National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 18 April 2024
Members debated a Bill aimed at creating a uniform licensing regime across counties to ease the cost of doing business and improve consumer protection, especially regarding alcohol sales near schools. While the majority expressed strong support, concerns were raised about potential constitutional issues, high licence fees, and corruption in the current system. The discussion highlighted the need for electronic licensing, public participation, and alignment with national standards. Members debated the County Licensing (Uniform Procedure) Bill, noting that fragmented county licensing fees and procedures raise business costs and impede trade. They argued the bill would standardise licensing, protect consumers, boost county revenue and create a more favourable environment for investors across Kenya. The sitting began with the laying of several departmental committee reports on the Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation, Administration and Internal Security, and Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. Members raised points of order concerning parliamentary dress code and seating arrangements, interspersed with humor. Hon. Yakub Adow requested a statement on the deteriorating road conditions in Bura following severe flooding, highlighting infrastructure concerns.
Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell. Leader of the Majority Party, how come the most invisible Members on both sides in this House are the Whips?
[(Laughter)]
Leader of the Majority Party.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table:
Thank you. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation, Hon. Bowen.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation on its Consideration of the Senate Amendments to the Water (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.33 of 2023) . Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Thank you. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security. Hon. Raso.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on the Budget Implementation for the Second Quarter of the Financial Year 2023/2024 with respect to:
Vice-Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on its consideration of the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Bill (Senate Bill No.9 of 2022) .
Thank you. Next Order.
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
Yes, Hon. Ngogoyo. Give him the microphone.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Is it in order for Hon. Kaguchia, the Member for Mukurweini, to walk into this House while dressed inappropriately? Hon. Speaker, just recently, you read a very elaborate code of dressing in Bunge. Hon. Kaguchia has rudely walked into this House dressed in a manner that is not Parliamentary. He goes ahead to walk just beside the Bar and rudely interrupts the proceedings of…
elaborate. Is it in order for him to continue to sit in this House?
Hon. Kaguchia, you are improperly dressed. There is no provision for defending yourself.
[(Laughter)]
[(Loud consultations)]
[(Laughter)]
On a point of order.
Yes, Hon. Nguna. What is your point of order?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am used to the Leader of the Minority Party seating in front of me.
Hon. Ruku is seating in a position he is not supposed to. We want a communication on whether his position in Parliament has changed. This seat is meant for the Leader of the Minority Party and not Hon. Ruku. I seek your guidance on this.
[(Laughter)]
Hon. Nguna, you are wailing louder than the bereaved. The owner of the seat is not complaining.
[(Laughter)]
Hon. Yakub Adow.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the deteriorating state of roads within Bura Constituency, Tana River County.
development, rehabilitation, management and maintenance of national roads. In carrying out these functions, KeNHA receives funds as appropriated by the National Assembly. Rehabilitation of roads is expected to be regular, and as and when required due to damages that may arise from time to time. During the El Nino floods in 2023, the heavy rains caused adverse effects on roads leading to road cut o…
Chairperson, Transport and Infrastructure. Hon. GK. Two weeks?
Yes, two weeks will be sufficient?
Hon. Martha Wangari.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock regarding the organic fertiliser (GPC Brand) distributed by the National Cereals and Produce Board to farmers in the country. Hon. Speaker, the Government has been distributing subsidised fertiliser mar…
Thank you. Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. Who is the Vice-Chairperson of that Committee? Or, any Member? Leader of the Majority Party, can you inform your Chairperson to bring a Statement in the next one week in view of the importance of this matter.
Much obliged.
Next. Hon. Timothy Toroitich, the Member for Marakwet West
Honourable 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 National Administration and Internal Security on the remuneration of the National Police Reservists. Hon. Speaker, Section 110 (3) of the National Police Service Act, 2011 provides that the National Police Reserve Officers may be dep…
Thank you, Hon. Timothy. Hon. Raso, that is your Committee. Two weeks?
Two weeks, Hon. Speaker.
On a point of order.
Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. There was an attempt by Hon. Kagucia to intimidate you but when you threw him out, I was surprised that he had his clothes outside the Chamber which appears to be better than mine. We must congratulate him for being of good behaviour. He does not need to pretend that he is still the Speaker of Nyeri County when that came to an end. He now looks very smart and we …
Nobody will be congratulated for doing what is right.
[(Laughter)]
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
Yes, Hon. Irene Mayaka.
Hon. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. I just want to raise a point of concern; that I raised a Statement here to the Departmental Committee on Social Protection on the current status of Anti-FGM on 12th March, and up to date, I have not received any response. So, I am a bit concerned that the Committee has taken longer than it had said it would.
Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Social Protection. Is that Hon. Alice or Hon. Karemba?
Hon. Alice.
Where is Hon. Alice or the Vice-Chairperson? Leader of the Majority Party, instruct the Hon. Chairperson that they should bring the report or the answered Statement by Tuesday afternoon.
Much obliged, Hon. Speaker.
Next. Hon. Rael Kasiwai, the Member for West Pokot County.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock regarding the critical shortage of maize seeds in the North Rift Region. Hon. Speaker, maize is the main staple food in the country, accounting for a significant portion of the country’s G…
Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. Leader of the Majority Party, where is your Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock?
I am surprised by the Chairperson. He is a very diligent Member who is always in the Chamber. There must be something that has held him but I will definitely, inform him about the timelines. Thank you.
Advise him to bring a response to the Statement on Wednesday of next week.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Next Order. Yes, hold on. Get the microphone first. There you are. Go on.
I was supposed to raise a point of order on a Request for Statement under Order No.7. I am surprised you have skipped me.
You are not on my list.
The Table Office advised me.
By who?
The Table Office.
The Table Office advised you, but the Speaker does not have that advice. What was the Statement about?
Very interesting. It was about the national housing fair.
The one I approved for you sometime back.
Exactly. You have even approved this one as well.
I am sorry. It is not on our Orders. Can you furnish a copy to the Clerks- at-the-Table?
You gave this one before I entered the Chamber.
Just take your seat as I check for you. Hon. Omar Mwinyi, are you ready on the Request for Statement?
[(The Speaker consulted the Clerks-at-the-Table)]
I am ready.
Give it to him. Go ahead and do so. They will rectify their records.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise on a point of order pursuant to the provision of Standing Order 83 as a follow-up on a Request for Statement raised under Standing Order 44 (2) (c) .
Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works on 25th October 2023, regarding the management of houses and treatment of tenants at the Changamwe National Housing Corporation (NHC) Estate, which is in my Constituency. In the Request for Statement, I expressed concern that the NHC was mishandling tenants and residents of the NHC Estate, and had failed to provide amenities, inclu…
Where is the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning, and Public Works? Is it Hon. Johana Ng’eno? Hon. Owen, where is your Chairman?
Hon. Speaker, I may not be able to vouch for him.
Can you bring to his attention the concerns of the Hon. Member and ask him to prepare a Response?
Much obliged, Hon. Speaker. I would like to get that Statement so that I send it to him. Thank you. Much obliged.
Thank you. Hold on before the next Order. We have the Thursday Statement by the Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Owen.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. This is a Statement by the Leader of the Majority Party on the business of next week. Pursuant to the Provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(a), I rise to give the following
[(Laughter)]
Thank you, Deputy Majority Leader. Next order.
First Reading
Thank you, Hon. Members. Upon the request of the Leader of the Majority Party, I will rearrange business in a minor manner so that Order No.10 will precede Order No.9 which will follow thereafter. So, call out Order No.10 as the next Order. Second Reading
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