National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Thursday, 9 March 2023
Hon. Ali Raso briefed the House on the upcoming post‑Cotonou EU‑ACP partnership, highlighting its implications for trade, governance and human‑rights cooperation. He also emphasized Kenya’s maritime security challenges, climate‑change impacts on resource‑based conflicts, and concerns about cohesion within the OACPS, especially following South Africa’s withdrawal. The speech was largely informational with calls for unified regional action. Members debated the tension between Western values and African cultural norms, emphasizing that LGBTQ rights are not compatible with Kenya's constitution. The discussion also called for greater African economic integration, including a common currency, and criticized perceived EU interference in regional affairs. While some speakers praised the report and parliamentary cooperation, others highlighted political fear and the need for institutional memory. Hon. Kassait Kamket complained that the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining failed to invite him to discuss a Kenya Forest Service recruitment issue affecting his constituency, expressing frustration at the perceived casual handling. Several members raised procedural points of order concerning the timing and format of committee responses to questions, while Hon. Wanami Wamboka delivered a status statement on the dire financial condition of public universities, prompting clarification on whether it was a committee report or a personal statement. The sitting highlighted both constituency grievances and procedural debates within the House.
I direct that the Quorum Bell be rung for 10 minutes. You may stop the bell.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(The Deputy Speaker consulted the Clerks-at-the-Table)]
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table: The Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Explanatory Memorandum from Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements in respect of the following institutions for the year ended 30th June 2020, and the certificates therein:
The next Paper is by the Chairperson of Public Debt and Privatisation Committee, Hon. Abdi Shurie, who is here.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: The Report of the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee on the 2023 Medium -Term Debt Management Strategy. I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Member for Konoin, Hon. Brighton Yegon. He does not seem to be in the House. Hon. John Mashua Waithaka, Member for Kiambu.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that Article 43 (1) (a) of the Constitution provides that every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including the right to health care services; further aware that the relationship between health and education plays a significant role in school attendance rates; concerned that the negativ…
Hon. Abdi Shurie, Chairperson of the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Public Debt and Privatisation
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Hon. Kangogo Bowen, what is your point of order?
Hon. Deputy Speaker, the wifi in the House is not working and, therefore, I am unable to access the Order Paper. Can you kindly order the clerks to look into that? I have tried a number of tablets and they are not connected.
Okay. I think the Information, Communication Technology (ICT) people have heard your concern. If you, however, need to look at the Order Paper, you can pick the hard copy from the Clerk’s desk. Hon. Members, I wish to recognise the presence of the following schools in the Public Gallery: Muthale Girl’s High, Kitui West Constituency, Kitui County; Sacho High School, Baringo Central Constituency, …
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
What is your point of order, Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe?
Hon. Deputy Speaker, mine is an addition to the point of order raised by Hon. Bowen Kangogo. Looking at what is happening with our systems, which is unfortunately reading Chinese instead of the original language; and knowing that we have had issues with China Square recently, could it be an issue that another country has invaded our Parliament? Thank you.
[(Laughter)]
Once the IT team informs me, I will know how to respond to that. Hon. Members, I request that we bear with that for a few minutes. Members who are supposed to go to the next Order have their Questions in writing and we can, therefore, proceed with that. I am hoping that by the time we are through with Questions, we shall have the systems working. Thank you.
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
What is your point of order Hon. Kamket? Kindly give him the microphone.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, yesterday, I raised a matter on the recruitment exercise by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) . Given the urgency of the matter you ruled that the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining convenes a meeting today and invites me. I have waited – and the day is almost ending - and I have not been invited to any meeting by the said Committee. Yesterday, at the rec…
Your point is taken. Hon. Kamket, you are the only one who raised that issue. It is good to have some initiative because Committees were meeting today and tomorrow. Kindly check that and show up there. We are done with that topic. Next Order.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to ask the Attorney- General the following:
That Question shall be replied by the Departmental Committee for Justice and Legal Affairs. Member for Homa Bay Town, Hon. Peter Kaluma. He is not in. It is deferred. Question No. 032/2023
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum the following:
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
What is your point of order Member for Nyandarua?
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. It is a tradition in this House that when a Question is raised, the Speaker asks the Chair of the respective Committee that the Question is intended for to indicate the timeframe for responding to the questions. For the two past Questions, I have not heard any commitment in matters of timelines. I am interested in this matter because I also have a Question. I reque…
The Chairperson has unfortunately not received the response. If they are here, we can ask them. Is the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs here? It seems he is not. The Member for Mandera South, Hon. Abdul Haro. Proceed. Question No.034/2023
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development the following:
The Question is referred to the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. Next is the Member for Kipipiri, Hon. Wanjiku Muhia. Question No.035/2023
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection:
Hon. Muhia, your Question stands committed for response before the Departmental Committee on Social Protection. You shall receive the timeframe from them. Members, I notice that there is one more Statement from the Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee (PIC) , Hon. Wanami Wamboka, on Governance and Education.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Hon. Wamboka can learn from this Statement and how it is done under Standing Order No. 44 (2)
Hon. Deputy Speaker, the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee has just tabled its
Thank you, Leader of the Majority Party. Hon. Members, I wish to introduce to you a delegation seated in the Speaker’s Gallery from the Parliamentary Service Board of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
[(Applause)]
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I wish to move the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Sixth Report of the Procedure and House Rules Committee on Amendments to the Standing Orders, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 8th March 2023 and pursuant to the provisions of Article 124 (1) of the Constitution and Standing Order 265-
That is what I have done. I did it the way it appears on the Order Paper. The Clerks-at-Table are confusing me. The point I am trying to make is that with so many committees – about 40 of them– it has been very difficult to track and follow up on what happens in them based on what the new Constitution brought, that every Cabinet Secretary or Principal Secretary should appear in Committees and som…
Secretary for a certain portfolio 10 years down the line because of this situation. We want Kenyans to know what Parliament is doing. The only way for this to happen is to have Cabinet Secretaries come before this House and answer so that Kenyans get to know that Parliament is working. There has been laxity on the side of the Cabinet Secretaries. Comparative analysis shows that where Cabinet Secr…
With those remarks, I request the Leader of the Majority Party to second.
Proceed, Leader of the Majority Party.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to second the Report by the Select Committee on Procedure and House Rules. I would just like to add that as the Mover, Hon. Ochieng’, moved the Motion it was important for him to mention that upon approval of the proposed amendments to the Standing Orders as contained in Annex 3 of the Report, we shall resolve that if the amendments agreed in the Committee of…
[(Question proposed)]
Put the Question!
It is the mood of the House that I put the Question.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
I now call upon the Chairperson to report.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the National Assembly Standing Orders and approved the same with amendments.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I request Hon. Omboko to second the Motion for agreement with the report of the Committee of the whole House.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I second.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Order, Hon. Members. Order, Hon. Beatrice. There being no quorum at the expiry of the 10 minutes, and the time being 5.40 p.m., the House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 14th March 2023 at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 5.40 p.m.
023 at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 5.40 p.m. Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi