National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 15 June 2023
The speaker outlined the Competition Authority's expanded mandate to curb anti‑competitive practices and protect consumers, and presented the government's fiscal framework for FY 2023/24, emphasizing revenue growth, tax reforms and expenditure efficiency. Detailed budget proposals were made for ICT initiatives, the Konza Technopolis, and major infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, ports and airports, aiming to drive economic recovery and sustainable growth. The overall tone is constructive, highlighting planned reforms and investment priorities while acknowledging fiscal consolidation challenges. The Minister outlined a comprehensive budget proposal allocating billions of shillings to energy infrastructure, education improvements, manufacturing and job creation, security services, and social protection for vulnerable groups. Specific funding amounts were detailed for each sector, emphasizing equity, youth employment, and national development, and the speech was received with applause. The debate focused on accelerating the County Governments (Revenue Raising Process) Bill to address uneven fee structures and delayed mineral royalty payments to counties, while also outlining tax and customs measures aimed at boosting revenue and protecting local industries. Speakers highlighted the EAC’s revised tariff bands and duty‑remission schemes for key sectors such as agriculture, automotive assembly, steel, and baby‑diaper production, urging swift enactment to enhance competitiveness and investment. Concerns were raised about county‑level charges that conflict with national policy and regional trade agreements.
Hon. Members, we have quorum to transact business. Clerk-at-the- Table, you may call out the Orders.
Leader of the Majority Party.
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
Order. Who is calling for a point of order? Hon. Masara?
Hon. Speaker, I am seeing something very strange happening today. You must be respected. The Members of UDA Party are crossing the Floor as if this is a street in Sugoi. This is Parliament. You must respect the Speaker when you come here. That is very wrong. They are just walking haphazardly. You must respect the seat of Parliament.
[(Loud consultations)]
Order, Hon. Masara. Take your seats, Hon. Members. Hon. Masara, you do not have to prosecute your point of order laced with poison. It is, indeed, out of order for any Member to cross the aisle without bowing, but you do not have to be derogatory in any way.
[(Applause)]
Thank you, Hon Speaker, although Sugoi is a very important village in this country.
[(Applause)]
Chairperson of the Special Funds Accounts Committee, Hon. Fatuma.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table:
Thank you, Hon. Fatuma. Next Order.
Hon. Fatuma, under this Order, please give a notice of Motion.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Notice of Motion, Chairperson Special Funds Accounts Committee. Consideration of the Report of the Auditor General...
Order, Hon. Fatuma. Just say; ‘‘I beg to give notice of the following Motion:’’
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Consideration of the Report of the Auditor- General on the Financial Statements for the:
Thank you, Hon. Fatuma. What Hon. Fatuma has given as notice, expunge the first statement she made. Start in The Hansard with “I beg to give notice …” so that the record is proper. Thank you Fatuma. Next
Hon. Members we have no Questions. Do you have your Thursday Statement, Leader of the Majority Party?
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, 13th June 2023 to prioritise the business for consideration during the week. As Members are aware, this week, the House concluded the general debate on the Budget Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Financial Year 2…
Thank you. Next.
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
Yes, Hon. Junet.
Hon. Speaker, in line with the Statement that has been tabled by the Leader of the Majority Party, there is clarity in the House that the
Finance Bill is coming up for the Third Reading on Tuesday next week. Yesterday when we were debating the Finance Bill in the Second Reading, there was a lot of confusion. Many Members are saying that they did not know when the Question will be put, even though we have Standing Order 95 that allows anyone to stand up and ask for the Mover to reply. From the Statement that has now been tabled by th…
[(Laughter)]
Yes Hon. Ichung’wah.
My good friend, Hon. Junet might not have heard me clearly. I said “from business beginning on Tuesday, in the course of the week”. Next week, we will have the Third Reading and the Appropriations Bill, should it be published over the weekend. It could be Tuesday. Hon. Junet is a Member of the House Business Committee and he knows it is the House Business Committee that schedules business for the …
Hon. Junet, do you want to pursue that?
There is clarity now. The course of the week is a course that you have to… With your indulgence, Hon. Speaker, the mood of the House is that on Tuesday we have the Finance Bill. Can we agree tentatively here and ask the House to…
[(Loud consultations and laughter)]
Order Hon. Members. For the avoidance of any doubt on Hon. Junet’s point of order, many Members thought that by the vote of last evening, you concluded the Finance Bill. You did not. There is still the Committee of the whole House. The Bill as you passed yesterday is the Bill as published. The Committee itself has proposed amendments. There are many Members who I believe will also bring amendments…
Hon. Speaker, I need your guidance on a procedural matter. Unless it escaped my attention at one point, I am looking at Standing Order 244C in terms of the order in which things are to be done. It suggests to me that the budget highlights
and revenue-raising measures which would be presented by the Cabinet Secretary come first under 244C(iv). On that same day, the Cabinet Secretary will then present a legislative proposal. It is that legislative proposal which once presented under Standing Order 245 constitutes and becomes the Finance Bill which then is later discussed. I want to understand a situation where the Finance Bill has al…
Honourable Senior Counsel, the Standing Order you are citing was rendered nugatory by a decision of the court; that it has been a creation of the process we are undertaking. This process is not against any law. I hear somebody saying that you participated in the court case that rendered the Standing Order nugatory. What we are doing is procedural. We are not flouting any Standing Order in any way…
[(A Member spoke off record)]
[(A Member spoke off record)]
[(Laughter)]
Sitting. It is not all the CSs present. It is only the CS for the National Treasury and Economic Planning. Hon. Members, I now interrupt the business of the House to allow the CS for the National Treasury and Economic Planning to make a public pronouncement on the budget policy highlights and revenue raising measures for the national government for the Financial Year 2023/2024 and the Medium-Term…
[(Applause)]
Hon. Members, the time being 6.24 p.m., the House now stands adjourned until Tuesday, 20th June 2023, at 2:30 p.m. The House rose at 6.24 p.m.
Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi