National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting

We have a Statement requested by Hon. Umul Kheir Kassim. Is the Member in? I am informed that the Member requested a deferral. So, we shall proceed to the next one. There is also a request by Hon. Eric Wamumbi. However, I can see he is not present. We shall, therefore, proceed to the next one, requested by Hon. Anthony Mupe, the Member for Rabai, who is in the House.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining regarding alleged pollution and environmental degradation in Rabai Constituency, arising from the operations of Jumbo Steel Mills Limited and Mombasa Canvas Limited. Article 42 of the Constitution guarantees ev…

Thank you. That will be marked to the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining. Maybe, Leader, you can give an undertaking on behalf of the Committee as to when it will be ready.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Probably two weeks after our recess, they will get their response. Thank you.

Hon. Members, I will go back to Order No. 2.

Hon. Members, as you are aware, the Parliament of Kenya is affiliated with the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) , a global organisation of national parliaments committed to promoting democratic governance, institutions, and values in response to the needs and aspirations of the people. To this end, I wish to bring to your attention that the Parliament of Kenya, in partnership with IPU, will co-host …

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise on behalf of other Members to welcome the schools present from Baringo and Kajiado County. Allow me to say that the Olerai School has a heavy presence both in Kajiado North and Kajiado West. It is one of our best-performing schools or one of our good schools in Kajiado. I tell the students from all over that the National Assembly is the institution that makes…

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. On behalf of my colleagues, Members of Parliament, led by our Chairman, Hon. Sirman who is seated with me here, I take this opportunity to welcome Kuikui Primary School to the National Assembly of Kenya, together with Olerai Schools of Kajiado, heavily represented by my good friend Hon. Ngogoyo and Hon. Sunkuyia. Kuikui is an old scho…

Thank you very much for welcoming the students on behalf of the House. Hon. Members, again, I will exercise my discretion so that we continue with Order No. 7. We have requests for statements and responses. Hon. Mark Mwenje, I think you are first on the list.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to request for a Statement regarding the prolonged breakdown of the Ardhi Sasa Platform and the disruption of land services at the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. Pursuant to the provision of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Lands regarding the prolonged breakdown of t…

improve efficiency, transparency, and public access to essential services such as land searches, title registration, transfers, lease applications, cautions, charges, and rent payments. However, for the last two weeks, the platform has reportedly been down, paralysing operations within the Ministry and halting all land-related transactions. As a result, citizens, investors, financial institutions,…

Thank you. That will be responded to by the Departmental

Hon. Deputy Speaker, two weeks after resumption from Recess, the Hon. Chairperson will respond. Thank you.

Next, we have a Statement by the Member for Mandera East, Hon. Hussein.

threats from unidentified individuals over the preceding month. Notably, prior to his abduction, Mr Ismail, who hails from my constituency, Mandera East, had reported receiving information which is available on social media and in Police records from a Tik Toker regarding a credible plot to abduct him and tragically, the concerns were realised. Consequently, his family is experiencing significant …

Thank you. That is marked to the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security. Hon. Raso is here.

Thank you Hon. Deputy Speaker. We will respond in the second week after recess.

Thank you. There is also a request for a Statement by the Member for Mombasa County, Hon. Zamzam Mohamed. She is not present, so we will pass that. Next, is a request for a Statement by the Member for Malindi, Hon. Amina Mnyazi. She is also absent. Let us have the request for a Statement by the Hon. Member for Kitui County.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding unlawful detention of the body of Mr. Joseph Komu Maundu by the Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) . Hon. Deputy Speaker, the late Mr Joseph Komu Maundu, a resident of Kyamututa Vil…

Thank you. Who will take this on behalf of the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Health? I see Hon. Pukose. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, proceed.

Thank you Hon. Deputy Speaker. The request for a Statement will be responded to two weeks after resumption from recess.

We can move to the request for a Statement by the Member for Mwea Constituency, Hon. Mary Maingi.

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 Agriculture and Livestock regarding the plight of rice farmers in Mwea. Hon. Temporary Speaker, rice farmers in Mwea have expressed deep concern over reluctance by the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) to purchase over 30,…

Before I get the Chair of the Departmental Committee to commit, let Hon. Shinali be recognised to say something on that request for a Statement.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I thank Hon. Maingi for requesting that Statement. The KNTC falls under the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. I am aware that KNTC had requested to import rice, but they were denied. That importation was given to Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) . They are the ones who imported the rice. Secondly, we had requested for funds to purch…

Which Committee is your request for a Statement directed?

Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock.

Where is the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock? Hon. Dido Raso, do you want to comment on the Statement?

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The people of Mwea grow a lot of rice, but they are not the real consumers. We are the real consumers. Our Hon. colleague has raised a very important issue for this country. When the farmer wakes up at 4 a.m. or 3 a.m. they pack that rice in sacks and go to the waterlogged farms. Then, there are middlemen who are there to exploit them. Let everybody who…

Hon. (Dr) Wilberforce Oundo.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, let me also join the Member for Mwea who has raised this concern. I declare that I have a very strong attachment to Mwea, having worked on the project that resulted in adequate water for irrigation purposes. I request that she allows that question to be expanded to include all rice-growing areas. I speak so because Budalangi, where my mother comes from, grows a lot of rice.…

Hon. Nyakundi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Hon. Maingi has raised a very pertinent issue. As a country striving to be food- sufficient, there is no way some people can import rice and allocate money for imports, instead of giving it to the people of Mwea, Budalangi and other places so that we mop up the rice and sell it to other Kenyans.

Once we come back from recess, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development should appear before this House and explain why we should import rice instead of buying it from farmers. They have worked very hard to go to the farm and give us food. It is there, but we import rice instead of buying it from farmers. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Do we have the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock in the House? Do we have any Member from the Committee? They are certainly engaged in other parliamentary businesses within the precincts of the House. Do we have the leadership of the House?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock and his team will give the response two weeks after our recess.

Hon. Maingi, you will get a response in two weeks after recess.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

There is a request for a Statement by Hon. Eric Wamumbi which is in the Order Paper.

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 Administration and Internal Security regarding reported circulation of harmful adulterated alcoholic drinks in the country. There is a growing public concern over reported circulation and sale of adulterated alcoholic drinks. It …

Hon. Dido Raso, on behalf of the Chair, Departmental Committee in charge of Administration and Internal Affairs.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. We will respond the second week after recess.

Second week after recess, Hon. Eric Wamumbi, it shall be.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Let us go to the Statement by the Nominated Member, Hon. Irene Mayaka, regarding delayed processing of Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning regarding delay in processing of VAT refunds and its implication on businesses. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the recent enactment of the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026 by this House effectively hal…

The Chair, Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning? Anybody from that Committee? Hon. Lesuuda is not the Chair of that Committee. The Chair is very hardworking. I know the Committee is currently engaged with the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill. Could the leadership commit on when the response shall come to the House?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I commit that the response will be given two weeks after recess.

Hon. Mayaka?

Okay.

Yes, two weeks after recess the response shall be brought to the House. It is so ordered. Next is a request by the Member for Laisamis, Hon. Joseph Lekuton that the Question be asked on his behalf by Hon. Naisula Lesuuda. That request has been acceded to by the Speaker. Hon. Lesuuda, proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to request for a Statement on behalf of Hon. Lekuton, the Member of Parliament for Laisamis Constituency. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding the outbreak of unknown illness among students of Bishop Cavallera Girls Secondary School in Marsabi…

permanent closure as a result of mass transfer by students for fear of contracting the unknown illness. The situation calls for urgent action to safeguard students’ health, prevent a broader public health emergency and avert closure of the school. Hon. Temporary Speaker, it is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health on th…

Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Education. Do we have anyone from the Committee to commit to when the

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I come from Marsabit. I understand the case and it should be given special attention. I believe the Committee should be able to respond in two weeks’ time after the recess.

Hon. Naisula, in two weeks, the response to the Statement will be brought to the House. Is that satisfactory?

Yes, it is, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

The next request for Statement is by the Member for Shinyalu, Hon. Fredrick Ikana.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to 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 alarming increase in fatal hit-and-run accidents at Ilesi and Muraka centres along the Kisumu - Kakamega Road in Shinyalu Constituency. Ilesi and Muraka centres along the Kisumu - Kakamega Road have incre…

Shibelenje. These repeated fatalities at Ilesi and Muraka are reportedly linked to a combination of factors, including over-speeding by motorists, absence of speed bumps, inadequate street lighting, warning signage, lack of pedestrian walkways and crossing points. These have led to dangerous interaction between speeding vehicles and pedestrians. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the situation is aggravated…

The Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. George Kariuki. He seems not to be in. The Vice-Chairperson of the Committee? He also seems not to be in. Do we have any Member of the Committee in the House? Again, all those Members are engaged in other Parliamentary business within the precincts. The leadership of the House, Hon. (Dr) Naomi Waqo, please commit.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. We commit that the Chairman will give the response two weeks after the recess.

Hon. Ikana.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I appreciate.

In two weeks after the recess. I advise the Chairman that the situation Hon. Ikana is speaking to, is affecting very many areas. There should be speed bumps when you approach a school and when you exit; when you approach a trading centre and when you exit. It has caused us many deaths across the country. Next will be the request for Statement by the Leader of the Majority Party. Statement to be re…

to be brought to the House today by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, Hon. Mutunga. Is Hon. Lillian Siyoi in the House? I note there is a bit of interest on this one. Ordinarily, I would have required the Chairman of the Committee to Table the response before the House for the Member to pick. But because of the importance of the matter and the issue it is…

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This matter was put before the House yesterday. The Request for Statement was made yesterday. I contacted the Ministry immediately. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we have a liaison officer in Parliament with whom we work with. This morning, I had an activity at the Kenya Sugar Board because of other issues that are also upcoming, whose depth and breadth we nee…

The Temporary Speaker did not hear your response.

[(Laughter)]

I do not want to declare that the Temporary Speaker is out of order. He was very busy with other things as I was contributing.

[(Laughter)]

Who is this Principal Secretary who can keep the business of the House pending? Where is he?

So, when was the request for Statement sought?

It was issued yesterday and the Speaker said he needed a response in one day. I tried to negotiate but the Speaker said that it is not the Cabinet Secretary who is supposed to give us a response. I tried my best to get a response, but I have been unable.

Let us have Hon. (Dr) Wilberforce Oundo.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, as the substantive Speaker put it yesterday, the response cannot wait. This is the planting season and fertiliser is expected. Therefore, the matter cannot wait. Is it possible for Hon. Mutunga to undertake to extract the Statement from the Ministry and share it with us through the Speaker even when we are on recess? That will help us apprise our people on the status of fer…

Hon. Mutunga, this is the sowing and weeding season when we need fertiliser the most. You have mentioned your struggles in engaging with the Principal Secretary and we truly commiserate with Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and his entire family. I doubt that the House’s business can be held hostage because a Principal Secretary did not sign on a response. That is unacceptable. I want to determine…

Let us have Hon. Mutunga.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The sticky issue in the Statement sought by the Member for Trans Nzoia is that subsidised fertiliser is being transported across the border to Uganda. We need to quickly investigate that issue. We need confirmation from the Ministry. The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) distributes fertiliser. The distribution mechanism was developed after the registrati…

I will pardon the Principal Secretary only for the reason given and only because the matter was remitted for him to deal with personally. This should never happen again. I am allowing it only because the delay involves the Cabinet Secretary, Mr Davis Chirchir and his family. He is the best, if not one of the best Cabinet Secretaries we have in the country. We condole with his family.

I direct that the Principal Secretary sends a response to the House one week after we come back from recess. Chairperson of the Committee, deliver that message to him. We need that response because it cannot wait. It is so ordered and directed. Let us have Hon. Zamzam Chimba.

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 Administration and Internal Security regarding cases of Gender-Based Violence in Mombasa County. In the recent past, there have been incidents of Gender-Based Violence in Mombasa County, particularly involving children and women. …

To which committee is the request for Statement directed to? Is it the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security? The Chairperson of the Committee is engaged. Where is the Vice-Chairperson, Hon. Dido Raso? Hon. Naomi Waqo, I hope you are not discussing your Marsabit matters in the Plenary, then you dispatch one another.

[(Hon. Naomi Waqo spoke off the record)]

[(Laughter)]

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I commit on behalf of the Committee that the response shall be availed two weeks after the recess.

Hon. Zamzam Chimba, does that sound reasonable?

Yes, Hon. Temporary Speaker. But because of the urgency of the matter, I urge the Committee to bring the very best response after those two weeks. Thank you.

The report from the Committee shall be brought within two weeks. Hon. Waqo, within two weeks means that if you have it ready on the first day after the recess, you can bring it. It does not have to wait for 14 days. Bring it as soon as it is ready.

We will do that. Thank you.

Thank you. It should be ready within two weeks after recess. Next, is a response to the Statement request by Hon. Machua Waitaka regarding the effects of the ongoing United States/Israel-Iran Conflict on distribution of petroleum products in the country by the Departmental Committee on Energy. consulted with the Clerk-at-the-Table) Hon. Gikaria, let me confirm if Hon. Machua Waithaka is in the H…

[(The Temporary Speaker (Hon. Peter Kaluma)]

[(Hon. David Gikaria spoke off the record)]

Yes, Hon. Gikaria.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I was ready on Tuesday afternoon but you directed that I must give the response today. Unfortunately, the Member of Parliament for Kiambu must be engaged elsewhere. However, I wish that you would grant me the permission to Table the response so that if it is not satisfactory, we can then amend.

I remember the concerns raised in the Statement. Could I by observation look at whether Members have interest to speak beyond the Report before I give my directions hereon?

It is sorted.

The position of the Hon. Speaker is that once the Report is brought, it is a property of the House. So, in some instances, even if the person who asked the question is not there, the Speaker can, on discretion and in public interest, allow the Report to be properly read before the House and for the Members to debate as representatives of the people. Give Hon. Gikaria the microphone. The Members a…

Most obliged, Hon. Temporary

Hon. Gikaria, you can proceed to Table the Report and you will stand discharged. There is nothing else.

[(Hon. David Gikaria laid the Statement on the Table)]

Hon. Caroline Ng’elechei, you wanted to raise a matter concerning the greatest Kenyan to ever win the marathon so that the House can also say something about it. Please proceed. I hope he is also from Elgeyo Marakwet.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, every athletic winner in the Republic of Kenya, either lives in Elgeyo Marakwet or trains in Elgeyo Marakwet. This one trains in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

That is the beauty of sports. It brings all of us together and it has no equal. I rise under Standing Order 44 (2) (a) to make a Statement on behalf of the House Business Committee, which met on Tuesday, 28th April 2026 to prioritise business for consideration by the House during the next sitting week. First, allow me to commend the leadership of the House, our Committees and Members for the dedi…

Thank you, Leader of Majority Party. Could we now revert to Order No.5, which is on Papers?

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:

Thank you, Leader of the Majority Party. Hon. Members, I also wish to confirm that the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning has submitted the following documents together with the Estimates: The Draft Finance Bill, 2026; the Draft Kenya Revenue Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the Draft Road Maintenance Levy Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Chairperson, Departmental C…

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to lay the following paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on its Consideration of the East African Community, Custom Proposals for the Financial Year 2026/2027. This is the first time these proposals have come before this House. COFEC instituted proceedings against the National Treasury, and the court directed that…

Next Order. At Order No.8, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health is not present. Owing to the importance of this Motion, the reply is deferred to a future date.

Next Order. Chairperson of the

I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Delegated Legislation on its consideration of the Copyright Tariffs, 2026, laid on the Table of the House on

[(Consolidated (Music and Audio-Visual Works)]

Wednesday, 29th April 2026, and pursuant to the provisions of Section 18 of the Statutory instruments Act, Cap. 2A and Standing Order 210(4)(b), this House approves the Copyright (Consolidated (Music and Audio-Visual Works) Tariffs, published as Legal Notice No.6 of 2026, subject to the annulment of the following provisions in the Schedule to the Regulations—

Hon. Geoffrey Wandeto, please second the Motion.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to second the Motion on the approval of the Report of the Copyright Tariffs, 2026 – 2028, Legal Notice No. 4 of 2026. First, I wish to commend the Chairman and the Members for a thorough and legally sound review of the Regulations. The Report before this House reflects a careful appreciation of both the constitutional and economic dimensions of copyright regulation…

[(Consolidated (Music and Audio-Visual Works)]

[(Question proposed)]

Hon. (Dr) Oundo, do you want to contribute to this? Hon. Naomi Waqo? Yes, another Motion. Hon. Kimani Kuria, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee in charge of Finance and National Planning.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I was discussing this Motion with the Mover. I am impressed that the Committee has proposed the annulment of most of those tariffs, as some would have hurt small businesses in this country.

This House must rise to the occasion to support entrepreneurship and businesses. At a time when there are many tariffs charged, for example, by county governments, it is interesting that some counties charge businesses fire extinguisher fees, yet they do not even have a fire engine. Sometimes they also charge fire engine tariffs, but when there is a fire, no truck is available to put it out. I wa…

as voters. If you are registered at a different polling station and want to change, go to the polling station where you are registered and change to your preferred polling station. With that, I support and congratulate the Committee for doing a very good job. Thank you.

There being no further interest to contribute… Is that Hon. David Mboni? Please make your contributions.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As you move forward to adjourn the House, I think this proposal is very important. This is because some of these levies, especially those from the counties, are overbearing on small businesses. Therefore, it is our responsibility as a House to ensure that small business people are protected. It is actually the middle-income group which moves the country forward, …

The effect of what the Committee on Delegated Legislation has proposed in this report is that performance of music copyright in both audio and visual forms will be chargeable under the Act except for situations where they are used in hairdressings, salons, bars, carwashes, barber shops, retail shops and in political events, campaigns, launch parties, unveiling candidates and manifestos. There bei…

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I appreciate my colleagues across the aisle's contributions. The Committee noted that many agencies want to raise rates and fees, making it very expensive to do business in this country. One way to encourage small businesses and investors is to set reasonable; affordable rates. They will then be able to engage in business without many problems. The Government is supposed to…

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Next Order.

Hon. Members, the Chairperson of the

Hon. Members, for the convenience of the House, this Motion is stepped down for consideration at a future date. Next Order.

Hon. Members, I have acceded to the request by the Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation that this Motion be stepped down for consideration at a future date. He is engaged in other parliamentary business. Next Order.

Hon. Members, for the convenience of the House and noting the amount of work ahead of the House as we proceed to recess, the consideration of this Motion is stepped down to such time as the House Business Committee shall schedule for transacting it. Hon. Members, congratulations on the good work that you have done as you proceed to be with your constituents during the recess.