National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that Article 231 (2) of the Constitution mandates the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to formulate monetary policy, promote price stability, and to issue currency among other functions; further aware that the National Payments Systems Act provides that the CBK may, by notice in the Gazette, designate a payment instrument if the B…

We will go back to Order No.5. Chairperson of the Special Funds Accounts Committee. Hon. Fatuma, you have held the House at ransom. You know very well that when you have business on the Floor, the Speaker should find you in the Chamber. We have called out your orders twice. Your leader, the distinguished Leader of the Minority Party, was constrained to mislead the House that you were two minutes a…

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am very sorry for the delay. I had a terrible toothache, which I have just dealt with. I might sound a bit funny. That is why I delayed. I am very sorry, Hon. Speaker. I apologise to the House at large.

Go ahead.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Fourth Report of the Special Funds Accounts Committee on its consideration of the reports of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements for the Kenya Slum Upgrading Low-Cost Housing and Infrastructure Trust Fund for the financial years 2017/2018 to 2021/2022, and the Alcoholic Drinks Control Fund for the Financial Year 2017/2018.

Proceed to give notice of Motion under Order No.6.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Special Funds Accounts

Next Order. Member for Lamu East, Ruweida Obo.

Order, Hon. Members. I now put the Question on Order No.8.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(The Bill was read a Second Time and committed to a Committee of the whole House)]

Before the next order, allow me to acknowledge, in the Speaker’s Gallery, leaders of Egerton University Students Association, from Matungu Constituency, Kakamega County. Hon. Members, on your behalf and my own behalf, I welcome them to the House of Parliament.

[(Applause)]

Hon. Members, I will now put the question at Order No.9. Next Order.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Hon. Members, I want to re-arrange the Order Paper. I have been advised by the Deputy Speaker that the Bill at Order No.12 was almost concluded. We need just one or two Members to contribute then we close the Second Reading. Instead of opening up a new order, we can conclude that one first. Was it replied to? Leading Clerk-at-the-Table, call out Order No.12. If there are no contributors on that O…

[(Hon. (Dr) Robert Pukose spoke off the record)]

Was any Member on the Floor? Is Hon. Rashid Bedzimba in the House? There being no further interest, I call upon the Mover to reply.

[(A Member spoke off the record)]

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I thank the Members who contributed to this Bill and for the sentiments that were put forward based on

the public participation Report in amending certain sections. Members talked about the difference between pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists. There was also an issue on drugs. They suggested that veterinary drugs and human medicines should be under the Kenya Drugs Authority. Drugs for animals and humans are basically the same. We need to control them. These are good amendments that the C…

Have you concluded?

Yes, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Members, I am satisfied that there is quorum to warrant the Question to be put. Let us go back to Order No.11.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(The Bill was read a Second Time and committed to a Committee of the whole House)]

Is this the one in which the Mover requested permission of the House to be away? Stand it down. Call out the next Order.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (National Assembly Bill No.61 of 2022) be now read a Second Time. Just for correction, I have noticed that the Order Paper indicates that it is an amendment Bill. It is not an amendment Bill. This Bill seeks to provide for the regulation of assisted reproductive technology to prohibit certain practices in connect…

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the reason I am saying it is erroneous that this is brought as an amendment Bill is because there is no legal framework on assisted reproduction in this country. What that means is that people are free to undertake assisted reproduction because it is also not prohibited. There is no law against it and there is no law for it. What we are doing, therefore, is to provide a fra…

gift. Things like that do not concern me. However, I have talked to people at individual levels. People go through depression. People’s lives are destroyed just because they do not have children. What this Bill seeks to do is to help people who are having those challenges. I thank the Departmental Committee on Health. I can see the Chairman was here much earlier. I am sure he will make his presen…

For those of us who were with the Departmental Committee on Health, we saw the challenges they go through. This Bill makes it easier for them to have children. Of course, the Bill talks about the issue of commercialisation. Do we commercialise or not? Many people were persuaded towards adequate compensation, but not commercialisation and also to ensure that anybody who is a surrogate mother is ta…

Who is seconding?

Hon. Beatrice Elachi, before you second, let me compliment the Mover for very passionately moving this Bill. The Bill is not well understood. I wish the House was full as you moved the Bill, with all 350 Members

present, including the Speaker. Members would have been properly informed as they contribute. I also thank you for clarifying that intersex persons are not part of the LGBTQ. The LGBTQ like adding the letter “I” to their moniker to represent intersex persons. Even in the matter before the Supreme Court, which gave rise to the infamous ruling, intersex persons were on the other side saying that th…

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also want to thank my senior who has really taught us a lesson that you must be very persistent in what you push. I thank God for the grace she has always had when dealing with this matter. As I second, I want to say that parenthood is one of the most remarkable things or transformations that men and women go through. However, if there is something that also b…

the child, it will be very difficult for you to say this is your baby. We have no regulations. It becomes very difficult.

Order, Hon. Elachi! When this matter will be scheduled for deliberations before the House in future, you will have six additional minutes to second the Bill. It should be five because I interrupted you. I am saying it will be six according to what I am seeing.