National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Wednesday, 18 September 2024
The House raised urgent concerns over the Nyeri school fire, demanding criminal accountability, and scrutinised the education funding model that imposes a 5 % contribution on lower‑cadre students. Members highlighted systemic corruption in bursary administration and called for the amalgamation of education funds to protect billions of shillings, while the Cabinet Secretary pledged to rationalise staff appointments, act on the pending DCI report, and develop policies to safeguard bursary monies. Members voiced strong criticism of the current capitation system, alleging it incentivises over‑staffing and uneven class sizes, and questioned the fairness of the student‑banding model that relies on parental income. They also highlighted inadequate university funding, poor infrastructure, and the need for transparent costing and equity across all levels of education. The debate called for clearer policies, better implementation, and safeguards against system manipulation. Members voiced strong support for a petition to regulate and professionalise the boda‑boda sector, highlighting its role in job creation and income for low‑earning households. They called for safer road designs, mandatory identification, and the development of locally‑owned e‑hailing technology to avoid extractive platforms. The Transport Committee chair pledged stakeholder engagement and expedited action on the proposed reforms.
Serjeant-at-Arms, you may ring the Quorum Bell. Clerks-at-the-Table, we now have the quorum to transact business. Hon. Members at the back, take the nearest seats.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(Several Members walked into the Chamber)]
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 Health, regarding the status of payment of Last Expense and Death Gratuity to survivors of beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Public Service Superannuation Scheme (PSSS) . Hon. Speaker, Article 43 of the Con…
Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Health. Where is Hon. (Dr.) Pukose? Any Member of the Departmental Committee on Health? Hon. Mathenge, advise your Chairman to bring a response in two weeks.
Much obliged, Hon. Speaker.
Thank you. Member for Kieni, you requested to say something about the Endarasha Tragedy? Remember yesterday I gave a Statement to the House and we had a moment of silence in honour of our departed children. So, I will give you two minutes as the area Member of Parliament to eulogise and empathise with the families.
Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker, for the opportunity. I am coming late after others and the whole Parliament gave a moment of silence, but I would want to say that it was a very tragic moment for us in Kieni where we lost 21 students ― 19 in the fire inferno and two in hospital. Additionally, three students are still hospitalised in various hospitals in the country. I want to appreciate His Exc…
Thank you, Member for Kieni. We gave our collective condolences yesterday. Hon. Members, allow me to acknowledge the following institutions in the public gallery: Our Lady of Lourdes Girls High School from Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County; Ikatini Secondary School from Masinga Constituency, Machakos County; Kegonge Boys High School from Runyenjes Constituency, Embu County; Inoro Girls Secondary S…
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I take this opportunity to welcome all the students and teachers who have visited Parliament to watch and learn the proceedings of this House. They are most welcome. In particular, I want to welcome my school, Ikatini Secondary School which is one of the best schools in my constituency. It has benefited a lot from NG-CDF projects. Watch and learn how business is conducted …
Thank you. On behalf of the House of Parliament and on my own behalf, I welcome all those schools to Parliament. Hon. John Kiarie.
Hon. Speaker, this will be of interest to all the Hon. Members in the House today. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (d) , I wish to inform the House of the recruitment of interns under the Presidential Digital Talent Programme (PDTP) , Cohort (IX) .
Hon. Speaker, the ICT Authority is in the process of recruiting 400 ICT interns to Cohort (IX) of the Presidential Digital Talent Programme (PDTP) under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy. The Presidential Digital Talent Programme was launched in 2015 as a Public Private Partnership Programme to actualise the Government’s commitment to leverage ICT to enhance citiz…
[(Loud consultations)]
Order, Hon. Members, who are consulting.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker for your protection. The ICT Authority opened the online recruitment portal of Cohort (IX) ICT Interns on 27th August 2024 and set Monday, 16th September 2024 as the deadline for submission of applications. In appreciation of the need to net as many budding tech savvy youths as possible from across the constituencies, the Departmental Committee on Communication, Informatio…
Thank you, Hon. K.J. Next Order.
Act, CAP 7F, this House approves the appointment of Mr Douglas Kanja Kirocho as the Inspector-General of the National Police Service.
Hon. Members, I will give you direction on this Motion as follows. I watched and listened to the morning debate. There was not a single dissenting voice. I want to allocate it 30 minutes before we call in the Cabinet Secretary for Education. Those I will give an opportunity to speak will be allocated two minutes and after 25 minutes, I will call upon the Mover to reply. Thereafter, I will put the …
Yes.
regardless of one’s socioeconomic background. Once a student is placed to a university by the Kenya University and College Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), they lodge an application for funding through the higher education portal. Students placed in public universities can apply for both scholarships and loans while those placed in private universities are eligible only for loans. The student-…
[[The Speaker (Hon. Moses Wetang’ula) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) took the Chair]]
[[The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) left the Chair] [The Speaker (Hon. Moses Wetang’ula) resumed the Chair]]
little later. It includes areas where, for example, parents are known. So, the categorisation has been expanded in order to ensure that as we categorise the students into bands, the outcome places them as close as possible to their realities. These improvements have seen a change in categorisation across the various bands. Students have also been sensitised to provide more accurate information th…
Who was on the Floor? There is nobody on the Floor. Hon. Mark Mwenje, are you keying in for this? There is no interest in the Order.
Is the Chairman of the Committee on Public Debt here? Was anybody on the Floor on this?
Was there anybody on the Floor?
The Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation. Did I see Hon. Wanjala here?
THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on the Inquiry into Alleged Unfair Trade Practices by Foreign Investors in Kenya, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 7th March 2024.
The Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
The Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity.
Any Member of the Pan African Parliament? None.
Any comment from the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. Hon. Kimani is not here.
THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education on its Examination of the Reports of the Auditor- General on the Financial Statements of State Corporations (Nyanza Region) for the financial years 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 25th July 2024.
Hon. Jack Wanami, are you ready to move?
Give me five minutes, then we proceed.
What shall we do in those five minutes? That is the only business that we have now. If you are ready, we will give you an opportunity to move. I encourage all Members who have businesses in the House to come ready as if your business is the one appearing on top of the Order Paper. You see when they all collapse, we even reach the business at the very bottom of the Order Paper. Hon. Members, it is…
Any Member from the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture? Hon. Mwenje, you are the only Member of the House leadership present. Can you communicate to your colleagues that all Members who have business in the House regardless of where they are, and the Clerks-at-the-Table you must desist from informing Members that business on the Order Paper will not be reached because business in the Ord…
Hon. Members, the time being 6.47 p.m., the House stands adjourned until Thursday, 19th September 2024, at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 6.47 p.m.
Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi