereby increasing the scope of works, which required additional funding, hence more time to execute the works. As a result, an addendum was made to cater for the extra cost that amounted to Kshs484,261,223.81. The other reason was the additional works. Increased scope of work mainly due to Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) issues required additional funding. The process of sourcing additional funds has been completed and approved by the

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African Development Bank (ADB). However, the contractor had slowed work from the beginning of August, 2022 as they awaited the resolution of the issue. Regarding the cost implication of the delays for Mandera Water Supply Project, the contractor has submitted two financial claims. Claim number one has been evaluated while claim number two is currently being evaluated. The other one, currently the project engineer is carrying out final measurements to determine the remaining works. This will enable the employer to repackage the works and re-tender before the ADB financing grace period scheduled to end before the end of next year. For the Mandera Sewerage Project, no direct cost implications as the contractor is paid for the works accomplished. It is good to note that the two projects were procured and are being implemented under a fixed works contract for works and consultancy services. Therefore, unless there are any other claims from the works or consultancy, there will be no direct cost implication due to the works. Honourable Speaker, in response to question (b), I want to respond as follows- The contract amount is as follows- For the water supply projects, the amount was Kshs420,147,030. For the sewerage project, the contract amount was Kshs1,523,674,239.87. The total amount is Kshs1,039,413,014.06 plus the addendum sum of Kshs484,261,225.81, giving the total sum of Kshs1,523,674,239.87. Regarding payments to contractors and service providers, I wish to report that the following are the contractors and payments made for the above-mentioned projects- For the water supply project, the contractor, who is Suhufi Agencies, in a joint venture with Shanzi Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Group, the amount which has been certified and paid is Kshs1,029,090,353. For the sewer project, the contractor, who is Sinhydro Corporation Limited, the amount certified and paid is Kshs1,005,869,217. The specific works done to date are as follows- (a) For water supply works Lot No.1, the total estimated length of water lines is 228.5 kilometres. To date, the total length laid is 215.1 kilometres, comprising both transmission and distribution lines, which are 94.2 per cent; (b) The resident engineer's office administration block is 100 per cent complete; (c) Two classroom blocks of five classes each at Shaffi Primary School are also 100 per cent complete; (d) We have two-bedroom staff houses at Bulgalas, and the project laboratory building has been completed, therefore, at 100 per cent; (e) Water treatment works - the clear water tanks, Bungalas water tank, and the infiltration wells are at various stages of completion, with an average of 57 per cent of work done. The overall progress to date is 72 per cent. That was for water supply. For the sewerage project, which is Lot No.2, the scope for the sewerage project and the status of works is as follows-

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(a) the scope of laying 48.262 kilometres length of sewers ranging from diameter 225 millimetres to 900 millimetres. The completion status is at 89 per cent; (b) there was also the construction of public toilets at the Shaffi and Mandera military camps. These works are at 60 per cent completion; (c) there was the construction of wastewater stabilisation ponds with the capacity to treat an average of 6,000 cubic meters per day; (d) the water stabilization ponds consist of the following- (i) Inlet channel with measuring flume; (ii) Two anaerobic ponds; (iii) Two focaltative ponds; and, (iv) Six maturation ponds. The overall completion for the wastewater treatment works is at 61 per cent. (e) there were administration and laboratory buildings. These are at 92 per cent. (f) there were two staff houses, a perimeter chain link fence with concrete posts, and two gatehouses. These are at 95 per cent completion. (g) there is also the access gravel roads around the ponds. These are at a 10 per cent completion rate. (h) plant and equipment for operation and maintenance of the infrastructures. These have not yet been installed. The overall progress to date is 73 per cent work done. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in response to part (c) of the Question, the overall progress for the Mandera water project is 72 per cent, while the Mandera sewerage project is at 73 per cent. For the Mandera water supply project, the parties to the contract have currently agreed to mutually terminate the contract. A framework for the process has been agreed upon. The employer has constituted a claims adjudication committee for final valuation. The dispute has been referred to arbitration, and the proceedings are ongoing. In addition, the contractual parties are also at an advanced stage to enter a mutual agreement to separate. As regards the Mandera Sewerage Project, following the execution of the addendum works agreement by the contractor, an instruction for remobilisation and resumption of works was issued by the engineer. The contractor resumed work in March, 2024. Currently, some of the contractor's key personnel and construction materials have been mobilised to the site. The projected date of completion is 7th, July, 2024. The construction works are progressing very well. I think I can stop there and then I will answer the other question.

Sen. Mariam? You may ask two supplementary questions, if you have any. If the response is comprehensive, you may allow your colleagues to ask any supplementary questions.

Very well. Sen. Mohamed Chute?

Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I have a question for the Cabinet Secretary. The last time the cabinet Secretary was before this House, he

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promised that the Marsabit Sewer System and Marsabit Water Supply, which is under construction, will be completed as soon as possible. What is the position of these two projects now in Marsabit?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you will take about four questions and you will respond to them together.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. To the Cabinet Secretary, there is a Statement that I made on the Ndhiwa Water Supply sometime in 2023. I am here to get a response. This is a water supply that was initiated and maintained by the Lake Victoria South Water Board. That water system lies in waste as the whole region it was supposed to serve suffers.

Hon. Senators, a supplementary question must be related to the primary question and the reason is to enable the Cabinet Secretary to adequately respond to your questions. If you ask a question that is not related to this primary question, the predicament then will be, first, the Cabinet Secretary may not be in a position to respond and he may, therefore, seek time to provide that information. If you ask a supplementary question, it will be easy for the Cabinet Secretary to respond to because then he has come here prepared for the primary question from which the supplementary question flows. Therefore, hon. Cabinet Secretary, if you are in a position to answer a question that is not related to the primary question, you may proceed to respond to it. However, if you need time to give us a more comprehensive response to a question that is not related to the primary question, you may also indicate that. We would not want to have half- baked answers to the questions being raised by hon. Senators. Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, you have the Floor.

Asante Bw. Spika. Ningependa kuuliza maswali mawili ama matatu kuambatana swali ambalo---

Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, under the Standing Orders, you can only have one supplementary question.

Bw. Spika, swali langu linaambatana na swali la msingi. Ninakumbuka mwezi moja ama miezi miwili iliyopita, tulifanya msafara pamoja na Wariri wa Maji hadi sehemu za Tharaka-Nithi. Kaunti ya Tharaka-Nithi ni kaunti ambayo imekumbwa na matatizo makubwa ya maji, sanasana, sehemu ya Tharaka Constituency. Ninakumbuka tulitembelea sehemu za Marimanti pamoja na Waziri ambapo kuna miradi kadha wa kadha ambayo imeanzishwa na wenyeji wa maeneo hayo. Kuna Mradi wa Kathura Water Project ambao unasambaza maji mpaka Marimanti, mpaka sehemu za Maragwa, Tharaka North. Kuna mradi mwingine unaoitwa Sisi kwa Sisi ambao uko sehemu za Mukothima. Kuna Mradi unaoitwa Mukithi Water Project, ambao unashughulikia sehemu za Muwii mpaka Kithioroka. Kuna Mradi unaoitwa Magatianthe katika sehemu za Marimanti ambao unashughulikia sehemu za Rungu na Murinda katika Ciakariga Ward. Vile vile, kuna Mradi uitwao Kiramanti katika Marimanti.

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Hii ni miradi ambayo imeanzishiwa wakaazi wa huko na eneo la Tharaka limekumbwa na matatizo mengi sana ya maji. Ni mikakati gani ambayo Wizara yako inafanya kuhakikisha kuwa miradi hii imepata pesa kwa serikali?

Sen. Cheruiyot, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. My question is related to the first, in the sense that it is about water, and the earlier question was also about water. To the best of my knowledge, because you have the Cabinet Secretary for Water, that is the right person to ask these questions because I do not know any other Cabinet Secretary.

Senate Majority Leader.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, allow me.

Okay, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, the biggest promise that this Government made to the people of Kericho and Bomet counties concerning water is the construction of the Bosto Dam Water Supply project in Bomet County and the Soin-Koru Dam in Kericho County. At the time of this administration coming in, both projects were at fairly advanced levels. The information we had was that for the Bosta Dam, the challenge was land acquisition. That intentionally, somebody had decided to frustrate that exercise through the usual monkey games that people introduce when they do not want to roll out a project. It has now been one-and-a-half years, and I would like to know what the status of that project is. On Soin-Koru, works had commenced and the contractor was on site. However, the financing model that had been picked was the worst that you could ever imagine. It is a Kshs20 billion project that is supposed to be Government of Kenya funded. Knowing very well our financial position as a country, it might take far more than the lifetime of this administration and even the next one for the Government of Kenya to cough out Kshs20 billion on a single dam project. Therefore, I would wish to know from the Cabinet Secretary what alternative plans they are making, or am I being too pessimistic? Maybe the Cabinet Secretary has figured out where to get the Kshs20 billion of Government of Kenya cash to build the Soin-Koru Dam. It will be important for us, the people of Kericho County, to know. Otherwise, I appreciate him for his diligence. I know there is another project on Londiani Dam that he is considering, but it is we on the ground who have not provided the land that is needed to roll out that project. Therefore, I will not bother him with that question.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed to respond to the four questions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. In response to the Water and Sewer projects in Masabit County, I want to let the hon. Senator know that the water project is complete. The sewerage project is at 89 per cent. So, work is ongoing, and we are sure the remaining part of the sewer will also be completed soon.

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From the hon. Senator of Homa Bay concerning the question of rehabilitation works and water supply restoration from the Ndhiwa borehole, I have a comprehensive report on six questions that have been asked by hon. Senators. I commit that I am going to submit the whole report, which will answer those questions. From the Senator of Tharaka-Nithi County, Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, ni kweli

There is a report that is being done, which I promise to submit once I get it. So, there is an ongoing report being done by the Tana Works Agency. I am sure it will cover all those areas that you mentioned. In regards to the question asked by the Senate Majority Leader, we indeed have a mega project that is Boston. Currently, we have funding from China and we are finalizing on that project. Soon, it will be actualized. It is true that the Soin-Koru Dam project has given us a headache. As the Senate Majority Leader has indicated, it might be a toll order for the Government to support and fund it. We are currently looking for investors through the Private Public Partnership (PPP) financing model. We are progressing well because we know the Soin-Koru Dam project will be useful especially to our irrigation scheme in Ahero. We are keenly following this project and ensuring we get investors who will embark on it. I submit.

Sen. Cherarkey, proceed.

Asante, Bw. Spika. Namshukuru Waziri kwa kuchukua nafasi hii kujibu maswali. Swali langu ni kuhusu mkopo uliotolewa na benki. Kuna bwawa kubwa Kaunti ya Nandi linaloitwa Keben lilioanzishwa miaka kadhaa iliyopita. Vile vile, kuna bwawa lingine linaloitwa Kipkaren kwenye mpaka wa Kaunti za Uasin Gishu na Nandi. Swali langu linahusiana na mkopo uliokopwa na Serikali kutoka African Development Bank (ADB) . Kuna muda uliowekwa na benki hii inayofadhili mradi huu wa kujenga bwawa la Keben kwenye eneo Bunge la Nandi Hills. Ni muda gani utatumika kukamilisha mradi huu na ule wa bwawa la Kipkaren lilioko kwenye mpaka wa Kaunti za Nandi na Uasin Gishu ili wakaazi wa Kaunti ya Nandi na Uasin Gishu wapate maji safi ambayo watatumia nyumbani na kilimo? Kilimo ni uti wa mgongo wa Kaunti ya Nandi. Ningependa Waziri ajibu na kutupa hakikisho kuwa miradi hii itakamilika wakati unaofaa. Mkopo kutoka African Development Bank ukipatikana, kutengeneza na kumaliza mabwawa haya mbili itakuwa rahisi.

Sen. Seki, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I request the Cabinet Secretary to give us more insights on the progress of projects across the Nairobi satellite towns that are under the Athi Water Services and the Northern Tunnel financed by the German Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) Development Bank. Particularly, in Kajiado North, the infrastructure has been done to almost 95 per cent, but it has stalled for the last six months. There is a lot of expectation from the public to see the project completed, so that we can commission it. I want to know when this project will be completed, why it has

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stalled for the last six months and when will we launch it so that the people of Kajiado North benefit from it?

Sen. Miraj, proceed.

Asante, Bw. Spika. Karibu Waziri. Swali langu ni kuhusiana na mradi wa climate resilient ambao ulifanyika Likoni Sub-County. Ni jambo la kusikitisha na kutamausha ya kwamba, tangu mradi huo ulipofanyika miaka sita nyuma, hadi leo haujafunguliwa. Watu wa Likoni hawajaanza kupata maji safi. Hivi leo watu wa Likoni wananunua maji yanayoitwa Malele, dumu moja kwa Kshs40. Mimi kama mwanamke, najua umuhimu wa maji. Asubuhi tukiamka tukitaka kufua tunatumia maji. Wanaume wetu wakitaka kwenda kazini lazima tuwawekee maji ya kuoga. Kwa niaba ya watu wa Likoni, nakuomba utueleze kwa nini Serikali iliwekeza pesa nyingi, mradi ukafanywa lakini mpaka leo watu wa Likoni wameshidwa kupata maji safi ya kunywa kwenye mifereji ndani ya nyumba zao.

Sen. Mbugua, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I want the Cabinet Secretary to tell this Senate since water is a devolved function and the national Government has continued to acquire loans and grants to fund water projects in the counties, what arrangements the Ministry has with the county governments on the running of the projects, so that we can recoup the money the Government has put in.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed to respond to the four Senators.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I will start with the last question about water being a devolved function and what we are doing as a Ministry to ensure that the projects we do get back to counties. As a Ministry, we embark on these major projects. Once we complete them, we give them to the county governments. To ensure we get money to repay the loans, we sell water in bulk to Water Service Providers (WSPs) that are under the counties. This is a sure way of getting back money from them. Their work will be to distribute the water. When we release water to counties, we plan to have bulk meters to charge them. The other question was about the Likoni Water Project. It is true that we did this project a while ago. However, we have not completed the Mwache Dam. This project will get water from the Mwache Dam. Once the dam is complete, the people of Likoni will benefit. I can assure you that based on the design of the project, the whole of Likoni will benefit from this project. On the question on Nairobi satellite projects, I would like to correct the hon. Member that no work has stalled. In fact, as we are talking, the northern collector is undergoing testing. I will give a comprehensive report and submit it to this august House. The Keben Project is mega. The Government is keen to see that this project starts. I would like to correct the hon. Senator that no money has been given out. At the moment, we are designing the project and looking for a contractor using the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Finance (EPCF) financing model. This way, we will be sure

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that once this project starts, it ends. Work is in progress as far as designing is concerned. Soon, we will go to the next level of sourcing for a contractor through the EPCF model. For the Bosto project, we already have a contractor. We are now finalizing the financing. This project will soon start.

Sen. Mariam Omar, proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. My question is on lot one of the water project. When the Cabinet Secretary was responding, I heard him say that one of the reasons for the delay in construction of the project was the inadequate mobilisation of staff, plant, equipment and construction materials by the contractor. At the same time, the contract was extended five times leading to a delay of 47 months. My question is, why was the project extended five times when the contractor is incapable? Secondly, on lot two, which is sewerage, I agree the contractor is on site, but the contractor cannot do anything without a consultancy. Consultancy is not on the ground. Why is the consultancy not on the ground? Additionally, do you think that by the end of December, 2025, this project will be completed? I thank you.

Proceed, Hon. Cabinet Secretary.

Thank you very much. The process of terminating a contract term can end up being very expensive. Therefore, before we reach that level, we usually engage the contractor until when we cannot negotiate anymore. That is why we were giving this contractor more time. Also, it is good for us to know that there was the COVID-19 pandemic that delayed this project. We also had the master list that was delayed from the National Treasury. We looked at all these things combined. That is why we were always giving this contractor time. After we consulted with the contractor, we decided that the best thing was to terminate the contract. On the issue of the consultancy, the consultant is there and we are committing to say that since it is a five-year programme under the Kenya Towns Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation, this project will be complete before end of next year. I submit.

We shall now move to Question No.033. Proceed, the Senator for Wajir County, Sen. Abass.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. My questions are two and they are as follows-

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(a) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide details of all water projects in Wajir County budgeted for by the national Government in the Financial Year 2023/2024, as well as those planned for the Financial Year 2024/2025? (b)What is the status of implementation for each of the said projects, and could the Cabinet Secretary also outline the anticipated impact from the projects, particularly in terms of water capacity and improving distribution networks?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed to respond.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, and Senator for that Question. My response to Question (a) is as follows- The Ministry is implementing 16 projects in Wajir County in the Financial Year 2023/2024. The projects are being implemented by the Northern Water Works Development Agency (NWWDA), a State corporation under the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation. The project name, location, cost, scope, status and impact of the water supply are shown in Table 1.0 and Annexure one.

Hon. Senators, that table has been circulated as an attachment to the response. Sen. Abass, do you have that table with you?

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I do have it.

Good. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you need not to run through the table.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. On Question (b) my response is as follows- The Ministry, through the NWWDA, is implementing a long-term Wajir Water Project design which is funded by the World Bank. Under this project, we have drilled two exploratory boreholes in Ademasajida and two exploratory boreholes in Arbajahan to study the characteristics of the aquifers. A new site in Sarman was also proposed for two exploratory boreholes to increase the area of study to solve the problem of water in Wajir town. These exploratory boreholes will guide the study and inform the best site to get water to Wajir town.

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The 16 water projects under implementation in the Financial Year 2023/2024 have a combined budget amounting to Kshs586 million whereby some are complete and others are ongoing. These projects once completed will serve 5,355 households in Wajir County.

The Ministry is fully aware of the water scarcity in Wajir County and through the NWWDA has developed proposals for mega dams like Bute Dam and other dams that will solve the issue of water shortage in Wajir County. Mr. Speaker, Sir, regarding all the projects mentioned above, the scope of works, implementation status and the expected impact of the projects to the beneficiaries are highlighted in detail in the following Annexes- We have Annex I, which details the projects being implemented in the Financial Year 2023/2024 and Annex II, which details the proposed projects. I hereby bring to your attention that the biggest challenge faced by the Ministry in the implementation of the above projects has been the availability of exchequer releases. I submit.

I will allow the Senator for Nandi to ask Question No.029. Thereafter, we will invite supplementary questions to those two Questions; the one by Sen. Abass and the one by the Senator for Nandi. Please, Proceed.

Well, according to my notes, the Senator for Nandi was supposed to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation a question, but that was a mistake. Sen. Abass, you may proceed to ask your supplementary questions. Please, proceed.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank the Cabinet Secretary for the detailed reply as he has given us the real statements. My concern, hon. Cabinet Secretary is, as you attested that Wajir Town where the county headquarters is, faces an acute shortage of water and at times people go without water. The project for Bute Dam and Arbajahan has been there for a long time. I wonder why the Bute project has taken 10 years yet it was designed during 2015/2016 Financial Year. I am surprised that up to now it is still at planning stage. As you have stated, Wajir faces an acute water shortage. Why has this project taken so long?

Proceed to respond, Hon. Cabinet Secretary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. As indicated earlier, we know Wajir and many other areas across the country have a big shortage of water, but those designs are ready. What the Ministry is doing is to source for funding. Once that is done, Bute Dam is one of those earmarked, so that acute water shortage in Wajir can be dealt with once and for all.

Sen. Maanzo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. The Cabinet Secretary has talked about exploratory boreholes, where they are making an attempt to study aquifers.

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Ordinarily though, we have many dry boreholes in many parts of the country and this usually attracts a criminal penalty. What is the Cabinet Secretary doing about the people who have been given contracts to dig boreholes and they end up being dry boreholes and what is the cure? Other than exploring, there are many people who have wasted Government’s money when they dig up boreholes. What is the result of that study?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. It is true we have boreholes that have ended up being dry and that is why we are doing these exploratory boreholes to make sure that the aquifer under has enough water. At the moment, we are doing mapping in about 17 counties, so as to make sure that once we start that exercise, we will not be doing guesswork. We will be drilling knowing very well that we will get water.

Sen. Gataya Mo Fire.

Asante, Bw. Spika. Nitauliza swali linaloambatana na swali la kwanza kutoka kwa Seneta wa Wajir. Wajir na sehemu zingine za Tharaka-Nithi ziko sawa kwa ukame. Hii ni kwa sababu---

Bw. Spika, kuna watu ambao wanazungumza hapa. Tumekuwa na Waziri kwa muda mrefu na tumekubaliana mambo mengi kuhusu sehemu kame zilizoko Tharaka-Nithi. Kuna mito mingi na tulipanga kutakua na madimbwi na mabwawa na vile vile, tutachimba visima zile sehemu za chini kule Tharaka hakuna mito. Tuliweka pia mikakati na watu wakaja wakapima visima lakini, tumemaliza mwaka mmoja. Hatujaona kama kuna mipango yeyote ya Serikali na sijui kama hio mipango iliachwa ama bado iko. Ningependa kujua ni mikakati gani Wizara yake imetia. Bw. Spika, ukienda sehemu kama za Gatunga, kule Maragua, wakati mwingi, watu hutumia maji na wanyama. Unapata mnyama anakunywa maji na binadamu pia, anakunywa yale maji---

Senator, what is your question? You are giving us long speeches.

Bw. Spika, swali langu ni kwamba, Waziri anajua vizuri sana kuwa hizo sehemu ni kame na tulikubaliana kutachimbwa visima. Je, Wizara inafanya nini ili kuhakikisha wale watu wamepata visima na maji safi ya kunywa?

Sen. (Dr.) Boni? Hon. Cabinet Secretary, as you collect your thoughts on the question by Sen. Mo Fire, allow Sen. (Dr.) Boni to also pose a question.

Mr. Speaker, Sir, mine is a general issue on policy. The issue of water in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) has been addressed by the Constitution of Kenya through the Equalization Fund. Could the Cabinet Secretary tell the country how he intends to use the Equalization Fund which this House has now

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unlocked to ensure that these little questions that come from ASAL counties benefit from that fund?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I will start with Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale’s question on the issue of the Equalization Fund. This fund does not go through the Ministry, but through county governments. What we should do is engage county governments and see how they can use that Fund to help on water matters. The Ministry does not have control of that, but this is an engagement we can have with county governments, since we work together, and see how we can use that Fund to advance water in various counties.

Tharaka-Nithi and other dry areas are some of the counties that we have mapped out, so that once we realize they have enough underground water, we can then engage and go ahead to sink those boreholes.

Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. We will terminate there as far as the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation is concerned. We shall now move to Question No.029 and No.046, directed to the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. I thank the hon. Cabinet Secretary for making time to come to the Plenary for purposes of responding to questions.

Clerk, you may usher in the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.

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Hon. Senators, let us transact business. I can see the Cabinet Secretary is in the House. Welcome to the Senate, Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs. Thank you for getting time to appear before the Senate to answer a few Questions from the hon. Senators. Hon. Senators, we start off with Question No.029 from the Senator for Nandi County, Sen. Chararkey.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Coincidentally, Nandi County is County No.029. I rise to ask Question No.029 and it is as follows- (a) What is the current status of gold mine activities at Kariba Gold Mine in Chemase, Nandi County? (b)What is the total amount of money paid as royalties to the Government for gold mine activities at the said gold mine? Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a breakdown of how these funds have been shared between national government, the respective county government and local communities? (c) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a timeline for the processing of all current applications for mining permits and licenses and explain the regulatory framework governing artisanal mining in Kenya? (d) Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a list of all companies issued with mineral or mining rights currently operating in the country and state the total revenue collected from the exports of minerals from the financial year 2022/2023 up to 2024/2025? I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Thank you. Cabinet Secretary, you can now respond to the Questions.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, I want to help you a bit. I can see you have a comprehensive response. Members will go through the brief, especially on processing of workflows and also check the list of companies which have mining licences that you have provided so that we can make progress. Sen. Cherarkey, this information is flowing. Instead of reading out all these companies from the first to the last, you can just have a look at the permits that have been issued. So that we make progress, if any Member has any issue, you may ask a supplementary question. I am advising because we have the response. If you feel---

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You will just say that. I want him to state the companies as he has submitted in the list up to that level. Kindly proceed.

Hon. Salim Mvurya): Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand guided because I thought I needed to give the details to the House. Since they are there with clarity, I concur that we can make reference. However, the statement is very clear on the flow of artisanal mining permits. In part (f), we have listed the companies that have mining rights and are operating across the country. The only other thing I would say about artisanal mining is that right now we have decided to register artisanal mining into co-operative societies. So, they are no longer going to be registered as individuals. We have around a million individuals in the country doing artisanal mining. We have come up with a framework to register them as co-operative societies, so that they can access training and funding. Currently we have 240 artisanal mining co-operatives across the country. I submit.

After that list, Sen. Cherarkey, do you have any supplementary question?

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will ask one for now so that I also allow my colleagues. I thank my friend and brother, Hon. Waziri Salim Mvurya, whom we have worked closely with. He stated in his opening remarks and I am happy he has gone an extra mile of providing more details to the House and that is important. What is the status of the revival of the Fluorspar mining, in Elgeyo-Marakwet County in Kimwarer, noting that it will revive economy in that area? I know you know this country very well. Since fluorspar mining in Elgeyo- Marakwet was shut down, it has affected the economy of Elgeyo-Marakwet County and by extension, the North Rift. So, I want the Cabinet Secretary to give the status report on the revival of this very important and key driving economic activity in the North Rift. That is my first supplementary question. I beg to defer the rest until Members have asked theirs.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you can respond to the Kerio Valley issue of fluorspar mining.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Sen. Maanzo, proceed. Sen. Seki, I cannot see your intervention or any intention to speak.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. First, I congratulate the Cabinet Secretary Mvurya for coming up with the idea of cooperatives to manage mining in the whole country. This also being a devolved function, it should be by region and work with the county governments. This will go a long way to help Kenyans realise their potential in mining. My question is about copper in Makueni County, where some unlicensed company was exploiting this alleged cooper deposits in a place called Kathonzweni precisely, Kiangini, where he visited recently. What is the current status of that mineral for no further action has been taken since he came to Makueni? Did he close it down?

Cabinet Secretary, proceed.

Next is Sen. Seki.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

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I also congratulate the Cabinet Secretary for comprehensive answers to several question particularly from Sen. Cherarkey. Further, my questions are in regards to the Mining Regulations, 2017 as you indicated particularly, on the counties and communities sharing. I would want to know more about the delay of the policy or regulations on that. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you remember very well that I asked that question sometimes back. The issue was that; you are still planning to do regulations for communities to benefit from the 10 per cent as indicated in the regulation. What timelines will you give this House on when we are going to benefit because communities are suffering? Investors are coming in and doing a lot of destructions on their land and they are not benefiting, yet the national Government has received the entire 100 per cent amount of loyalties and the Ministry has not given communities this money. Also, will the 10 per cent be given in arrears to the communities by the time you will be done with the policy or regulations?

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, that is a good one.

Thank you. Proceed, Majority Leader.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. First, I commend this Cabinet Secretary before us. He is very much at home with his ministry and the issues therein. When Cabinet Secretaries come here and are asked supplementary questions over and above what they are prepared for, they float and disappear. Waziri for Mining, my good friend former Governor Mvurya has responded with depth of knowledge in this State Department. Therefore, I must commend him for very good knowledge of his department.

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Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my question is with regard to a very topical issue under his docket. That is the issue of an influx of illegal miners who are taking advantage of our various communities that perhaps do not understand the kind of minerals being traded in. If you had nothing due to poverty and someone shows up at your doorstep to offer you very little resources, you will accept even though they do not meet the legal procedures that are set out. We have passed laws in this House to ensure that individuals who owns land, or if it is communal land, that the community as well as the county, benefits from the resources that are in that particular county. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, various parts of this country have been flagged as red hotspots for illegal miners. What is the government doing about this particular issue to ensure that this industry develops and become a significant contributor to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP)? It has the potential to help us. Instead of the many battles the administration is trying to acquaint Kenyans with the concept of paying taxes, we can grow this industry to help us reduce our debt exposure and meet our obligations as a government. Illegal miners that are spread across the country, for instance, in Kilgoris, Migori, Tsavo et cetera, are undermining all efforts. What are they doing about that particular issue? Finally, have you strengthened the expertise and the knowledge of our officers in our border points who check on the minerals that leave this country? Someone explained to me that some of these minerals we mentioned cannot be easily traced with naked eye. There is expertise that is needed. Knowing this country and how our fellow countrymen behave, I would not be surprised if somebody would pass even rare-earth in a sack and sign them off as kokoto. It can either be out of ignorance or motivated to look the other way. Therefore, how intense is the scrutiny on the border points where these minerals leave the country? Also, what is the assurance to this House that enough is being done to ensure this country does not lose in the mineral trade that it engages itself in? I thank you.

Thank you. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you can handle those two supplementary questions together.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Next is Senator Boni Khalwale.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Cabinet Secretary, according to statistics from the State Department of Economic Planning, mining contributes Kshs120.3 billion per annum to our GDP. It is not acceptable that with this kind of fortune, our people from the gold mining areas like Kwale, Kakamega, Taita Taveta, Nyatike, or Migori still wallow in poverty. It does not make any sense. It is not acceptable. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, among the various licences you have described from the podium there, there is the licence of

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prospecting. We have unscrupulous companies to which your Department grants prospecting licences, but they come to do mining. A case in point is in Kakamega, where Shanta Gold has been prospecting for 21 years. Three years ago, the people of Kakamega came together and refused - that Shanta Gold must go or start mining. They disappeared. Suddenly, we have seen the re-entry of Shanta Gold in recent months and weeks. Could it be that the Cabinet Secretary means to say that you have given Shanta Gold in the name of investing Kshs5.8 billion in Kakamega, where I was born and brought up, educated, and live and do bullfighting? There is no such investment. If it was, it would be on Plot No.1269, Isukha Mkomari, which is my land, where there is gold. I beg the Cabinet Secretary, please come to Kakamega. There is a time bomb now. The locals have had enough of Shanta Gold. They have money. They influence some of the people in your department, and they get away with it. Protect us. We want the people of Ikolomani to enjoy their God-given resource. We are rich; richer than many counties in this country. I beg the Cabinet Secretary. You come from Kwale where there is gold mining. Poverty there is too high, just like in Kakamega. Let us do something together, so that our people can enjoy minerals, the way people in Dubai enjoy the oil that they mine in Dubai. I want to see Dubai in Kakamega because we have the money; research has confirmed. Cabinet Secretary, it is not a question. It is a crime. Please, take charge. Some of our local leaders including elected ones are working in cahoots with these people who are exploiting the commonwealth of the people of Kakamega.

Thank you, Sen. (Dr.) Boni. I gave you some time because I could see you were talking about the pride of the people in Kakamega. That is why I gave you time.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I can cry, but I do not want to. How can we be burying people in golden graves, digging toilets in golden areas and then not become rich? We bury our dead in gold.

Yes, you love the Kakamega community. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, help this Member from Kakamega County.

Thank you. Let us now go on an expedition to West Pokot. Sen. Murgor?

Thank you very much, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I also thank the Cabinet Secretary for his eloquent presentation and for answering the questions. My question is about how devolved the Ministry is to the ground such that their presence is felt and guides the locals as to even what they have on their grounds. Then, help them in identifying and working with potential miners or people who are interested in whatever minerals they have. West Pokot, for one, I am sure has a lot of minerals, very rich, but the locals do not know what is there. If an investor comes under the pretext that they are just finding out, they would not know. They might be getting out good goodies, but the locals do not know. So, how much are you devolved, or do you plan to be devolved? Part of my second question is how can you protect locals and their lands from miners who excavate and just leave open holes and open places that become dangerous, either by collecting water and becoming pools and children can drown or things like that. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the issue of devolving the mining sector, I want to bring the House to speed.

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Previously we have had a very big challenge on staffing and we divided the country into 19 regions, but we did not have staff on the ground. Right now, we are employing 368 new staff. We have done 167 and next month we are doing the final batch. That is the first point. Secondly, we have artisanal mining committees across the country. We have now gazetted 24. These are responsible for making sure that they look at the issues of licensing and compliance at that level. To make sure there is clarity on issues of mining once we post the new staff, then we also attach them to the respective county Government and the County National Coordination officers so that they can also bring to speed on issues of mining in those regions. The Principal Secretary has been leading a team in most of the regions to training of artisanal mining committees and other institutions such as the cooperatives to make sure that they are up to speed with issues of law. Also, during the application process, we have been very open and very emphatic on issues of consent. Consent given by landowners and communities has also to be confirmed by the local county leadership so that then communities cannot be exploited. On matters of handling the risk issues, environment, and many others, we have developed mining and safety regulations that guide the mining operations on the ground. More importantly, every applicant who is doing mining also has to submit an environmental management plan, which we strictly follow to make sure they rehabilitate the areas where mining has taken place. I also understand the hon. Senator that because of a previous history there are open mines in many areas. I assure you that with the regulations and enforcement, all investors will rehabilitate and regenerate all the mining areas as a post-mining activity. That is what we want to emphasize. As we move on with the post-mining for example, in Kwale County, we have a post-mining team that is looking at all the issues of the environment and all those related to post-mining use of the land. I also confirm what the hon. Senator has said. It is true in some counties; people might not be aware of the existence of certain minerals. That is why we have sent our teams for ground truthing. The good thing about West Pokot County is that it is part of the six counties where Coltan has been confirmed areas like Alale in West Pokot County, Kiritiri, in Embu County, Kora Wells, in Tana River County, Loima, Turkana County, and in Nachola area in Samburu County. So, West Pokot County is one of the areas we are very keen on making sure that you can realize the inspiration of the county economy through the discovery of coltan in that area. So, we would be working together with the leadership and everybody to ensure that there is a benefit to the minerals in that County. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I humbly submit.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Hon. Senators, I want to give some guidance. After the last supplementary call with Sen. Onyonka, I will request Sen. Miraj to ask her question. We can combine if there will be any other supplementary questions as we wind up.

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Sen. Onyonka, you may proceed.

Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. Unfortunately, I am not able to see the Cabinet Secretary and former Governor, where he is sitting, but I am sure he is hearing me. The first thing I would like to say, hon. Cabinet Secretary that I sincerely appreciate because I knew you when you were the Governor of Kwale County. I have always found you to be a person of integrity, credibility and a person who serves well. I am not disappointed that since you were appointed as the Cabinet Secretary, you have very quietly, and very slowly been figuring out what the issues are. So, I thank you for maintaining that kind of dignity in your office. The Cabinet Secretary may not know, but when the President came to Kisii County, it was a very interesting debate. One of the announcements that came was that the local leadership was trying to ask him what to do with the soapstone material that is available in the County at a place called South Mugirango Tabaka. The President was suggesting that the soapstone should not be mined out of Kisii County. He recommended that whoever is interested in that soapstone bring in the equipment and the machinery so that we can process the materials from the ground. That would create value addition and make sure that the people of Kisii County benefit from this soapstone. In Kisii Count, the Chinese companies are now collecting the soapstone and shipping it to China and that is sad for us. I wanted to ask whether the Cabinet Secretary can follow up on this matter, since it was a Presidential Directive, and find out why we are still mining our soapstone. Soapstone is only available in Kisii County and Brazil. It t is an important stone. Many people are now beginning to realize that that is a unique stone because what the Chinese are doing is taking it to China, hardening it and selling it to Italy and the USA for the very wealthy developers. As an addendum---

You have an opportunity just for one supplementary question.

Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I know, but this is just an addendum. I suggest that if there is anything that the Cabinet Secretary would have done for our country, please, do spatial planning on where all our minerals are. Do an audit for that so that if an investor wants to come, for example, to Kisii County, and they want a soapstone, they can just get online, know what it is, and you give the conditions and terms on how they engage.

congratulations on the excellent work you are doing. We hope that our people will benefit from whatever you are doing.

Let me get just in one minute, one supplementary question from Sen. Gataya Mo Fire, then that Cabinet Secretary will combine and answer them all. Sen. Cherarkey will close that chapter with his supplementary question.

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Asante Bw. Naibu Spika. Ningependa kutoa shukrani zangu za dhati kwa Waziri kwa sababu amedhihirisha ufasaha na ustadi wa hali ya juu katika Wizara yake. Vile vile kwa maswali ya ziada ambayo yamemjia kabla ya kujitayarisha. Ameonyesha ya kwamba ana ustadi wa kutosha. Waziri unakumbuka hivi kwamba miezi sita iliyopita, ulisafiri mpaka Kaunti ya Tharaka-Nithi. Nimesikia ukitaja pahali panapoitwa Kithiori. Isipokuwa umeitaja kujuuju, ulisafiri mpaka mahali panapoitwa Maragwa iliyoko Tharaka North. Vile vile ukasafiri mpaka Kithiori ambayo ina historia ndefu sana ya madini. Watu wa Kaunti ya Tharaka-Nithi mpaka sasa hivi, hawajapata ripoti kuhusu safari yako ni nini mliona na ni nini mmepanga kufanyia watu wa Tharaka Nithi. Bw. Waziri, eleza kama madini haya yana umuhimu wowote wa kiuchumi na ni mikakati gani ambayo watu wa Kaunti ya Tharaka Nithi wana arajia kuona? Juzi kumekuwa na walaghai ambao walikuja bila idhini ya viongozi wa kisiasa na walifurushwa. Waziri, watu wa Kaunti ya Tharaka-Nithi wangependa kujua Wizara yako inafanya juhudi gani kuhakikisha madini yaliyoko kwenye sehemu za Kithiori, Maragwa na mahali pengine kwenye kaunti hii inawafaidi.

Vile, Wizara inafanya juhudi gani kuhakikisha kwamba, walaghai, matajiri, mabwenyenye wanaopora watu na kuchimba madini huku wakiacha watu wakiwa na umaskini wanachukuliwa hatua? Toa taarifa kamili kuhusu juhudi Wizara inafanya kuhakikisha kwamba madini haya yanafaidi watu wa Kaunti ya Tharaka Nithi, na walaghai walioko watachukuliwa hatua gani?

Sen. Cherarkey, proceed.

Bi, Spika wa Muda, namshukuru Waziri kwa kutoa taarifa kuhusiana na suala la dhahabu kule Kerebe. Sifahamu kama Waziri anajua kuwa Kaunti ya Nandi inatoa kiwango zaidi cha dhahabu nchini kuliko Kaunti zingine.

Waziri anafahamu kuwa kulikuwa na familia zilizokuwa na tatizo na wawekezaji kwenye eneo la Chemase? Sifahamu mbona Waziri hakuangazia jambo hili. Familia hizi zilikuwa na shida kutokana na wawekezaji hawa waliochukua mashamba yao wakiwa na malengo ya kuchimba migodi ya dhahabu kule Chemilil/Chemase. Kule Kaborogin eneo Bunge la Aldai, ni juhudi gani umefanya kuhakikisha familia hizi zimepata ridhaa kwa kutoa mashamba yao?

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Kuna kesi kadhaa zilizoko mahakamani, kuhusiana na malalamishi ya Shamba ambayo Kiongozi wa walio Wengi alikuwa amegusia. Wawekezaji wakora wanatumia ujanja kuhakikisha wameandika taarifa ambazo hunufaisha wawekezaji hawa na hapo baadaye familia hizi hazipati haki. Ingawa taarifa ya Waziri ni kutoka mwaka wa 2021, aangazie shida ambazo familia zinapitia kwenye maeneo ya Nandi.

Thank you. We will have the Cabinet Secretary respond to those. Sen. Miraj, you can then prepare for your question.

Thank you. We will move on to Sen. Miraj’s Questions.

Thank you, Madam Temporary, Speaker. My Question to the Cabinet Secretary is– (a) What progress has the Ministry made in the development of policy and legal framework for Blue Economy in Kenya?

Sen. Miraj, you can ask all your questions.

Thank you, Madam Temporary, Speaker. (b)Could the Cabinet Secretary provide details on the disbursement of the Kshs1 billion under the “Investing in Women in the Blue Economy in Kenya Project” (IIW- BEK) by the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) funded by the Department of Global Affairs, Canada (GAC) and also indicate the number of women-led firms that have benefited under this programme? (c) Could the Cabinet Secretary also clarify if the Ministry has a policy on women in the Blue Economy space, considering that they contribute up to 60 per cent of the labour force in the fisheries sector? I thank you.

Cabinet Secretary.

Thank you. Sen. Miraj, you have an opportunity for a maximum of two more supplementary questions. You may have that now if you so wish.

Madam Temporary Speaker, I will allow my fellow Members to ask and then I will conclude.

Very well. Sen. (Prof.) Kamar.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I will start by thanking the Cabinet Secretary for articulating the answers and congratulate him on the plans he has because it is said that if you do not plan, you plan to fail. The detailed plans he has for the two sectors are very impressive. I also want to say without doubt that we expect that the investment in women to be a success story. He is among the first governors to hand over his seat to his deputy, not just a deputy, but a woman deputy and we congratulate him for that.

Congratulations Waziri and we know that he is not intimidated by women or any other person, and he plans and helps people. The one question I have and which cuts across both sectors in his Ministry is on the human resource preparedness. Once upon a time, I was an Assistant to Hon. Michuki and we encountered a challenge. We were mining and the questions being raised today were raised then. You would give someone an opportunity to explore, and an exploration of 21 years is not without a plan by crooked miners. This is because they knew more than we knew. Someone tells you they are taking coal and they take something else. How are we doing in the human resource? Do we have enough human resource that can cover the sector of the blue economy as well as the mining sector? Do we have experts who can distinguish the green precious stones found in Taita Taveta because we are told, one green is different from another green and yet, they are almost the same? Madam Temporary Speaker, if we do, how is the Ministry planning to sustain that human resource capacity so that Kenyans at any exit or entry point can identify the

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concerned international miners? I also hope that the Ministry is planning on value addition as a goal for this country. With that, I believe that this country can be run by the minerals sector the way hon. Michuki dreamt, but he passed on before he did it. I also believe that this Cabinet Secretary will do it.

Sen. Mungatana.

Asante, Bi. Spika wa Muda. Swali langu linahusu uchumi samawati, chini ya ile programme ya Waziri ya Kenya Marine Fisheries Economic Socio-Development Project (KEMFSED). Kwanza, nashukuru Waziri kwa kazi anayoifanya kwa sababu sisi tumeikubali na Wakenya wameikubali pia. Waziri alikuja kwetu Tana River na ukatueleza kwamba kuna vijana wanaotakikana kwenda wakafanyiwe masomo ya coxswain. Alisema utawalipia haya masomo na kweli, vijana 12 kutoka Kipini walienda. Saa hizi wako Kisumu. Katika makubaliano, ilikua kila siku wanalipwa Kshs4,000 ili wapate mahali pa kulala, nauli na chakula. Siku 30 zimepita na kukawa sawa maanake waliambiwa, masomo yatakua siku 45. Lakini, zile siku 15, Kizungu, Kiingereza na Kichina vikaingia sasa. Wanaambiwa eti sasa pesa ni Kshs1,000. Bi. Spika wa Muda, vile ninavyoongea na Bw. Waziri, jana, vijana wangu 12 walikataa kwenda masomoni kwa sababu hakuna nauli, chakula na mahali pa kulala ni shida pia. Je, Bw. Waziri anaangalia haya? Kuna wizi unaendelea kwa program yake nzuri ambayo ameianzisha. Ningetaka atwambie hii mipango ya kuambiwa ni Kshs4,000 halafu inageuzwa inakua Kshs1,000 ni kweli, ni sawa na ni haki? Mtu ataishi hivyo namna gani? Ninaomba Bw. Waziri akitoka hapa, afute kazi mtu kule Tana River kwa Fisheries, maanake ni lazima watu waonyeshwe ya kwamba, hatutaki wizi, ufisadi na utapeli kwa wananchi wa kawaida. Watoto wadogo wanaenda kutafta elimu ili wasaidike halafu inakuwa namna hii. Swali langu ni, je, ni hatua gani atachukua kusaidia watoto wetu wa Kipini, Tana River?

Sen. Boy Issa Juma.

Asante, Bi. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa fursa hii. Natoa shukrani kubwa kwa Waziri wetu wa Madini. Kuna viongozi wengi hapa wana hamu ya kusikia na kama Seneta wa Jimbo la Kaunti ya Kwale nitagusia ile madini yanayochimbwa na Base Titanium. Hili shirika liko karibu kufunga na kuondoka katika ile migodi wanayochimba kule Kwale. La kwanza nikutoa shukrani kubwa kwa Waziri kwa sababu wiki iliyopita, tulikua pamoja naye Kwale na mdogo wake na viongozi wengine katika Wizara yake. Kulikua pia na Wabunge, Maseneta na Viongozi wa Wadi kutoka Kwale. Namshukuru pia kwa kuzindua kamati ya Coast Mining Committee ambayo mimi kama Seneta wa Kwale natoa shukrani kwa kuchagua hii Kamati. Hii Kamati imejumuisha viongozi kutoka serikali ya kaunti ya Kwale. Sisi viongozi tulio na nadhifa za ubunge, seneta na madiwani tumepewa fursa ya kuweka watu kwa ile Kamati.

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Saa hii tuko na changamoto nyingi kuhusu mambo ya Base Titanium, lakini naomba kama tungepata mwekezaji mwengine aendelee na huu mradi kwa sababu kuna watu wetu ambao karibu watoe Kshs1,600 ambao wanafanya kazi katika ule mgodi. Kwa hivyo, natoa shukrani kwa niaba ya watu wa Kwale kwa sababu ulikuja kuzindua hiyo kamati ya post-mining . Tutakuunga mkono pamoja na kamati yako ili mtembee katika Kaunti ya Kwale kusikiliza wananchi wanasema nini kuhusu hii ardhi iliyochimbwa na madini. Asante sana, Waziri.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may now respond to those ones.

Thank you. We have more Senators; I request that you ask your questions quickly, so that we give everybody a chance. Sen. Munyi Mundigi, proceed.

Asante, Bi. Spika wa Muda. Waziri, kuna wakati ulitembea Embu. Ulienda Mbeere South kwa mlima unaoitwa Kiangongoro na ukapata dhahabu ambayo inaweza kusaidia economy ya Embu County. Pia, uliongea mambo mazuri sana ya kusaidia Wambeere ambao wanaishi kwa huo mlima na tulifurahia sana. Vile uliona, hiyo area imewachwa nyuma kwa maendeleo. Pia, tulifurahia kwa sababu katika bajeti ya Kenya, upande wa dhahabu, ulipea Kaunti ya Embu Kshs2 milioni ambayo ni pesa kidogo sana. Kwa bajeti inayokuja, unatupangia nini watu wa Embu ili pia sisi tufurahie hiyo pesa ya dhahabu? Pili, nakuomba wakati utakuwa ukitembea kwa kaunti, uwe unahusisha Maseneta. Mimi ni Vice-Chairperson, Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. Lakini, uliwacha vita kwa wale wako kijijini. Walibaki wakiuliza kwa nini sikuonekana ilhali mimi ni mtetezi wa watu wa Kaunti ya Embu; Wambeere na Waembu. Naomba wakati unatembea kwa Kaunti, ufanye kazi na Maseneta. Hawatakuangusha---

Sen. Munyi Mundigi, please, hurry up.

Ninataka kusaidia Waziri hata kama namuuliza swali. Wale Wabunge utapata kule chini watakupotosha lakini hakuna wakati Maseneta watakupotosha. Kwa hivyo, swali langu ni, je, watu wa Embu watafaidika aje na pesa mfukoni? Pia, umetuongezea pesa ngapi kwa hii bajeti inayo kuja? Kama hujatuongeza, unafanya nini ili watu wa Embu na Mbeere wa benefit na dhahabu mnayo pata?

Sen. Ogola, I suggest you do it quickly, so that we give others a change.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I thank Sen. Miraj for the question on the disbursement of the Kshs1 billion under the Investing in Women Under the Blue Economy in Kenya project. At the implementation, the Cabinet Secretary has reported that it is at the Coast and Lake Victoria Regions.

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Cabinet Secretary, although you stated that it is largely under the private sector, of course with your guidance as a Ministry, I am interested in knowing who have accessed this funding in Homa Bay County, in particular and the nature of the work. Secondly, I call upon the Cabinet Secretary because we are not doing so well around the Lake Victoria on marine studies. That would really be a solution to the unemployment situation in the country. You should be working hand in hand with the Ministry of Education, so that our institutions are at least geared towards marine courses.

Thank you. Proceed, Sen. Veronica.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, I join my colleagues in complimenting you for taking up your docket very well. Being born in a coastal county, it is important to acquaint yourself with good performance, so keep going. My question is a follow-up question to the one asked by Sen. Miraj on the investment in women in the blue economy in the Kenya project. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you know how public resources are utilised when such a grant is directed towards affirming a vulnerable group and how watchful you need to be when that fund is being rolled out. Have you considered giving these opportunities to other counties that have internal water bodies like rivers? We have many counties like Muranga, Kirinyaga and Turkana that have big rivers, which they can also utilise within the blue economy concept. In the utilisation of this fund, how are you using it to enhance the safety and security of women and eliminate the notorious concept of fish for sex within the counties that are bordering Lake Victoria especially, where the fisher folk have to almost sell themselves in order to get fish? Hon. Cabinet Secretary, according to the African Union (AU)---

Sen. Maina, you are entitled to one question.

Yes, the other one is very short and crucial. Given the flooding we have experienced, there are some young men within certain counties where there were flood issues---

Sen. Maina, you know the rule. That is the third question.

No, this is just about the flood issue. The young men who were trying to rescue people saved lives, yet they do not have the skills. In that programme you have for training coxswains, would you consider taking the ones who have saved and rescued lives to teach them on flotation skills and how they could help the communities within which they are living in? We must upskill our young men and those who call themselves divers yet they have not been given the advantage of that skill. They are the ones risking their lives to save other Kenyan lives. Would you consider taking especially the ones who participated in saving the flood victims? Can the counties give you the names so that you train them?

Senator Chute, please restrict yourself to one supplementary question.

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Asante Bi. Spika. Kwanza nachukuwa nafasi hii kumshukuru Waziri na Principal Secretary (PS) wake. Tulikuwa na shida ya mining Moyale, tukapiga simu na tukawapata. Tunawapa shukrani kubwa sana. Bi Spika wa Muda, kuna migodi Moyale inayoitwa Hilo. Inasaidia watu 5,000. Hivi majuzi hiyo migodi imefungwa kwa sababu ya watu kupoteza maisha yao. Ningependa kujua kutoka kwa Waziri; ni hatua gani anachukua kwa sasa kwa sababu watu wanaoishi Moyale, Marsabit na Isiolo wanategemea hiyo migodi. Ni kweli watu walifariki pale na ikafungwa? Ni hatua gani unachukua? Hawa watu wa migodi wamekubaliana wakaketi na kutengeneza cooperatives ya kufanya hiyo kazi kwa njia inayokubalika kisheria. Waziri atueleze ni lini ataketi na hao watu ambao wametengeneza cooperative ili tupate nafasi kama viongozi pia tuketin nao. Waletwe pamoja ndio hiyo sheria ya kufanya hiyo kazi iende katika njia inayotakikana.

Sen. Orwoba?

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I will be quick. Waziri, the Indian Ocean has a huge economic value. A lot of activities are happening there. However, there are a myriad of issues. We have security issues there; we have illegal and unregulated fishing activities and organized crimes. So, I want to know what your Ministry is doing to ensure that the environment for operating a business is safe and what threats the business people in the blue economy are facing. What is your Ministry doing in that sense?

Sen. Murango?

Asante sana Bi. Spika wa Muda. Yangu yatakuwa ni maoni nikiongea kama Mwenyekiti wa Kamati ya Ukulima, Uvuvi, Mifugo na Uchumi Samawati. Kati ya maswali ambayo yanaulizwa hapa kama Kamati tungeweza kujibu. Kwa hivyo, ningetaka niseme kama Mwenyekiti kwamba nasikitika kidogo kwa sababu mialiko ambayo tumekuwa tukifanya sikuona Katibu wa Kudumu Katika Wizara ya Uchumi Samawati. Ningeomba, tunapoitana tena waje kwa sababu katika shughuli muhimu na maswali yanayoulizwa na Seneti ambayo ni muhimu, tumeshindwa kujibu kwa wakati tunaopewa kwa mujibu wa sheria na Kanuni za Kudumu za Seneti kwa sababu ya kukosa kuwajibika na kuwaona katika Kamati ya Ukulima. Hilo nimeongea kwa kusikitika lakini tunaunga mkono, na asante kwa kazi nzuri wanayoendelea kufanya. Asante.

Sen. Miraj?

Asante Bi. Spika wa Muda. Kwanza nampongeza Waziri kwa kufika kwa wakati. Niliuliza maswali haya wiki tatu zilizopita japo yanapaswa kujibiwa kwa muda wa wiki mbili. Waziri ameweza kuyajibu kwa wakati. Ningependa kuwajulisha wakaazi wanaoniangalia kutoka mwambao wa Pwani wa gatuzi sita kwamba sisi tunaoishi katika gatuzi hizi, tunaishi katika maisha ya uchochole.

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Nazungumza hivi nikigongelea msumari mazungumzo ya Sen. Boni Khalwale. Tuko na wafanyibiashara wengi kuanzia Vanga hadi Kiunga. Tunapovuka kivuko cha Likoni, kuna wamama wengi pale wanauza samaki. Sen. Veronica alipokuwa anaongea, amezungumza yale yaliyokuwa moyoni mwangu. Nimezungumzia maswala ya wanawake kwa sababu, mahali popote panapo zungumziwa kijana mwanamke ama mtu yoyote yule anayeishi na ulemavu, huwa kunaingia firfinyange. Hadi wa leo wale wanawake wanaojihusisha na biashara ya kuuza samaki yaani wale wachuuzi wanaopika, kukaranga na kuuza rejareja. Pamoja na wale wengine ambao wako kando pale Likoni katika kivuko. Hawajafaidika na mradi wa aina yoyote katika Wizara ya Uchumi Samawati. Waziri nakuomba na nimekuita hapa kwa sababu moja. Kesho utakapoondoka katika hicho kiti, watu wa Pwani wasiseme mtoto wetu alikuwa amekaa hapo na hakutusaidia. Ndiposa nikakuuliza je, kuna sheria inayokuzuia wewe kutokusaidia jamii ya Wapwani ambao wanazingatia sana na kutarajia uvuvi kama uti wa mgongo? Sisi hatuna mashamba mengine ---

Sen. Miraj, in the interest of time ---

Naomba nizungumze tu tafadhali. Shamba letu kubwa ni Bahari yetu. Naomba ikiwa kuna sheria ambayo inakutatiza, niko hapa, yuko Sen. Boy pale na wako wengine katika Bunge. Ninashukuru Rais William Samoei Ruto kwa hadhi aliyokuwa anaazimia akinitoa mimi kwa kuuza viazi na kunileta hapa Seneti. Hivi, yule aliye chini aweze kuja juu kwa sababu ilikuwa ruwaza ya Rais kuona “mahustler” wakiwa wamepata hadhi katika maeneo wanayofanyia biashara zao. Asante, Bi. Spika wa Muda na asante, Bw. Waziri. Hongera sana kwa kufika.

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, your time is limited but, please, proceed and do your best.

Asanteni sana kwa sababu ya maswali mengi ambayo yameulizwa. Mengine yalifungamana na madini na mengine yana ufungamano ya Uchumi Samawati. Kama vile nimezungumza hapo mbeleni, nitayajibu vile yalivyoulizwa. Kwa sababu kama tungekuwa tumeangalia lile swali ambalo liliulizwa na Sen. Miraji peke yake, hatungekuwa na nafasi ya kuwa na upeo na ufasaha wa kuyaangalia maswala haya. Kuna swali lililoulizwa na Sen. Munyi Mundigi, Seneta wa Jimbo la Embu kuhusu madini yaliyoko kaunti hiyo. Tumetembea sehemu ile na tumegundua madini ya Coltan ambayo yanatumika kutengeneza vyombo vya mawasiliano kama vile simu na

. Madini ya Coltan ni mchanganyiko wa Columbite na Tantalite na ndiposa tulipoyatangaza, ni madini ambayo tunataka yaongeze uekezaji katika sehemu za Kaunti ya Embu na sehemu zingine. Mheshimiwa amesema kwamba wakati ule mwingine asili mia ishirini ya mgao ilikuwa Kshs2 milioni kwa sababu hakukuwa na waekezaji ambao wanalipa. Ukiangalia ile Kshs2.6 bilioni ambayo tumegawa kwa kaunti 32, kwa zile kaunti ambazo zilikuwa na

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waekezaji ambao walikuwa wanafuata sheria na kulipa, pia kima chao kimeweza kuwa kikubwa. Ndiyo maama sasa hivi tumesema kwamba tuweze kuingia mashinani na maafisa wetu kuona kwamba kila muwekezaji aweze kulipa. Hapo Kaunti ya Embu, tayari tumetuma maafisa zaidi, tumewatumia gari na tutatengeneza maabara ama testing and sampling labs in Embu County, so that you canhave easier testing. This testing can be converted into investments and incomes.

Kwa kifupi tu, ningependa kujibu swali hilo and also to go to what Sen. Ogola

Hon. Cabinet Secretary, can I interrupt just for a few seconds, so that I make an announcement? You can have your seat. Hon. Senators, pursuant to Standing Order No.34 (2)(a), I wish to extend the Sitting of the Senate for 15 minutes, to expedite the remainder of the business and for the Cabinet Secretary to finish responding to the questions We will also expedite Order No.9, on the Adoption of the Progress Report on the

Committee on the Compensation of the Kenyan Victims of the 1998 Bombing of the United States of America Embassy in Nairobi. Hon. Cabinet Secretary, you may proceed.

We are cognizant of the fact that marine and blue economy, even in terms of training, may not have received adequate attention may not have received adequate attention previously. However, on the realization that the blue economy is a critical pillar of our economy, we are also making deliberate efforts to work with institutions of higher learning to ensure that we have experts and professionals in this sector. For example, I am aware that the Technical University of Mombasa will be initiating courses on marine and blue economy. We also have a project in Kabonyo

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Kanyagwal, where we will develop a center of excellence for aquaculture. This will initially cost Kshs1 billion, and we will then add Kshs1.5 billion to the project. We are in a partnership with Tom Mboya University as the institution that will participate actively in this project. When you look at the entire maritime area, we have found international partnerships so that Kenya can benefit from the experience and lessons of other countries. We have several Memoranda Understanding (MOUs) on capacity building that we have signed with Indonesia and many other countries to bring their experiences to Kenya. Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) has been critical in research. We have agreed that we need to convert research into action. In many areas where research has been done, there is a gap in implementation. We also augment research and implementation, which is coming up well. I assure the House that we are aware as we go forward. If you want to be a marine engineer today, you will have a challenge. We have made efforts to ensure that we augment this sector with new initiatives that will also benefit from technology. More importantly, last December, Kenya was voted a Member of the International Maritime Organisation. This not a small profile. We already have a grant of Kshs336 million being managed by the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to look at technology issues in the sector. So, we are very much on board. The other issue I want to respond to is what Sen. Veronica Maina has put before the House. Apart from the Kshs1 billion fund we are administering in the coast and Lake Victoria, next week we are working with our partners, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and we are launching another Kshs1 billion fund for aquaculture in Mount Kenya region so that we can have investors in this region. Those at the bottom of the pyramid will benefit from this grant. Next week, we will launch the Kshs1 billion fund for aquaculture, focusing on other regions away from Lake Victoria and the Indian Ocean. The other part of the question relates to safety issues. It is true that when you visit the blue economy areas of Lake Victoria, Lake Baringo, Lake Turkana, and the Indian Ocean, you will find young and old people who may not have acquired formal education. They do not have a degree in coxswain or anything, but they have a lot of skills which include diving, coxswainship, navigation and many others. When we were talking about Hidaya, they were already telling us how the ocean behaves. We have a lot of skills that people have acquired over the years. That is why His Excellency directed that the first batch of coxswains be trained not by considering any level of education, but the level of skills. That process is ongoing. As I said, we were given a target of 2,000. We have done 5,410 and we commit to also train coxswains in Lake Baringo, Lake Naivasha and all other lakes in our country, so that we bring to speed those who are already in the sector and then thereafter we can upgrade the training to cover other people. I am also cognizant of the fact that in the Blue Economy Sector and fisheries in particular, sometimes we have people who also take advantage, molest, intimidate women and do all sorts of things. I want to assure you that all the strategies, policies, and

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regulations that I have put forward before this House have also created an enabling environment that will protect women. Later this year, we will have a whole conference with the Common Market of East and South Africa (COMESA) and other countries to discuss this matter in great detail, so that we can also get much more commitment to the protection of women. Sen. Chute from Marsabit, thank you very much. We indeed closed the Dabel. Bi. Spika wa Muda, naona hii swali imeulizwa kwa Kiswahili na wakati mwingine hii sekta yangu inakosa misamiati. Tulifunga Dabel sehemu ya Marsabit kwa sababu kulikuwa na mambo mengi ya uchimbaji migodi bila leseni kwa hivyo tukafunga. Hivi sasa tayari tumesajili vyama vya ushirika sita kwa sababu nia yetu ni kwamba wananchi wa kawaida wakiwa kwa vyama vya ushirika, wataweza kuwa na nafasi pia ya uchimbaji migodi pamoja na wale waekezaji wakubwa. Wakati huu tuko kati shughuli hiyo na tumewasajili. Tutatembea tena twende tuangalie hiyo sehemu ndio tutengee sehemu ya ushirika na uwekezaji mkubwa. Hizi ni shughuli ambazo tutazifanya tukishirikiana na nyinyi kama viongozi na sekta zingine za serikali kuhakisha pia kuna usalama wa kutosha. Kwa hivyo, hili ni jambo ambalo tunalitilia maanani na tunataka kuendelea kuhakisha tumeweza kuwa wabunifu katika sekta hii, na pia wananchi wa kawaida ambao wamekuwa wachimbaji migodi waweze kufaidika. Jambo lingine muhimu ni usalama haswa katika ufuo wa bahari ambayo pia imeguziwa. Katika mambo ya usalama tunafanya kazi na vitengo vya usalama, CoastGuard na vitengo vingine vya jeshi letu kuhakisha kwamba Bara Hindi iko salama. Hii ndio maana mwanzo wa mwaka jana Bara Hindi iliweza kutolewa katika ile hesabu ya zile fuo za bahari ambazo ni hatari na ikasemekana sasa iko na usalama wa kutosha. Kwa hivyo, ni jambo ambalo tumechukulia maanani na tunatangazia kila mtu ya kwamba, Indian Ocean iko salama. Hii ni kwa sababu hapo Indian Ocean, mbali na kwamba tuna jeshi letu, Coast Guard na vifaa muhimu tumepata ambavyo vimegharimu Kshs3,600,000,000. Bi. Spika wa Muda, pia tuna tugboats mpya ambazo zitazunguka na maafisa wetu ili kutela usalama katika ufuo wa bahari. Pia, tunajenga kituo hapo Mombasa na Ziwa Victoria ya search and rescue . Tutatumia teknologia ili kuhakikisha kwamba tunajua mahali usalama umekosekana. Mwezi wa Disemba, tulishirikiana na vyombo vya usalama ili kuona kwamba tunawanusuru wale mabaharia na wavuvi ambao walikua wamepotea na baadae wakarudi nyumbani. Hii ni kwa sababu ya hivi vifaa ambavyo tumeweka ili kuleta mambo ya usalama. Bi. Spika wa Muda, nachukua nafasi hii kusema kwamba hizi sehemu nyingi za bahari, maziwa na mito, haswa wakati huu wa mafuriko, ni muhimu watu wawe waangalifu. Tumeona sehemu nyingi kama Baringo mahali kuna boti ilikua na watu wengi zaidi ya kipimo. Kwa hivyo, wananchi wajihadhari.

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Mwisho kabisa kwa swali limeulizwa na Sen. Miraj na amezungumza moyo wake safi kwa ufasaha kuhusu vile kina mama wanashiriki kwa biashara ya samaki na uchumi samawati. Mbali na hii bilioni moja ambayo tumezungumzia inaangaliwa na sekta ya kibinafsi, kuna mradi mwingine tunashirikiana na Benki ya Dunia na ruzuku zingine zinavyofaidi vikundi vingine. Bi. Spika wa Muda, Mheshimiwa Rais mwaka jana alipeana Kshs320,000,000 na baadae akapeana Kshs700,000,000 na hivi sasa tuko na Kshs1,200,000,000 ambayo iko tayari kwa akaunti zile. Tunatakiwa tufanye kazi na kaunti. Wananchi wanatakikana watume maombi kwa kaunti, watuletee yale maombi wamepitisha ili tuyaangalie hapa, tuwaandikie cheki na tuwatumie pesa ya kufanya biashara yao. Hii ni nafasi nzuri ya kuhimiza kushirikiana vizuri ili tuhakikishe wengi wamefaidi. Kwa muda huu ambao tumefanya kazi na nyinyi, kumekua na uwazi na kwa hivyo, tunataka kwendelea kushirikiana na wale mama wa samaki ili waweze kufaidika na yale yote tunayapangia. Bi. Spika wa Muda, kwa hayo mengi na kwa sababu ya muda, nitakomea hapo. Nitasema pia kikao kama hiki ni kizuri. Nimeona yule Seneta ameuliza mambo ya katibu na Katibu wa Blue Economy ako hapa na anapitakana wakati wote, na kama kuna habari zinatakikana kuelezana, hata mimi nitafika kuwaeleza. Mungu awabariki na asanteni sana.

Thank you, hon. Cabinet Secretary. You may take your leave.

The next Order shall be deferred.

Sen. Kavindu, it is time to rise. Serjeant-at-Arms, you can hold on a little. We will allow you to read the Motion and then we adjourn.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. Will it be seconded?

No, it will not be seconded, but it will continue later.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker. I beg to move the following Motion:- THAT, the Senate adopts the progress report of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the compensation to the Kenyan victims of the 1998 bombing of the United States of America Embassy in Nairobi, laid on the Table of the Senate on Thursday, 2nd May, 2024. The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the compensation of the Kenyan victims of 1998 of the US Embassy was established on 29th June, 2023, but it held its first meeting

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on 18th July. The Committee was able to meet with victims of the bomb blast tragedy, their lawyers---

Sen. Kavindu, we will adjourn, and you will have 18 minutes when we resume.

Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Senators, it is now 1.15 p.m., and having concluded the business for which I extended the hours of Sitting pursuant to Standing Order No. 34(2) (a), the Senate stands adjourned until today, Wednesday, 15th May, 2024, at 2.30 p.m.

The Senate rose at 1.15 p.m.

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