National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 20 February 2025
Members debated the Culture Bill, with Hon. Omboko Milemba warning that current penalties for theft of cultural artefacts are too lenient and urging broader protection for archaeological sites and stronger enforcement. Hon. Adan Keynan highlighted the Bill’s potential to preserve endangered languages, safeguard sacred sites, boost cultural tourism, and strengthen national identity through the creation of a National Cultural Heritage Council. Both speakers called for amendments to ensure the legislation fully protects Kenya’s diverse heritage. The debate focused on the Culture Bill, with Hon. Millie Odhiambo‑Mabona emphasizing the need to link culture to tourism while strengthening provisions against harmful practices such as FGM and child marriage, and highlighting the historic role of women in Luo culture. Hon. Johana Kipyegon reinforced the importance of protecting cultural artefacts, restoring colonial‑looted heritage, and promoting a cultural day for parliamentarians, expressing overall support for the Bill. Members expressed alarm that sites like the Bomas of Kenya have become commercialised and that traditional practices are eroding, urging the revival of cultural institutions and a robust legislative framework. The debate highlighted concerns over cultural appropriation, the marginalisation of indigenous languages in the digital age, and called for amendments to the pending culture bill to broaden its scope beyond artefacts.
Serjeant-at-Arms, I direct that you ring the Quorum Bell for ten minutes. Hon. Members, we now have the Quorum to transact Business. We may proceed.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Naomi Waqo.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the House: Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the years ended 30th June 2021, 30th June 2022 and 30th June 2023, and the certificates therein in respect of:
Hon. Members, I would like to indulge you in re-ordering the Order Paper. We will now move to Orders 8 and 9 and then come back to Orders 7 and 6 in that order. After that, we can resume the usual Order of business. We will come back to you, Hon. Member. Allow us to proceed with the Procedural Motions in Orders 8 and 9. After that, we will have the Statement from the Leader of the Majority Party …
[(An Hon. Member spoke off the record)]
Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 232 (7) relating to timelines for consideration of Budget Policy Statement, this House resolves to extend the period for consideration of the 2025 Budget Policy Statement by a period of 14 days from 27th February 2025. The budget-making process is one of …
Thank you. This is self-explanatory. You may call the Seconder.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I second.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 232A (4) relating to timelines for consideration of Debt Management Strategy, this House resolves to extend the period for consideration of the 2025 Debt Management Strategy by a period of ten days from 24th February 2025. The facts are similar to what we have said in the pre…
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I second.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the Question.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
We now go back to Order 5 - Papers.
Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table: Reports of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs on:
Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. GK.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on its Consideration of Public Petition No.14 of 2024 regarding Legal Recognition and Protection of E-Hailing Motorcycle Riders and Delivery Personnel. Thank you.
We can now go back to Order 6. Hon. Atandi, hold on a minute. The Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure has to give a Notice of Motion.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on its consideration of Public Petition No.14 of 2024 regarding Legal Recognition and Protection of E-Hailing Motorcycle Riders and Delivery Personnel, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 20th February
Thank you. Member for Alego Usonga, you may now proceed.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that the Fertiliser and Animal Foodstuffs Act, 2015 provides for the regulation of fertiliser importation in the country; further aware that, the Fertiliser and Animal Foodstuffs Board regulates the fertiliser and animal foodstuffs industry, including the manufacture and production of fertilisers; noting that, the country cur…
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Next Order.
Hon. Osoro, do you have your weekly Statement on behalf of the Leader of the Majority Party?
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Today, I will be holding brief for the Leader of the Majority Party. 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, 18th February 2025, to prioritise business for consideration during the week. With regard to business scheduled for Tuesday next week, t…
Thank you, Hon. Osoro. Before we proceed with other Statements, allow me to take this opportunity to welcome the following schools that are seated in the Public Gallery: Kompuera Academy, Dagoretti South Constituency, Nairobi County and Harambee School, Makadara Constituency, Nairobi County. I also wish to welcome other schools that are seated in the Speaker's Gallery: St Claire Girls' School, Ga…
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I truly thank you. I take this opportunity to thank learners who have visited today. I welcome you all to Parliament. Allow me, Hon. Deputy Speaker, to single out Riara School. It is an exceptional school within Dagoretti area that was founded by great educators in this country: Mr and Mrs Gachukia and the entire Gachukia family. For more than four decades, that school has bee…
[(The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) left the Chair)]
[(The Temporary Speaker (Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai took the Chair)]
scouting movement? Are we supporting the Kenya Scouting Association as we should? Are we taking them to task on how to develop scouting in this country? Those are the issues that shall be discussed this weekend as we seek to bring back the former lost glory into scouting. We also call upon the House to take its rightful place in the oversight of the scouting activities in this country. Hon. Tempo…
Thank you very much. Hon. Members, we are going to re-organise the Order Paper this way. We will go to Orders 10 and 15 and thereafter, 13. We will get there, Hon. Members. Next Order.
[(Hon. Jared Okello spoke off the record)]
Whip of the Majority Party, please, proceed.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move: THAT, the Public Finance Management (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.26 of 2024) , be now read a Second Time. This Bill was read a First Time on 19th June 2024, and committed to the relevant committee for consideration and tabling of the Report. I would like to thank the Committee for a job well done. This Bill seeks to amend the Public …
Bill between county assemblies and the National Assembly. It seeks to delete the words, ‘‘Except the Finance Bill’’ in Section 129(2)(a) of the Act to provide as follows: ‘That following approval by the County Executive Committee, the CEC Member for Finance shall submit to the county assembly the budget estimates, supporting documents and any other Bill that requires to implement the budget, exc…
Thank you. Hon. Jared Okello.
I thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to second this Bill proposed by the Whip of the Majority Party, my brother, Hon. Osoro. Indeed, there has been a disconnect between the budget-making process in the county governments and that of the National Assembly. This Bill seeks to create a level of uniformity in our budgeting processes. Most times, when the Budget is passed here and monie…
Thank you very much, Hon. Jared Okello.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the Question.
Before I do that, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome students from Muthaiti Junior School from Gilgil Constituency, Nakuru County, who are seated in the Speaker's Gallery. You are welcome to observe the proceedings of the National Assembly this afternoon.
[(Applause)]
Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
Hon. Omboko is laughing because I have been receiving schools this week since Tuesday. Today, I am delighted because we are hosting a school that is not from town. Yesterday and the day before, we hosted Gilgil Day Secondary School but today, we are hosting a school from the rural area of Elementaita Ward in Gilgil Constituency. Two weeks ago, I visited those young boys and girls and they were ve…
Thank you, Hon. Martha Wangari. We can proceed to debate. I would like to give the first opportunity to Hon. Rahim Dawood, Member for North Imenti. Is anyone interested in this? May I now put the Question? Hon. Members, is it the mood of the House that I put the Question?
Yes. Next Order.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Let us have Hon. Julius Taitumu.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife regarding the perennial human- wildlife conflict in Igembe North Constituency. Human-wildlife conflict has been a persistent problem in many parts of the country. On Wednesday, 16th August 2023, during Questi…
Very well. The request for statement is referred to the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife. The leadership in the House should undertake to inform the Chairperson.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I will do so. I am sure that the Member will get his response in two weeks' time.
Very well. Do we have any other request for statement? Yes, Hon. Joseph Gitari, proceed.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the status of construction and rehabilitation of various roads in Kirinyaga Central Constituency.
The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) is responsible for development, rehabilitation, management and maintenance of rural roads. Rehabilitation and maintenance of the roads ought to be conducted regularly in response to damages that occur. However, in Kirinyaga Central Constituency, several roads under the management of KeRRA have deteriorated over time, thus becoming unmotorable and in some cas…
The statement request is referred to the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. The leadership should undertake to transmit that information for replies within two weeks’ time.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I will do so. The Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure comes from Kirinyaga County. He knows the areas that Hon. Gitari is talking about very well. I am sure he will give the matter a lot of attention.
Thank you, Hon. Naomi. There are other Members who intended to request for statements, but who may not be in the House at the moment. We will give them a chance next time because they have been waiting for a long time. They can make their requests on Tuesday. Next Order.
Hon. Members, because of the massive interest exhibited by Members, especially those from Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and other areas where the Equalisation Fund affects, I order that we rearrange the Order Paper to move this business to the next session. Next Order.
THAT, the Insurance Professionals Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.13 of 2024) , be now read a Second Time. May I take Members down the history of insurance? The catastrophe called the Great Fire of London of 1666 highlighted the need to have insurance. That is when entities started thinking about fire insurance. Matters of insurance have grown over the years. We saw the introduction of life insur…
Hon. Oundo.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Looking at the time, I would have done a lot of justice. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to second the Insurance Professional Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.13 of 2024) . Insurance is, historically and academically, a risk transfer mechanism where a person transfers a peril to another party or organ that has the competence to compensate or to make good the suff…
with proper training so that some ills or mistakes can actually be addressed. Part 7 of the Bill requires a lot of panel-beating to ensure that we deal with the issues at hand. As I conclude, I want to sincerely commend the Committee. The Departmental Committee needs to be magnanimous enough to allow the Committee of the whole House to make suggestions. Some of us have limited experience in this …
Hon. Members, the debate on the Insurance Professionals Bill will resume during the next Sitting.
Hon. Members, the time being