National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Tuesday, 30 July 2024
Hon. Ndindi Nyoro highlighted the need to rationalise overlapping government agencies to curb recurrent expenditure while emphasizing continued investment in critical areas such as JSS and health interns, agriculture subsidies, and police salary reforms. He detailed specific budget allocations for fertilizer, coffee, sugar, dairy, and police reforms, urging the House to support these measures for broader economic development. Members highlighted the need to address massive tax expenditure losses and close VAT loopholes while expressing strong support for the Supplementary Appropriation Bill. They endorsed increased salaries for police and defence forces, the School Feeding Programme, and expanded teacher recruitment, and called for agricultural reforms through cooperatives and aggregation centres to boost smallholder productivity. The debate combined criticism of fiscal inefficiencies with constructive proposals for social and economic development. Members debated the need to boost agriculture—particularly mechanised sugarcane farming—to create jobs and reduce poverty, highlighting data gaps, varietal development and the importance of paying farmers for sucrose content. They also raised broader concerns about youth unemployment, adolescent health, PPP road projects and the restoration of the Women Enterprise Fund, calling for coordinated policy and funding. The tone was constructive but underscored significant implementation challenges.
Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell. Hon. Members, we now have quorum. Clerk-at-the-Table.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Leader of the Majority Party. Hon. Owen Baya : Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I beg to lay the following statutory instruments and their accompanying explanatory memorandum, regulatory impact assessment, and report on stakeholder engagement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development:
[(Kilifi North, UDA)]
Thank you, Hon. Owen. Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker.
Order, Hon. Wangwe. Yes, Hon. Ruku.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I made a request for a Statement several months ago on pest control.
We have not reached the Order on Statements. We are on Papers. We are at Order No. 5. Statements are at Order No. 7. Go on, Hon. Wangwe.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I have two Papers to lay.
I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the House:
Thank you, Hon. Wangwe. Chairperson of the Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity, Hon. Yusuf
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table: Reports of the Select Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity on:
Thank you, Hon. Yusuf. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, Hon. KJ.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation on its consideration of the Technopolis Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 6 of 2024) . Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay.
Next Order.
Hon. Wangwe, Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notices of the following Motions: THAT, this House adopts the Third Report of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture on its consideration of the Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the following State corporations, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 30th July 2024:
Chairperson, Select Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity, Hon. Haji.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Select Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity on the inspection visit to fourteen special-needs schools in specified counties, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 30th July
Next Order.
Hon. Mark Mwenje, Member for Embakasi West.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs regarding the shooting of a student at Nairobi River Primary School in Kariobangi South Ward. Hon. Speaker, on 23rd May 2024 during the demolition of structures built along riparian land in Kariobangi South War…
Yes, Hon. Mwenje.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I draw your attention further to this Statement. This child’s mother, who lives in City Carton Slum, is being charged Ksh388,000. These are people who live in a house that is rented at Ksh2,500. The child is still being detained and cannot attend school. Therefore, I request the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs to respond to …
Yes, Hon. Tongoyo. Will you respond on Thursday afternoon?
I will, Hon. Speaker. That is a week.
Will you respond on Thursday this week?
Allow me to do it on Tuesday, Hon. Speaker.
Will you do it on Tuesday?
Yes.
Okay. Hon. Mark, can you wait for Tuesday? That is a week. Hon. Dorice Donya, Member for Kisii County.
[(Hon. Mark Mwenje nodded in agreement)]
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 Energy regarding the increased theft and vandalism of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) infrastructure in the country, particularly in Kisii County. On the morning of Tuesday, 7th May 2024, the entire Kisii County was plunge…
Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Energy, Hon. Kawaya. Is he in the House? Is there any Member from the Departmental Committee on Energy? Hon. Mandazi!
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. As a Committee, we sat and considered the case in Kisii County.
Bring a Statement in two weeks.
Yes. We will bring it in two weeks, Hon. Speaker.
Hon. Machua Waithaka, Member for Kiambu.
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 Energy regarding the rampant vandalism of Kenya Power transformers in Kiambu Constituency and other parts of the country. Electricity is critical to modern economic activities. It is an essential input to many public services. Unfortunatel…
compromised security due to non-functional streetlights and alarm systems. Additionally, local businesses, especially in the hospitality sector, suffer significant financial losses due to these outages. Further, essential services such as healthcare facilities and schools have been affected, compromising the standards of health and living. Hon. Speaker, it is against this backdrop that I request …
Thank you, Hon. Machua. Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Energy. Ako wapi Mhe. Mandazi tena?
Yes, Hon. Speaker. I am not the only Member of the Committee who is here. Give us two weeks.
You should note that these two Statements are all about vandals against power installations in the country. So, you better bring a comprehensive Statement to assure the House and country that power installations are critical to every sector of the economy and our lives. Did you listen to what Hon. Waithaka said?
Yes. I have listened to him and the Member for Kisii.
Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Hon. Speaker. I wish to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 120 (1) (c) , this House resolves to reduce the publication period of the Supplementary Appropriation (No. 2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 39 of 2024) from seven days to five days. Hon. Speaker, we are basically doing this because as Members understand the Government is almost in a near stand-…
Yes, Murugara.
Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker, I beg to second this very important Motion as moved by the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. The appropriations we are just about to make are crucial to the national Government and to the county governments. It is vitally important that funds are provided so that the two governments can run their affairs. The same extends to this House when…
Order. Hon. Members on their feet, take your seats. Hon. Member for Pokot, take your seat. Should I put the Question?
[(Question proposed)]
Yes.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Next Order.
Hon. Members, the time being 7.05 p.m., this House stands adjourned until Wednesday, 31st July 2024, at 9.30 a.m. The House rose at 7.05 p.m.
Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi