National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Wednesday, 22 November 2023
The National Assembly debated the National Government Coordination (Amendment) Bill, with Hon. Malulu Injendi urging legal recognition and modest remuneration for village elders who perform critical security, land and community functions. He estimated an annual cost of under Ksh1 billion for a Ksh3,000 monthly allowance for roughly 27,000 elders, while procedural motions to defer the question and to read the bill a second time were handled by the Temporary Speaker. The sitting opened with a procedural dispute over a microphone failure during the Speaker’s prayer, which was attributed to equipment malfunction. The House then considered two public petitions: one highlighting the lack of hardship allowances and inadequate conditions for teachers in Chonyi Sub‑County, and another raising delays in issuing title deeds to squatters in Koibem Village, Nandi County. The debate remained largely procedural but featured notable concerns about service delivery and infrastructure. Members debated the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, emphasizing the need for fair and timely compensation for people injured by wildlife, especially marine workers and low‑income coastal communities. They linked compensation to boosting tourism, the emerging oil sector and the blue economy, arguing that certainty of support will encourage investment and sustainable use of resources. While broadly supportive of the Bill, speakers highlighted delays and gaps in current compensation mechanisms.
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
The House is not yet fully constituted and so you cannot have a point of order. For a change, we are starting with full quorum. Congratulations, Hon. Members. This is how it should be.
[(Hon. Speaker consulted the Clerk-at-the-Table)]
[(Applause)]
On a point of order.
Hon. Wamboka, what was your point of order then?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am really concerned that when you were praying electricity was on, but your microphone went off! You are the senior most leader in this House. Was it by design or someone was trying to sabotage our Speaker? We need an explanation from whoever is concerned on why the head of one arm of Government should be embarrassed. That was my concern.
Hon. Wamuchomba, what was yours?
Hon. Speaker, it is very serious when the leader of this House is on the Floor executing a very noble duty of praying and bowing to our Lord the maker, then electricity just disappears.
It is the microphone that went off.
Let us end it there. The Clerk-at-the-Table tells me that the machines have been malfunctioning and I direct the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) team to re-look at the equipment and ensure that they work. Hon. Members, I want to assure you that I did not feel sabotaged neither did I feel embarrassed. Thank you. Clerk-at-the-Table.
Hon. Members, we have two Petitions. The first one is to be presented by Hon. Ken Chonga and the second one by the Speaker. Is Hon. Ken Chonga in the House?
Yes.
Go ahead and present. I will present the one that came through the Speaker. We can then give Members a few minutes to comment if they will be interested.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to present a public Petition on the hardship allowance and affirmative action for teachers in Chonyi Sub- County. I, the undersigned, on behalf of teachers in Chonyi Sub-County, Kilifi County, draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, despite the provisions of Article 27 of the Constitution against inequality and discrimination, teachers working in C…
including Chonyi. Further, most of the administrators in schools in Kilifi County are in acting capacity thus lowering their morale; THAT, efforts made to have this matter addressed by the TSC have not resulted into any satisfactory response; THAT, the issues in respect of which this Petition is raised are not pending before any court of law, or any constitutional or legal body; Therefore, your hu…
Thank you, Hon. Chonga. Order, Hon. DK. Take your seat. Hon. Members, take the nearest seats. I have a Petition.
[(Hon. David Kiplagat stood in the gangway)]
Hon. Wanjala, the Order Paper indicates that Hon. Wamuchomba is supposed to give the Statement.
I was equally wondering, Hon. Speaker.
Go ahead.
Order, Hon. Members. Order, Hon. Member walking out, take the nearest seat. Those Members on their feet, can you take your seats. Order, Hon. Members! Take your seats. Is that KJ? Hon. Members, I am satisfied that there is Quorum to put the Question.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The Bill was read a Second Time and Committed to Committee of the whole House)]
Next Order. First Readings
Thank you. As we go to the next Order, the Speaker will be delivering a ruling on your attire and the etiquette in the House and in committees. What will be ruled on how you dress and conduct yourself here will bind you in committees as well. As the Speaker will enforce the rules here, every chairman of committee will be enjoined to enforce the same rule in the committees.
[(Applause)]
Next Order.
Where is he? He has just been here now. Yes, proceed.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, the First Reading of the Land Laws (Amendment) Bill was done on 14th November 2023.
This is the Second Reading.
Yes, the First Reading was done on the 14th November 2023. It was published in the papers for people to bring memoranda and petitions within that week.
Do you need more time for it?
It is still within public participation time, therefore, the Report has not been done. If you allow, we would like to stand that down.
We will stand down Order No.12 for another day. Order No. 13.
Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, we are the Movers of this Motion but the Report is not ready. I think the Committee has done its work but they have not yet done the Report. I would request that we give them time to bring the Report. Therefore, my request is that we stand it down.
Fair enough. Your request is assented to.
Yes, Order No. 13 has also stood down for another day. Order No.14.
The Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.
I have had a conversation with Hon. Benjamin Gathiru because this is a Private Member's Bill. He has told me that he is not ready to proceed with this Bill. Therefore, he requested that we step it down.
He is indisposed. I have a feeling that this information was also communicated to the Hon Speaker. Under the circumstances, this one also is stood down to another day.
Okay. Yes, thank you.
Order No. 15.
I have had a conversation with Hon. Kaluma on this matter. He is still consulting with certain Government ministries and departments on the same. He will put his thoughts together to either move forward with the Bill or withdraw it completely. He is of the view that the Bill be stood down for the moment.
Order No.15 is stood down to another day. Order No.16.
Hon. Members, the time being 9.03