National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting

Hon. Members, as you all know, the Republic of Kenya exists within a community of nations. To this end, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, with the approval of the Cabinet, has prepared the Foreign Policy of the Republic of Kenya to guide the country’s international affairs, including promoting, protecting, and projecting Kenya’s interest within the community of nations. The Policy has…

[(Applause)]

At the centre of it, I put our athletes as the country’s first ambassadors all over the world. They cause our national anthem to be played in all capital cities of the world where sports are conducted. I also put the diaspora at the centre of our Policy. This is an improved version. Please make contributions because we also have parliamentary diplomacy. As Members of Parliament, you are primary am…

Hon. Members, as you are aware, the election of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 15th February 2025, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Kenya has fronted a candidate in the person of the Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga, EGH, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya. From the onset, I take this opportunity to wish the Rt. Ho…

wish our candidate success in the forthcoming elections. For the record, Hon. Raila Odinga and I came to this Parliament for the first time on the same day.

[(Applause)]

Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:

Thank you, Hon. Owen. The Sessional Paper No. 1 of 2025 directly goes to the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. The Legal Notice No. 5 of 2024 goes to the Committee on Delegated Legislation. The Report to Parliament on all New Loans contracted by the Government from 1st September 2024 to 31st December 2024 is referred to the Public Debt and Privatization Committ…

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I beg to move the Procedural Motion on the Limitation of Debate.

No. We are still on Statements.

I do not have a Question.

Do you have your usual leadership Statement on Thursdays regarding the business of the week and the following week?

Okay, I got it.

Sorry, Hon. Speaker, for the mix-up. I have the first Statement by the Leader of the Majority Party for this Session. 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 Wednesday, 12th February 2025, to prioritise business for consideration during the week. From the onset, allow me to welcome Me…

Hon. Lydia Haika, CBS.

Asante sana Mhe. Spika, kwa kunipatia fursa hii. Kwanza, ni kweli tuko safarini kuenda kule Addis Ababa; tutaondoka kesho asubuhi. Tunaomba heri zote katika safari iliyo mbele yetu. Sasa hivi, ningependa kutoa ujumbe huu wa rambirambi kwa hayati Leonard Mambo Mbotela. Kwa mujibu wa Kanuni 43 (1) , nasimama kumuomboleza na kusherehekea maisha yake Mzee Leonard Mambo Mbotela, aliyeaga dunia tarehe …

mfano bora sio tu kwa wanahabari, bali pia kwa Wakenya kwa ujumla. Tunamuombea apumzike kwa amani. Vilevile, tunaendelea kuipatia familia na hata viongozi wote pole. Asante sana Mhe. Spika.

Asante sana, Mhe. Haika.

Thank you Hon. Speaker. Ingawa wenzangu wametumia Kiswahili, nitatumia Kiingereza. First, I thank Hon. Haika for eulogising Mr Leonard Mambo Mbotela. On my behalf and the people of Emuhaya Constituency, I send my condolences to the family, relatives and the people of Leonard Mambo Mbotela. He was a great person in the media at his peak in the 1980s. Mr Leonard Mambo Mbotela was an icon in this co…

Hon. Katana.

Asante Mhe. Spika. Najiunga na wenzangu kumwomboleza mwandishi shupavu, Leonard Mambo Mbotela. Bwana Mbotela alikuwa kiungo muhimu na kielelezo bora kwa waandishi wa habari, nikiwa mmoja wao. Aliinua vipaji vingi sana vya waandishi, na uboreshaji wa uandishi katika nchi hii. Ingekuwa vyema kama watu wote ambao wametoa mchango mkubwa katika taifa hili kwa usanii na pia waandishi waweze kukumbukwa k…

Hon. Wangari.

Asante sana Mhe. Spika. Hata mimi nampa hongera Mhe. Haika Mizighi kwa kuleta habari ya kifo cha mwendazake, Leonard Mambo Mbotela. Tukisoma historia, tunajua kuwa Mambo Mbotela hakuwa tu Mkenya. Babu ya babu yake alikuwa ametekwa nyara kule Malawi, ndio wakajipata wamefika kule mwambao. Kwa hivyo, alikua na mizizi sio tu ya Kenya, bali ya Afrika nzima. Hatuwezi kusoma historia ya majaribio ya map…

Hon. Rachael Nyamai.

Asante Mhe. Spika kwa kunipatia fursa hii. Namshukuru Mhe. Haika kwa Kiswahili kizuri sana cha Pwani. Ametukumbusha maisha ya Leonard Mambo Mbotela. Najiunga na wenzangu kumuomba Mungu aipatie familia yake fadhila katika wakati huu mgumu.

[(Laughter)]

[(Laughter)]

Major (Rtd) Raso.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I join Kenyans, Hon. Haika, and many others in sending my tribute and condolences for the demise of a distinguished Kenyan. He was a legend and a man who will live through the history of broadcasting and media. Leonard Mambo Mbotela was a household name. The media has walked a journey, looking at it today. Many journalists lived in abject poverty, and many did no…

Thank you. Commissioner Makau.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this chance. I also thank Hon. Haika, Member for Taita Taveta County, for making her Statement on the Floor of the House. This is an opportunity for Members to pass their condolences to the family of the hero of media houses, especially the then Voice of Kenya (VoK) . Kenyans will remember Leonard Mambo Mbotela as a man who brought happiness to households br…

him and took him to VoK to inform Kenyans that the late President Moi’s Government had been overthrown. Today, I am also a very unhappy person. When the late Leonard Mambo Mbotela’s family informed us that he would be interred at Lang’ata Cemetery, Kenyans were in shock. Subsequently, we learnt that he was not of Kenyan descent but Malawian. As a nation, we should honour such a man and give him a…

Order, Hon. Makau. You are out of order. What is going on in Addis Ababa has nothing to do with the death of Mr Leonard Mambo.

Hon. Speaker, I am talking about heroes. We are celebrating one, Hon. Amolo Raila Odinga, as a living hero. Our support for him shows our patriotism. We do not have to wait for heroes to die, so we celebrate them. That is why I brought up the issue of Hon. Raila Odinga. Nevertheless, allow me to join other Members in passing condolences to the family of the late Leonard Mambo Mbotela. May his soul…

Thank you. We will end up there on the tributes to the late Leonard Mambo. I will also invite Hon. Kiborek Ruben to make a Statement. After that, we will observe a minute of silence for both. I had not noticed you, but let Hon. Kiborek speak.

[(A Member spoke off the record)]

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to Standing Order 259D (2) , I rise to pay tribute to a great man, a former Member of Parliament for South Baringo – the current Mogotio and Eldama Ravine constituencies – Hon. Edward Cherutich Kiptanui. He transitioned from this world on Tuesday, 28th January 2025, after a short illness. We mourn his departure but also celebrate a life well-lived, dedicated to se…

His leadership qualities soon led him into national service. In 1966, he was nominated as a Member of Parliament. Though his journey in elective politics faced challenges, he remained resilient, ultimately winning the larger Baringo South parliamentary seat in 1974. For 15 years, from 1974 to 1988, Hon. Kiptanui served his constituents with integrity and vision. His dedication and hard work earned…

Thank you, Hon. Kiborek. Hon. Sirma.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to also condole with the family of our late departed Member of Parliament, Hon. Edward Cherutich Kiptanui. He was a great man. He went through many political storms within Baringo County, which was a hotbed of politics at that time. I recall when I was in Form 4, we decided to register for voter cards and even went ahead to register for Identi…

We will end there with the tributes. Hon. Members, I want to bring that matter to a close because we have much business to consider.

[(Hon. Sabina Chege spoke off the record)]

Yes, Hon. Sabina, do you want to say something about Hon. Kiptanui?

No, Hon. Speaker. I want to give my tribute to Mr. Leonard Mambo Mbotela.

Okay.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I am a veteran journalist who happened to have worked with the late Leonard Mambo Mbotela, one of our senior fathers, in broadcasting. He inspired a majority of us when we were young. I was very proud to work closely with him when I joined the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) . He was a good mentor and a man who stood with the governmen…

Hon. Members, we will end there with the tributes. I also knew Mr Leonard Mambo Mbotela as an undergraduate student at the University of Nairobi when we used to run a programme at the Voice of Kenya (VOK) known as Books and Bookmen. We would read books and then discuss them on the radio with Kenyans. We used to run the programme with the Late Prof Chris Wanjala, Prof Okot P'Bitek and a few other p…

[(Hon. Members observed a minute of silence)]

May their souls rest in eternal peace. Amen. For you, Hon. Members and leaders like Hon. Owen Baya, this is when you should reflect and realise that the country needs a Hero’s Corner to bury people like Mr Leonard Mambo Mbotela. It is disheartening to hear that we will bury Mr Leonard Mambo Mbotela at Lang’ata Cemetery. Probably, his grave will be on top of another grave, knowing how crowded the p…

[(Loud consultations)]

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Jared Okello. What is your point order? Give the microphone to Hon. Jared Okello.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. There is an issue on which I need your direction. This matter has been brought to the attention of this House intermittently. The last time the matter was raised here, which I believe was six months ago, you gave direction. This relates to the matter of hardship allowance. Following your direction, a multi-agency team that the national government put together thr…

Thank you, Hon. Jared. Hon. Owen Baya, can you follow up on that matter and report to the House next week on Wednesday afternoon?

All right, thank you very much.

As Hon. Jared Okello rightly put it, this matter was raised here in the last Session not less than three or four times.

Yes, Hon. Speaker.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Ruku. Give him the microphone. Is it on the same issue or something different?

It is on a similar issue.

Go ahead.

Hon. Speaker, before we took a break for recess, you gave instructions that the first thing which should be done when we come back is for the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Health to report on the status of the last expense and death gratuity payment to the survivors and beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and Public Service Remuneration Scheme. I brought up this…

Well noted. Hon. Owen Baya, note that and see if the matter can be resolved by Thursday next week.

I am much obliged, Hon. Speaker.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. CNN, what is it? Is it on the same hardship issue?

Yes, it is, Hon. Speaker. However, I am not sure whether Hon. Owen Baya is aware of what you requested him to do, even though he has clarified that he got what he is supposed to follow up on. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

From where you are seated, do you have the capacity to know whether he is understanding or not? Yes, Hon. Owen.

[(Laughter)]

Hon. Speaker, I have immense capacity. Hon. CNN failed to take off a plane even after being trained for eight years as a pilot. So, we can continue to doubt his ability as a failed pilot. I have heard and we will ensure that the House is well informed. I have been informed that the reports from Hon. Pukose are ready.

I am aware.

Yes, you are aware.

I have directed that they will be tabled on Tuesday.

We will ensure they are tabled in the House on that day. We will also get the report that Hon. Jared requested to ensure that the promises this House had made are fulfilled. I am much obliged, Hon. Speaker.

Assure Hon. CNN that you are alert.

Hon. CNN, I am usually very alert. I can multitask.

Clerk-at-the-Table, read out the next Order.

Hon. Members, we are now going back to Order 8.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97 (1) , this House orders that each speech in a debate on Bills sponsored by a committee, the Leader of the Majority Party or the Leader of the Minority Party be limited as follows: A maximum of 45 minutes for the Mover, in moving and 15 minutes in replying, a maximum of 30 minutes for the Chai…

[(if the Bill is not sponsored by the relevant committee)]

[(if the Bill is not sponsored by either of them)]

I request the Whip of the Majority Party, Hon. Silvanus Maiyengo Osoro, to second.

Hon. Osoro.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Firstly, I want to correct Hon. Owen Baya that I am not Hon. Majengo.

What is your name?

He referred to me as Hon. Majengo Osoro, but my surname is Onyiego.

[(Laughter) [The Speaker (Hon. Moses Wetang’ula) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) took the Chair]]

Put the Question.

The mood of the House is to put the Question. Next Order.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I wish the Members who are leaving would stay because this is very important.

Whip of the Majority Party, whip the Members to come back because we need them. It is a very important Motion. You are failing at your job.

Yes. This is a very important Procedural

Majority Party, the Leader of the Minority Party and the Chairperson of the relevant Departmental Committee, in that order. I request the Hon. Member for Nandi County, Hon. Muge to second this Motion.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to second the Motion on Limitation of Debate on Individual Members' Bills. Since it appeared on the Order Paper, I have been keen enough to ask the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party why there is a huge difference between the Bills sponsored by the Government and the individual Motions and Bills. This is where efficiency in terms of the use of time will be m…

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Next Order.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97 (1) , this House orders that each speech in a debate on any Motion, including a Special motion be limited in the following manner: A maximum of three hours with not more than 20 minutes for the Mover and 10 minutes for any other Member speaking, except the Leader of the Majori…

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. While I second this Motion, I note that the leadership gets sufficient time to explain the Motion and give guidance to this House. Sometimes, it is not necessary for the leadership to utilise the entire 15 minutes speaking on issues that are outside the context of the Motion. We request that the leadership be limited to stick within the content of the Motion so that…

time is allocated to the other Members; rather than them utilising their full time, then the other Members end up being requested to reduce their time to five or three minutes. With that, I second.

Hon Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97 (1) , this House orders that each speech in debate on Reports of Audit Committees be limited as follows: A maximum of 60 minutes for the Mover in moving and 30 minutes in replying, and a maximum of 10 minutes for any other Member speaking, except the Leader of the Majority Part…

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I second the Motion. Thank you.

[(Question proposed)]

Put the Question.

I will allow Hon. Keynan to speak for a minute.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, Audit Committees play a very important role in safeguarding the public interest. I request that the House Business Committee fast-track all the pending reports of the Audit Committees because that is the only way to assess whether the public gets value for money. These should not be treated like any other reports because the Office of the Auditor-General audits these entities.…

Hon. Oundo, proceed.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for this opportunity. I want to draw the attention of my colleagues and the country to the fact that, with respect to the new Constitution of Kenya 2010, it is required that, within six months after the end of each financial year, audit reports shall be presented to the National Assembly, which

shall analyse, prosecute, move, and take appropriate action within three months. There is a recent Court case regarding the Nairobi County Assembly, where the Court had invalidated the findings of the Audit Committee Reports that were passed outside the timelines provided for in the Constitution. I urge Members who are here that, every single time we prosecute these reports, it is important to kee…

Hon Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97 (1) , this House orders that each speech in a debate on Other Committee Reports, including a Report of a Joint Committee of the Houses of Parliament or any other Report submitted to the House for which limitation of time has not been specified, be limited as follows; a maximu…

[(if the Committee Report is not moved by the Chairperson of the relevant Committee)]

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Without wasting much time, as this is a Procedural Motion, I second.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Next Order.

I beg to move: THAT, noting that Standing Order 24 (6) provides that debate on a Motion on the Address by the President shall be limited to not more than Four Sitting days, and pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97 (1) , this House orders that debate on a Motion on the Address by His Excellency the President under Article 132 (1) (a) of the Constitution be limited as follows: A maximum o…

to speak on the report submitted under Article 132(1)(c)(iii) of the Constitution relating to the progress made in fulfilling the international obligations of the Republic; and the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security to speak on the report submitted under Article 240(7) of the Constitution relating to the state of the security of the country; and five …

Before you second, allow me to recognise students before they leave. I recognise the presence of two schools seated in the Public Gallery:

[(Applause)]

I second.

[(Question proposed)]

Put the Question.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

I beg to move: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97 (1) , this House orders that each speech in a debate on any Sessional Paper shall be limited as follows: A maximum of two and a half hours, with not more than 20 minutes for the Mover in moving and five minutes for any other Member speaking, including the Leader of the Majority Party and the Leader of the Minority Party and the…

[(if the Sessional Paper is not moved by the Chairperson of the relevant Committee)]

[([The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai) took the Chair]]

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I second.

[(Question proposed)]

May I put the Question?

Yes.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Next Order. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, please proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97 (1) , this House orders that each speech in a debate on reports of constitutional commissions and independent offices be limited as follows: A maximum of four hours, with not more than 30 minutes for the Mover in moving and 10 minutes in replying, a maximum of 30 minutes fo…

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I second. As the House Business Committee plans on limitation of debate, there are many important private Member’s Bills. I know the Committee tends to prioritise Government Bills, which is okay. So, there are many Bills that need to come to the Floor of the House for consideration because they are very important to this nation. I second.

Thank you very much, Hon. Sabina Chege. Next Order. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97(1), this House orders that each speech in a debate on the Report of the Budget and Appropriations

Hon. Chepkonga.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I thank Hon. Baya for moving this important Motion. As you can see, I am seated next to ladies who are Members of Parliament. They are preparing for tomorrow. Just a reminder: tomorrow is Valentine's Day. As I second this Motion, the women are giving notice to men to prepare to take them out tomorrow for Valentine’s Day since we will not be sitting. Wi…

[(Laughter)]

Thank you very much, Hon. Chepkonga, for seconding. Next Order. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, please proceed.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion:

THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97(1), this House orders that each speech in the general debate contemplated under Standing Order 146 (Consideration of Senate amendments to Bills originating in the National Assembly) be limited as follows: A maximum of one hour and thirty minutes, with not more than fifteen minutes (15) for the Mover in moving, fifteen minutes (15) for the Cha…

Hon. Muthoni, please proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to second the Procedural Motion by the Deputy Leader of the Majority Leader.

[(Question proposed)]

Put the Question.

Thank you. I will put the Question. I want to give the Senior a chance to take his seat.

[(Hon. Farah Maalim consulted the Temporary Speaker)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, please proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Orders 41 and 42 relating to conveying of Messages from the Senate and from the President or the National Executive, Standing Orders 120, 122 and 126 relating to Publication, Procedure upon Publication and First Reading of Bills and Standing Order 210 (2) relating to Tabling of …

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker…

I heard General.

[(Laughter)]

Member for Yatta, please proceed.

I think he wants to promote me, but I am not in the military. So, I do not know why he is using the word ‘general’ before my name. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker and Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, for requesting me to second this Procedural Motion. When I keenly looked at the Calendar of the National Assembly for the year 2025, I noted it is very well structured. I have no doubt in second…

Thank you very much, Member for Yatta, Hon. Basil.

Hon. Members, may I go ahead and put the Question?

Yes.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I know it is a long day for you, but we are managing. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97 (1) , this House orders that each speech in the general debate contemplated under Standing Order 114 (7A) (b) be limited as follows:- a maximum of 20 minutes for the Move…

[(Consideration of a Legislative Proposal to amend the Constitution)]

[(if the Proposal is not party-sponsored)]

Hon. (Dr) Bartoo.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I second.

Thank you very much, Professor.

[(Question proposed)]

Put the Question.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Hon. Members, you realise we have skipped Order Nos. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. I want to put it on record that the Speaker and House already considered them. We may proceed with Order No. 26. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Baya.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 28, this House approves the Calendar of the National Assembly (Regular Sessions) for the Fourth Session

Hon. Murugara, please proceed.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As I second this Motion, it is important that I echo the sentiments of the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party. As shown by this calendar, our hands are full. We have much to do, especially in the budget-making process, which has just started and will be with us until the end of June 2025. Thereafter, we will look at particular Acts of Parliament to act…

Thank you, Hon. Murugara, Member for the Tharaka.

[(Question proposed)]

Put the question.

Before I put the question, I would like to give Hon. Samuel Chepkonga, Member for Ainabkoi, a chance.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support this very important Motion. Members need to know when we are proceeding on recess and when we are coming back to the House so that we can plan appropriately to be in our constituencies. Hon. Owen Baya, my very good friend, attempted to say Hon. Murugara is in good standing. I do not know if he meant he is in good standing in this Hous…

Thank you. I will now put the question.

[(Question put and agreed to)]