National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
Members highlighted the persistently low insurance penetration in Kenya and the negative public perception of insurers, attributing these issues to inadequate regulation, poor claim handling and insufficient professional standards. They endorsed the Insurance Professionals Bill, arguing that establishing an Institute, a registration committee and an examinations board will raise training standards, improve accountability and ultimately increase consumer confidence. The speakers urged swift passage of the Bill to address these systemic challenges. Members highlighted widespread fraud and lack of consumer protection in Kenya's insurance sector, noting that many victims receive no compensation and have no clear avenue for redress. They advocated for the Insurance Practitioners Act, which would create a regulatory institute, define insurance practitioners, and align standards with international norms. The debate combined criticism of the current system with optimism about the proposed reforms. Members debated a Bill to establish a regulatory board for the insurance sector, aiming to set professional standards, enforce qualifications, and introduce continuous professional development. While the majority praised the move as overdue and beneficial for consumer protection and global integration, concerns were raised about the transition for existing practitioners and potential overlap with existing institutions. The discussion also touched on the need for similar standardisation in banking and procurement sectors.
Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell. It is clear we have no quorum to transact Business. Order, Hon. Members, we now have a quorum. Clerk-at-the-Table, proceed.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table:
Thank you, Hon. Naomi. Next Order.
Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security regarding scrapping the application fees for issuance of identity cards. Every Kenyan is entitled to the issuance of a national identification card upon attainment of maturity at the age of 18. Possession o…
Thank you. Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs. Hon. Tongoyo. Who is a member of the Committee? The Leader of the Majority Party, tell the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs to bring a response in two weeks. Next is Hon. Lelmengit Josses, Member for Emgwen.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education regarding the recruitment process by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) . Article 232 of the Constitution provides the values and principles governing public service, which include accountability for administrative acts…
including ensuring gender balance, inclusion of persons with disabilities, and regional and ethnic diversity. Despite these express legal provisions designed to ensure transparency and fairness in recruitment processes, concerns have emerged regarding potential irregularities in recruitment by TSC. These concerns raise questions regarding adherence to the set guidelines. It is against this backgr…
Thank you, Hon. Josses. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education, Hon. Melly. Any member of the Committee? Hon. Mong’ina, tell your Chair to bring a response in two weeks. Hon. Waithaka Machua, Member for Kiambu, you have the Floor.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding the recent outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the region. Marburg virus disease is a rare but severe illness caused by flying bats and transmitted through human contact. It shares similarities with Ebola, a viral …
Thank you. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Health, how much time do you need to bring a response?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I will give a response in two weeks.
Two weeks it is. Thank you. Next is Hon. Kawanjiku John, Member for Kiambaa.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provision of...
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
Yes, Hon. Ruku?
Hon. Speaker, the Chairman of the Departmental
He has heard you. Chairman, you shall not be heard to keep saying: ‘Next week.’ You do not need to respond.
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker. The Member is out of order. He says he asked for a statement three months ago when we were in recess. He needs to understand that his request lapsed with that session. Therefore, there is no Statement to demand. The Member does not understand the procedures of the House. He is complaining of a request that lapsed with the session of the House.
The better thing is that you are a third termer. Mentor and guide him.
Yes, I will.
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
Yes, Hon. Ruku.
Hon. Speaker, you gave directions. I am not even talking about three months. It has been more than three months since I requested a Statement. Your directions are not in vain, unless this House has become a House where directions are given in vain. The matter is extremely important. A week ago, I raised the same matter about the payment of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) dues to families …
We will not allow them to do so. Check with the Clerk. Go on, Hon. Kawanjiku.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Lands regarding disputed ownership of land with registration LR No. 209/14582 located in Lang'ata belonging to Wilson Mitumba Women's Group. Wilson Mitumba Women's Group is a social help group established in the late 1980s. It is th…
26th November 1990. The title was issued to the group on 1st December 1990 for 99 years from 1st November 1990. Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I request a Statement from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Lands on the following:
Thank you, Hon. Kawanjiku. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Lands. Hon. Wario, are you a Member of the Committee? Give him the microphone. How much time do you need to bring the response?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Due to the complexity of the matter, we request for two weeks.
I do not see anything complex in what he has said. Just bring the response in two weeks. Next is Hon. John Waluke, Member for Sirisia. Use the next microphone.
Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife on the decline of performance of tourism sector in the country. Tourism is a critical sector that contributes significantly to Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) , employment, and foreign exchange earnings. Kenya is renowne…
Thank you. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife, Hon. Kareke. Is there any Member of the Committee? Leader of the Majority Party, inform Hon. Kareke Mbiuki to bring the Statement in two weeks. Hon. Members, allow me to acknowledge the following institutions in the House in the Speaker’s Gallery:
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I take this opportunity to welcome all the schools which have visited this honourable House to learn how the affairs of the National Assembly are conducted. Kirigo Secondary School is one of the 47 secondary schools in Mbeere North Constituency. It is a day secondary school that operates in a very harsh environment, a semi-arid area. When you look at its performance, I am …
Thank you. We will end there. Hon. Tindi Mwale, Member for Butere.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 2 (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee of Education regarding the removal of Professor Amukowa Anangwe as the Chairperson of the University of Nairobi Council. On 21st February 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Education revoked the appointment of Professor Amukowa Anangwe as th…
Thank you, Hon. Tindi Mwale. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education. Hon. DK, what is it?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Hon. Tindi Mwale has aroused what I asked in my Statement last year, which is yet to be responded to, regarding how the Chairman was mismanaging the University. We are happy that the revocation has been done. It is completely out of order for him to claim that UASU started the whole thing. I am still waiting for a response to my Statement. Thank you.
Order, Hon. DK. You are the one who is out of order. Hon. Melly.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. The Member for Soy is completely out of order. We responded to his Statement here, and as the Departmental Committee on Education, we visited the University of Nairobi and found a number of issues.
Order, Hon. Melly. He has requested a Statement. When will you bring the response?
In two weeks.
You appear to be ready. You can bring the response tomorrow.
No. I will bring the Statement on the issues pertaining to the Chairperson's removal in two weeks. Thank you so much.
Okay. Two weeks is good. Hon. (Dr) Pukose, Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. In replying, allow me to thank all the Members. You and I were away on Thursday afternoon, but I watched online as this Bill was debated. We must thank the Parliamentary Service Commission for
making it possible for us to follow what is happening in the House even when we are out of the Chamber and on the roads. I must express my gratitude to the many Members who contributed to this Bill. I appreciate the central role that culture plays in an African society like ours. Even with the emerging trends and transformative things happening within the technology space, many Kenyans, and indee…
Leader of the Majority Party, you may be interested to know that we went to London—Hon. Ng’elechei was in that delegation—for the 75th Anniversary of the Commonwealth. Some very stocky Nigerians were brought and introduced as Maasai dancers. To pretend to be Maasais is distorting Kenya's culture. You should call upon our missions to know who represents our culture out there.
[(Laughter)]
Precisely. You narrated that story at another forum—the House Business Committee. It is indeed true that one of the most abused cultural practices of Kenya is the Maasai culture. You can imagine Nigerians pretending to be Maasais in London. It is, therefore, important to have such cultures and certain cultural practices registered so that the proper owners are known.
To make it worse, they are paid for their pretence.
When you register your cultural practices—for instance, the Maa Community registering their Maasai dances and cultural practices—and anybody uses them, they have to pay for them. Otherwise, you have seen the brand and property rights of things like the Kikoi that were made largely by Kenyans, and some Tanzanians are foreigners today. I am being told that it is an American who patented it. Kikoi is…
underwear or trousers. When did he establish that Maasai men do not wear underwear? What was he doing? How and when did he discover that some people do not wear underwear?
[(Laughter)]
Members, on their feet, take your seats. I will now put the Question at Order No. 8. Before Order No. 9, I know learners from various schools seated in the galleries have left. Given what we were transacting, I was not able to recognise St. Gregory Koru Girls School from Muhoroni Constituency, Kisumu County. They were seated in the Speaker’s Gallery. Hon. K’Oyoo, I know you wanted to welcome that…
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The Bill was read a Second Time and Committed to Committee of the whole House)]
[(Laughter)]
(National Assembly Bill No. 35 of 2022) Hon. Members, for the convenience of the House, this Business will be deferred to the next appointed time. (Bill deferred)
Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi