National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 4 May 2023
Members discussed the Auditor‑General's report on the NG‑CDF, noting delays and gaps in bookkeeping while emphasizing the fund's positive impact on education, infrastructure and security. They called for clearer accountability of fund account managers, streamlined guidelines for emergency funds, and cautioned against added bureaucracy in project selection. The debate combined constructive criticism with strong support for the NG‑CDF's role in constituency development. Members praised the NG-CDF and NGAAF for improving school enrolment, grades, health access, agricultural livelihoods and climate‑tree planting, while urging a higher allocation (at least 5% of the national budget) and stronger oversight to prevent misuse. They highlighted gaps such as mud‑walled classrooms, limited borehole coverage and the need to incorporate NHIF fee support for the poorest. The House approved a procedural motion to extend the consideration period for two Judicial Service Commission nominees by fourteen days to allow vetting after the recess. In a subsequent point of order, Hon. Jared Okello criticised the National Police Service for withdrawing security from opposition MPs and urged the Speaker, as Chair of the Parliamentary Service Commission, to ensure equal protection. The debate combined cooperative procedural action with partisan concerns over member safety.
Hon. Members, we have quorum to transact business. Clerk. Order, Hon. Members! Take the nearest seats. Hon. Mbadi, take the nearest seat. Order, Hon. Members! I have a short Communication to make.
[(Several Members walked into the Chamber)]
Thank you, Hon. Nimrod Mbai. Next Order, Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining, Hon. David Gikaria.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining on its consideration of the Ratification of the Kigali Amendments to the Montreal Protocol on the Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 4th May 2023, and pursuant to the provisions of Section…
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining on its consideration of the ratification of the amended Nairobi Convention and the Protocol for the Protection of Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-Based Sources and Activities, laid on the Table of the …
Hon. Speaker I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining on its consideration of the Ratification of the Bamako Convention on the ban of the importation into Africa and the control of trans-boundary movement and management of hazardous waste within Africa, laid on the Table of the House on Thurs…
Thank you. Leader of the Majority Party, give your usual Thursday Statement.
Hon. Speaker, 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, 2nd May 2023 to prioritise the business for consideration during the week. I wish to commend the leadership of this House and Members for the dedication and co-operation exhibited in the Session so far. We have certainly be…
Cabinet Secretaries will appear in Plenary during that week and the questions that will be responded to then. In conclusion, I wish Members a wonderful recess period as they spend time with their families, rejuvenate and also discharge their parliamentary and constituency obligations. As I have noted in this Statement, this is one of our long recesses in the second Session after the short recess …
Hon. Leader of the Majority Party, in case it escaped your mind, yesterday the Speaker directed the Cabinet Secretary for Education to appear before the House on the first Wednesday after recess to continue answering the myriad of questions that were un-asked yesterday when he appeared. You may just include that in your Statement for purposes of the Hansard.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for that reminder. May I just include as you have stated. On resumption on 6th June 2023, on Wednesday, 7th June 2023, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Hon. Ezekiel Machogu, will appear to answer to the questions that were left pending yesterday as directed by the Hon. Speaker.
Thank you. Next Order. Hon. Murugara, Chairman Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Section 13 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, 2011 relating to extension of period for consideration of nominees for appointment to a public office, this House resolves to extend the period for consideration of the nominees submitted by His Excellency the President for appointment as member…
that the 28 days will lapse on 21st May 2023, by which time this House will be on recess. Therefore, to ensure that there is sufficient time for the Committee to consider the two nominees through the vetting process and table a good report, we have deemed it necessary that we extend the period by 14 days. The 14 days will take us to after the House resumes. With those remarks, I urge the House to…
Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. First, I congratulate the two nominees, especially His Excellency the first Governor of Bomet, who is known not only in Bomet, but the entire country for always fighting for devolution. He is a man who is known to have the Constitution at the back of his hand. Today, we are proceeding for recess. For this reason, I urge the House to approve the extension of peri…
[(Question proposed)]
Put the question.
Is that the mood of the House?
Yes!
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Before I call the next Order, Hon. Members, allow me to acknowledge the presence of the following institutions, seated in the Public Gallery:
[(Applause)]
Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.
On a point of order.
Hon. Okello, what is your point of order?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. For the record, I am a young person aged 34 years and serving my second term. I am not afraid to be called a young person. Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 120, this House resolves to reduce the publication period of the Finance Bill (National Assembly Bill No.14 of 2023) from seven days to six…
Who is seconding you?
I ask Hon. Makilap, who is one of the key Members of my Committee, to Second.
Hon. Speaker, I second the Motion.
[(Hon. Adan Keynan stood in his place when Hon. Speaker was on his feet)]
Order, Hon. Keynan. Take your seat.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the Question.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Next Order.
Hon. Members, when I finish reading the ruling, we will re-organise the Order Paper and go to Order No.13. In the opinion of Hon. Speaker and Leader of the Majority Party who moved the Motion, this Motion has been sufficiently debated. We should take steps to move a closure, so that the Question on it is put. Then, we will go back to Order No.12. Hon. Members, I have a ruling on the replacement o…
[(Applause)]
The mover of the Motion, the Leader of the Majority Party.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to reply to the Motion. As you mentioned, we have, indeed, interacted with this Motion for the better part of this Session. We even went ahead to amend the Standing Orders. That is why in the last three weeks we have had Cabinet Secretaries in the plenary. That is one of the issues that was in this Motion. I had an engagement this morning with Cabinet Secretary Aish…
[[The Speaker (Hon. Moses Wetang’ula) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) took the Chair]]
On the issue raised by Hon. Lilian Gogo, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a Member mentioning Hon. Zamzam by name. My name is mentioned in this House every now and then. Every Member of Parliament from the Minority Party who wants to make their name must mention the name Kimani Ichung’wah in their speech. I allow them. I do not get emotional about it. I bear a lot of insults from the Minorit…
[(Loud consultations)]
Hon. Members, we will put the Question at a later time. Next Order.
[(Putting of the Question deferred)]
Hon. Members, there being no quorum, the time being 6.11 p.m. notwithstanding, the House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 6th June 2023 at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 6.11 p.m.
Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi