National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 3 August 2023
Members raised alarm over emerging artificial‑intelligence technologies and potential biometric data exploitation, urging the government to brief the public and schoolchildren. The Speaker ordered the Interior and Information ministries to appear before the House to address these concerns. The debate then shifted to the adoption of a report on the Maize Flour Subsidy Programme, highlighting irregularities in payments, contract discrepancies and lack of transparency in the scheme’s implementation. Members debated a reported large‑scale data‑harvesting operation, confirming that a multi‑agency team is investigating and has seized the collected data. Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah praised the swift action of the Interior and ICT ministries while warning Kenyans against dubious cash offers that could lead to exploitation or terrorist recruitment. The Speaker demanded a progress report and clarified the correct parliamentary committee for oversight of the issue. Members paid tribute to the late Hon. Dr. Joseph Misoi, highlighting his dedication to devolution and public service, before the Speaker announced the upcoming Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Kenya Branch executive elections and invited applications. The House also heard a request for a statement on the impact of the stay of application of the EAC Common External Tariff rates on revenue collection for FY 2022/2023. Procedural matters and calls for youth engagement were interwoven throughout the sitting.
Serjeant-at-Arms, continue ringing the Quorum Bell. Order, Hon. Members. We now have quorum to transact business. Clerk-at-the-Table, start. Hon. Members, I have a Communication that I will make much later. It is still being drafted. So, we can stay Order No.3. Go to the next Order.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(Several Members walked into the Chamber)]
Leader of the Majority Party.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to lay the following papers on the Table:
Thank you, Deputy Whip of the Majority Party. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Health, Dr Pukose.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House: Report of the Departmental Committee on Health on its Consideration of the Cancer Prevention and Control (Amendment) (No.2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.45 of 2022) .
Thank you. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, Dr Mutunga.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the House:
The Chairperson, Select Committee on National Government Constituencies Development Fund, Hon. Musa Sirma.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House: Schedule of budget ceilings for constituencies for the 2023/2024 Financial Year.
Thank you. Next Order.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that the Kenya Roads Act of 2007 mandates the various road authorities to, among other functions, control roads and road reserves, and access to roadside developments; further aware that market centres are ordinarily constructed along road developments across the country; noting that due to improper planning some marketplaces…
Thank you, Beatrice. Member for Turkana East, Nicholas Ng’ikor.
Hon. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 33 (1) , I seek leave for the adjournment of the House to discuss a definite matter of urgent national importance regarding insecurity in Turkana East Constituency and the North Rift region. Hon. Speaker, there have been recent cases of insecurity in Turkana East Constituency with raids witnessed from the neighbouring community, leading to loss of lives an…
It is against this background that I seek leave for the adjournment of the House to discuss this matter of great national concern with a view to exploring possible and lasting solutions for sustained peace in Turkana East and the North Rift region. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Thank you, Hon. Nicholas. You need 20 Members to stand in your support. It is overwhelming. Thank you, Members. You may take your seats. Hon. Nicholas, you will be given an opportunity to move your Motion at 5.30 p.m. Before the next Order, Hon. Members, allow me to acknowledge the following schools in the Speaker’s Gallery:
[(Several Members stood in their places)]
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I take this opportunity to welcome all the schools that have made their inaugural visit to the Parliamentary Buildings of Kenya. First, allow me to recognize and appreciate the staff of Parliament for the wonderful logistical support they have continued to offer. Hon. Members, the staff organized this wonderful visit to this honourable House. Parliament is one of the few i…
[(Hon. Beatrice Elachi spoke off the record)]
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I welcome students from State House Girls High School. I also appreciate Members of Parliament who have students from their constituencies here today. I see Mhe. Mukurino has the best among them. She is performing very well. I wish Hon. Toto were in the House because we have a girl from Bomet and many others. That school has many girls from different counties in this count…
When they leave, they should realise that we are one team. In the House, we show this is Kenya, unlike when we talk out there. We are one team, and we work and serve Kenyans diligently. I welcome them and wish them well. I thank my teachers, particularly James, who led the team. Karibuni sana. We shall have tea. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Thank you, Hon. Beatrice. Next Order. Hon. Mishi Mboko, Member for Likoni.
Hon. 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 management of Likoni and Mtongwe ferry. The residents of Likoni have had two public pathways to Mombasa Island for many years: the Likoni and the Mtongwe ferry channels. The two channels ensure th…
The Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, Member for Ndia. Is he here? Is the Vice Chairperson here or any Member of the Committee? Clerk, communicate to the Chairperson to bring a Statement to Hon. Mishi on the Floor of the House in the next two weeks. Member for Kesses, Hon. Julius Rutto.
Further, in accordance with the rules of the CPA Kenya Branch, the branch is required to hold annual general meeting to, among other things, hold elections of Members of the Executive Committee. For this purpose, the Joint Presidents, the two Speakers of the Houses of Parliament, have convened a meeting on Thursday, 10th August 2023 at 10.00 a.m. in the National Assembly Chamber. The elected Membe…
Thank you, Hon. 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 Finance and National Planning on the effect of stay of application of East African Community (EAC) Common External Tarrif (CET) rates on revenue collection for Financial Year 2022/2023. The Deputy Commissioner in Charge of Risk Management Division, Customs and Border Control directed a stay of application of the EAC CET rules and rates that are applied…
Thank you, Hon. Osoro. Where is the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning Committee or its Members? Hon. Benjamin, you are the Vice-Chairman. Kindly bring a Statement in two weeks.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. We will undertake the exercise and report to the House in two weeks.
Leader of the Majority Party, your Thursday Statement, kindly.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am holding a brief for the Leader of the Majority Party today. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (a) , I rise to give a Statement on behalf of the House Business Committee (HBC) , which met on Tuesday, 1st August 2023, to prioritize business for consideration during the week. As Members are aware, this week, the House concluded various business, includ…
The House will also recall the Communication that was issued yesterday regarding prioritisation of legislation or legislative proposals and Bills before Committees. I wish to reiterate on behalf of the HBC that Committees are expected to fully adhere to the timelines provided for in the Standing Orders and, as communicated, should it be noted that a Committee has inordinately delayed undertaking p…
Thank you, Hon. Osoro. Hon. Members, I can now see that the Leader of the Majority Party is back in the House. You have a debt with the House on mining data from Kenyans by some foreign group. You heard Members yesterday raising their concerns. Hon. Mukunji is around. He is the one who requested for a statement. Hon. Martha Wangari had also raised the same issue as one other Member. Go ahead, the…
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. As you have rightly said, Hon. John Mukunji, Member of Parliament for Manyatta, sought a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration and Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication and Digital Economy on why Worldcoin was collecting data from Kenyan citizens by way of scanning iris in exchange for some money. In particular, he wanted …
Hon. Members, the time being 7.12