National Assembly · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
The member proposes amending the Environmental Management and Coordination Act to prohibit planting eucalyptus near rivers, lakes and wetlands, citing its high water consumption and contribution to river drying across many counties. He references international bans, suggests bamboo as an eco‑friendly alternative, and highlights community outreach efforts to raise awareness and support the legislation. Members debated an amendment bill aimed at restricting the planting of exotic trees such as blue gum and eucalyptus in riverbank and riparian zones to protect water catchments. While Hon. Gideon Ochanda highlighted the need for scientific background checks and warned of potential economic disruption for farmers, Hon. Umulkher Harun supported the bill, emphasizing environmental and livestock health benefits and assuring no impact on tea growers. The discussion underscored the tension between environmental protection and livelihood considerations. The session began with procedural matters before focusing on a tragic botched cosmetic surgery that resulted in a death, prompting calls for a statement from the Health Committee chair and a request for a vetted list of qualified cosmetic surgeons. Members highlighted the need for stricter accreditation of clinics and accountability of the KMPDC, while also addressing a separate request on the renewal of the KEBS Standardisation Mark of Quality and a motion to shorten bill publication periods. The debate combined concern over public safety with routine parliamentary business.
Hon. Members, there is no quorum. Serjeants-at-Arms, you may ring the Quorum Bell for five minutes. We may proceed to the first Order.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Silvanus Osoro.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:
Next Order.
Hon. Deputy 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 Health regarding a botched cosmetic surgery resulting in the death of a patient.
Hon. Pukose, that request for a statement is addressed to you as the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health. You may want to pay attention.
Hon. Deputy 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 Health regarding a botched cosmetic surgery resulting in the death of Ms Lucy Ng’ang’a at the Omnicare Medical Clinic in Lavington, Nairobi. Ms Lucy Ng’ang’a, a social media influencer, recently underwent a cosmetic surgery at the O…
Hon. Rachael Nyamai, do you have an intervention?
Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I support the request for a statement by Hon. Beatrice Elachi. The Departmental Committee on Health, led by Hon. (Dr) Pukose, who is a surgeon, needs to ensure that Kenyans get a list of doctors who can perform cosmetic surgeries without endangering peoples’ lives. Many people have gone to those doctors and they are suffering. It is a contemporary way of …
Hon. (Dr) Pukose, Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. It is very unfortunate that we have some mushrooming clinics that are offering services that they are not accredited to offer. Breast augmentation or reduction, and other cosmetic surgeries, need to be done by qualified people. The facility must be registered and accredited by the KMPDC. We will hold the KMPDC accountable because that is their responsibility. They m…
rein in such facilities. Many unsuspecting Kenyans may end up unknowingly going to some of those facilities and being mismanaged and resulting in loss of lives. That is regrettable. We will look into the matter and bring the response to the House in two weeks’ time. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Thank you, Hon. Pukose. There is a response to a request for a statement to be given by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co-operatives. The request had been raised by Hon. John Kiarie, Member for Dagoretti South. Hon. Gakuya.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. The response is as follows: At the outset, I wish to thank you for giving me this opportunity to respond to a request for a statement by Hon. John Kiarie, Member for Dagoretti South Constituency, regarding the renewal of the Standardisation Mark of Quality from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) . The Member expects the statement sought to respond to the under-li…
Is Hon. KJ in the House because he is the one who asked the question? Okay! He is not here. We can proceed to the next Order.
Leader of the Majority Party, move your Procedural Motion.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 120, this House resolves to reduce the publication period of the following Bills from fourteen (14) days to twelve
Hon. Pukose, the Leader of the Majority Party is giving a very good explanation on some serious amendments. I think it is important that you allow Members to pay attention.
Thank you for that protection, Hon. Deputy Speaker. In view of our scheduled Calendar, we are to proceed on the long recess on 5th December and we want to avoid a situation where we have to recall Members for a special sitting. We also want to save those business people who have to now deal with KRA on matters of tax amnesty to, at least, have that tax amnesty in place before the end of this year…
Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning, Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry, and others like the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, have already begun that stakeholder engagement and sensitisation of Kenyans on the import of those Bills, the policies they are anchored on and the positive impact they will have on businesses. As the National Assembly, we also need to engage i…
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I commit that we have agreed with the chairpersons of those committees that, in due course and as soon as the substantive Speaker is back, we will organise a Kamukunji that will also apprise Hon. Members on all the provisions of all these Bills. This will ensure that we are all well informed and ready to debate during the Second Reading without anticipating debate. With those…
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I may not have anything useful to add to what the Leader of the Majority Party has well-articulated, but just to remind Hon. Members that these particular Bills are very important and vital to the development of this country. You will all agree with me that matters tax and procurement are no longer a preserve of the few well-learned people. It is now a matter that is in public…
[(Question proposed)]
Hon. Members, let us just allow one person, Hon. Nyikal, and then we can proceed. Hon. Pukose, that is not your prerogative.
[(Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose spoke off record)]
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to agree with the Leader of the Majority Party and support this process. But I want to make it very clear that those five laws we are dealing with are what the economy of this country is going to run on. We are talking of public finance laws and you know where we have just come from. It is important that people take it seriously. You saw what happened to us when we did …
should understand fully what we are talking about. This will ensure that when decisions are made by this House and by the public, it is on the basis of information. Sometimes, there is a danger in passing the laws quickly and get over with them, just because we understand and we leave the people behind. We even leave Members of Parliament behind, who just turn into voting machines and later on, th…
Next Order.
Leader of the Majority Party.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, this House resolves to exempt businesses appearing as Orders 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 in today’s Order Paper from the provisions of Standing Order 40 (3) , being a Wednesday Morning, a day allocated for business not sponsored by the Majority or Minority Party, or business sponsored by a committee. Hon. Deputy Speaker, this is a s…
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I second.
[(Question proposed)]
Hon. Makali, make your contribution short.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I support this Motion. However, I want to go on record about three things. The truth is that Members only have Wednesday Morning Sittings to bring their bills and motions. It is unfair when the Leader of the Majority Party keeps using our time to bring Government Bills for which we can extend time or create Special Sittings. I plead with the Leader of the Majority …
in the First Reading are very important. However, in future, it will be important to allow us to transact our Business. Secondly, I also want to plead with the HBC. If you look at last Wednesday's Order Paper, a Bill which I am sponsoring was the immediate Bill after Hon. Pukose's. My Bill, which is No. 5 of 2022, has now been pushed about three levels behind. I want the HBC to be fair to Members…
Thank you, Hon. Makali. I think the Leader of the Majority Party has duly noted your concerns.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Leader of the Majority Party, you may sit. I have been informed that what remained on this business was putting of the Question, before we proceed to the Third Reading. Sorry about that.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Leader of the Majority Party.
THAT, the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 67 of 2023) , be now read a Third Time. I request Hon. Marianne Kitany to second.
I second.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The Bill was accordingly read a Third Time and Passed)]
The Mover of the Motion is not here.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Next Order.
Chairperson, you may report to the House.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Community Health Promoters Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.53 of 2022) , and approved the same with amendments.
Mover.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said Report. I also request Hon. Irene Mayaka to second the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the whole House.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I second.
Have you seconded?
Yes.
[(Question proposed)]
Hon. Members, I will put the Question at a later time.
[(Putting of the Question deferred)]
Next Order.
Hon. Members, the time being 1.00