National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Wednesday, 18 October 2023
Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose moved the Kenya Drugs Authority Bill, highlighting its alignment with WHO best practices, enhanced regulation, and support for local manufacturing and universal health coverage. Hon. Patrick Ntwiga seconded, stressing the need for stringent drug regulation, improved quality control, and economic benefits from reaching higher regulatory maturity. The debate focused on the bill’s potential to safeguard public health and boost the pharmaceutical sector. Members repeatedly highlighted the high number of fatalities on Kenyan roads, citing the Nithi Bridge and recent accidents as urgent concerns. They called for concrete measures such as speed cameras, stricter driver licensing, regular vehicle inspections, and improved road maintenance, especially ahead of the festive season. The debate combined criticism of current enforcement with constructive proposals for the NTSA and Ministry of Transport. Members of the National Assembly voiced strong support for the Kenya Drugs Authority Bill, emphasizing its capacity to tighten regulation of medicines, medical devices, and related trade while curbing profiteering and unsafe practices. They highlighted structural reforms such as separating regulation from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, creating scientific advisory committees, and fostering local drug manufacturing for jobs and export. The debate was constructive, focusing on implementation details and professional delineation.
I direct that the Quorum Bell be rung for a further 10 minutes. We may now proceed. Serjeant-at-Arms, you may stop the Quorum Bell. For the convenience of the House, Hon. Members, I seek your indulgence to re-arrange business on the Order Paper. We shall go directly to Order No.7 and then to Order No.12. Later on, we shall go back to the other Orders.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Naomi Waqo.
Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I begin the conclusion of my debate by saying that we know very well that many lives have been lost as a result of accidents. Many families are affected and they live with trauma. Many children have lost their parents and breadwinners. Accidents and carelessness on our roads have reduced them to nothing. The best thing we can do is to make sure we put pro…
conferences in different places have lost their lives on this road. What is it that we need to do to control the loss of lives on the roads in this country? There is a lot of traffic there, but the number of people we have lost is very high. The number of people who died in accidents is more than the lives COVID-19 took. Hon. Deputy Speaker, this is something that we need to pay attention to in o…
Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to second this very important Motion by Hon. Waqo on action to address the recent surge in road accidents in the country. The scourge of road carnage is not new to this House because it has been previously discussed and it is a matter of national concern. It is very important that as a nation and a House we look at this matter seriously and put meas…
Hon. Members, we can now go back to Order No.4 on the Order Paper on Petitions. I call upon the Member for Loima Constituency, Hon. Protas Akujah. I know you are here.
The notice of Motion is again by Hon. (Capt.) Ruweida, Member for Lamu East. You may proceed with your notice of Motion.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that Article 239 provides for the National Security Organs, including the Kenya Defence Forces; further aware that, the Kenya Defence and Kenya Special Forces play an indispensable role in promoting and safeguarding national security in accordance with the Constitution; recognizing that, members of the Forces face life…
Next Order.
We move to the next Order.
industry to protect local millers; acknowledging that the country has the potential to produce enough sugar to meet its domestic demand as the sector has been a key driver of economic growth; further acknowledging that there is need for concerted efforts by stakeholders to discourage the branding of sugar by non-millers and promote the development of the local sugar industry; now, therefore, this …
Hon. Members, we also defer putting of the Question on this Motion for obvious reason. Next Order.
[(Putting of the Question deferred)]
Next Order.
Hon. Members, the time being