National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 12 June 2025
The Minister outlined a series of reforms aimed at modernising Kenya's pension administration, accelerating the Treasury Single Account integration and adopting zero‑based budgeting to improve fiscal transparency. He then detailed the 2025/2026 budget allocations, emphasizing large investments in agricultural transformation, the blue economy, land reforms, MSME financing and affordable housing. The overall tone was optimistic, highlighting progress and commitment despite limited resources. The Speaker outlined a comprehensive set of budget allocations covering agriculture, industry, security, social protection, youth and women empowerment, and environmental initiatives. While acknowledging persistent challenges such as unemployment and climate change, the speech emphasized increased funding to boost production, improve safety, and support vulnerable populations. The proposals also highlighted greater devolution funding and enhanced parliamentary and judicial resources. The debate focused on additional fiscal allocations to county governments and the Equalisation Fund, alongside the introduction of the County Governments (Revenue Raising Process) Bill to enhance own‑source revenue. The Treasury highlighted tax‑revenue reforms in the Finance Bill 2025, emphasizing administrative simplification, rationalisation of tax expenditures and targeted customs duty adjustments agreed with the EAC to support key sectors such as agriculture, telecommunications and manufacturing.
Hon. Members, we have quorum to transact business. Clerks-at-the- Table.
Leader of the Majority Party.
I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:
Thank you. Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security. Hon. Tongoyo. Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, Hon. Johana.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works on its Consideration of the Senate Amendments to the National Construction Authority (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.59 of 2022) . Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Thank you. Next order.
Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security. Hon. Raso, where is your Chairman? Are you holding any brief? Next order.
[(Hon. Ali Raso spoke off the record)]
Leader of the Majority Party, are you ready with your Thursday Statement? Hon. Naomi Waqo.
Yes.
Go ahead.
Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (a) , I rise to give the following Statement on behalf of the House Business Committee, which met on Tuesday, 10th June 2025 to prioritise business for consideration during the week. As you had previously communicated, today, Thursday, 12th June 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Hon. FCPA …
Thank you, Hon. Naomi. We go back to order No.5. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, lay your paper.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on its approval hearing of the following nominees for appointment as Members of the National Police Service Commission –
Thank you. Proceed to give your Notice of Motion.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security in its report on the Approval Hearing of Nominees for Appointment as Members of the National Police Service Commission, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 12th June 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 24…
Thank you. At Order No.7, Chairman, Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, you have a date with the House. Hon. Musa Sirma, be orderly. Are you ready?
[(Hon. Musa Sirma consulted loudly)]
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. You instructed me to, on behalf of this House, carry out an interrogation on the National Police Service, the Inspector General (IG) , and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) with regard to the unfortunate death of Albert Ojwang’. I was to give a preliminary report to the House this afternoon as you instructed, but we finished the interrogation only 10 minu…
Secretariat has reported that they are not done with the Report that I was supposed to table in this House. I would kindly ask to be given up to Tuesday to be able to present a meaningful Report before this House. Having said that, the good news is that IPOA confirmed to the Committee that it is ready to arrest three individuals in connection with the murder of Albert Ojwang’ as early as now.
Go on.
I have said it, Hon. Speaker.
Go on, Hon. Tongoyo. Are you done?
Hon. Speaker, your attention was disrupted. I have said we were done with the interrogation of the Inspector-General of Police and IPOA 10 minutes ago and the Report is not ready. However, I am happy to report that IPOA confirmed to us that it is ready to arrest three individuals in connection with the murder, as early as today. It is actually looking for the Inspector-General to give them the pol…
Thank you, indeed. I have also been following the proceedings from my chamber and I know you finished barely 20 minutes ago. Your request is not unreasonable. We will give you up to Tuesday. It will be the first issue on the Floor of the House. Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I commend the Committee for the professional manner in which it conducted the interrogation of the DCI and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration in relation to the death of Albert Ojwang’. It was not a public-gallery theatre like what happened in the Senate. The Committee was very clear and focused and deliberate on ensuring that whatever questions were aske…
Members, you know today is a day for special business. The Chairman of the Committee has said that they just finished the interrogation of the security agencies. He has told you what remedial action is taking place, and he will bring a report on Tuesday, which I will allow you to debate if you wish. Minority Leader.
Hon. Speaker, thank you for your guidance. This is a very serious matter and it is good that Parliament is seized of it. We have faith in the Committee to bring us a very detailed report on what happened. This is a young man who has lost his life in a very mysterious way. The family is grieving. But let us not politicise this matter. Let us leave investigative agencies to do their work and report …
[(Applause)]
Order, Hon. Members. Let us not open debate. I directed the Chairperson of the Committee to expeditiously bring facts to the House, not rumours. I also
followed the proceedings. I salute the Members of the Committee. You have been very incisive in putting questions to the police officers. I hope and believe that on Tuesday, Hon. Gabriel Tongoyo will bring a comprehensive report. Anyone of you who will want to comment or who has material to add will have an opportunity. We must move to the next business.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the Culture Bill (National Assembly Bill No.12 of 2024) be now read a Third Time. I request Hon. Catherine Omanyo, a strong member of the Committee to second.
I second fully, because I was involved from A to Z.
Just say, “I beg to second.”
I second.
[(Question proposed)]
Do I put the question?
Yes.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The Bill was read a Third Time and passed)]
Next Order.
THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Public Debt and Privatisation
Next Order.
Next Order.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table:
Yes, Leader of the Minority Party.
Hon. Speaker, the Report on the Finance Bill was tabled just a few seconds ago.
Correct.
Once it is tabled, it becomes a public document. We urge the citizenry and our colleagues to read the Report because there are three or four versions of the Finance Bill in the country. Everybody is talking about his own Finance Bill. Some will tell you that bread is being taxed. Others will tell you that shoes are being taxed. Still others will tell you that oxygen is being taxed. The Report of t…
I could not have said it any better. Hon. Members, I want to emphasise what I have been telling you over and over. You are elected to legislate in this House, not at funeral gatherings. Many of you will go to funerals to oppose non-existent clauses in the Bill but when you come to the House, you are nil by mouth. That is not how to legislate. Yes, Hon. Robert Mbui.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. The Finance Bill is not being tabled today; it has been around. What is being tabled today is the Report of the Committee.
Yes.
Members of Parliament and the public have been discussing the Finance Bill, so that uncomfortable contents in the Bill would be removed. I wanted to clarify that. Hon. Speaker, just before the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning comes into the Chamber, there are two major issues whose solutions we are still awaiting. First, is the disbursement of the National Governm…
Hon. Robert Mbui, you have legitimate concerns, but I also want to advise you that 10 minutes before I came to the Chamber, your colleagues from both sides of the House, numbering close to 100 walked to the Speaker's Chamber with exactly the same concerns. I explained to them in very clear terms and details. We reached an understanding that your worries are neither here nor there. We are okay and …
[(Hon. Johnson Naicca cheered)]
Hon. Robert, your concerns are legitimate and the process we are taking is equally satisfactory. Hold your horses on that. I am your last line of defence on all these issues and you know that. Leader of the Majority Party, please look for the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning and direct him into the Chamber for the solemn business this afternoon.
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
Yes, Hon. Rozaah Buyu. What is your point of order?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I like that you called him the Cabinet Secretary, but you forgot to add the phrase “the expert” Cabinet Secretary. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
[(Laughter)]
Cabinet Secretary, take your seat. Members on your feet, take your seats. Hon. Members, I have a short Communication. Section 40 of the Public Finance Management Act Cap 412A and Standing Order 244C... Whose phone is ringing? Who is the Member seated behind Hon. KJ? Hon. Gonzi Rai, you are one of the fathers of this House. Should we forgive you? Okay. Order, Members. Section 40 of the Public Fi…
[(Hon. Gonzi Rai’s phone rang)]
parastatals, senior Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and development partners. I also wish to recognise and appreciate the presence of university student leaders and their colleagues from universities across the country, members of the Bunge la Wananchi, representatives of various youth and women’s groups, a group of traders representing a cross- section of our small-scale bu…
[(Applause)]
We will cheer.
Hon. Members, you will only cheer by thumping your feet, but not by verbal expressions. Hon. Members, I now interrupt the business of the House to allow the Cabinet Secretary to make a public Pronouncement of the Budget Policy Highlights and Revenue-Raising Measures for the National Government for the Financial Year 2025/2026. The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning,…
[(Applause)]
Hon. Members, the time now being 5.23 p.m., this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 17th June 2025, at 2.30 p.m. I thank you. The House rose at 5.23 p.m.
Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi