National Assembly · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Members debated the urgent need to regulate gambling, focusing on media houses’ role in promoting betting and its detrimental impact on youth. They proposed limits on betting amounts and hours, mandatory corporate social responsibility contributions, and greater tax transparency to protect vulnerable populations. Procedural remarks and a welcome to visiting students were also noted. Members voiced strong concerns about the proliferation of betting and gambling, highlighting its social harms such as youth addiction, family breakdown, and tax evasion by media outlets. They called for stricter age limits, clearer regulatory frameworks, and better enforcement by the Kenya Revenue Authority. The debate also stressed the need for an implementation plan to translate the motion into concrete action. Members debated the regulation of gambling, noting that betting firms generate revenue for sports and media but also cause social harms, especially among youth. They called for legislation that captures tax proceeds for the Sports Fund, ensures consumer protection, and involves public participation, while warning of the negative impacts on families and education.
I order that the Quorum Bell be rung for 10 minutes. We may proceed now. Sergeant-at- Arms, I direct that the Bell be stopped.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the House:
Next Order.
kinyume na utaratibu wa asili; tukisikitika kwamba kumekuwa na ongezeko la mahusiano ya jinsia moja nchini Kenya kutokana na usambazaji wa vitabu na machapisho yanazokuza upotovu huo; tukitambua kwamba uchapishaji na usambazaji wa nyenzo zinazohusu mahusiano ya jinsia moja katika machapisho na vyombo vya habari una athari kali kwa maadili ya jamii kuhusu mwelekeo wa kijinsia; tukimaizi kwamba kuna…
Next Order.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Many Members have shown a lot of interest in this Motion and I will, therefore, donate two minutes to each of the following Members: Hon. Irene Njoki, Hon. Richard Kilel, Hon. Mwengi Mutuse and Hon. Fatuma full network.
Hon. Njoki.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I also want to thank Hon. Jane Kagiri for bringing this Motion. I rise to support and try to offer a few solutions
that we can adopt to reduce the cost of electricity in this country. I heard my colleague talking about the Water Resources Authority (WRA) charges in her bill. I want to request KP to check on double counting on WRA charges to stop charging non-catchment areas. I want to request the Ministry of Energy to investigate the quality performance of some of these IPPs. I am privileged to at least host t…
Hon. Kilel, you have the Floor.
Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to contribute to this Motion. I just want to support the Motion that was brought by Hon. Jane Kagiri that seeks to bring the cost of power in the country down. I want to suggest some ways we can make that possible. One of them is utilising the sunshine. We encourage the use of solar panels in areas where we have enough sunshine. We also …
Hon. Mwengi Mutuse.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I also want to thank Hon. Jane Kagiri for bringing this Motion and for donating part of her time for me to make my contribution. I will make my contribution specifically on three issues: first, as we look at the high cost of electricity, we also need to look at the high cost of connection to new customers. In my constituency, I have seen someone who has built a new …
Member for Migori, Hon. Fatuma Mohammed.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity. I would also like to thank Hon. Jane Kagiri for introducing this Motion and for volunteering her time to me. My arguments will be very clear. My electricity bill is different from that of someone who resides in Githurai, as I probably reside in Lavington. Someone in Githurai has a very big home, whereas I live in Lavington on loans. However, t…
Proceed.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I beg to reply as follows. First, allow me to begin by thanking Members of this House for their overwhelming support of this Motion. Even during the previous session, as I sat here and listened to Members, I could tell that these are the people's representatives. Everything they discussed is what every Kenyan is experiencing on the ground. This is why we are workin…
[(Putting of the Question deferred)]
Hon. Kagiri, your request is approved. Next Order.
the case under the 8-4-4 system; concerned that basing Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) in selected primary schools will render classroom facilities that previously housed classes seven and eight redundant and that the arrangement would compel students to travel for longer distances to access institutions where Junior Secondary Schools are based; further concerned that the Guidelines recently issued…
Hon. Members, upon the request of the Member, this particular Motion is deferred.
Hon. Members, Hon. Timothy Toroitich has requested for this Motion to be deferred to the following week.
aware that section 22 of the Persons Deprived of Liberty Act and the Childcare Policy provides for the care of a child whose parent is deprived of liberty, until the child attains the age of four years; recognizing that children above the age of four years still require parental support; further recognizing that majority of these children often suffer from emotional distress, social stigma and eco…
Upon the request of Hon. Brighton Yegon, this particular Motion is deferred to the following week.
Hon. Members, upon the request of Hon. Waithaka, this particular Motion is deferred. Next Motion.
Yes, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want us to take a different approach in formulating the regulations. I am saying this to add to what my sister said, that some of these betting companies have really supported our sports. Just the other day, Harambee Starlets were in training camp for a whole month and they could not even travel to attend a friendly match against Armenia because they did not have su…
because this is another angle we should be looking at this matter. While reading the Act on lottery and betting, together with the Act on sports, we need to make sure that it covers the ground sufficiently so that it helps this country. One of the games that earned Gor Mahia Football Club the highest amount of revenue was the game they played against Everton in May, 2019. The Kasarani Stadium was…
Member for Igembe North.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity. I rise to support the Motion so that gambling can be regulated in this country. If you look at the vices vis-a-vis the advantages of gambling, you will realise that the negative effects of gambling are immense. That is why we should ensure that gambling and betting is regulated so that the young men and women, who are vulnerable to …
think. So, this is also a kind of “drug” that is eating up our society, which is supposed to be very productive. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am calling upon the Mover, Hon. Duncan, to go ahead and bring a Bill so that we can discuss and come up with mechanisms of suppressing this growing habit that is eating up a very useful sector of our society, if not clearly abated. The narrative being peddled …
Thank you very much, Hon. Members. Fifty-five minutes remains before debate on this Motion concludes. I am grateful that there is a lot of interest on the Motion. I saw Hon. Dan Wanyama, the Chairman in charge of sports. I do not know why he stepped out. We will have time to contribute the next time we sit over this matter. I thank Members for being patient.
Hon. Members, the time being 1.00