National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 16 January 2025
Members unanimously backed the introduction of Clause 27A and Clause 30A, emphasizing tax concessions, research grants and intellectual‑property safeguards to boost youth‑led startups. They highlighted the need for faster IP registration and collaboration with KIPI, while procedural motions were carried to read the clauses a second time. Members debated an amendment to align the Bill with the Data Protection Act, emphasizing protection of personal data, intellectual property and AI‑related misuse for startups and content creators. The House also considered new clauses establishing a multi‑agency startup committee and incentives for incubators and accelerators, with broad support despite routine procedural interruptions. The National Assembly convened a special afternoon sitting after the New Year, with the Speaker confirming quorum and outlining the agenda. Members laid departmental reports and papers on the appointment of cabinet secretaries, public service commission members, ambassadors and other officials, and gave notice of motions based on those findings. Expressions of gratitude for a colleague’s funeral highlighted a cooperative tone amidst the procedural business.
Hon. Members, there is no quorum. Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell. Order, Hon. Members! We now have quorum to transact business.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Order, Hon. Members. Take your seats. Happy New Year, Hon. Members.
Happy New Year, Hon. Speaker.
I take this opportunity to welcome you to this Special Sitting which has been convened pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 29 (3) relating to the procedure for convening Special Sittings of the House during recess. As you will recall, the House proceeded on its Long Recess on 6th December 2024 in line with the approved Calendar of Regular Sittings 2024. With this in mind, I wish to repor…
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to echo what you have said and thank the Hon. Members of this House who came in large numbers and made financial contributions towards our mother's funeral. I also thank the people of Westlands who came in 10 buses and all our friends who came to condole with us. It was such a very touching moment. Particularly, I want to cite the Hon. Deputy Speaker who came in han…
Thank you. Next Order!
Order! Hon. Members on their feet, take your seats. The Member in the walkway, Mombasa Raha, take your seat. Hon. Members, Standing Order 42 provides that if a Message is received from the President when the House is not in session, the Hon. Speaker shall forthwith cause the Message to be transmitted to all Members and report to the House on the day when the House
[(Hon. Gonzi Rai walked in the aisle)]
next sits. In this regard, I wish to report to the House that during recess, I received three Messages from His Excellency the President relating to the nomination of persons as Cabinet Secretaries, High Commissioner, Ambassador, Permanent Representative and Consul- General; and, nominees for appointment as the Vice-Chairperson and Members of the Public Service Commission. The first Message conve…
Hon. Leader of the Majority Party. Yes, Hon. Naomi Waqo.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table:
Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Ichung’wah.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House: The 4th Report of the Committee on Appointments on approval hearings of nominees for appointment as cabinet secretaries. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Labour, Hon. Karemba.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House: Report of the Departmental Committee on Labour on the vetting of nominees for appointment as Vice-Chairperson and members of the Public Service Commission.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Thank you. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, Hon. Nelson Koech.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House: Report of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on its vetting of nominees for appointment as Ambassador, Permanent Representative and Consul-General. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Next Order.
Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Labour, Hon. Karemba.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental
Thank you. Leader of the Majority Party.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Committee on Appointments in its Fourth Report on approval hearings of nominees for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 16th January 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 152 (2) of the
Constitution and sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), this House approves the appointment of the following persons as Cabinet Secretaries—
Thank you. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, Hon. Nelson Koech.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations in its Report on the vetting of the nominees for appointment as Ambassador, Permanent Representative and Consul-General, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 16th January 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of…
Order! Members on their feet, please, take your seats. Hon. Members, I am satisfied that there is quorum to put the question.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Next Order. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Labour.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Special Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental
Hon. Chairperson, you may move the reporting. The Temporary Chairlady : Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole House has considered the Persons with Disabilities Bill, (Senate Bill No. 7 of 2023) , and approved the same with amendments.
[(Hon. Martha Wangari)]
Mover of the Bill.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report, and I request Hon. Zamzam to second the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the Whole House.
We have an error. We may have to restart that. We should be on the Start-up Bill, not the Persons with Disabilities Bill. I ask the Chairperson to take it again.
The Mover may now proceed to move.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I also request Hon. Zamzam to second the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the whole House.
Mhe. Naibu Spika, naomba
Ahsante sana Mhe. Spika.
Mover.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to second.
Hon. Members, I will put the Question at a later time.
[(Putting of the Question deferred)]
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Persons with Disabilities Bill, (Senate Bill No.7 of 2023) , and approved the same with amendments.
The Mover.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that this House do agree with the Committee of the whole House on its consideration of the Persons with Disabilities Bill, (Senate Bill No.7 of 2023) . I also request Hon. Nyikal to second the Motion.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to second.
[(Question proposed)]
Hon. Members, we shall put the Question at a later time.
[(Putting of the Question deferred)]
Hon. Members, the time being 12.53 p.m., the House stands adjourned until Thursday, 16th January 2025 at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 12.53 p.m.
Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi