National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting

Response to a request by Hon. Cynthia Muge. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Labour.

Yes, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Chonga. Is Hon. Cynthia Muge in the House? She is not in the House. You can just table the response. Just table, since even the Member who sought the Statement is not here. Table it. Give it to the Clerk. The Member will follow up from there.

Yes, I am ready.

Go ahead.

Is he in the House? Should I table the response or read it aloud?

No, you present the response. The Member who requested is in the House.

Hon. Speaker, I wish to submit the following response from the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) , to the specific issues raised by the Hon. Member. Hon. Speaker, the Hon. Member requested the status of Shirikisho La Wanawake Savings and Credit Society, including its financial and registration status with the Sacco Society Regulatory Author…

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, Members. I can barely hear what the Chairman is saying. Order, Members!

[(Several Members stood in their places)]

Those on your feet, take your seats. Go on, Chairman.

On the second question, the Member wanted to know what the Ministry has put in place to ensure that the SACCO complies with established regulations, particularly in financial reporting and holding of regular meetings. The Ministry, working in collaboration with county governments, will intensify supervision and inspection of all cooperatives to ensure adherence to the Cooperative Societies Act and…

Thank you. Hon. Gitari.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am worried that the Chairman has opted to read part rather than the entire response from the Cabinet Secretary. I have the response with me. I do not know why he is avoiding pages one and two and going directly to page three. In this same House, whenever one reads a Statement and tries to divert from any point, you rule that they should read the Statement as it is. Why i…

Hon. Shinali, are you avoiding reading some sections of your response?

No, Hon. Speaker. In my closing statement, I said I would transmit the whole copy to the Member. The reply is here, and there is nothing we are hiding. If he wants me to go through every page, with your indulgence, Hon. Speaker, I am available to do that.

Yes, Hon. Gitari.

Hon. Speaker, we have had Statements in this same House.

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, Members. I can barely hear what the Member for Kirinyaga Central is saying. Go on.

Hon. Speaker, in this same House, you tell us to read Statements as approved. There, the minimum expectation is that the response should be read as such. I do not know why the Chairman is avoiding going through the entire response. I have it. Two, I asked him, now that SASRA did not license Shirikisho la Wanawake Savings and Credit Society Limited, what recourse is available for members who have …

Hon. Shinali, have you heard the question?

Hon. Speaker, I have barely heard it. He has asked a supplementary question, which I do not have an answer to now, because it was not part of the question. I take note of it. I need to refer it to the Cabinet Secretary so that he can respond to it at the earliest opportunity.

Hon. Gitari, I propose you follow up on the issues with the Chairman in the Committee. There is a response to Hon. Mary Maingi. Chair, Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

Hon. Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to respond to the request for a Statement by Hon. Mary Maingi on the importation of rice into the country. I wish to give the background as laid out in the Statement. The Kenya National Trading Corporation’s (KNTC) vision, mission, core mandates and strategic objectives are as follows. Vision: to be a leading agent for change and socio-economic transf…

initiatives to create a price stabilisation for essential household food items. As such, KNTC, as a trading company, will supplement other state initiatives by creating strategic reserves for stable and essential food items, vital farm inputs including fertiliser and any other goods necessary for ensuring stability in prices of core goods consumed by Kenyans. It was noted that KNTC will leverage …

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, Members.

On the specific statements as required by Hon. Mary Maingi, Member for Mwea Constituency, Hon. Speaker, I wish to submit the following response from the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Promotion, to the specific issues raised by the Member. The Member wanted to know the total quantity of rice that the government intends to import as part of the measures to supplement …

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, Members. Go on, Hon. Shinali.

Hon. Speaker, this being a policy matter, KNTC importation will be informed and guided by the Government, based on the actual and projected production quantities, which may be provided by the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) such as the ministry responsible for agriculture, department of crop production, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) among others. Regarding the sec…

The fourth question is: What steps are being taken to cushion rice farmers in the country from likely unfair market competition that could lead to market saturation by imported rice? The Government, through a presidential directive, mandated KNTC to mop up excess rice from farmers in Mwea and Ahero for onward distribution to government institutions. KNTC is performing the function to date, and wi…

Hon. Shinali, that is too long. Can you paraphrase?

I am almost through, Hon. Speaker.

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, Members. Members, on your feet, take your seats. Hon. Mary Maingi, I doubt if you followed the response to your request for a Statement. Did you follow anything?

Hon. Speaker, the consultations were so loud. I will need to read the response to the Statement myself.

I think that is the right thing to do. And if you are not satisfied, you can prosecute the statement in the Committee. Order Hon. Members. First, congratulations for turning up in large numbers.

[(Applause)]

Hon. Members, the first item is the referral by His Excellency, the President, of two Bills of this House. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 42, I wish to report to the House that I have received two (2) Messages from His Excellency the President, regarding the referral of the National Land Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and the Cancer Prevention and Control (Amendment) (No. 2) Bil…

In the Messages, His Excellency the President conveys that pursuant to the provisions of Article 115(1)(b) of the Constitution, he has considered the National Land Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and referred it back to the National Assembly for reconsideration, expressing reservations on Clauses 2 and 3 of the Bill. Additionally, His Excellency the President has expressed reservations on Clause…

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Oluoch.

Hon. Speaker, I wish to draw your attention to a stranger who is sitting in the House.

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, Hon. Members. Who is the stranger?

Hon. Speaker, you have severally issued rulings about the dress code in this House. Those rules form part of the tradition of this House. Looking at the Speaker’s Panel, including yourself, you are all dressed in collars. Is it in order for the Member for Embakasi East to walk in dressed as if he were the Speaker, save for your gown? We need your guidance on whether this forms part of the proper d…

[(Loud consultations)]

Order! Order, Hon. Members. Indeed, Hon. Babu Owino, you are improperly dressed. Even your seniors, Hon. Millie Odhiambo, Senior Counsel Otiende Amollo, Otieno Kajwang’, the "Chief Justice", and Hon. Gladys Boss, have never turned up dressed like that. I order you to retreat from the House, dress up and come back.

[(Loud consultations)]

Hon. Members, this Communication is on the consideration of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2025) . I have been advised by your Whips that you have garnered the necessary quorum to transact business at Order No. 11. Is it Order No. 10 or 11? It is Order No. 10. Following this Communication, there are Members who will wish to request statements. We also …

We shall then guide the House into division on the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill. Hon. Members, please remember that you will vote twice. You will first vote at the Second Reading of the Bill. The Speaker will recess behind here to allow the House to go into Committee of the whole. It is a very short Bill. I will then come back to take you through the Third Reading, so that by the close o…

Our records indicate that the four Honourable Members have been indisposed and have been on rest or recuperation with the consent of the Honourable Speaker and their respective doctors. In this regard, they will be allowed to vote virtually. The members are;

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to give you a heads-up. A while ago, we talked about the young boys and girls who man our security in Parliament. You gave your undertaking, which we do not doubt, that all of them would be absorbed into Parliament in terms of employment. I was just giving you a heads-up that their positions have been advertised today in one of the dailies. I just want to give you a…

Thank you, Hon. Wamboka. None of those young people will be prejudiced, so you need not worry. My undertaking remains. Next Order.

Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the resolution of the Parliamentary Service Commission of 23rd June with respect to the Trust Deed and Rules for Post- Service Medical Scheme for Members of Parliament, this House appoints the following Members of Parliament to the Board of Trustees for the Post-Service Medical Scheme for Members of Parliament—

[(Applause)]

Hon. Junet.

Hon. Speaker, I second the Motion.

[(Applause)]

Put the Question.

Do I put the Question?

Yes.

Hon. Members, as I put the Question, I want to advise you. Order, Member for Kisumu East. You are out of order to be talking on phone while in the House. Please do not do that. You are a senior. Hon. Members, those of you who have not registered, please do it.

[(Hon. Shakeel Shabbir was on the phone)]

[(Laughter) (Loud consultations)]

[(Loud consultations)]

Hon. Members the results of the vote are as follows: Ayes – Noes – Abstention – 0 The Ayes have it. I now order that the Bars be drawn and the doors be open. Hon. Members, that is not the end of the vote, will still have to vote in the Committee of the whole House.

[(Question carried by 304 votes to zero)]

[(The Bill was read a Second Time and Committed to Committee of the whole House)]

Hon. Members, we are now in the Committee of the whole House to consider the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No 4 of 2025) . Mover.

[(Clause 2 agreed to)]

[(Clause 1 agree to)]

Hon. Chairlady, I beg to move that the Committee do report to the House its consideration of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No 4 of 2025) and its approval thereof without amendments.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(The House resumed)]

Hon. Chairperson.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2025) and approved the same without amendments.

Mover.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I also request the Hon. George Murugara to second the Motion for agreement with the

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I beg to second.

Order. Order, Hon. Members. Take your seats. Hon. Joseph Lekuton, take your seat. Some Members just enjoy running across the Floor even if you tell them to take the nearest seats.

[(Question proposed)]

Mover.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2025) be now read a Third Time. I also request Hon. George Murugara to second.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to second.

Members on their feet, take the nearest seats.

[(Question proposed)]

Hon. Members, I confirm that we have an overwhelming quorum today. I now put the question, and you do not have to vote by acclamation, that the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 4 of 2025) be now read a Third Time. Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Bell for five minutes.

[(The Division Bell was rung)]

Is the five minutes over? Hon. Millie Odhiambo-Mabona and Hon. Silvanus Osoro, ensure all your Members are in. Members, you are already logged in. So, this time round do not disengage your cards. Leave them where they are. Members who recessed to the rear, the five minutes are over. I now order that the doors be locked and the Bars be drawn. Hon. Members, go to your seats. Now, in the interest of…

[(Hon. Elisha Odhiambo consulted loudly with the Clerks-at-the Table)]

AYES

Order, Hon. Members. Hon. Nyamita, take your seat. The results of the Division are as follows: Number of Members present and voting is 295, out of which 283 are electronic voters and 12 are assisted voters. We also have three virtual voters. Total votes cast are 298 as shown below: Ayes – Noes – Abstention – Total votes –

[(Hon. Mark Nyamita consulted along the gangway)]

[(Question carried by 298 votes to zero)]

[(The Bill was accordingly read a Third Time and passed)]

Now you can open the doors and draw the Bars. Next Order. Clerk-at-the-Table, we will go back to Statements. Call out the Order on Statements.

There are Members with requests for statements. We are back to Order No.7. The following Members had requests for statements: Hon. Elachi and Member for Isiolo. Hon. Elachi, go ahead.

Thank you, Hon. 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 Education regarding the mechanism of transitioning students who missed to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. The rollout of the Competency- …

Thank you. The request is directed to which Committee, Hon. Beatrice?

Departmental Committee on Education.

Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Education, can you respond in the first week after recess?

Yes. Thank you.

Member for Tarbaj in Wajir, go ahead.

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 Transport and Infrastructure regarding funding for the construction of Wajir-Tarbaj-Kotulo Road. The road, which traverses Tarbaj Constituency, is part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (AGDP) that is supported by…

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. Yes, Hon. (Maj) Bashir?

Hon. Speaker. I associate myself with the request for that Statement because it is very important. We know that the work has already started on the Horn of Africa Gateway Road Project. As we speak, it is not only the section where the Member of Parliament has talked about, but in a number of sections, where contractors have downed their tools because the funding or budget has not been factored in.…

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. Do we have any Member of that Committee?

[(Hon. Bidu Mohamed spoke off the record)]

It does not matter! Take your seat. I am asking for the Chairman of the Departmental

Yes.

Go ahead.

Although I wanted to talk about that one because it starts from my county.

Just go to your request for a statement.

The Horn of Africa Road starts from my county, but it has stopped. Anyway, thank you, Hon. Speaker. I will also board that horse when it comes.

Order, Hon. Tubi. When you request for a statement, you only read what the Speaker approved.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I have finished.

Where is Hon. Tongoyo? Any Member of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security? Hon. Caroline Ng’elechei ,you are a member of the Security Committee? You tell your Chair to bring a response in the first week after recess.

Thank you, Chair. I will communicate.

I am the Speaker, not the Chair of the House.

[(Laughter)]

Thank you.

Hon. Omanyo.

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 Administration and Internal Security regarding the inconsistencies in the operationalisation of administrative units that were gazetted within Busia County. The national Government gazetted new divisions, locations and sub-locations in Bus…

Yes, Hon. Odanga. Give Hon. Odanga the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I thank Hon. Omanyo for coming up with the request for a statement. Administrative units were gazetted in 2017 and it has taken so long for the Government to operationalise them. Last December, I wrote and went to the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination. We were promised that divisions, specifically Bukhayo West Division, locations and the sub-locations were goi…

Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security. Hon. Ng’elechei, can you bring a response within the first week after recess?

Yes. Hon. Speaker. I will convey the message to the Chairman.

Hon. Wamuratha.

Hon. 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 Education on measures being taken to resolve the challenges facing the Kiambu National Polytechnic (KINAP) , formerly known as Kiambu Institute of Science and Technology, and popularly known as KIST. Kiambu National Polytechnic (KINAP) , f…

Thank you, Hon. Wamuratha. The Chairman of the Departmental

Yes, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Members, the Mover to this Motion had actually asked for permission because he is engaged elsewhere. Therefore, we shall also defer this particular Motion to the next Sitting. Hon. Members let us be up-standing.