National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 29 September 2022
The joint sitting opened with formal prayers and procedural acknowledgements before the Speaker outlined the President’s policy exposition. The address highlighted initiatives to improve credit access, universal health coverage, and digital entrepreneurship, while also warning of a serious fiscal deficit and unsustainable borrowing. The tone combined optimism about reforms with concern over the country’s financial health. The Speaker outlined a series of reforms aimed at revitalising Kenya’s fiscal landscape, including transforming the Kenya Revenue Authority into a customer‑centric service, tackling excessive government borrowing that crowds out private credit, and overhauling the social security system to include informal workers with a matching government savings scheme. He also highlighted ongoing drought relief efforts, the need for climate‑change mitigation, and praised the impact of the NG‑CDF while calling for stronger parliamentary oversight and recognition of the judiciary.
Your Excellency, the President, Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Members and invited guests, at this juncture, allow me to invite our spiritual leaders to lead us in prayers. (Prayers were said by the following spiritual leaders: Bishop Kepha Omae, Sheikh Sukyan Hassan Omar, His Grace Bishop Philip Anyolo, Rt. (Rev.) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit and Mr. Mancha Ole Kupai Senteu)
The Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Members of Parliament, invited guests, you may now take your seats. Your Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces; Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Moses Wetang’ula, E.G.H, MP; Hon. Members of Parliament, Article 132 (1) (a) of the Constitut…
elected Parliament on Thursday, 29th September 2022, in the National Assembly Chamber, Parliament Building at 2.30 p.m. Accordingly, pursuant to Article 132(1)(a) of the Constitution and further pursuant to Standing Order No.24(1) of the Senate Standing Orders, vide Gazette Notice No.11266, which was published in the Kenya Gazette of 22nd September 2022, I gave notice of this Joint Sitting to all…
[(Applause)]
Your Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) William Samoei Ruto, CGH, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in- Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces; the Speaker of the Senate, Rt. Hon. Amason Kingi; the Hon. Lady Justice Martha Koome, EGH, Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya; Hon. Members of Parliament; members of the Diplomatic corps; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen. I …
[(Applause)]
[(Applause)]
[(Applause)]
[(Applause)]
[(Applause)]
[(Applause)]
counties in 2017, and 39 counties in the just concluded elections. Again, further demonstrating the deepening pluralism and inclusivity of our democracy. Therefore, I take this special opportunity to congratulate you on your election in the last general election; and the subsequent nominations of our nominated Members of Parliament (MPs).
[(Applause)]
[(Laughter)]
counties in every region, throughout the Republic of Kenya. After all, we all serve the same boss. The people and their sovereign interest are our operating principle and purpose.
[(Applause)]
Our agenda here is to take necessary measures to create an enabling environment for business people to thrive and decriminalise enterprise. Affordable credit makes a huge difference in the rate of business growth. Access to affordable credit is like a magic formula. The current Credit Reference Bureau approach of blacklisting debtors is a zero-sum, punitive and has arbitrarily locked millions of …
[(Applause)]
In health, we are bound by duty to take measures to make Universal Health Coverage a reality and liberate Kenyans and their families from the threat of harrowing poverty that stalks them every time a family member falls seriously ill. In our plan, and through your support, we will restructure our primary healthcare system so that we put more resources into promotive, preventive and early diagnosis…
[(Applause)]
We will also work with the Kenya Revenue Authority on a culture change to make it a people-friendly and customer-centric organization. I am of the view that we should rename it the Kenya Revenue Service, in line with the proposed transformation. The very large Government borrowing requirements has also undermined the business sector contribution to national savings and investment efforts. These m…
[(Applause)]
opportunity for all, where every Kenyan is proud to call home. Let us all play our part in the service of our employers, the people of Kenya. Going into the future, I will be making other statements. Today, I will make my Statement short. May the good Lord bless you and the great people of Kenya. Thank you.
[(Applause)]
Hon. Members, please, be upstanding. Your Excellency the President, Rt. Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Members, we have come to the conclusion of the business of the day and it is now time to adjourn. The Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 4th October 2022, at 2.30 p.m. in the Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings.
Hon. Members, the National Assembly equally stands adjourned until Tuesday, 4th October 2022, at 2.30 p.m. Before we adjourn, my apologies to the Members of the Judiciary. Those who carried my speech left out the acknowledgment of our members of the Judiciary present in the House. Apart from the Chief Justice, we have the Deputy Chief Justice, Hon. Philomena Mwilu. Similarly, we have Justice Dan…
[(Applause)]
[(Applause)]