National Assembly · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Members highlighted the urgent need for a regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, warning that the rapid pace of AI development outstrips the government's ability to respond. They expressed concern that AI could exacerbate unemployment, especially among teachers and new graduates, and called for recruiting tech‑savvy talent and raising public awareness. The debate combined caution about current gaps with constructive proposals for policy and capacity building. The House debated the Senate amendments to the National Construction Authority (Amendment) Bill, with members supporting the removal of Clause 8 to promote participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities, and ultimately rejecting the Senate proposals. A brief incident of a member moving around during the Temporary Speaker’s address was addressed with an apology. The Committee reported that the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill was approved without amendments. Members debated Hon. Faith Gitau's motion to upgrade Kenya's national trunk roads to dual carriageways, citing current single‑lane congestion, safety hazards, and the need for footbridges and drainage. They emphasized that improved road infrastructure is essential for economic growth, regional connectivity, and urged public‑private partnerships to fund the expansion. The discussion was broadly supportive, highlighting Kenya's status as a leading African economy and the urgency of modernising transport networks.
Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Bell for 10 minutes. Serjeant-at-Arms, you may stop the Bell. Hon. Members, allow me to reorganise the Order Paper. Leader of the Majority Party, I suggest that we skip Order No. 5, Papers, and proceed to Order Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11, then come back to Order No. 5. Clerk-at-the-Table, you can read the Orders starting with Order NO. 8
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Owen Baya.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for that indulgence to allow us to rearrange the Order Paper a little bit. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, this House resolves to exempt the business appearing as Order Nos. 10, 11 and 12 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 M…
Hon. Osoro.
Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. For clarity, my name is Osoro, not Papa Osoro, as one of my Deputy Leaders of the Majority Party alluded to.
The purpose of seeking exemption from the provisions of Standing Order No. 43, as the Mover has clearly stated, is to enable us to dispense with government business and temporarily set aside business meant for private Members. Looking at the calendar of this House, we are set to proceed on recess next week, on the 27th. This House also received the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and …
Put the Question.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Hon. Members, allow me to recognise a school that is seated in the Public Gallery, Logorate Comprehensive School from Samburu West Constituency, Samburu County. Next order.
Next Order.
Committed to Committee of the whole House)
Next Order.
Hon. Members, I think you'll allow us now to go back to Order No. 5. Thank you for your indulgence. Leader of the Majority Party.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table:
Thank you. Next order. On order No. 6, there was a Notice of Motion by Hon. Gikaria. Oh, I am told that it is by Hon. Gonzi Rai. Are you ready with your Notice of Motion? Just hold on. Let us agree that Hon. Gikaria is on the Order Paper to give a Notice of Motion, but we will skip that. Let us move to Order No. 7 which is Statements. Member for Kinango, Hon. Gonzi Rai you may proceed.
[(Hon. Deputy Speaker consulted with the Clerk-at-the-Table)]
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to request for a Statement regarding the safety of a Kenyan in Saudi Arabia.
Pursuant to the provision of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, regarding the safety of Ms Riziki Luvuno Mambo, holder of passport number AK1325501, who went missing in Saudi Arabia in March 2024. Ms. Riziki Luvuno Mambo has been residing in Saudi Arabia since July 2023, when…
Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. Is there a Member of that Committee in the House to give an undertaking on behalf of the Committee. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, can you give the undertaking on their behalf.
I hear the Vice-Chairman is here. Hon. Captain Major Bashir is here. He can do the undertaking.
Okay, Hon. Bashir. Give him the microphone.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I have listened to the Request for Statement. I inform the Member that we will have a response to the questions in two weeks’ time. Including all others that he has mentioned like the distress calls from the people in the diaspora. Two weeks will be appropriate.
Thank you. Next Order.
Mover. Who is the mover of the Bill? The mover of this Bill is the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, but it seems he is not here. I do not think there is any Member of that
[(Hon. Deputy Speaker consulted with the Clerk-at-the-Table)]
Committee here. I am told they were having a meeting. I think we can skip Order No.12. Stand it down and bring it back at a later time today. Let us move to Order No.13. (Bill deferred)
Mhe. Mwenyekiti wa Muda, naomba kutoa hoja kwamba Kamati ya Bunge Zima iripoti kwa Bunge la Taifa kuhusu kushughulikiwa kwa Mswada wa Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Wanyamapori (Marekebisho) na kuridhiwa kwake bila marekebisho. Asante, Mhe. Mwenyekiti wa Muda. The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai) : Asante sana, Mhe. Ruweida.
[(Mswada wa Bunge la Taifa Namba 3 wa Mwaka 2023)]
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The House resumed)]
Chairperson to report to the House.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 3 of 2023) and approved the same without amendments.
The Mover to move agreement with the report.
Mhe. Spika wa Muda, naomba kutoa hoja kwamba Bunge hili likubaliane na kamati ya Bunge zima kuhusu ripoti hiyo. Ninamuomba Mhe. Owen Baya aunge kuafiki Hoja ya kukubaliwa kwa ripoti ya Kamati ya Bunge zima.
Hon. Owen Baya.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Just a minute.
[(Loud consultations)]
Hon. Rachael Nyamai, in terms of procedure, the Question has to first be put. Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai.
[(Question proposed)]
Mhe. Spika wa Muda, ningependa kuchukua fursa hii kumpa kongole Mheshimiwa wa Lamu Mashariki, Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed. Amefanya kazi nyingi sana. Kwa kawaida, Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed anajali watu wake wa Lamu, hususan kuhusu mambo yanayohusu bahari na umbali kutoka Nairobi. Tumemsikia akiwa Bungeni akisisitiza jinsi anavyopenda kuhakikisha kuwa watu wake wanapewa fidia, hasa kwa mambo yanayohusu bahari.…
Hoja ya nidhamu.
Mhe. Rachael Nyamai, ungependa
Ningependa kufahamishwa na Mhe.
Mhe. Silvanus Osoro, mfahamishe
Mhe. Spika wa Muda, ningependa kufahamisha Mhe. Rachael kwamba hatusemi “Kiingereza mingi,” tunasema “Kiingereza kingi.” Hatusemi kwamba Kiswahili kimemshinda, bali lugha ya Kiswahili imemlemea. Kwa hivyo, ni muhimu kuzingatia matamshi sahihi katika ngeli unapozungumza kwa lugha ya Kiswahili. Ni lazima uelewe kwamba kuna ngeli na muktadha wa kufuata, ndipo utaweza kuelewa Kiswahili vile inavyofaa…
Mhe. Rachael Nyamai, umefahamishwa. Umemaliza au unaendelea?
Ningependa kufunga kwa kushukuru Mhe. Silvanus Osoro. Lakini pia ni vizuri ajue kwamba kuna misamiati ya lugha ya Kiswahili ambayo anafaa aielewe vizuri. Kwa hivyo, tunapompongeza Mheshimiwa wa Lamu, tunafaa tupange maneno kama yeye. Vile vile kama namna Mheshimiwa wa Mombasa anavyopanga maneno yake. Anaporomosha Kiswahili vizuri sana. Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda.
Mhe. Spika wa Muda.
Mhe. Silvanus Osoro, hoja ya nidhamu au ya ufahamisho? Lazima pia mzingatie kwamba Waheshimiwa wamemchanganya Spika kwa kuzungumza Kiswahili.
Hoja ya kufahamisha.
Mheshimiwa Spika haelewi misamiati, ngeli na hayo mambo yote.
Huyo ni Mhe. Sitienei?
[(Loud consultations)]
Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Ningependa kumfahamisha Mhe. Silvanus Osoro kwamba amezungumza Kiswahili sanifu, na wala si Kiswahili mufti. Ningependa azungumze Kiswahili mufti, ndiyo tujue anaweza kuporomosha Kiswahili vizuri.
Mhe. Silvanus Osoro ametumia kile Kiswahili tunachosema kimebuniwa upande wa Nyanza. Yuko na tajriba kuu ukimlinganisha na Mhe. Spika. Do you want to contribute? Mhe. Gikaria.
Asante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Ninamshukuru Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed kwa kuwasilisha Mswada huu Bungeni, ambao unalenga kuwajali watu wa maeneo ya Pwani, ambako kuna bahari, na ambapo watu hupoteza maisha au hujeruhiwa kutokana na wanyama walioko baharini. Hili ni jambo muhimu sana kuliangazia. Kuna wakati nilijaribu kuleta Mswada hapa Bungeni kwa sababu kule kwangu, watu wengi hujeruhiwa n ahata kufari…
Mhe. Spika wa Muda, naomba kutoa hoja kwamba Mswada wa Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Wanyama Pori (Marekebisho) , sasa usomwe mara ya Tatu. Pia, naomba Mhe. Owen Baya kuafiki Mswada huu. Nachukua nafasi hii kuwashukuru Wabunge wenzangu kwa kuungana pamoja na kupitisha Mswada huu. Pia nashukuru uongozi wa Bunge kwa kuhakikisha kwamba hivi leo tumefika hiki kipindi cha Kusomwa Mara ya Tatu. Hili ni jam…
[(Mswada wa Bunge wa la Kitaifa, nambari tatu wa mwaka elfu mbili ishiri na tatu)]
Mhe. Owen Baya.
Ahsante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Naafiki Mswada huu uweze Kusomwa kwa Mara ya Tatu. Kama vile Wabunge wenzangu na Mhe. Ruweida walivyosema, huu ni Mswada nzuri sana ambao utasaidia watu wa pwani. Kilifi ni kati ya zile kaunti zilizona ufuo wa bahari mrefu sana na watu wengi kazi yao ni ya ubaharia. Mswada huu umekuja kwa wakati wake ambapo watu wengi waliokuwa wamesahaulika katika maneno ya kufidi…
Hon. Charles Nguna Ngusya.
Asante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi hii.
Hon. Charles Nguna Ngusya, kindly take back your seat. I have not proposed the question for debate. Hon. Charles Nguna Ngusya, you can now contribute.
[(Question proposed)]
Ahsante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Nilikuwa nimeharakisha sana kuchangia Mswada huu lakini nimepata kwamba umekamilika. Ningependa kuongeza maoni yangu kwa kuunga mkono kabisa, kisha itiwe sahihi haraka iwezekanavyo. Ilivyo desturi yetu, naomba upee dada yangu Mhe. Rachael Kaki nafasi, kuna kitu alikuwa anataka kuongeza kwa hii Mswada. Ahsante sana.
Hon. Charles Nguna Ngusya, I have not seen any request from Hon. Rachael Nyamai to either contribute or inform you. Hon. Rachael Nyamai, you wanted to contribute?
Yes.
I want to put the question.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I thank you very much for your indulgence. The Bill that has just passed is extremely important. I am aware that the Committee has been seeking to amend the same Act, though I know this will take time because after being assented to, it needs to take about six months. The issue of snake bites is a big issue that must be discussed now by this House. We have cases of snake b…
Hon. Rachael, you raise a very important issue. I never saw my paternal grandmother, she died of a snake bite. Do not wait for six months, you can enjoin the Committee in pursuing that endeavour. Hon. Members, because of other businesses, let me put the question. I have confirmed that we have the requisite quorum in the House for purposes of making a decision.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The Bill was accordingly read a Third Time and passed)]
Next Order.
management and development of roads under their respective purview and for developing and providing adequate transport infrastructure that guarantees safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services across the country and beyond; further aware that the First Schedule of the Kenya Roads Act provides for the classification of national trunk roads into Classes A, B and Class C; recognizing t…
Is that for resumption of debate? Hon. Osoro.
Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support Hon. Faith Gitau’s Motion on the Expansion of Major Roads to dual carriageways. The roads issue is a thorn in the flesh of many Kenyans. Those of us who have had the privilege of travelling across the world will agree with me that we are behind, in terms of the road network, as a country. Hon. Faith Gitau’s Motion brings to the attenti…
challenge given that there are so many vehicles on the road. The engineers who came up with these roads did not envision a time when it will be densely populated or with many people on the road. That is why this Motion is timely.
[[The Temporary Speaker (Hon. Peter Kaluma) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai) took the Chair]]
will recover their money through tolls. We will still leave the older roads to be accessed free of charge, so that travellers can have both options. This should go deep into the villages so that we can open up the economic channels in this country. I am very impressed by Hon. Faith Gitau's Motion. I suggest that it does not end here. We need to think through the PPPs to achieve infrastructural de…
Before we proceed, Hon. Members, I would like to welcome students who are seated in the Public Gallery this morning. We have students from Kivuthini Secondary School, Kibwezi East Constituency, Makueni County. Let us welcome them to the National Assembly. You are welcome to observe the proceedings of the House.
[(Applause)]
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. In welcoming the students from Kivuthini Primary School in Kibwezi East, which is my neighbouring constituency, I urge them and their teachers to feel welcome to the House of Parliament. This is where decisions in terms of laws, budgeting and oversight of expenditures of the national government are taken. This is a House of record and order. You are among the pri…
so that my people living along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway may stop losing their lives because of avoidable accidents. As for funding, everything starts with an idea. We cannot fear to propose ideas of dualling our roads because we do not have money. Therefore, I urge the State Department for Roads to come up with a plan on how we can dual our roads, and to engage Parliament to pass the necessary…
Thank you very much. Hon. Mutuse. Hon. Naomi Waqo, Member for Marsabit County.
Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for allowing me to add my contribution to this very important Motion brought by Hon. Faith Gitau, one of our very diligent commissioners and Member of Parliament. I support this Motion because it touches on one of the most important things that we depend on as a country. I fully support the proposal that this House resolves that the Government, through…
ease traffic congestion and help our people to, at least, have a safe means of travelling to their destinations, their businesses will pick up and we will be able to do a lot. With those few remarks, I support the Motion and request other Members to also support it.
Thank you very much, Hon. Naomi Waqo, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party. Hon. Gideon Ochanda, Member for Bondo.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. If the Government does not do certain things, we will continue experiencing many problems. One thing they should do is use data in planning. Each successive government has been well aware that the number of vehicles on the roads increases each year. What measures are we putting in place to accommodate this increase in the volume of traffic in terms of road infras…
constituency. However, the road cannot withhold the traffic volume because it was poorly done. The worst section is the one between Bondo and Osieko. The maintenance arrangement does not work. A contractor is always in place. The road surface currently looks like a small village road. Therefore, the quality of works done on highways must also be looked at so that we do not dwell on one road each …
Thank you very much, Hon. (Dr) Ochanda. Hon. Jackson Lekumontare, Member for Samburu East.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very good Motion. Some roads are just a waste of time. You can spend a long time on the roads. As other Members have said, it is time to expand our roads. This is a very good discussion. Some parts of this country do not even have single line roads. We are discussing about expanding roads but some parts of the…
Thank you, Member for Samburu East. Hon. Wilberforce Oundo, Member for Funyula. Hon. Professor, you have only four minutes. The time for this Motion is coming to an end.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me also join my colleagues in supporting the Motion by Hon. Faith Gitau on the expansion of major roads in the country into dual carriageways. Transport is essential to industrialisation and economic growth. Its importance cannot be gainsaid. Many of our so- called trunk roads, international roads that link various regions and towns across the country, cannot…
Thank you very much. Hon. Members, the balance of time, 48 minutes, has expired. This Motion, I am afraid, comes to an end. I know a few of you had hoped to speak, such as Hon. Dr Mutunga and Hon. Dick Maungu. Apologies, but you will not be able to contribute at this time. I now call upon the Mover to reply. Is the Mover in the House? I understand that the Mover, Commissioner Faith Gitau, is curr…
of Universal Health Coverage which is currently being implemented through the introduction of Social Health Insurance Fund; noting that there is need to increase the quality of care and services provided in the public health sector; concerned that the public health care services lack adequate funds to guarantee quality health care services; further noting that civil servants, public officers and S…
Hon. Sabina Chege, Nominated Member. This matter will be scheduled at another time.
This Motion is by Hon. Marianne Kitany. Let us try to trace her. She was just seen in the precincts. Hon. Members, I would like to welcome, seated in the Speaker’s Gallery this morning, students from Olkejuado High School, Kajiado Constituency, in Kajiado County. You are welcome to the National Assembly to continue observing the proceedings of this House. Hon. Members, let us welcome them in the…
[(Applause)]
Hon. Members, in the absence of Hon. Marianne Kitany, I order that this Motion be scheduled at another time by the House Business Committee. Next Order.
Hon. Members, this is a Motion by the Member for Westlands, Hon. Timothy Wanyonyi. It is also deferred. Hon. Members, I would like to inquire from Hon. Kitany and Hon. Sabina Chege. Please approach the Speaker’s table. consulted with Hon. Marianne Kitany and Hon. Sabina Chege)
[(The Temporary Speaker (Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai)]
I now request the Clerk-at-the-Table to call Order No. 17.
this House resolves that, the Government, through the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development puts in place a policy framework for effective land use in rural areas by consolidating and designating zones for built development for commercial and residential developments with shared public utilities and separate zones for agricultural use in order to arrest further diminishing…
Is Hon. Tim Wanyonyi in the House to move this Motion? He is not. I defer the Motion to another date when he will be around to move it. Next Order.
Where is Hon. Charles Ngusya to move this Motion? He is not in the House. I direct that this Motion be put in the Order Paper on an appropriate Wednesday when the Hon. Ngusya can move it. Next Order.
Hon. Shurie was around this morning. He is not in the House now. I am sure he assumed that the other Motions were going to take time up to one o'clock. Under the circumstances and there being nobody to move the
The co-sponsor is Hon. Wamboka. He is not in the House to move the Bill. Under the circumstances, I direct that the Bill be put in the Order Paper at an appropriate date in the future. Next Order.
Hon. Sabina Chege to move the Second Reading of this Bill. Is Hon. Chege Sabina the Member for Murang’a County? No, she is a Nominated Member of Parliament. She is not in the House. I direct that this Bill be put on the Order Paper for consideration at an appropriate date in future. Next Order.
Hon. Members, the time being 12.31