National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 7 November 2024
Members highlighted persistent harassment of Kenyan fishermen by Ugandan forces on Lake Victoria, stressing the economic hardship and unclear lake boundaries. They praised some diplomatic steps and called for regular joint meetings, policing reforms, and decisive action by the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee. The debate combined frustration over unresolved incidents with constructive suggestions for regional cooperation. Members voiced frustration that the afternoon sitting had not progressed to substantive business, prompting a push to move on to the Kenya Roads Board (Amendment) Bill. The debate then focused on reducing the board’s size to comply with the Mwongozo Code of Governance and updating terminology to align with the Constitution. Procedural remarks and a welcome to visiting students were interspersed throughout the discussion. Members expressed strong support for the National Rating Bill, applauding the creation of the Office of the Chief Government Valuer and the inclusion of county assemblies and the Council of Governors in the valuation process. However, concerns were raised about the legal status of the Council of Governors and the extent of national legislation over county matters. The debate highlighted the need for clear structures to improve land valuation services and reduce disputes at the county level.
Hon. Members, there is no quorum. Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell for five minutes. Hon. Members, we now have quorum to transact Business. Serjeant-at-Arms, you may stop the Bell. We may proceed. Clerk-at-the-Table, read out the first Order.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Members, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 41 (4) , I wish to report to the House that I have received a Message from the Senate regarding its decision on the National Assembly’s amendments to the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bill No.19 of 2024) . The Message conveys that, on Wednesday, 23rd October 2024, the Senate considered and rejected the National As…
Hon. Members, Pursuant to Standing Order 41 (1) , I wish to report to the House that on 6th November 2024, I received three (3) Messages from the Senate regarding the passage of one National Assembly Bill and two Senate Bills. The first Message states that on 8th October 2024, the Senate considered and passed the Gambling Control Bill (National Assembly Bill No.70 of 2023) , with amendments. You …
The House is accordingly guided. I thank you. Next Order.
Leader of the Majority Party.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table: Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the year ended 30th June 2024 and the certificates therein in respect of:
Thank you. Next Order.
The first Statement is by the Member for Bumula, Hon. Wamboka.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 259D (2) , I rise with a heavy heart to pay a glowing tribute to the late Hon. Suleiman Kasuti Murunga, former Member of Parliament for Kimilili Constituency, a distinguished statesman and a patriot. The Hon. Suleiman Murunga passed away at the age of 75 on Wednesday, 30th October 2024 after a short illness at the MP Shah Hospital, Nairobi, where he…
He was an active Member of the Health Club and Catering Committee, and also an active debater in the august House. He will be remembered as a champion of his community, particularly in education, providing bursaries to needy students and effectively utilising the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) for development and social justice. As a member of FORD-Kenya, the late H…
Hon. Members, before you give your tributes, allow me to re- arrange the Order Paper to dispense with two urgent matters, and then we will come back to the tributes for Hon. Murunga. Call out Orders Nos.8 and 9, and then we shall come back to the tributes.
Mover.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the Kenya Drugs Authority Bill (National Assembly Bill No.54 of 2022) be now read a Third Time. I sponsored the Kenya Drugs Authority Bill (National Assembly Bill No.54 of 2022) , which was published on 6th October 2022. It went through the First Reading on 3rd May 2023 and was thereafter committed to the Departmental Committee on Health for consideration. …
Hon. Jaldesa, you may proceed.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. On behalf of the Departmental Committee on Health, I beg to second the Third Reading of the Bill. The Kenya Drugs Authority Bill (National Assembly Bill No.54 of 2022) was sponsored by Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose. It is a very important piece of legislation, which will enhance the health and well-being of Kenyans. It will also address emerging challenges that we are fac…
With the Bill, we shall have safe and effective drugs, vaccines and medical devices. As a healthcare professional, I must indicate that the provision of healthcare services for patients cannot be complete, effective and comprehensive if patients cannot access quality, safe and effective medications. This Bill is not only timely but also necessary to ensure that the constitutional right to the hig…
Hon. Jaldesa, are you almost done? You are now debating the Bill all over again. You should just second.
With those remarks, I second the Bill.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the question!
Is it the mood of the House that I put the question?
Yes.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The Bill was accordingly read a Third Time and passed)]
Hon. Members, as mentioned earlier, I have reordered the Order Paper with your permission. Before we return to the tributes regarding the Statement from the Member for Bumula, Hon. Wamboka, we will first have the Statement from the Leader of the Majority Party. After that, we shall revert to Hon. Wamboka’s Statement. Leader of the Majority Party, you may proceed. We understand that you have other …
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for your indulgence. First, allow me to convey my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and relatives of the late Hon. Murunga, with whom I was fortunate to serve in this House during the 11th Parliament. Indeed, he was a great man and a dedicated Member of this House.
Additionally, he was a polished businessman who owned one of the most successful businesses along Kenyatta Avenue—Simmers Restaurant, which I would patronise in my youthful years as a student at the University of Nairobi. I would also like to extend my condolences to the family of the Hon. Opore, the former Member for Bonchari, who has also passed away. Thank you once again for allowing me to re…
On a point of order.
What is your point of order, Hon. Bowen?
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. The Leader of the Majority Party cannot be out of order. However, the Statement he has read…
What is your point of order?
My point is that 95 per cent of those questions touch on roads. That tells you that…
That is a point of information.
Yes, I am on a point of information. The number of questions we have indicates the number of stalled roads in the country. When the Cabinet Secretary comes here, I am sure he will continue to say that the issue is due to lack of resources. The Leader of the Majority Party serves as the link between this House and the Executive. Therefore, there is need to set aside sufficient money to complete the…
Hon. Bowen, you have prosecuted your point of information. The House that is mandated to set aside the money is the National Assembly. In terms of getting a status report on the roads, we already know that the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport is scheduled to be here next week, Wednesday. So, we shall have an opportunity to raise that with him. Allow us to proceed to the next business.
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
What is your point of order, Hon. Mwenje?
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise on Standing Order 38 (2) , which states that the Order Paper shall be published on the Parliamentary Website and shall be made available to Members, at least, twelve hours before the House meets but a Supplementary Order Paper shall be made available, at least, one hour before the House meets. Yesterday, the Leader of the Majority Party mentioned that there were Member…
Hon. Mwenje.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am still on my point of order. When he says that Members are not in the House, he is not aware that…
No, you are prosecuting a matter that was prosecuted yesterday.
[(Loud consultations)]
[(Applause)]
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I just need to set the record straight. As a leader, I would not wish to embarrass any Member. What I did yesterday was to remind Members on what we agreed in the leadership conference, which Hon. Mwenje attended. We agreed that we have an obligation to be in the House whether we have business on the Floor or not. In fact, our own Constitution and Standing Orders expect us to …
[(Laughter)]
Hon. Members, I will give some guidelines for orderliness in the House. Now that we have already received the tribute statement on the late Suleiman Kasuti Murunga, I will also allow the Member for Emuhaya, Hon. Omboko Milemba, to give his tribute. After that, Members who are interested in giving tributes on both Hon. Murunga and the Harambee Stars player, Austin Oduor Origi, can do so interchange…
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 Affairs regarding the rise of insecurity in Aldai Constituency. Article 29 of the Constitution provides that every person has the right to freedom and security. Sadly, there has been a recent rise of i…
Hon. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs, Hon. Dido Raso.
Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This morning, we had an extensive discussion with the Inspector-General of Police and commanders of the National Police Service. The major reason of our discussion, to the extent that we went into camera, was to address the rising insecurity. We believe it is being perpetrated by criminal syndicates. I have heard what the Member for Aldai has raised. I…
Hon. Marianne Kitany.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, two weeks are adequate. With regard to the person murdered from Emgwen Constituency, maybe, the Member wants to say something.
Hon. Josses Lelmengit has just told me this is a lady from his constituency, but she was murdered in your constituency. I have told him that in terms of procedure, it will be better we wait for the Statement to come from the relevant agency so that we can engage deeply. I hope you will agree with that. You need to confirm that two weeks are good for you to get that report from the police officers.…
Hon. Temporary Speaker, two weeks will be good. I will attend the funeral of one of them tomorrow. It will be nice for the public to know that action is being taken. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
Member for Emgwen, what is burning so much?
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this issue that was raised by Hon. Marianne, concerning Ms Philister Jelimo who was murdered. She was an innocent lady, and she comes from a very humble background. I do not know how the family is coping with it. As we wait for two weeks, we need a detailed report on what the Government, through the Ministry of Inte…
The Statement will be given in two weeks’ time, through the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs. Hon. Irene Mayaka.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I am not in the USA. I want to speak on another subject. Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation regarding the utilisation of funds allocated for the sinking of boreholes in Mwingi Central Constituency. During the Financial Year 20…
Hon. Mulyungi, which Committee is your Request for Statement directed to?
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to confirm that I am a Member of that Committee. My Chairperson is engaged somewhere and is not in the House. I will relay the Question to him, and he will take due action as expected.
By what time Hon. Rozaah Buyu?
By the end of today, I will have relayed the Message to him, and he will, therefore…
When should the House expect a response?
Would I be in order to request for two weeks?
Two weeks, Hon. Mulyungi?
That is okay.
That is fine. Relay the Message and let us have the response in two weeks.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
Thank you. The Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations is to respond to the Statement request by Hon. Catherine Omanyo. Hon. Kirima, do you have the response?
I do.
Give Hon. Kirima the microphone.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. On behalf of the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, and pursuant to Standing Order 44 (2) , Hon. Catherine Omanyo sought a Statement on the harassment, arrests and detention of Kenyan fishermen by Ugandan authorities at the Kenya-Uganda border areas of Lake Victoria. She specifically raised the following concern…
Hon. Catherine Omanyo.
On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
Hon. Catherine Omanyo.
[(Hon. Joseph Makilap rose in his place and spoke off the record)]
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker…
Hon. Makilap, when you stand on a point of order and are not recognised, you return to your seat and remain silent because it would be disorderly if you continue in that manner.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I was recently with the fishermen, and a lot has improved since I read the Statement. I thank the Departmental Committee Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations for having stepped in and done some real work to harmonise the situation. It would be good that Uganda and Kenya, as good neighbours, do not intimidate each other. Instead, we should do things that w…
Hon. Millie Odhiambo, I know matters Blue Economy will not pass your attention.
Yes.
Do you have something to say?
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for acknowledging that I come from Suba North. The issues that Hon. Catherine Omanyo has raised affect my constituency very much, mainly because it borders Tanzania and Uganda at Remba, Ringiti and Mfangano Islands. The issue of harassment of fishermen is very common. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I know that even you are somehow affected. We have even raised this iss…
Member of Parliament for Funyula Constituency.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, thank you for this opportunity. Firstly, whatever happens in Budalangi in the form of harassment also happens in Funyula. Therefore, whatever answer he has provided touches more or less on Funyula. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we want to make it very clear that we are tired of harassment from the Uganda Defense Forces, which call themselves UDF. The amount of harassment and to…
Hon. Kirima, your responses appear satisfactory. If there are any more inquiries, investigations or engagements that Hon. Members want on the matter, the Committee can move with them suo moto, and you will still retain the mandate. Thank you very much. Hon. Members, I want us to go to the next order. Hon. TJ Kajwang' what is the matter today?
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am waiting for House Business. I was here at 2.30 p.m., but up to now, the House has not transacted a single business.
Next order. The Speaker is able to notice if there is a matter of concern for every Hon. Member. Thank you, Hon. TJ Kajwang'. Clerks-at-the-Table, can you call the next order?
It is Hon. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party. Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
[(Laughter)]
I am sorry, I meant Whip of the Minority Party. Sorry, Hon. Owen Baya.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the Kenya Roads Board (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.18 of 2024) be now read a Second Time. Hon. Temporary Speaker, this is a very important piece of legislation. It is a very small Bill, but the amendments we want to make are significant and have high ramifications. I am happy that Hon. Tj Kajwang reminded us that we need to go into busine…
[[The Temporary Speaker (Hon. Peter Kaluma) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Hon. David Ochieng’) took the Chair]]
Which institutions will be nominating? When we remove the three as I have suggested, the nominating institutions will be the Kenya Institute of Engineers of Kenya, the Automobile Association of Kenya, and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers and you know its leadership. We delete just those three and remain with the Kenya Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Kenya Transport Associat…
Stop the bell. Hon. Members, the time being 6.29 p.m., this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 12th November 2024, at