No show: Senate adjourns as three Cabinet Secretaries left waiting

National Assembly and Senate buildings. [File Courtesy, Standard The Senate was on Wednesday forced to adjourn its morning sitting in which three Cabinet Secretaries were scheduled to respond to questions from Senators, due to lack of quorum. Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei, who chaired the session as Temporary Speaker, adjourned the sitting after the House failed to meet the minimum quorum of 15 members out of the total 67. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, Defence CS Soipan Tuya, and Tourism and Wildlife CS Rebecca Miano were scheduled to appear before the Senate to respond to various queries, and will likely do so next Wednesday. The session, which began at 9:30 a.m., was called off shortly before 10:00 a.m., with only 12 Senators present. Sigei ruled that the Senate would reconvene at 2:30 p.m. to transact the business listed on the Order Paper. "There being no requisite quorum of 15 Senators to conduct the business of the Senate this Wednesday morning, and the quorum bell having been rung, this House stands adjourned until 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2025," ruled Sigei. Among the Senators present during the brief morning session were Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi, Issa Boy (Kwale), Alexander Mundigi (Embu), Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), Wafula Wakoli (Bungoma), and Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu). Others included Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Julius Murgor (West Pokot), Eddie Oketch (Migori), Catherine Mumma (Nominated), and Betty Syengo (Nominated). Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu was expected to ask CS Ogamba to explain the interventions the Ministry of Education is implementing to address a looming crisis caused by a Sh43.4 billion budget shortfall. She also sought clarity on measures to ensure continuity of key programmes such as capitation and national examinations. Nyamu intended to question the progress of the construction of 18,000 Grade 9 classrooms nationwide-specifically in Nairobi-and the Ministry's plans to mitigate classroom shortages countrywide. She also sought responses on how the Ministry is handling teacher shortages and delayed recruitment, especially in underserved areas, and the strategies in place to support learners with disabilities. In addition, Nyamu planned to question the enforcement of Section 10(1)(b) of the Kenya National Examinations Council Act, which prohibits schools from withholding KCPE and KCSE certificates due to unpaid fees. Murang'a Senator Joe Nyutu was expected to press CS Ogamba on why Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers were being assigned subjects outside their areas of specialization, citing concerns over instructional quality and student preparedness. He also sought clarification on measures to ease workloads for JSS teachers, some of whom are forced to also teach in primary school despite high demands in the JSS curriculum. "Could the Cabinet Secretary indicate how many practical learning facilities-such as science and ICT labs and workshops-have been constructed or equipped for JSS, and how practical components are being delivered in schools without such infrastructure?" asked Nyutu. Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya was expected to raise concerns about the poor condition of amenities in many public schools, and asked what alternatives the Ministry is pursuing beyond reliance on the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) to improve infrastructure. Nominated Senator Joyce Korir planned to ask CS Miano for an update on the tourism sector and the current trend in domestic and international tourist arrivals. She also sought clarification on the factors behind the decline in international visitors, particularly in comparison to other East African destinations. Korir wanted to know what strategies the Ministry is deploying to enhance Kenya's global competitiveness in tourism, including collaboration with international airlines, promotion of new tourism products, and the use of digital platforms in marketing. Wajir Senator Abbass Sheikh intended to ask CS Tuya to clarify the whereabouts and condition of Sergeant Abdullahi Issa Ibrahim (Service No. 59510) of the Kenya Army, who went missing during the El-Adde camp attack on January 15, 2016. Sheikh was also expected to raise concerns over the Kenya Defence Forces' issuance of Certificates of Presumption of Death to the families of missing soldiers, in light of recent videos suggesting that some of the officers may still be alive in captivity. "I would like the Cabinet Secretary to explain what psychological, financial, and welfare assistance the Ministry of Defence and the KDF have provided to the families of the missing soldiers since their disappearance," said Sheikh. He also planned to ask what steps have been taken to secure the safe return of the missing officers-including Sergeant Ibrahim and Sergeant Wanyonyi Wasike-and whether diplomatic negotiations or alternative rescue strategies have been considered.

No show: Senate adjourns as three Cabinet Secretaries left waiting

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