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senate
10 July 2025
4h 6m
The Senate Plenary, Thursday 10th July, 2025. Afternoon Session.

The Senate Plenary, Thursday 10th July, 2025. Afternoon Session

The Senate session centered on a heated and far-reaching debate over the branding of public projects with names and images of political leaders, particularly governors and MCAs. Sparked by a petition from Mr. Laban Omusundi, the House discussed the ethical, legal, and financial implications of personalizing taxpayer-funded infrastructure. Omusundi petitioned the Senate to amend the County Governments Act to outlaw such branding and standardize public project signage. Senators unanimously supported the spirit of the petition and expanded the conversation to include governance failures, youth unrest, integrity in leadership, and oversight challenges.

Bills Discussed

  • Social Protection Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 12 of 2025 – Division ongoing
  • Conflict of Interest Bill – Consideration of presidential reservations continued

Topics Discussed

  • Misuse of public resources for personal gain or political branding
  • Personalization of county and national projects through portraits, billboards, and plaques
  • Duplication of government projects across national, county, and donor agencies
  • Oversight failures, especially by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC)
  • Broader reflections on integrity, constitutional values, and political accountability
  • Role of civic petitions and public participation in shaping oversight

Key Takeaways and Decisions

  • Amendment to the County Governments Act was recommended to outlaw branding of public assets with names/images of individuals.
  • The EACC, in collaboration with the Attorney General and Controller of Budget, was tasked to enforce compliance and report back to the Senate within 30 days.
  • Senators called for standardized signage that attributes projects to “the taxpayers of Kenya”.
  • There were strong calls for barring violators from seeking office under Chapter 6 of the Constitution.
  • Several senators urged civic education and active oversight by the public and institutions.

Major Participants

  • Laban Omusundi: Petitioner from Nakuru whose civic work was widely praised.
  • Senator Catherine Muma: Emphasized constitutional violations; called for disqualification of violators from public office.
  • Senator Edwin Sifuna: Fiercely criticized the EACC and personalization of public projects; called for signage to reflect public ownership.
  • Senator Samson Cherargei: Criticized the EACC as ineffective and challenged its ability to tackle county-level corruption.
  • Senator Chute: Supported the petition and highlighted absurd examples like MCAs branding pit latrines.
  • Senator Karen Nyamu: Questioned the value of repeated rebranding and praised the petition's relevance to equity in governance.
  • Senator Murango: Delivered a vivid parable (Simba and Mbweha) warning against naïveté in falling for political theater.
  • Senator Tabitha Mutinda: Urged honest dialogue on youth frustration and law enforcement conduct.
  • Senator Wambua, Senator Sigei, Senator Mariam Omar, and others contributed substantively.

Key Moments

  • EACC Criticism: Multiple senators expressed doubt in EACC’s capacity. Senator Cherargei noted their “highest conviction” was a KES 20,000 bribe.
  • Sifuna vs. Cherargei on Presidential Plaques:
    • Senator Sifuna criticized the President's name appearing on public plaques and billboards, stating that “Your taxes built this” should replace personalized inscriptions.
    • Senator Cherargei objected under Standing Order 101, calling Sifuna’s comments an “obsession with the President” and improper as the President couldn’t defend himself.
    • Speaker Kathuri Murungi intervened, cautioning Sifuna under Standing Order 121, advising him to avoid naming state officers unless via a substantive motion. Sifuna acknowledged the guidance but reiterated the principle of depersonalizing public assets.
  • Committee's Role: The Devolution Committee, led by Senator Abbas and supported by Senators Chute and Muma, was commended for inviting Omusundi and engaging deeply with the petition.
  • Colorful analogies: Senator Murango’s parable likening branded billboards to misleading insecticide packaging (e.g. “Doom” with a mosquito image) drew laughter and applause.

Notable Quotes

  • “A leader should ensure they perform as per the required mandates, not how many billboards they've put.” — Senator Karen Nyamu
  • “When we attach our names to public resources, we compromise public interest for personal gain.” — Senator Catherine Muma
  • “If you want your name on a billboard, use your salary. Not taxpayer money.” — Senator Chute
  • “We should treat putting your name on a public toilet as the same offense as stealing it.” — Senator Sifuna
  • “Some governors have faces so grim they scare children from classrooms when posted at the door.” — Senator Murango

This summary was generated from official YouTube livestreams of the Kenyan Parliament using bunge-bits, an automated transcription and summarization tool.