National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 21 March 2024
Members debated amendments to the Bill, particularly a proposal to require that public memoranda be incorporated into legislation, which was strongly opposed as exceeding constitutional mandates. The discussion also covered the need for seamless information transfer between the two Houses and the appropriate mechanisms for resolving inter‑House disputes, emphasizing internal resolution before resorting to courts. The session began with a quorum call and proceeded with the tabling of the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee report and a motion to adopt it. Members then moved to read the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill a third time, while the Temporary Chairlady tabled numerous clause amendments, prompting points of order and debate over procedural decorum and quorum adequacy. Members debated amendments to the Bill, notably deleting Clause 4 and Clause 9, to improve scrutiny of delegated legislation, remove problematic sunset clauses and update outdated regulations. The discussion was largely supportive, emphasizing rule‑of‑law and resource efficiency, though a brief exchange highlighted procedural tension and a light‑hearted rebuke about crossing the floor. Overall the tone was constructive with mild conflict.
Hon. Members, there is no quorum. I direct that the Quorum Bell be rung for ten minutes.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Members, let us proceed.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:
Chairman of the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee, you have a Paper to table.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Fourth Report of the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee on its consideration of the reports of the Auditor-General on the financial statements of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) account for the Financial Years 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. Thank you, Hon.…
Next order.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Decentralised Funds Accounts
Next Order.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.68 of 2023), be now read a Third Time. I request Hon. Abraham to second.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I second. Is it the mood of the House that we put the question?
[(Question proposed)]
Yes!
[(Question put and agreed to)]
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker. What is your point of order?
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I fear that we are making approvals when the House does not have sufficient quorum. We do not have quorum but we have gone ahead to make serious approvals on those Bills.
[(Loud consultations)]
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Hon. Nyikal, you are becoming popular for being a nuisance and trying to cause trouble in the House. Let us conduct the business of the House with the decorum that the country deserves. Let us proceed.
Chairperson.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Statutory Instruments (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.3 of 2024) , and approved the same with amendments.
Mover. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I request Hon. Faith Gitau to second.
I second.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Putting of the question deferred)]
Chairperson.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Houses of Parliament (Bicameral Relations) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.44 of 2023) , and approved the same with amendments.
Mover.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I also request the Member for Kirinyaga County to second.
There is a point of order from Hon. Osoro.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I had given notice for recommittal. I beg to move that the House agrees with the Committee in the said report, subject to recommittal of clauses 14. I ask Hon. Chepkong’a to second.
I second. Members, if you wish to contribute on this, press the intervention button. If there is none, we shall defer the putting of the question to the next Sitting. Next Order.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Putting of the question deferred)]
Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I beg to move: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Special Funds Accounts
Chairperson, Special Funds Accounts Committee.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move: THAT, this House adopts the Seventh Report of the Special Funds Accounts Committee on its consideration of the Reports of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for the Land Settlements Fund for the Financial Years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 and the Railway Development Fund (Holding Account) for the Financial Years 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020…
Member for Chesumei Constituency.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for having this opportunity that the Chairlady has given me. I stand here to commend her for steering the Committee well. As she has rightfully put it, we do not have quorum hitches. This is because she knows how to chair meetings and take care of her Members. That is why we are always available whenever we have meetings. Hon. Chairlady, continue with that good l…
There seems to be no interest on this Motion and so, I call upon the Mover to reply.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker and all Members even though, you have not contributed. Hon. Temporary Speaker, for that reason, since most Members are out in other committee meetings, I request that you kindly give us another opportunity to debate on the matter.
Hon. Chairlady procedurally, that is not possible. Just reply and we shall put the question at the right time.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I thank you all so much once more. I appreciate all the efforts that have been made by my Committee Members to bring this Report to the House. I want to report that the Special Funds Accounts Committee has 94 Funds which we inquire and oversee. On behalf of myself and that of my team, I want thank all Hon. Members and our support staff. We look forward to bringi…
[(Hon. Kangogo Bowen spoke off the record)]
Hon. Kangogo, you are confusing the Chairlady. She was replying and, under Standing Order 53, we will defer the putting of the question to the next day. Next Order.
[(Putting of the Question deferred)]
(National Assembly Bill No.24 of 2023)
The Leader of the Majority Party. If he is not in the House, we will step it down. Hon. Members, we have exhausted the business for Thursday, 21st March 2024, morning Sitting.
Order, Hon. Members. The time being 12.15 p.m., the House stands adjourned until today Thursday, 21st March 2024 at 2:30