National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 22 November 2022
Members debated a motion to adjourn the House in order to scrutinise the government’s decision to import 10 million bags of genetically‑modified maize, arguing that the import could flood the market, depress farmgate prices and jeopardise farmers’ livelihoods. Hon. Abraham Kirwa highlighted the timing clash with a strong domestic harvest, questioned the safety of GMO maize and urged the Minister for Trade to explain the rationale before any further imports. The Speaker set procedural timelines for responses and allocated speaking time for the debate. Hon. Anthony Oluoch criticised the government’s decision to import 10 million bags of GMO maize, arguing that such a move requires Parliament’s approval under Article 94 and that the health, environmental and constitutional implications have not been properly examined. He highlighted potential risks to farmers and consumers, cited many countries that have rejected GMOs, and called for the House to safeguard its authority before any importation proceeds. Members highlighted that northern regions have sufficient maize harvests and questioned the timing and necessity of current imports, urging the government to prioritize local farmers and reconsider border tax restrictions. They also raised strong concerns about the introduction of GMOs, citing health risks, seed patent issues, and potential threats to farmer livelihoods. Calls were made for better subsidies, price controls, and community‑based food security initiatives.
Hon. Members, we have quorum to transact business. We have Petitions. The first Petition is by Hon. Julius K. Rutto from Kesses. Go ahead and present the Petition.
Thank you so much, Hon. Speaker, for this opportunity to present the Petition on safeguarding the economic and social welfare of communities living next to the forest. I, the undersigned on behalf of forest communities and forest associations across the country draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, Article 60 (1) (e) of the Constitution of Kenya provides that land in Kenya shal…
in Kesses Constituency thereby, leading to impoverishment and harassment of the residents who use their time, effort and resources to look after these forests only for logging firms such as Raiply Company to come and harvest these forest resources; THAT, repeated attempts by the forest communities and forest associations to consult and engage the Kenya Forest Service have been futile due to the l…
Is that part of the Petition? You do not give a Petition and start debating it.
Thank you; I stand guided.
Next Petition is by Hon. Vincent Musyoka. Hon. Members there are three Petitions. After all of them are presented, you will have the usual 30 minutes to make comments.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I have a Public Petition No. 011/2022 regarding pollution of River Athi. I, the undersigned on behalf of the residents of Mwala Constituency and Machakos County, draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, Article 42 of the Constitution of Kenya states that every person has the right to a clean and healthy environment; THAT, Article 62 (1) of the Constitutio…
THAT, for several years now River Athi has been blatantly polluted with heavy metals and harmful chemicals; THAT, the discolouration of the river’s water indicates that the pollution source is in Nairobi’s downstream section with various companies openly releasing their sewer and chemical wastes into the river; THAT, the pollution is a serious health hazard that exposes residents of Machakos Cou…
Thank you, Hon. Member. Hon. Members, the third Petition regards graft investigations at West Kano Irrigation Scheme.
Bi-Annual Report for the period July-December 2021 from the Commission on Administrative Justice. County Governments Annual Budget Implementation Review Report for the FY 2021/2022 from the Controller of Budget. Performance Audit Report on Monitoring of Artisanal Mining Operations by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining. Annual Public Debt Management Report for the FY 2021/2022 from the Nationa…
Thank you, Hon. Ichung’wah. Next Order.
Hon. Members, I received two identical Motions of Adjournment from the Member for Mosop, which came earlier, and the Member for Mathare, Hon. Oluoch. I have allowed both Motions to be debated this afternoon, but we will only have a Notice of Motion from the Member for Mosop. Go ahead.
Hon. Speaker, Thank you for this opportunity.
Order, Hon. Kirwa. There is a point of order from the Member for Emgwen. What is out of order?
Hon. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 86 on proceedings of Select Committees, which reads: “No Member shall refer to the substance of the proceedings of a Select Committee before the Committee has made a report to the House.” In view of these provisions of this Standing Order, as a young parliamentarian, is it in order for Hon. Junet, who is a Member of Departmental Committee on Justice…
Hon. Lelmengit, you are completely out of order. The matter before the House is a Notice of Motion by the Member for Mosop.
[(Laughter)]
Hon. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 33 (1) , I rise to seek leave for adjournment of the House in order to discuss a definite matter of urgent national importance regarding importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) maize into the country. On Thursday, 17th November 2022, the Government, through the Cabinet Secretary for Trade, Investment and Industry, announced an intention to allo…
Hon. Members, the Notices of Motion by the Member for Mosop and the Member for Mathare have sufficient support. We will allocate them time, given the tremendous interest I see from Members on the Floor. We will give them time from 4.00 p.m. The Member for Mosop will move the Motion. This is a Motion that requires no seconding. The Member for Mathare will be allocated equal time with the Member for…
The Member for Laikipia East, Hon. Kiunjuri, has requested his Question to be deferred. It is deferred to a later date. Question No.008/2022
Hon. Speaker, I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation the following Question:
Hon. Member, the Question will be directed to the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Next is the Member for Kisumu Central, Hon. Oron Odongo. Question No.021/2022
Hon. Speaker, I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry the following Question:
Thank you, Hon. Member. The Question is committed to the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining. Member for Ndhiwa, Hon. Martin Owino. Question No.022/2022
Hon. Speaker, the opportunity is appreciated. I rise to ask the Cabinet Secretary of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development the following:
On the next, I am advised that Question No. 26 of 2022 by Hon. Oundo was already asked. Now we go to Question No. 27 of 2022 by the Member for Ruiru, Hon. Simon King’ara. Question No. 027/2022
Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for according me this opportunity to ask the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport the following Question:
Thank you, Hon. Member. Next is a Statement by Hon. Mark Mwenje, Member for Embakasi West. Clerk give him the microphone. You have the microphone, Hon. Mwenje.
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 preparedness by the Ministry of Education and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) regarding simultaneous administration of the upcoming Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Primary School Education A…
Thank you, Hon. Mwenje. Hon. Members, we will… The Chairperson to whom the Statement is directed, is he in the House? The Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education. Leader of the Majority Party, if you listened to the Statement by Hon. Mwenje, it is very urgent and I do not see the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education. Can you undertake that the response be given on…
[(Hon. Speaker consulted with the Clerk-at-the-Table)]
Yes, Hon. Speaker. I think I can undertake that. The Chairperson was here but I am told he has gone to my office. I do not know to do what yet I am here.
[(Laughter)]
How can he leave you in the Chamber and go to your office?
I just heard he has gone to my office, I do not know to do what yet I am here but, I can undertake. I want to indicate to the Member that the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education paid a courtesy call to my office this
morning. Since I was privy to that Question, he is already apprised of the issue and, therefore, I undertake to have an answer by Thursday.
Thursday afternoon. Hon. Mwenje, it is so done. Next Order! Is Hon. Pkosing here? You are not on the Order Paper but I am told you have a Statement to make. I will allow you.
Hon. Members, the time being 7.00