National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Hon. Kuria Kimani advocated for the passage of the Virtual Assets Bill, highlighting its potential to create up to 25,000 jobs and position Kenya as a leading African hub for blockchain innovation. He stressed the need for a clear regulatory framework to protect consumers after incidents like the Bitstream Circle collapse, outlining licensing requirements, conflict‑of‑interest rules, and enforcement mechanisms. The debate balanced enthusiasm for digital‑asset growth with caution about financial and systemic risks. Members debated the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, with Hon. Naomi Waqo praising its potential for financial inclusion, digital innovation and regional leadership. Hon. Esther Passaris used the opportunity to address the upcoming anniversary of the Gen Z uprising, urging peaceful prayer, police restraint and dialogue rather than violence. The debate combined strong support for the legislation with concerns over youth unrest and calls for police reform. The afternoon sitting was dominated by procedural business, with members laying papers and giving notice of motions on the Budget and Appropriations Supplementary Estimates, the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee report, public debt and privatisation, and the ratification of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development agreement. A notable exchange occurred between the Speaker and Hon. Kassait Kamket, who contested media portrayals of him, resulting in a brief, tense dialogue.
Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell. Hon. Members, we now have a quorum. Clerk-at-the-Table.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Chairperson, Budget and Appropriations Committee. Where is Hon. Atandi?
[(Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah spoke off the record)]
Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, allow me to lay the following Papers on the Table: Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee on its consideration of the Third Supplementary Estimates for the Financial Year 2024/2025 and the compendium of Departmental Committee Reports on their consideration of the Supplementary Estimates. Thank you, H…
Thank you. Vice-Chairperson, Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee. Who is it? Hon. Kamket.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Second Report of the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee on the status of implementation of the Constitution by:
Thank you. Chairperson, Public Debt and Privatisation Committee. Yes, Hon. Mrembo.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table:
Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, Hon. Kuria Kimani. Discontinue your conversation and do your work.
[(Hon. Kuria Kimani consulted with several Members)]
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table: Reports of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on its consideration of:
Thank you. Next Order.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, the House adopts the Report of the Budget and Appropriations
Thank you. The Chairperson of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Second Report of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 24th June 2025 on the status of implementation of the Constitution by –
What is it that you want to say?
Hon. Speaker, I noticed in the mainstream print media that my name has been splashed in headline news as a warmonger. While I will not be intimidated by the media, allow me to say that the events ….
Order, Hon. Kamket. I will give you an opportunity during Statement Time, which is the next order. Take your seat. Next is the Chairperson of the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Public Debt and Privatisation
Thank you. Next is the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. Member of Parliament for Molo Constituency, give your notice of Motion.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on its consideration of the Ratification of the Agreement Establishing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 24th June 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of section 8 (4) of the Tr…
Thank you. Next order.
Hon. Kamket, I give you two minutes to give a personal statement.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I was saying that I, Hon. William Kamket, the Member for Tiaty, am a Prince of Peace.
Do you know what “Prince of Peace” means?
Yes, you are looking at one. I am indeed a Prince of Peace.
You are not.
Hon. Speaker, the Kamket they are referring to is a different Kamket; Kamket of the media.
Order, Kamket. Call yourself a peace-loving Member. You are not a Prince of Peace.
I am a peace-loving Kenyan and, indeed, a Prince of Peace. I insist.
Order. Strike out the words “Prince of Peace” from the Hansard. You are not.
Thank you. I am a peace-loving Kenyan.
That is okay.
Thank you. While I shall not be intimidated, it is on record, and it shall remain on record, that the events of the 25th of June last year were nothing other than an attempted civilian coup led by none other than the former Deputy President, whom we impeached in this House. The activities they are now planning to commemorate, which amount to the attempted overthrow of our constitutionally elected …
Order, Hon. Kamket. What was in the papers?
There is an attempt by the print media….
Just listen to your Speaker, because I read all the papers studiously. By 4.00 a.m., I had read all of them. What they said of you is that you are a warmonger and that you are spewing out hate material against people in the country. So, limit yourself to that.
Yes. Indeed, the real inciters to hatred in this country are the media, especially the print media. They are the ones who have been inciting our youths by bringing up issues that are foreign to them. They are trying to negatively portray leaders who speak out against what is happening or what is being planned, and casting them in bad light. They are attempting to intimidate leaders. I am standing …
Point made. Hon. Machua Waithaka, Member of Parliament for Kiambu Constituency.
Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations regarding the disappearance of Mr Reuben Barua, a Kenyan, in the United States of America (USA) . On 13th May 2025, Mr Reuben Barua of Identity Card Number 550886 and his wife, who reside in Ndumberi in …
It is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on the following:
Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. Hon. Major (Rtd) Bashir, you are the Vice Chair, right?
Yes, Hon. Speaker.
I know we are breaking for recess on Thursday but because of the importance of the matter, try and furnish the Honourable Member with some written response in two weeks’ time. We can then mention the matter when we resume.
Thank you, Chair. I am well guided; we shall do so. Within two weeks, we will be able to give him a response and formally bring it to the House after recess.
Thank you. Hon. Ekwom Nabuin.
Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations regarding the status of investigation into the Todonyang Massacre. On 22nd February 2025, armed assailants believed to be members of the Dassanach militia from the neighbouring country of Ethiopia carrie…
Thank you. Hon. Bashir.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I have heard the Request of Statement. The incident of 22nd February 2025 was very unfortunate. I will equally say the same as on the response given earlier. We will give the Member a written submission in two weeks' time and formerly respond to the Request in the House upon resumption from recess.
Thank you. Responses? Hon. Bashir, again. You will respond to a Statement Request by Hon. Jane Kagiri, Member of Laikipia. Is Jane Kagiri in the House? The questioner is not in the House. To be fair to her, we can stay the Statement response. We can deal with it if she comes before the end of Statement time. Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, you have a Response to a Statemen…
[(Response to Statement request deferred)]
Hon. Speaker, the Member for Kirinyaga Central, Hon. Joseph Gitari, requested for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the status of construction and rehabilitation of roads in Kirinyaga Central Constituency. He sought to, among other things, establish:
Hon. Gitari, are you satisfied with the response so that we can move on?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am not fully satisfied. I sympathise with my friend and neighbour, Hon. G.K. because he was not the author of this reply. My request for a Statement was specific. One of the questions that I asked was the actual completion date, not the previous completion date that was indicated as 2024. The President launched the Mutira-Kagumo-Kiamaina-Gathuthuma Road and I thought mo…
Hon. G.K. have you brought an inappropriate answer?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I know these roads not just by name, but by location. I have used these roads in Kirinyaga County.
Is your Statement factual?
Hon. Speaker, my Statement is factual in as far as the funding challenge is concerned. That is the main point. It is not about the timelines but availability of resources to complete those projects. I also want those projects completed because I am Hon. Gitari’s county mate. We will do our best to support him, the people of Kirinyaga and by extension, the people of Kenya. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Thank you. We will go to the next response. Is Hon. Josses Lelmengit in the House? He is not in the House. Is Hon. Jane Kagiri in the House?
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
Yes, Hon. Wangari.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Before you exit that Order, I would like to remind you that last Thursday, I requested for a Statement on gambling from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National
Planning. You instructed that I write to your Office, which I did. Maybe you can give direction on that matter so that I know the way forward before we go on recess.
I directed the Clerk to ask the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning to bring a response. Chairperson, will you be able to bring a response tomorrow or on Thursday?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for your indulgence. I apologise to Hon. Martha Wangari for the delay. As you are aware, there were several other businesses that were referred to my Committee. However, we will do our best to bring a response by Thursday.
I did not put any pressure on you. This is because I knew the load of business that was before you. Can you bring a response on Thursday?
Hon. Speaker, I will do so on Thursday.
Thank you. Responses to requests for Statements by Hon. Jane Kagiri, Member for Laikipia County and Hon. Josses Lelmengit will be stayed until Thursday. Hopefully, the Members will be present. Major Bashir and Hon. G.K. be ready for Thursday. Before the Leader of the Majority Party moves the next Motion, allow me to make a Communication. Order Members on their feet. Take your seats. Hon. Richard…
[(Responses to requests for Statements by Hon. Jane Kagiri and Hon. Josses Lelmengit deferred)]
[(Several Members stood along the gangways)]
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. On behalf of the House, allow me to take this opportunity to welcome the delegation from the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As you heard, Members welcomed them while saying “Igwe” as you called out their names. Karibu to Kenya. May you take your time to learn as much as you can. Hon. Speaker, many African countries can learn from Kenya and the Republic of Rwanda about women…
Before you do so, I have been requested by Hon. Wangari that she lend her voice of welcome and support.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. On behalf of yourself and the panel today, led by the Deputy Speaker, we hosted the delegation for an intense one-and-a half hour discussion. We learnt a lot from each other. More importantly, as the Leader of the Majority Party has said, they can copy a lot from our country. In the Nigerian Senate out of 109 Members, only four are women. In the House of Representatives ou…
Thank you. Leader of the Majority Party, you can now proceed with your Motion.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Before I move, it is also important to note as Hon. Martha Wangari has said, that we also came from where Nigeria is today. There was a time when there were very few elected women Members of Parliament in this country.
When I first came to this Parliament in 1992, there were three elected women.
Including Hon. Wanjiru from Kinangop.
The prophetess.
[(Laughter)]
Indeed, it has been a long walk to get to where we are. I hope that the Republic of Nigeria, as African powerhouse in the western part of the continent, just as Kenya is in Eastern Africa, will lead from the front. Africa is better with more women representing their people in both the Legislature and Executive.
[(Applause)]
Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Orders 30 (3) (a) and (b) , this House resolves to—
[(Hours of Meeting)]
Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. As the Leader of the Majority Party has rightly put, looking at the calendar of this House, we will proceed on recess from Thursday. So, it is quite in order for us to dispense with the very serious business before us as we discussed in the House Business Committee. Hon. Speaker, I beg to second.
[(Hon. Dekow Mohamed and several Members stood up in their places)]
Thank you. Members on their feet, take your seats. Hon. Major Dekow take the nearest seat. Hon. Members, do I put the Question?
[(Question proposed)]
Yes.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Next Order.
Hon. Atandi, Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 120, this House resolves to reduce the publication period of the Supplementary Appropriation (No.2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.26 of 2025) from seven days to one day. We have roughly four days to the end of this financial year. Also, the House is going for a short recess this week.…
Who is seconding?
I request the Leader of the Majority Party to second.
Leader of the Majority Party.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to second. As the Chairman has said, in view of the fact that we have less than four days to the end of the financial year, we need to conclude the Supplementary Appropriation Bill No.2 for this financial year so that it can be assented to before the end of the financial year. Therefore, it is important to reduce the publication period to one day. Thank you, Hon. S…
[(Hon. Charles Nguna and several Members stood up in their places)]
Order Members on their feet. Take your seats. Hon. CNN, take your seat.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the Question!
Do I put the Question?
Yes.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Hon. Pukose.
Thank you. On the onset, I support the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill. For the comfort of Hon. Millie Odhiambo, I want to let her know that Uganda is also benchmarking from her Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill. Kenya is doing very well. Nigeria failed on the anti- snake venom but Kenya is on the way to achieving that. This is a very important Bill. Conmanship is one of the major challe…
How can a Cabinet Secretary amend a schedule that has already been passed by Parliament? Any such amendment should be brought before Parliament, perhaps through a Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, and not via a gazette notice. Suppose you make an amendment that will result in the loss of people’s resources? That will make the market unstable. That kind of mischief should not be included…
Member for Wajir North, followed by Hon. Mayaka.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This Bill is very technical and creates challenges, both in terms of regulation and implementation. Looking at the legal aspect, our Judiciary is challenged with regard to Information Communication Technology (ICT) , considering how election petitions are managed. The Bill raises similar concerns. Unless the knowledge gap in ICT improves, successful implementatio…
are talking about billions, colossal amounts of wealth, that are not visible to us. One of the key risks is volatility in value. Today, you may be told your asset is worth Ksh1 billion. An hour later, things change. When you talk about assets with regulated volatility, you begin to question the value of your asset. Is it worth investing in such a volatile business? Security is another issue. Ther…
On a point of information, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
Hon. Saney, would you like to be informed by the Chairman of the Committee?
Yes. I prefer that, only that I fear being distracted in terms of continuity. I accept, Sir.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I would like to inform Hon. Saney. I am really liking the contribution he is making and that is the whole objective of this Bill: to regulate that particular space. When a pastoralist sells his cows and trades in these virtual assets and loses all their money and has no recourse, this Bill, once passed by this honourable House, will provide a legal framework. The pastoralis…
[(Hon. Ibrahim Saney spoke off the record)]
For the interest of the Chair, does that include the volatility in the markets? The stock exchange is volatile in the sense that today the share price of a company in which you invested in the USA or the UK could drop tomorrow by 50 per cent. Does that cover you against that volatility? Will the provisions in the piece of legislation we are making right now cover those market dynamics?
Hon. Temporary Speaker, one of the things that affect the volatility is facts like what we call insider trading, which has strictly been prohibited by this. We have also provided for fiat-based digital currencies, where that virtual asset is backed up by a physical asset. Therefore, that volatility is controlled in that sense. Some technologies, for example, allow that once you buy a stable coin, …
insider trading, recognising stable currencies now and having a fiat-based virtual asset and physical asset-backed digital assets.
Hon. Temporary, from the beginning, I have appreciated the novel thinking that went into this Bill. However, what I am questioning is the timing and practicality. I represent the owners of livestock. I am a camel herder myself, and I also keep cows and goats. How do we interface the pastoralist economy with this digital economy? That is my concern. All I have been proposing are the inherent risks…
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to support the Virtual Assets Service Providers Bill (National Assembly Bill No.15 of 2025) . I am elated that we finally have this Bill in place. The Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning will remember that earlier last year, I sought a statement on recognition of cryptocurrency as a legal tender in this country. This…
authorities. We already have regulatory authorities for traditional assets. It is encouraging that virtual assets will now be incorporated for regulation. This means we do not have to reinvent the wheel. We can simply plug and play the existing regulatory systems. Part III of the Bill speaks about licensing requirements. Licensing has been a thorny issue to navigate for virtual assets suppliers. …
Hon. Keynan followed by Hon. Esther Passaris.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As I reflected on what to say on this very important Bill generated by my former Committee, I went back to my dictionary and looked at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. In that particular diagram, the highest level is self-actualisation. In the Kenyan context today, Hon. Temporary Speaker, you and I are still struggling even to define the traditional financial system …
Right now, we have moved from the traditional financial asset system dominated by fiat currencies to this virtual asset system that will be dominated by cryptocurrencies, non- tangible tokens, gaming tokens, government tokens and many other activities that are Greek to you and me, who represent a traditional society. This is very good and progressive. However equally, we must also be very careful …
[(Applause)]
Hon. Esther Passaris.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support the Bill, but also urge this House to strengthen it. Concerns raised by Hon. Keynan are genuine and must be addressed. We have seen, first-hand, what happens when digital finance operates without oversight. Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) , a so-called cryptocurrency platform, promised and guaranteed returns using flashy language and artificial i…
such investor in the CBEX platform. Tomorrow is the day that many young Kenyans, who invested in CBEX and were able to pay the US$100, were told they had to pay to recover their money, and to verify their accounts, are waiting to make withdrawals of their principal amounts. When I got into the CBEX platform, introduced by a young Kenyan, I found Kenyans who were speaking very highly of it. They h…
from its worst abusers. Let us ensure that what happened with CBEX and many other collapsed platforms that have created fear in our community never happens again. With these critical amendments, I support the Bill. Since I still have time, let me say something before I sit down. Tomorrow is 25th of June. It is the anniversary of the Gen Z uprising of last year. I have seen so many videos and call…
Hon. Naomi Waqo. She will be followed by Hon. Nyikal and Hon. Jematiah.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for allowing me to add my voice to this very important Bill, the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill. I want to congratulate all the Members of Parliament who have contributed to
the Bill. I want to confirm that I support the Bill. It is a forward looking and transformative piece of legislation. The world is growing very fast. It is becoming a small village and we cannot be left behind as a country. The young people of this country are very creative, innovative and passionate, and they are moving faster than us. That is why today I support the Bill. It balances the need to…
We cannot afford to lose our country. God has always been there for us. We have enjoyed the resources that God has given us, and it seems like we are ready to destroy them. We cannot afford to do that. We love you and celebrate you, our young people. Unfortunately, we lost many people, but let us not lose more in the planned demonstrations. I pray that you will not be misled, that you will sit, re…
Hon. (Prof.) Nyikal.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support this Bill and give a bit of caution. Today, we talk of E-commerce, digital currency, virtual assets, and we are already doing virtual money transfers. We are setting up digital hubs in our constituencies to enable our young people to earn some income. The revolution in the economy and commerce is upon us, and our youth have deeply invested in th…
This is a good Bill and I support it. However, public education is key to its success. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
Next is Hon. Jematiah. We have less than a minute, but you may proceed.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I can take this up in the next Sitting because I have a lot to say.
No. Just start, and you will have the time when the debate resumes.
Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also rise to support the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill. As most Members have spoken before me…
Hon. Jematiah, you have only used 10 seconds. You will have nine minutes and 50 seconds when debate on the Bill resumes.
Hon. Members, the time being 7.00