National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Monday, 13 May 2024
Members debated the interpretation of Article 152(9) of the Constitution and the related Standing Orders, focusing on whether the House must vote on a Select Committee report and what constitutes “proceedings”. The Speaker stressed procedural order, ruled several members out of order, and indicated the report would be tabled shortly, while members sought clarification on the scope for debate and voting. The session featured procedural exchanges leading to a debate on the budget, with members emphasizing increased funding for counties, devolution, and electricity. A point of order raised concerns about a member’s alleged sexually suggestive gestures, creating tension before the temporary speaker restored order. The Speaker directed the circulation of Senate amendments to the Sugar Bill and the Division of Revenue Bill, urging committees to prioritize their consideration. A procedural motion was raised to shorten the Finance Bill's publication period from seven to four days to enhance public participation and avoid a special sitting. The session featured routine procedural enforcement and brief moments of disorderly conduct.
Order, Hon. Members. We have quorum to transact business. Clerk-at- the-Table.
Order, Hon. Members. Take your seats. Take your seat, Hon. Whip of the Majority Party.
[(Hon. Silvanus Osoro walked into the Chamber)]
Hon. Members, I take this opportunity to welcome you to this Special Sitting, which has been convened pursuant to the provisions of Standing Orders 29 (3) and 64 (3) relating to the procedure for convening of Special Sittings of the House during recess. You will recall that on Tuesday, 30th April 2024, the House resolved to establish a Select Committee to investigate the grounds for the proposed …
“If the National Assembly is not sitting, the Speaker shall summon the Assembly for a special sitting to dispose of the Motion.” In this regard, and pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 64(3), I appointed today, Monday, 13th May 2024 at 2.30 p.m., as the day and time for the Special Sitting of the House to receive the report of the Select Committee, and to consider any other priority busin…
Members at the back, take your seats.
[(Hon. Junet Mohamed walked into the Chamber)]
Whip of the Minority Party, take your seat urgently. Take the nearest seat. I am still on “Communication from the Chair.”
Hon. Members, the next Communication is a recognition of a delegation from the Parliament of Zambia. I wish to introduce to you a delegation from the Parliament of Zambia who are seated in the Speaker’s Row. The delegation comprises 10 Members of the Committee on Planning and Budgeting. They are:
[(Applause)]
Hon. Members, with regard to the Sugar Bill (National Assembly Bill No.34 of 2022), I hereby direct the Clerk to circulate the Senate Amendments to the Bill to all Members as required by the Standing Orders. In the meantime, the Message from the Senate, together with the Schedule of Senate Amendments, shall stand referred to the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock for consideration…
Chairman of the Budget and Appropriation Committee.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper: Report of the Budget and Appropriation Committee on its consideration of the Senate Amendments to the Division of Revenue Bill (National Assembly Bill No.14 of 2024) . Thank you very much.
[(Loud consultations)]
Order, Hon. Members. Next is the tabling of a report by the Select
items on the other orders so that when the Speaker comes back, and the report is tabled, will proceed with it without any interruptions. You are so directed. Hon. Wangari.
[[Hon. Speaker (Moses Wetang’ula) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Hon. Martha Wangari) took the Chair]]
Order, Members. We will continue with the Business of the House. Next Order.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 120, this House resolves to reduce the publication period of the Finance Bill (National Assembly Bill No.30 of 2024) from seven days to four days. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the purpose of reducing the publication period is to give enough room for public participation so that we …
Order. Hon. Mogaka, take your seat. Hon. Joash, Hon. Robi, Member for Sirisia and Hon. Clive, take your seats. Hon. Sunkuli, break the Kamukunji. Hon. Members, we cannot even hear the Mover. Kindly, let us be orderly. Member for Molo, can you move the Motion again?
[(Several Members stood along the isle)]
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 120, this House resolves to reduce the publication period of the Finance Bill (National Assembly Bill No.30 of 2024) from seven days to four days. The essence of reducing the publication period from seven days to four days is to give enough room for public participa…
Order Members. Member for Sirisia, you are being disorderly. Take your seat. Hon. Makilap, take your seat so that we can hear Hon. (Dr) Oundo seconding the Motion.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to Second the Procedural Motion on reduction of the publication period for the Finance Bill, 2024. In this country, we have always had challenges with important Bills like the Finance Bill. It is never given adequate time to be subjected to public participation. On account that the Committee Chairman is seeking to reduce the publication period to provide…
Hon. Muthoni and Hon. Kagiri, take your seats.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the Question!
Is that the mood of the House?
[(Question put and agreed to)]
THAT, the Senate Amendments to the Division of Revenue Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.14 of 2024) be now considered.
[(Loud consultations)]
Hon. Temporary Speaker, the consultations are too loud.
Order Members! The Chairperson
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg the Members to afford me a few minutes so that we understand each other. Whereas it is obligatory for me to move this Motion, I also rise to actually reject the Motion based on several things and reasons that I will be giving to Members in this House.
[(Loud consultations)]
The next Order has already been called out. Take your seats.
[(Loud consultations)]
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I thank all the Members who contributed to this robust conversation on the Ratification of the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. This is one of the avenues that we are looking forward to. We really discourage repatriation of a lot of hard- earned income that goes to other countries through tax plann…
Order, Hon. Members.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[[The Temporary Speaker (Hon. Martha Wangari) left the Chair] [The Speaker (Hon. Moses Wetang’ula) resumed the Chair]]
Linturi must go! Linturi must go!
[(Loud consultations)]
Order, Hon. Members. Take your seats. Following your passage of the Motion at Order No.10… Take your seats.
[(Loud consultations)]
I wish to call upon the Chairperson to report to the House the proceedings of the Committee of the whole House.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the National Disaster Risk Management Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 24 of 2023) , and approved the same with amendments. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
Mover.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I request Hon. Irene Mayaka to second the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the whole House.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I second.
[(Question proposed)]
Leader of the Majority Party, do you have anything to say on this Bill?
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Once again, allow me to take this opportunity, as we conclude, to thank all the Members who have contributed to the debate of this Bill from its Second Reading to now the Third Reading. I mentioned the young heroes here in Nairobi who saved the young girl whom we all witnessed on television. Since I have their names, I seek your indulgence to recognise and appre…
requisite skills. This is because they will be the first responders within our communities whenever a disaster, like those floods, occur. Those young men do not work for the Kenya Navy.
Thank you. Hon. Members, the decision on agreeing with the Report of the Committee of the whole House will be voted the next time this matter is slotted for the Third Reading.
[(Putting of the question deferred)]
The time being 7.06 p.m., this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 4th June 2024 at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 7.06 p.m.