National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 23 February 2023
Members raised concerns over the wrongful conviction of a Kenyan teacher in South Sudan and sought a statement on the protection of Kenyan workers abroad. The debate then shifted to a passionate discussion on promoting African clothing and cultural attire in Parliament, urging support for local designers and regional collaboration. Various MPs voiced both procedural points and cultural pride. The debate focused on the re‑allocation of Members to parliamentary committees, with the Chair of the Committee on Selection defending a consensus‑building approach while accusing the Minority of underhanded tactics. Tensions rose as members from both sides exchanged criticisms about fairness, coalition politics and procedural handling of Any Other Business, culminating in a call for a vote on the proposed changes. Hon. Kimani Ichung'wah presented several papers on energy regulations, NG‑CDF funding and audit reports, using the opportunity to highlight recurring corruption linked to Article 223 and past land‑payment scandals. He urged oversight and departmental committees to act decisively to stop the looting of public resources ahead of future elections, calling for greater transparency and accountability. The remarks were met with applause, laughter and brief interjections from other members.
You may proceed.
Hon. Members, I wish to introduce a delegation from the Interim Committee of the Namibian Parliamentary Women Caucus, who are seated in the Speaker’s Gallery.
[(Applause)]
The Leader of the Majority Party.
Thank you Hon. Deputy Speaker. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table: Legal Notice No. 2 of 2023 relating to Energy (Revocation) Regulations 2023, from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum; Legal Notice No. 3 of 2023 relating to the Petroleum (Importation) Regulations 2023, from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum; Update on funding of National Government Constituencies Development Fu…
Reports of the Auditor General and Financial Statements of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund in respect of the following constituencies for the year ended 30th June 2021, and the certificates therein:
Hon. K.J., I hope you stand guided.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, he is my good neighbour, but the shouting interrupts the thought process of the person speaking. We have beseeched ourselves, as the older Members, to be good examples to those who are new in the House and, more so, to our students in the Speaker’s Gallery. They should know that this is a House where people conduct business with some decorum. Hon. Deputy Speaker, these schedu…
rejected. After that, it will be interesting to note - and I would want to attract the attention of this House's departmental and oversight committees - the recommendation on rejection by the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I say that as a former Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. In 2018, the Committee I chaired occasioned the rejection of the Ruara…
[(Loud consultations)]
I do not have the latitude to name them here but in due course, if our oversight committees do not take up this matter to end this culture of impunity, there is nothing that will stop the current Government from looting public coffers with impunity on the verge of the 2027 or 2032 General Elections. We must be the House that will stop the looting of public resources towards an election. We must do…
[(Applause)]
Shame on them. Toboa!
Mtaona tu. Ulizeni Mhe. Babu kwa sababu anawajua!
[(Laughter)]
Next Order.
Hon. Beatrice Elachi, Member for Dagoretti North, has a Notice of Motion.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. You look elegant. We want to thank you for making us proud as women. I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) Authority in Kenya was established in 1990 to promote and facilitate export-oriented investment programmes and create incentives for export-oriented production in areas designated as EPZ; further aware…
further concerned that there is need to revamp the said programme to improve its performance through increased funding to aid, for instance, the setting up of excellence centres in some parts of the country, expediting and negotiations of market access especially to the East African Community, including trade negotiations between Kenya and other countries on diversification of products eligible un…
Thank you, Hon. Elachi. Next Order.
Hon. Julius Taitumu, Member for Igembe North, has a Statement.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I wish to make a Statement on the demise of the former Member of Parliament for Igembe North Constituency, Hon. Ntoitha M’Mithiaru. Pursuant to Standing Order 259D, I rise with profound sorrow to report to this House the untimely passing on of the former Member of Parliament for Igembe North Constituency, Hon. Ntoitha M’Mithiaru on Monday, 13th February 2023. The la…
[(Banking and Finance)]
(CDF), he initiated various development projects in the constituency, particularly in the education sector, where he pioneered the establishment of many day secondary schools, thus enhancing access to education. He was an active member of the Departmental Committee on Finance, where he was resourceful on various matters of finance and economy. He was also a member of several ad hoc committees, par…
I will exercise my discretion and allow a few Members to give their condolences. The Member for Igembe South, Hon. John Paul Mwirigi.
Ahsante sana, Naibu wa Spika. Kwa niaba ya wananchi wa Igembe Kusini na familia yangu, ningependa kutoa rambirambi kwa familia ya Mhe. Ntoitha M'Mithiaru. Nilijuana na Mhe. Ntoitha M'mithiaru nilipochaguliwa kipindi cha kwanza. Alinionyesha vile nafaa kufanya hapa ili nisije nikafukuzwa kazi. Nilifuatilia yale aliyoniambia mpaka nikachaguliwa kwa mara ya pili. Naombea familia yake ili Mungu aende…
[(Hon. John Kiarie and Hon. Omboko Milemba stood between the Member on the Floor and the Deputy Speaker)]
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Member for Emuhaya, Hon. Mwalimu Omboko Milemba, what is your point of order?
Thank you so much, Hon. Deputy Speaker for giving me this chance. This is a House of order and I have continuously seen this happening; that when a Member is speaking, other Members stand between the Member and the Speaker, like what has just happened. We also had an earlier case when we had a Statement being read. I think you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, should speak to that so that we have that order b…
Hon. Ndindi Nyoro and Hon. John Kiarie, I think Mwalimu, Mhe. Omboko Milemba is referring to you.
(Hon. John Kiarie and Hon. Omboko Milemba apologised off-record) They have acted. I will give an opportunity to Hon. George Murugara.
Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. On my behalf and that of the people of Tharaka, who are neighbours to the people of Igembe South, Igembe Central and Igembe North, allow me to convey my condolences. Hon. Ntoitha M'Mithiaru, was a Member of this House. He served the people of Igembe North with distinction. It has been narrated to us exactly what he did. I came to know him when he was the …
Lastly, is the Member for Lugari, Hon. Nabwera Nabii. It looks like he is not present. I will, therefore, give an opportunity… Ooh, he seems to be in.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. The Hon. Members and I would like to send messages of condolences to our fellow Kenyan. We are here as Members today because those who came before us had humane feelings about each other. On behalf of the people of Lugari Constituency and my own behalf, I stand here in sympathy for the family of our departed colleague. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
The next Statement is by Hon. Capt. Ruweida Obo, Member for Lamu East.
Hon. Deputy 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 Energy regarding power outages in Faza Ward, Lamu East Constituency. The residents of Faza Ward in Lamu East Constituency have been experiencing periodic power outages that last for three to seven days for the last six months. The p…
Thank you, Hon. Captain Ruweida. I now direct that your request for Statement be referred to the Departmental Committee on Energy. I now call upon Hon. Dorice Donya to make her request for statement.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs, regarding the circumstances surrounding the conviction of one Ms. Emily Kerubo Nyakwera in the Republic of South Sudan. On and about 17th January 2022, Ms. Emily Kerubo Nyakwera, a Kenyan natio…
Member for Taita Taveta, Hon. Haika Mizighi, do you have a point of order?
Yes. My point of order is in regard to the Statement that has been made by one Hon. Dorice Donya relating to the welfare of a Kenyan who is working in South Sudan and has wrongly been convicted. Indeed, the 3rd prayer
made by the Member is on the measures the Government has put in place to protect the welfare and rights of Kenyans working in foreign countries especially those in the Republic of South Sudan. This subject falls within the mandate of the Committee I chair, which is the Select
That is duly noted. The matter shall be referred to the Select
Hon. Haika Mizighi, Member for Taita Taveta, kindly give your Statement.
Asante Naibu Spika kwa kunipatia fursa hii kwa mara nyingine tena. Nimesimama kwa kauli ya mujibu wa Kanuni ya 44 (2) (c) kuhusu wajibu wa viongozi kuvaa na kutangaza mavazi na sanaa ya Kiafrika. Kwa mujibu wa Kanuni ya 44 (2) (c) , ningependa kuto Kauli kuhusu wito kwa viongozi kuvalia na kutangaza mavazi na sanaa ya Kiafrika. Mhe. Naibu wa Spika, ona Wabunge wa kike wanavyong’aa kwa mavazi na n…
[(Wabunge wa kike walisimama)]
Ndio, nitamtambua Mhe. Tandaza.
tuinue soko la wasanifu na wasanii wetu wa Kenya na Afrika kupitia mavazi, fasihi, teknolojia na sanaa za hapa nyumbani. Nimekuwepo Bungeni humu kwa kipindi kirefu sasa. Bila shaka, nafahamu kuwa Kanuni za Spika zimebainishia Wabunge wa kiume mavazi kama suti, tai na viatu. Kwa hekima yake, Kanuni za Spika zimetuwachia fursa ya kuwa wabunifu katika mavazi ili kuakisi utamaduni na mahitaji ya Bung…
yangu, I am dressed in kitenge. My point of order is: If we are promoting kitenge and Hon. Babu Owino does not wear a kitenge suit, why is he being given a chance to speak on kitenge? We are promoting kitenge yet he is wearing a suit from the United States of America. We are promoting local products. Give opportunity to only men promoting local products, not those promoting things from abroad. Mh…
Hon. Catherine Omanyo. Mhe. Catherine Omanyo : Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Ninashukuru sana. Nimeambiwa nizungumze kwa Kiswahili. Kuinua uchumi wetu na kuleta pia kazi kwa wamama na wanaume wa kiwango cha chini ni kuwapatia biashara. Kwa hivyo, kuvaa kitenge sio kwa chama peke yake. Yafaa utamaduni wetu wa Kiafrika tusiusahau kwa sababu tunaiga mifano wa ng’ambo na tunasahau tunaonekana kama …
[(Busia County, ODM)]
What is your point of order, Hon. Kassim Tandaza? Mhe. Kassim Tandaza (Matuga, ANC) : Asante, Mhe. Naibu Spika. Kuna watoto wa shule ambao wanatusikiza tukizungumza Kiswahili. Mhe. Babu Owino alisema kwamba kuna nguo ambayo imekaa kwekwe kwekwe. Hicho si Kiswahili sanifu. Huenda Watoto wetu wakalichukulia kuwa neno hilo litaingia katika Kamusi kwa sababu ni Waheshimiwa wamelitaja. Ningeomba hilo n…
Hon. Bishop Kosgei, Nominated Member.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I may not be good in Swahili, but I will try next time. At the outset, I wish to congratulate our beautiful ladies, Hon. Members, for demonstrating and speaking to our identity as Africa. I still join other speakers and agree that the male counterparts should also do the same and have a week for demonstrating our Africanness. We must tell our story. In the history of the west…
Hon. Timothy Wanyonyi, Member for Westlands.
Asante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika kwa kunipatia fursa ya kuchangia mjadala huu. Kwa niaba yangu, nimefurahi sana kuona Wabunge wetu, akina mama, ambao ni viongozi, wakiongozwa na wewe Mhe. Naibu Spika, wakiingia
hapa wakiwa wameng’aa kabisa. Lakini mavazi ni chaguo la mtu. Ila, ningependa kuhimiza akina mama kwamba wakati mwingine mkifanya uamuzi, ni vizuri muungane na wanaume. Mngetuibia hiyo siri, sisi pia tungeweza kuvaa kama nyinyi. Ninafikiria kuwa wakati mwingine huwa mnafanya ubaguzi. Mnafanya mambo peke yenu kama akina mama halafu mnataka wanaume wawaunge mkono. Ningependa kusema ya kwamba ni jamb…
Mhe. Timothy Wanyonyi, akina mama walisema kwamba, na kama ulivyosikia Mhe. Haika Mizighi akisema, tunavaa nguo za Kiafrika sio Kenya tu. La muhimu ni bora zimeshonwa na Wakenya. Ningependa kumpatia Mhe. Yusuf Hassan nafasi hii.
Asante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika kwa kunipatia fursa hii. Nachukua nafasi hii kusema kwamba leo ni siku ya furaha na shangwe kwa sababu naona akina mama wetu wamekuwa na mwamko. Wamejitokeza leo kuzatiti na kushikilia kwa nguvu utamaduni wetu wa Kiafrika. Unajua taifa lolote lisilo na utamaduni sio taifa huru. Tumekua na kasumba ya kikoloni ambapo tumeambiwa kuwa mavazi ya Kizungu, ndio bora na yenye…
Kwa hivyo, ninawatakia kila la heri. Muendelee vivyo hivyo. Mvae haya mavazi mazuri na mtandaze utamaduni na ustaarabu huo kote Kenya. Zaidi pia, tujikomboe kiakili na tuwe na nchi inayoheshimika. Asante sana, Mhe Naibu wa Spika.
Asanteni sana. Next Order.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise under Standing Order 44 (2) (a) to make a Statement on behalf of the House Business Committee which met on Tuesday, 21st February 2023, to prioritise the business for consideration during the week. As Members are aware, yesterday Wednesday, 22nd February 2023, the House commenced deliberations on the Report by the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee on the consider…
Next Order!
on 22.2.2022)
Before I put the Question, I wish to recognise the presence of students from the University of Nairobi, Starehe Constituency, Nairobi County, who are accompanied by students from the Soka University of Japan. Welcome to Kenya.
[(Applause)]
Next Order!
Next Order!
Hon. Leader of the majority Party.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of the Standing Orders 175 (3) and 212B
With those many remarks, I want to beg that we support the establishment of this Committees so that they can embark on their very important duties. I wish to request the indomitable Member for Marsabit, Hon. Naomi Waqo and the Deputy Whip, to second. Thank you.
Thank you, Hon. Leader of the Majority Party. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I stand to support and encourage Members to participate and play their roles well. I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I second.
Thank you very much.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the Question!
Hon. Members, is it the mood of the House that I put the Question?
Yes!
[(Hon. Junet Mohamed spoke off-record)]
I will give a chance to the Whip of the Minority Party.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, we have not come to this House to listen to Questions being put. We came here to debate. We must be given opportunity to say something on issues. This Committee, whose Members we are approving today, is very important to this House. Members spend more than 70 per cent of their time in a day in this House. This is the Committee that takes care of their lives, welfare and ev…
should inform the Executive that they are setting a bad precedent in this country and Parliament is following their example. (Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah spoke off-record) You have already spoken. Give me time to give my thoughts. This is debate, ndugu yangu bwana. In conclusion, I want to say this…
I will give a chance to the Leader of the Majority Party. You are on a point of order. What is out of order, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah?
Hon. Temporary Speaker, besides being irrelevant, Hon. Junet Mohamed is grossly misleading the country. He knows he is on live national television. He is talking about the Leader of the Majority Party sitting in meetings. He knows that the only meetings I sit in are the House Business Committee on Tuesdays, the Committee on Selection and the plenary sittings of the National Assembly. I represent t…
Hon. Members, I order that debate on this subject be confined to the Motion under Order No.10 concerning the appointment of Members to the Select Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I did not know…
I urge Hon. Members to remain relevant to the subject matter.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I did not know until today that the Leader of the Majority Party is such a small man in this country. Kumbe I had very bad perceptions about him? I thought he is a big man. Kumbe he is just a small errand man in Parliament for the Executive. I did not know that. I am sorry. Now I know that you are a small man. However, I know that he attends night meetings. He sometimes cal…
Hon. Members, you had indicated that it was the mood of the House that I put the Question.
Yes!
Do I go ahead and put the Question now?
Yes!
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Next Order, Leader of the Majority Party.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Section 15 (1) (a) (ii) of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017 and Standing Order 175 (3) , this House approves the appointment of the following Members to the Powers and Privileges Committee, in addition to the one specified under Paragraph 1 (a) (i) of the said Act:
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to second the Motion for re-establishing the Committee as constituted. It is a very important Committee. It looks into the breaches of powers and privileges of Members of Parliament. With those remarks, I second the Motion.
Thank you very much. Hon. Members, I now propose the Question.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, further to the resolutions of the House of Thursday, 27th October 2022 and Wednesday, 9th November 2022 appointing Members to various Committees; and pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 173, this House further approves the appointment of the following Members to the respective Committees as specified hereunder:
Therefore, all we are doing is to accommodate these two Members—the Member for Kandara, Hon. Chege Njuguna and Hon. Dekow Barrow Mohamed, the Member for Garissa Township. They are to embark on the work of Committees. I am glad that the Rt. Hon. Speaker was very magnanimous during the induction of Committees. He allowed these Members to attend the induction seminar held in Mombasa in order for them…
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I second the Motion. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Hon. Members, I will now propose the Question.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Hon. Junet Mohamed, what is out of order?
Cabinet Secretaries to appear before the Houses of Parliament to respond to Questions by Members would require the amendment of Standing Orders; further acknowledging that the Speaker, vide a notification issued on 9th December 2022 referred the matters raised in the memorandum to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs with regard to proposals relating to the implementation of the…
The next Order is resumption of Debate. In regard to that, I will give the opportunity to Hon. Kuria Kimani, the Member for Molo.
[(Loud consultations)]
Thank you Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me a chance to contribute to this Motion. The issue before us, which is the amendment of the current Constitution is a discussion that has been ongoing for a long time. During our campaigns, as Kenya Kwanza, we said that there was no need to go for a referendum to put the things that we felt needed to be corrected in the Constitution. There are those iss…
Hon. Members, the Member for Molo shall be heard in silence. The matter that you are bringing up has already been concluded.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to implore the Minority side that just as you ruled, this is a House of order and we are on the next Order. I look forward to that time when we will be reading the Annual Budget for the Financial Year 2023/2024.
[(Loud consultations)]
Order, Hon. Members. Order Hon. Buyu. Hon. Junet take your seat. Please take your seat Hon. Junet. The Leader of the Minority Party please take your seat. Hon. Members, I am not going to Order Number 12 because it has already been concluded. We are on Order Number 13. I gave an opportunity to the Member for Molo to make his contribution. Hon. Member for Molo please proceed with debate.
The issue of the Office of the Leader of Opposition is what we are talking about and it is what we are facing right now.
[(Loud consultations)]
Hon. Members, there is a point of order from Hon. Kaguchia.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I stand pursuant to Standing Order 35. I realise we do not have quorum to conduct any business in this House. I beg that we suspend this debate since we have no quorum in this House. Put the Question.
[(Loud consultations)]
Hon. Members, clearly, we have no quorum. I order the Quorum Bell to be rung for 10 minutes.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Members, with the expiry of the 10 minutes, and the fact that we are not able to raise quorum, the time being 4.50