National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting

Chairperson, Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Committee. Hon. Epuyo, are you the Chairperson? Go ahead.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library on Enhancing Reporting of Parliamentary Business on Online Platforms, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 4th October 2023. Hon. Speaker, I do not know whether I am reading the right notice. I hope it is the right one.…

Next is the Member for Dagoretti South. The matter is deferred. Member for Mandera South, Hon. Abdul Haro.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that the Constitution recognises the people’s respect for the environment as the country’s heritage and the commitment to sustaining the environment for future generations; further aware that the cyclic drought in the country has caused devastating effects and serious disruption to the economy; recognising that cli…

vulnerabilities including climate change. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Haro. I will go back to the Member for Dagoretti South, Hon. John Kiarie.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for accommodating me. I am juggling between the House and a sitting of a parliamentary

Thank you, Hon. KJ. Next is the Chairperson of the Mediation Committee, Hon. Ndindi Nyoro. He is not here yet. Hon. Mwashako. Next is the Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture, Hon. Wangwe.

[(Hon. Danson Mwashako consulted with the Speaker)]

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture on its consideration of the

Thank you. We will come back to that Order when Hon. Ndindi comes in. We go to Order No. 7. Hon. Mwashako, as we go to that Order, look for your Chairman.

an opportunity. On Order No. 7, there is a Statement by the Member for Kigumo, Hon. Munyoro.

Hon. Munyoro.

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 plight of bodaboda operators across the country. The bodaboda sector has emerged as one of the key sectors driving the uptake of the Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) models for purchase of various me…

Thank you, Hon. Munyoro. Is the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning here? The Vice-Chair, Hon. Benja.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. We shall take the request to the Committee, process and table a response as soon as possible.

Can you bring a response in two weeks?

Yes. We will do so in two weeks.

Next is the Member for Kirinyaga County, Hon. Jane Njeri.

[(Hon. David Kiplagat raised his hand)]

Is that Hon. DK? Why are you raising your hand?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am raising my hand because we are on Statements. There is a statement that I had requested from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs in terms of the events that happened in Matunda, where one lady was killed by robbers. Up to date, we have not received any substantial statement on the matter. Did you direct it to the Departme…

Yes. Tongoyo’s Committee. Is Hon. Tongoyo in the House? Hon. Raso, when will you bring the response to Kiplagat’s request? Give Hon. Raso the microphone.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. As you said at the beginning of this Session, that matter had lapsed. The matter is already before the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. We can still pursue it because it is a security matter which should not be allowed to go down the drain. We request for two weeks to respond to the Member. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Hon. Raso, I will not give you…

Hon. Speaker, I am well guided. Can you bring a response on Tuesday afternoon?

I am well guided, Hon. Speaker. Excellent. Is the Member for Kirinyaga here? Yes, Hon. Jared Okello

Hon. Speaker, I thank you very much. Last week, you gave a very detailed report on how to handle issues that lapsed with the Session pertaining to Questions and Statements. I want to bring to your attention that towards the end of last Session, there were two petitions that were properly debated before this House. Both of them generated a lot of interest from Members. This pertains to hardship all…

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Petitions are time bound. It is not very good when you have between 30 to 39 petitions that are all way out of time. Yes, Hon. Owen.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. On the same note, the Public Petitions Committee came into life in this Thirteenth Parliament. In the previous Parliament, we had petitions being dealt with by the Departmental Committees. This

where we have more expert opinion at the departmental level and where we will fast track these petitions. Otherwise, Kenyans and Members that have sent petitions to the House are suffering. I do not think Hon. Mbai and his Committee are incompetent, but the work is too much for them and the subjects are too diverse. They may not be able to take care of them at the right time. I urge this House th…

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to add to what you mentioned. I am one of the people whose constituents brought a petition through our Women Representative. It is almost one year down the line. In line with what the Hon. Baya is saying, I think it is time we reviewed our Standing Orders. When we give the Public Petitions Committee all the petitions, they might not be able to handle them. It is tim…

Hon. Speaker, we stand as you have directed, but the matter is more holistic. There are many statements that have not been replied to. In the case that Hon. DK has just raised, somebody lost his or her life. It has been a year down the line and there is still no response to that death. The Executive, which is responsible for giving this explanation, is not taking this matter seriously. Parliament…

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table:

Allocations Bill (National Assembly Bill No.23 of 2023) Go ahead and give notice of Motion.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Article 113 (2) of the Constitution and Standing Order 150 (3) , this House adopts the Report of the Mediation Committee on the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (National Assembly Bill No.23 of 2023) , laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 20th February 2024, and approves the Mediate…

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker. Yes, what is the point of order?

Hon. Speaker, the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee is purporting to have laid a Paper yet I am seeing him with a sheet of paper. So, where is the Paper that he claims to have laid?

[(Laughter)]

[(Loud consultations)]

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. As you are aware, the Papers are already laid. We go back to Order No.7. I saw Hon. Gaceri walk in. Member for Kirinyaga. Hon. Njeri, you are late. I have called you twice.

My apologies, Hon. Speaker. I had paid a courtesy call to the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary. My senior here, is trying to distract me. Hon. Chepkonga, do not distract Hon. Njeri.

[(Hon. Samwel Chepkonga distracted Hon. Njeri Maina)]

[(Laughter)]

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker, for your guidance. I thank you for this chance because it is very important that I bring the attention of this House to one of our critical roles of budget-making. It is usually a lengthy process. Most of us probably thought that the process starts in June. However, to bring Members up to speed, the process starts in the previous calendar year. For example, for t…

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. As we go to Order No.8, I rise to seek your guidance on tabling and contents of Committee Reports regarding Bills. Although what I am saying arises from my observation on the Bill we are discussing I think we, as a House, should address that issue. Firstly, we tend to get Reports very late. Often, Members do not get time to benefit from what Committees have worked on and …

guidance from the Committee. Hon. Nyikal, I think you are suffering from being absent in the House. Your Whip of the Minority Party ably raised the matter you are raising when this Bill was being called for Second Reading. He complained that the Report had just been laid and Members needed time to read through it. By now, I am sure that Members have read the Report. What is more important is that…

Hon. Speaker, it is on the BPS. The Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee has explained the issue. Through you, Hon. Speaker, I ask the Leader of the Majority Party to lend me an ear. The BPS is one of the most important documents in the budget-making process in this House. It was supposed to be laid in this House by 15th February 2024. Today is 20th February 2024. We are late by fi…

[(Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah consulted loudly)]