National Assembly · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Members of Parliament expressed strong support for the proposed Social Protection Bill, arguing it would provide a legal framework and coordinated oversight for Kenya's myriad cash‑transfer and welfare programmes. They highlighted persistent challenges such as irregular disbursements, double‑dipping, lack of exit strategies and inadequate reach in remote areas, urging the Bill’s Board to address these issues with equity and sustainability. The debate combined constructive proposals with criticism of current system shortcomings. The sitting began with routine procedural business and the laying of audit and social protection papers. The core discussion focused on Hon. David Kiplagat’s request for a statement on the Kenya Prisons Constable recruitment venue, arguing that locating the centre in Turbo constituency unfairly disadvantages Soy residents, and urging a swift response and possible gazettement of an alternative site. Other members echoed the urgency, and the Deputy Speaker directed the matter to the relevant department for prompt action. Hon. Daniel Karitho raised the issue of Ethiopian Airlines’ ban on miraa cargo, warning of severe economic impacts for miraa‑dependent communities. Members debated which parliamentary committee—Transport and Infrastructure or Agriculture and Livestock—should address the matter, with some expressing frustration over the delay and jurisdictional confusion. The discussion highlighted the need for a coordinated regional response to protect trade and livelihoods.
I direct that the Bell be rung for 10 minutes. I direct that the Quorum Bell be rung for another five minutes. You may stop the Quorum Bell now. We may begin.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table: Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the year ended 30th June 2024 and the certificates therein in respect of:
Thank you. We have another Paper. The Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Social Protection. Yes, Hon. DK. We are not on Statements yet, but on Papers. We will have the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Social Protection.
[(A Member spoke off the record)]
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Social Protection on its consideration of the Social Protection Bill (National Assembly Bill No.12 of 2025) . Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker
Thank you. Next Order.
The first Statement is from Hon. David Kiplagat, Member for Soy.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to request for a Statement regarding the venue for the recruitment of the Kenya Prisons Constables from Soy Constituency. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I request for a Statement from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs regarding the venue for the recruitment of Kenya Prisons Constables from Soy Constituenc…
Hon. Deputy Speaker, it is against this background that I request for a statement from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs on the following:
No. You have made your request. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal, you are supposed to respond.
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Yes, Hon. DK.
As the Chairman responds on when I will get a response to the statement, let it be noted that the recruitment will be done on Wednesday, 30th April 2025. This is something that we hold dearly in Soy Constituency. There are venues where this exercise can be held. In fact, the venue for police and military recruitment has always been in Siwa-Sirikwa-Chepkigen Grounds. We do not know under whose guid…
Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. This is a very urgent statement that needs to be provided before 30th April. The only other and reasonable available time is Tuesday, 29th April 2025. That is the next Sitting after tomorrow. We need a little time to transmit it to the relevant Department of the Ministry and then wait for a response. In fact, I will send it directly. I will take a screensh…
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Yes, Hon. Pukose. What is your point of order?
Hon. Deputy Speaker, this is a matter of urgency and it should not wait. If they will change the venue to Soy Constituency, this has to be gazetted. This is something that should be done immediately. It is unfair to put a recruitment centre in a different constituency to disadvantage the people of Soy. The Member should be assisted. I urge the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Justice and …
Hon. Murugara.
We will try but the process of relaying the statement to the relevant Government department takes a bit of time. I am 100 per cent sure that it will reach them in the evening. We will do our very best to ensure that this is sorted out. If it is brought tomorrow afternoon, it will be conveyed by the Leader of Majority Party on my behalf. This is because I may miss tomorrow's Sitting due to a commit…
Thank you. Our next request for a statement is from Hon. Karitho, the Member for Igembe Central. You may proceed
Hon. Deputy Speaker, pursuant to the provision of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a statement from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding a ban by Ethiopian Airlines on cargo transportation of miraa. Hon. Deputy Speaker, on March 23rd 2025, Ethiopian Airlines issued a directive banning miraa cargo on its flight from Nairobi, citing u…
Is the Chairman for the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure present?
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. We will have a response the second week after recess. I also think this request for statement has something to do with the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. We will liaise with them so as to see what response we should give and what response they should give.
I thought the request for statement is about the ban of transportation of miraa by Ethiopian Airlines cargo. Is that not the issue?
That is the issue. I think the cargo is a major issue.
I mean the goods being transported in the aircraft.
Yes, the goods being transported are agricultural products, but the issue deals with transportation. It is like when a person is banned from getting into an airline. That is purely a transport issue. The authority to land in Kenya and take cargo solely falls under Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) .
I totally agree with you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. That is why I said we will see what input the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock will make to enrich our response.
That is purely on your shoulders.
Thank you.
Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, I can see you want to say something.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I am surprised that the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure is trying to push the issue back to the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. We are talking about transportation of goods that are already finished and packaged for market. If this was about trade, it would be a little bit relevant. We have not heard about …
All right. We will wait until two weeks after recess for a response from the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. Hon. Wanyonyi. Hon. Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Kwanza, FORD–K) : Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am equally perplexed. We are trying to bring East African countries together to work as a bloc. The Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure should take up this issue urgen…
Thank you, Hon. Wanyonyi, for the emphasis. We can move to responses to requests for statements. We will start with the Member for Runyenjes, Hon. Eric Karemba. The Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock is supposed to give a response to your request. Hon. Mutunga, do you have a response?
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I do not have a response with me right now, but I can get it in the course of this morning.
When will your response be ready?
In about one hour, I am expecting it to be brought to me.
All right. We will see if we can slot you in later. The next response is by the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Energy to the request by Hon. Joseph Gitari, the Member for Kirinyaga Central. Hon. Karemba, what is your point of order?
Hon. Deputy Speaker, it is not a point of order. I am surprised that the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock is not ready with this Statement. I imagine he was properly briefed that I am in Parliament today purposely to get a response to the request I made. That makes me wonder whether he is keen to have the matter addressed. It is not an issue to do with me as a pe…
He has said that the response has delayed a bit and will come in an hour. So, let us give him that one hour. Proceed, Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Energy.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. This is the response to a request for Statement regarding the Status of Electricity Projects in Kirinyaga County: Reference is made to the letter dated 1st April 2025 by the Member for Kirinyaga Central, Hon. Joseph Gachoki, who requested the Departmental Committee on Energy to look into the status of electricity projects in Kirinyaga County. The following are the …
Just one minute, Hon. Gikaria. Is the Member for Kirinyaga Central here? He is the one who requested for the Statement. If he is not in the House, the case will be that you just table the Statement.
Much obliged, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Thank you very much.
[(Hon. David Gikaria tabled the Statement)]
Let us move to the next Order.
Hon. Owen Baya, for the Leader of the Majority Party.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, this House resolves to exempt the business appearing as Order No.9 in the Order Paper from the provisions of Standing Order 40 (3) , being a Wednesday morning, a day allocated for business not sponsored by the Majority or Minority Party or business sponsored by a Committee. Hon. Deputy Speaker, Wednesday mornings are meant …
Osoro, the Chief Whip, to be ready to second this Motion, allow me to state that the Social Protection Bill is a piece of legislation that we must have as country. Going by the money that we give of Ksh3.4 billion to support wazee through the Social Protection Fund and many other funds that are given in kind, if we do not pass this Bill, we will suffer the consequences of not supporting the vulner…
Proceed, Hon. Osoro.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. You know, the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party was a drama teacher in school. He speaks with a lot of expressions when making a point and that is very good. What we are seeking in this Procedural Motion is to exempt the business appearing as Order No.9 in today’s Order Paper from the provisions of Standing Order 40 (3) . Members know that Wednesday morning sittin…
[(Laughter)]
I can give a chance to one or two Members to say something. Hon. Millie, would you like to speak?
No, I am okay.
Put the Question
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Next Order.
Hon. Members, the time being 1.00