National Assembly · Morning Sitting

Quorum Bell for 10 minutes.

Hon. Murwithania, you are out of order. You cannot withdraw from the Chamber when the Quorum Bell is ringing. Serjeant-at-Arms, we will do another five minutes.

[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]

Hon. Members, we will begin the proceedings of the House. We will start with Papers and, after a while, we shall come back to Order No. 2. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, lay the Papers.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to request a Statement regarding increasing cases of abduction and missing persons in Mathare Constituency. I hasten to say that this has nothing to do with the 25th June demonstrations. I need to make it clear that these are people who have gone missing under unclear circumstances. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I request for a Statement …

regarding the alarming increase in cases of abductions and missing persons in Mathare Constituency. In recent weeks, several residents of Mathare Constituency have reportedly disappeared under unclear circumstances. Among them are Mr Joel Kariuki Mwai, a businessman and former member of county assembly (MCA) aspirant, who was allegedly abducted on 18th June 2026 by armed individuals in civilian cl…

The whereabouts and welfare of Mr Joel Kariuki Mwai, Mr Michael Oloo Osura, Mr Macmilan Kiarie and Mr Abdulaziz Molu alias Zozu. I hasten to add that one of them has since been found as announced on the mainstream media. I am very grateful. We are still pursuing the other three. Whether any unit of the National Police Service (NPS), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) or any other Sta…

Hon. Tongoyo, this Request for Statement is referred to your Committee.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, considering that the House is going on recess tomorrow, I can bring a response on the first Wednesday after we resume from recess. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, I will try and get the response as soon as possible and share it with the Member.

Hon. Mwago, do you want to comment on the same?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I wish to join my colleague and neighbour from Mathare Constituency in seeking a clear Statement from the concerned Committee as abduction cases in Nairobi have increased. Nairobi’s volatile nature has caused protests leading to the death of one person. The youth are still protesting and demanding the release of Zozu and other missing persons. We would like the M…

You have made your point, Hon. Mwago. This was Hon. Oluoch’s Request for Statement. Hon. Tongoyo, yesterday you indicated that your scheduled meeting with the Cabinet Secretary and the security organs did not take off. You can include these issues in the agenda. On this specific matter, you will issue a response in the first week after we resume from recess. However, if you get a response before o…

The next Request for Statement is by Hon. Mwago.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security regarding the status of investigations into perennial fires at Gikomba Market. On 21st June 2026, fire broke out at Gikomba Market, resulting in the deaths of at least two people, injuries to …

Hon. Tongoyo, again, this Request for Statement is referred to your Committee. Also, note that this is not the first time the issue of Gikomba fires has been brought to the House. It is a recurrent issue. As you seek a response, also address the recurrence element of this matter.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, it is also important to note that the management of the market is a shared function. Most markets are run by county governments. The response may require concurrence with the county government on mitigation and long-term solutions.

When will you bring a response?

I will bring a response in the first week after we resume from recess.

Remember that under Article 125 of the Constitution, you can seek a response from anyone, including the county government.

It is very true. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

We will have the response in the first week upon resumption from recess. Let us hear Hon. Mwago.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. To add to what the Chairperson has said, as much as the issue of Gikomba fires falls under the mandate of the county government, it has always been brought to the national Government’s attention. The President even went to Gikomba and addressed it. He once advised that the land should be gazetted and a title deed issued, but that has not been forthcoming.

Hon. Mwago, you have already made your point. I have ruled on when a response should be brought. I have guided the Chairperson on Article 125 of the Constitution, which gives him the ability to summon any person to appear before the Committee to provide information. Also, Article 189 of the Constitution provides for cooperation between the two levels of government. Ensure that you get the response…

[(Hon. Amos Maina spoke off the record)]

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Energy regarding the prolonged delay in the repair and replacement of faulty electricity transformers in Kuresoi South Constituency. Access to reliable electricity is essential for economic development, education, healthcare and …

This is a very thorny issue not just in Kuresoi. Hon. Toroitich, do you want to ride on it?

Yest, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The issue raised by Hon. Tonui cuts across several constituencies. The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) must ensure that their transformers are serviced regularly. They usually take away faulty transformers, but take a very long period of time to replace or repair them. The House must take this issue seriously and compel KPLC to address it with finality.

Thank you. Yes, Hon. Sunkuli.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the Request for Statement is very important, especially the fourth matter that Hon. Tonui raised. The ministry needs to come and address us on the quality of the transformers they install in our urban centres nowadays. Is the placement of posts into the ground being done professionally? Why are they falling down everywhere? Do they lack a mechanism to put them in place? We …

Yes, Hon. Haji.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This very important Statement cuts across almost the whole country. The generator that serves my constituency went faulty. They brought it to Nairobi, kept it for one month, and took it back. After two days, they said the problem had not been rectified. They brought it back to Nairobi again. For the last one week, I am told it is on the way. We take two days from…

Member for Wajir West, you are best placed to start that debate.

Very good. I will start the process.

Hon. Pareyio, we keep it short.

Thank you for allowing me to ride on the issue of transformers. I thought it was happening in my constituency only. We have a problem with transformers. We tell Kenya Power and Lighting Company representatives to install transformers in places where there is security. They install the transformers at places where there is no security and a day later, it is gone. Ordinary people cannot remove a tra…

Hon. Members, let us keep it short. You have made your point, Hon. Agnes. Member for Nyando, I want to bring this matter to a close.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. It is true that we have problems with transformers. Probably, the problem has a direct link with the tendering processes and those who win the tenders to bring transformers into the country. The quality of transformers needs to be checked properly. Unfortunately, there was an inferno early this morning at Ahero Market within Nyando Constituency. Three shops were …

I cannot see the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Energy, Hon. Gikaria. Is the Vice-Chairman or any Member of the Committee present? Hon. Sunkuli actually spoke to the main issue because the quality affects all of us. In fact, Hon. Tonui, I was starting to think it is a Nakuru problem. Just yesterday, I was following up on similar issues affecting Gilgil, Shokereria, Karunga and Kambi-Tur…

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I will relay Members concerns on this serious problem. I am sure the Committee will give it all the attention it deserves. This problem affects most of us in many of our counties. That is what we are experiencing. We should have a serious discussion with Kenya Power and Lighting Company. The Committee should give us a proper response.

I am told there is a Member of the Committee. Do you have something to say, Hon. Odege?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. I just wanted to take the responsibility of reporting back to the Committee. I would also like to inform the House that we had a round of checks on transformers when we realised that there are thousands of faulty transformers dumped somewhere in Ruiru, which is a confirmation that the quality is wanting and we need to look deeper into the supplies. I will consu…

We expect the Statement in the first week on resumption. Hon. Members, be here to interrogate the Statement. If it is not sufficient, we will cause the Cabinet Secretary to appear here to deal with that issue. Next Order.

(National Assembly Bill No. 9 of 2025) (The Bill was read a First Time and referred to the relevant Committee)

[The Temporary Speaker (Hon. Martha Wangari) left the Chair]

[The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari) in the Chair]

(National Assembly Bill No. 3 of 2025) The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Hon. Members, we are in the Committee of the whole House for the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.3 of 2025), sponsored by Hon. Tom Oluoch. Clause 3

Here is a proposed amendment by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education. Hon. Members, I will treat Clause 3 as though it has no amendment because the Mover is not in the House. (The Temporary Chairlady consulted with the Clerk-at-the-Table) Hon. Members, I have been requested to defer these amendments. (The Temporary Chairlady consulted with Hon. Silvanus Osoro and Hon. Antho…

[(The Temporary Chairlady consulted with the Clerk-at-the-Table)]

[(Loud consultations)]

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Chairlady.

[(The House resumed)]

[The Temporary Speaker (Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai) in the Chair]

Committee of the whole House, please, proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the County Governments (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No.25 of 2023) and approved the same with amendments.

Mover of the Bill.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee of the whole House on the said Report. I request Hon. TJ Kajwang’ to second the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the whole House.

I Second.

Thank you very much.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]