National Assembly · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Members discussed the Blue Economy visit to Ngomeni, urging the Italian Satellite Centre to provide a water kiosk for the local community. A procedural motion was moved and passed to exempt Order No.14, allowing debate on the Climate Change Amendment, Anti‑Money Laundering, and Food Safety Bills, which sparked objections about rushed legislation and the marginalisation of minority and private‑members’ business. Several members highlighted concerns over adherence to standing orders and the need for minority voices to be heard. Members debated an amendment to define the Law Society of Kenya as a self‑regulatory body and proposed changes to the Proceeds of Crime and Anti‑Money Laundering Act to clarify lawyers' professional secrecy obligations. The House also reported on and approved the Climate Change (Amendment) Bill after committee consideration. The discussion was marked by procedural cooperation but included brief criticism and cautionary remarks. Members clashed over procedural matters, with Hon. Millie Odhiambo challenging the Deputy Speaker and the Leader of the Majority Party on points of order and amendment handling. The debate featured accusations of filibustering, calls for strict adherence to standing orders, and intermittent humor. Tensions centered on the pace of business and members’ conduct.
I direct that the Quorum Bell be rung for 10 minutes. Hon. Members, we now have quorum. We may proceed. Hon. Members, we are going to begin the Sitting. Hon. Kamket, you should now break up your kamukunji. Let us proceed. Order, Hon. Didmus Barasa.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation, Hon. Bowen Kangogo.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:
Next is the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Environment. Do you have a Paper? Proceed, Hon. Gikaria.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining on its consideration of the National Climate Change (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.42 of 2023) Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Next Order. Hon. Chairman, I noticed that you have a Paper to table.
Yes.
Proceed.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Select Committee on Members’ Services and Facilities on its study visit to the House of Commons, United Kingdom from 6th to 13th May 2023.
Next Order.
Chairperson, Select Committee on Implementation.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to issue a Statement to the House regarding the implementation status of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kenya and the Government of the Italian Republic on the Luigi- Broglio Malindi Space Centre, as requested by Hon. Owen Baya, Member for Kilifi North Constituency on Tuesday 13th June 2023. The matter seems to have taken inordinately long to re…
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I want to thank the Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation for the work they are doing. I requested the Statement on the premise that the Luigi-Broglio Space Centre has been there for many years but has not benefited the people of Malindi, specifically the residents of Ngomeni in Magarini Constituency, where the Space Centre is situated. Ngomeni is still a v…
the two weeks you have asked for, I am sure you will unearth these issues and ensure that the people of Ngomeni in Magarini Constituency benefit from the Luigi-Broglio Space Centre. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Hon. Bowen.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I want to appreciate the Chairperson for the Report. The Departmental Committee on Blue Economy and Irrigation visited Ngomeni to see the landing site around that area. Before getting to the site, we passed the Italian Satellite Centre. We were there for some days. The community around that Space Station is among the poorest in Kenya. There is no tarmac road to Ngom…
Let us proceed to the next order.
prevention and control of cancer; this House resolves that the Government, through the National Treasury, establish a National Cancer Prevention and Control Fund to promote prevention, control, and treatment of cancer in the country.
What is your point of order, Hon. Wangwe?
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise on a point of order to seek clarification on whether the Chief Whip of the Majority Party and the Chairperson of the Committee on Delegated Legislation are in order to continue talking while you are on your feet. Are they exempt from the decision that the House has just made? What is the implication of their actions?
Let us proceed. They have noted your advice. Next Order.
negative effects of poor sanitation, such as parasite infestations, particularly among school children lead to anaemia, stunted-growth and other salient problems which in turn lead to low school attendance and impact education standards; recognising that according to research, school-based deworming is one of the most cost effective interventions that provides a huge range of holistic and social b…
I am sorry, Hon. Members. My Order Paper seems to have been mixed up. It is different from the one everyone else has. Next Order.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. As we move to Order No.14 on the Committee of the whole House, I rise to seek your guidance. The first Bill for consideration is the Climate Change (Amendment) Bill. The Second Reading of that Bill happened yesterday afternoon. It was concluded towards
I want to explain that your amendments came after the Order Paper had been printed but were approved.
Thank you very much. Can the amendments be moved on the Floor of the House?
Yes.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, while I thank you for that…
Many Members have brought their amendments despite your argument that there was insufficient time to do so. I was surprised I had ten amendments on my desk for approval early this morning by 8:00 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I like that. Thank you for approving them out of time, which is good. Let us not run the House in such a way that sometimes, even from the important seat of the Speaker, we have to do things that are out of order because we do not follow the procedure. Thank you for that, but we can see a trend that will make it difficult. Let me make a point.
Hon. Nyikal, you are misleading the House.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I have thanked you. However, let me make this point.
Hon. Nyikal, you are misleading the House. None of those amendments were approved out of time. They were within time. I said that your amendments were approved after printing the Order Paper. What you are canvassing has already been overtaken by events.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I agree with you. Let me make one last point. Thank you again. Super majority is good because it can make the Executive do a lot of good things for the country in good time. However, it is a double-edged sword. It can also make the Executive do many bad things very quickly in a situation like this. I thank you for this particular one but keep in mind the procedure.
We stick to the process at all times. Let us move to the next Order.
On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
What is your point of order, Hon. Millie? At least, you are being polite now. Proceed.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, you need to understand that God endowed us very differently. Some people speak softly, but some of us do not do so. My loud voice is not a sign of rudeness. It is just the way I was born. Please, get used to my loud voice. I want to determine whether my amendments to the Climate Change (Amendment) Bill and the Food and Feed Safety Control Coordination Bill are in the Order Pa…
I must congratulate you. I approved them very early this morning.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
Hon. Nyikal, you can see that Members are active. They all brought their amendments despite the short time.
I did not have the time to propose amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill. Finally, for the record, sometimes things are not put in order. I want to remind the Member for Ainabkoi that I am senior. As a lawyer, you know what it means. I was sworn in before him. I am his senior. I have been a litigation counsel in the State Law Office, th…
[(Laughter)]
Thank you. Hon. Members, allow me to recognise visitors in the Public Gallery. We have members of a church group, Neno Evangelism, from Laikipia West Constituency, Laikipia County; and members of the Higher Calling Church Group from Laikipia West, Laikipia County. I also wish to recognise - seated in the Speaker’s Gallery - students and teachers of St. Joseph’s Primary School from Dagoretti South …
The Chairperson to report on the Climate Change (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.42 of 2023) .
Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Climate Change (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.42 of 2023) and approved the same with amendments.
Mover.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I also request Hon. Naomi Waqo to second the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the whole House.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I second.
[(Question proposed)]
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Mover to move the Third Reading.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the Climate Change (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.42 of 2023) be now read a Third Time. I request Hon. Prof. Bartoo to second.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I second.
[(Question proposed)]
Hon. Kajwang’.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, sometimes being a senior person is not good enough. The Leader of the Majority Party knows that we do not have quorum. Let us handle the Third Reading when we have quorum. I am a bit senior to raise that but it is a fact. I think we need to deal with it before we…
Take your seat Hon. Kajwang’. I was just going to say that putting of the Question will be done in another sitting as will be scheduled by the House Business Committee (HBC) .
Hon. Chairperson, you may now move the reporting on the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.35 of 2023) .
Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.35 of 2023) up to the provisions relating to the Proceeds of Crime and Anti- Money Laundering Act of 2009 and approved the same with amendments and seeks leave to sit again.
Mover.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with Committee in the said report. I ask Hon. Bowen Kangogo to second the Motion for agreement with the report of the Committee of the whole House.
I second.
Thank you very much, Hon. Kangogo.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the Question!
Is it the mood of the House that I put the question?
Yes!
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Thank you, Hon. Members. The time being 1.05 p.m., this House stands adjourned until this afternoon at 2.30 p.m. The House rose at 1.05 p.m.
Published by Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi