National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting

Hon. Members, I will allow three Members to request for a statement at this time. While I do that, the Leader of the Majority Party or the Whip of the Majority Party will check if the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning is within the precincts of Parliament. Let him not come in now, but he should be on standby. As soon as we finish with the statements, we will then call h…

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 Finance and National Planning regarding the measures being taken by the Government in respect to its mandate of regulating and controlling gaming activities in Kenya, specifically the so-called ‘Aviator game of chance’. Gaming has stifled …

Thank you, Hon. Martha Wangari. Hon. Osoro, kindly inform the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning to present a response on Thursday. I am also aware of individuals who have been severely affected by that gambling site.

Much obliged, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Kaguchia, I called your name twice, and you were not present. The most appropriate and honourable course of action is to apologise to the House for your absence when your presence was required.

Hon. Speaker, I offer my sincere and profuse apologies for not being present. The Whip of the Majority Party is insisting that I should mention that my family is in the Speaker’s Gallery. I welcome my wife and my girls. I am happy to have them here. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Mwenje, why are you raising your hand?

Hon. Speaker, I just want to ride on the request by Hon. Kaguchia. There are too many requests pending before the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. We seek your indulgence so that we can get responses before we go for the long recess. The requests affect quite a number of other issues, especially the 22 per cent and 10 per cent matter that I raised earlier and is yet to be re…

Thank you. Where is Hon. Osoro? Hon. Owen Baya, the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure sought permission from the Speaker to be away this week, ostensibly to write exams. Tell him to bring pending responses to the many requests for Statements next week, including the request by Hon. Kaguchia.

Much obliged, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. DK, what is it?

Hon. Speaker, the issue of roads is important since it affects the 22 per cent allocation to ensure that roads are constructed in our constituencies. Instead of the Chairman of the Committee coming with the Statements, you should rule that the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport should appear before the House so that he can address the matter conclusively, the same way the Cabinet Secretary …

[(Applause)]

As to which Cabinet Secretary appears before the House, it is for Hon. Owen Baya and Hon. Osoro to plan. We have two Wednesdays before recess. If you feel you should bring the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, it is up to you.

It is necessary, Hon. Speaker. We commit to have him appear next Wednesday or the other Wednesday before we break. Next Wednesday is okay.

Okay. Do so. Tell every Member who has a request for Statement or Question to the Ministry to liaise with the leadership of the Majority Party to list those matters for next Wednesday or Wednesday of the following week. Before I call Hon. Ruku, allow me to acknowledge AIC Lundi Child Development Centre from Mwingi Central, Kitui County and EAPC Marsabit Child Development Centre (CDC) from Saku, M…

[(Laughter)]

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. First and foremost, I extend a very big thank you to the Almighty God for the opportunity to serve the people of Mbeere North in the 13th Parliament since August 2022. It has been an honour of my life to be of service to my constituents as their representative in Parliament for two years and seven months so far. I express my sincere appreciation to you, Hon. Speaker, my co…

[(No.3 of 2003)]

Cabinet Secretary Nominee, you have two minutes to finish.

I expressed concern over the continued sale of Roundup, a toxic herbicide, in the Kenyan market. Despite legal action and compensation in other jurisdictions, it still remains in the Kenyan market. I questioned why the manufacturer was still permitted to sell the dangerous herbicide in the country.

How much of that Statement is left?

Two minutes, Hon. Speaker.

Finish in two minutes.

One page is remaining.

You better finish. Give him the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Your nomination has been approved.

Indeed. Following my approval this morning, I will continue to engage with this House, though from the other side, particularly during Question Time and other matters of oversight. Even then, the cause remains the same–Public Service to the people of Kenya. Thank you, Hon. Speaker, and I thank every one of you – Members of this great House. I also thank the people of Mbeere North Constituency for…

Thank you, Hon. Ruku GK. Hon. Members, we shall now put the Question to Order Nos.8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. After that, we shall call in the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning.

Members on their feet, take your seats. Hon. Ruku, you may now exit. Hon. Ruku GK, can you walk out?

[(Hon. Ruku GK walked out of the Chamber)]

[(Loud consultations)]

Order, Hon. Members. Hon. David Ochieng’, take your seat.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(Hon. David Ochieng’ walked into the Chamber)]

of a Nominee for Appointment as Principal Secretary, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), this House approves the appointment of Mr Aden Abdi Millah as Principal Secretary, State Department for Shipping and Maritime A…

Hon. Members on their feet, take your seats. Hon. Clive Gisairo, take your seat.

Hon. Members, we will go back to Order No.7. Whip of the Majority Party, search and if you find the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning, bring him to the Chamber and produce him before the Hon. Speaker. (The Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning

[(Hon. John Ng’ongo Mbadi) was ushered into the Chamber)]

[(Loud consultations)]

If you do not have NG-CDF, you must go.

Hon. Member for Malindi, I am an African man. Where I come from, women do not shout at men.

[(Laughter)]

Besides that, it is unparliamentary for any one of us to shout at anybody. Hon. Members, before I usher the Cabinet Secretary to the Floor of the House, let us consider First Readings in Order Nos.14 and 15.

Hon. Members, we have the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning. He came to this House on my direction, following a point of order raised by the Member for Bumula. This was joined in by several of you seeking to understand the fate and status of disbursement of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) , and to some extent, the National Government Aff…

Although you have nominated me as one of your lawyers for the NG-CDF issues in this House. I would like to ask a Question to the Cabinet Secretary and I will not read. Cabinet Secretary, when you answer, please, answer all of them…

Just say, “I beg to ask Question 004/2025”.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to ask Question 009 of 2025.

Question 004…

Sorry. Question 004. This is the problem of having people who also have Questions sitting behind me, like Hon. Milemba.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to ask Question 004 of 2025. Could the Cabinet Secretary—

Question 005 or 009?

I beg to ask Questions 004 and 005 as listed in the Order Paper. Could the Cabinet Secretary—

Hon. Members, do not leave. Let us finish this Order. Hon. KJ, I hope you have a Mover and a Seconder.

Hon. Speaker, I really thank you. We had very important business this afternoon, and this Special Motion is equally important.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Special Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation in its report on the approval hearings of a nominee for appointment as principal secretary, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155 (3) (b) of th…

record in The Hansard that the nominee admitted that there could be a potential conflict of interest, but he also admitted under oath that in the event that he is vetted and found fit to hold office, he was ready to relinquish his shareholding within GOtv Kenya Limited. After considering the matters that were brought before our Committee, I would like to put it to the House that we found the nomin…

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I rise to second the Report by the Committee. As the Chairman has put it, the Committee sat down and appreciated that the nominee is qualified to serve in the capacity of principal secretary upon the review of his credentials. The Committee also indicated the fact that there is a question of conflict of interest, keeping in mind that we have passed in this House…

[(Hon. Omboko Milemba spoke off the record)]

Hon. Omboko Milemba, you are out of order.

Exactly. With that rider, he should be reassigned. I beg to second, Hon. Speaker.

[(Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo spoke off the record)]

Hon. Oundo, I have not even proposed the Question.

[(Question proposed)]

Hon. Members, this kind of a rider to a Motion has a precedent in this House. It has been done many times before.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Next Order

(Senate Bill No.1 of 2025)

Hon. Atandi.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill, (Senate Bill No.1 of 2025) , be now read a Second Time.

[(Loud consultations)]

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Chepkong’a.

Hon. Speaker, what Hon. Atandi has moved touches on the counties additional allocation revenue, which is tied to the Court Case of Roads Levy Maintenance Fund (RLMF) . Yesterday, as a House, we agreed to seek your invocation of Standing Order 1; that you defer this matter pending the resolution of the RLMF Case so that we can discuss all of it in agreement.

Hon. Chepkong’a, I was advised, on my request, that the RLMF disputed numbers are not in this Bill. They are ring-fenced elsewhere. So, the passage of this Bill will not undermine your interest in RLMF. That being the case, there would be no basis for deferring this Order. Hon. Chepkong’a.

Hon. Speaker, with that information and clarification, you are, therefore, insisting that this matter must proceed.

I am not insisting! I am advising you.

Hon. Speaker, there is no Quorum in this House.

Serjeant-at-Arms, do we have Quorum?

[(Loud consultations)]

[[The Speaker (Hon. Moses Wetang’ula) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Hon. Omboko Milemba) took the Chair]]

Order, Hon Members! When the Quorum Bell is ringing, you cannot leave the Chamber. Serjeant-at-Arms, close the Door and draw the Bar. Only allow the Whips to go out. Do not allow Members to leave the House, but allow those who are outside to come in. The rest of the Members, take your seats. The Bar should be opened, yes, but Hon. Members should not leave the House, except the Whips. Very well. T…

[(Several Members stood up in their places)]

Hon. Members, take your seats. A Member rose in his place under Standing Order 35 on Quorum. I asked the Serjeant-at-Arms to ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes, but I can still confirm there is no Quorum in the House.