National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting

Members on their feet, take your seats. Hon. Members, I wish to introduce to you a delegation from the National Assembly of the Parliament of Namibia who are seated in the Speaker's Row. The delegation comprises the following Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Youth, Civic Relations and Community Development:

Hon. Members, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 42(1), I wish to report to the House that I have received a Message from His Excellency the President seeking approval of persons nominated for appointment to the positions of Chairperson and Members of the National Land Commission (NLC). In the Message, His Excellency the President notifies that, in exercise of the powers conferred to him…

Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table:

Thank you, Hon. Naomi. I am told the Chairperson of the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee is not present. So, we will put that aside. Before the next Order, allow me, Hon. Members to acknowledge, in the Public Gallery, the presence of Kuikui Senior School from Baringo North, Baringo County. On my behalf and that of the House, we welcome the students, their teachers and those accompanying th…

I am the Vice-Chairperson. Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Public Investments Committee on Commercial Affairs and Energy on its examination of the audited financial statements of selected State corporations in the roads and transport sector, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 14th October 2025. Thank you.

Chairperson of the Select Committee on Implementation, stay that until tomorrow. As we call the next Order, can the Leaders of the Majority and Minority Parties approach the Chair? Hon. Junet, have you resigned? I said the Leaders of the Majority and Minority Parties should approach the Chair. Clerk-at-the-Table, call out the next Order. Hon. Members, today we will be having the Cabinet Secretary…

[(Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah and Hon. Junet Mohamed consulted with the Speaker)]

[(Hon. Abubakar Talib spoke off the record)]

Plus, the presentation. The presentation and how Hon. Bensouda has dressed today says a lot. She prepared for the day, to come and do her presentation.

She cannot beat Hon. Kaluma, who just flew in to speak to this.

[(Laughter)]

Hon. Kaluma not only came fast, but he also cut his trip short, to make sure that he contributes to this Motion. He cut his trip to New York short. I also want to join my colleagues in supporting the recommendation of the Committee that we approve Dr Canon Ida Odinga, as the Representative United Nations Environment Programme for this country. Many of us came through Baba's hands, but likewise we…

She also had a very long distinguished career in education, civil society, advocacy for human rights and constitutionalism. She has been beside her husband. She has been supportive of her husband in everything she has done in this world. So, I agree with Members that there is no better person to serve this country at that level than her. As a family, they are very passionate about environmental ma…

Hon. Ichung’wah.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Let me agree with everybody who has spoken that we are approving a great person and a lady of impeccable credentials. Looking through her CV, I noted that Dr Betty Odinga has also served or has experience in international forums and, therefore, sits at a very pivotal position today to serve in this diplomatic role as our Permanent Representative to UNEP. She has experience…

where we are. We have seen the sacrifices that this great lady of our nation has offered to this country by serving not just her husband but the party and the nation. True, as has been said, she left public service as a teacher who had served diligently in the teaching profession, but she never stopped serving the people of Kenya. I want to bear witness to what Hon. Kaluma is saying, because last…

Not other places; to Nairobi.

To Nairobi. I was going to say there is no better home for UN agencies than Nairobi and we look forward to Mama Ida Odinga using her social capital, her networks globally to convince other global players and the UN family to set up more of their headquarters in Nairobi as they are doing so that we have more agencies that will create more opportunities in terms of jobs for our young people. With t…

Mover to reply.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I totally associate myself with the sentiments of my colleagues on Mama Ida, with a special mention of those by Hon. Bensouda. She has captured the mood of our Report. I appreciate her for that. We wish Mama Ida all the best as she moves into the next phase of her professional career in diplomacy. As the world is confronted with changing dynamics and challenges in the

environment, there is no person who can step forward better than Mama Ida Odinga. I wish her all the best. The Committee will continue to pray for her and her family after the demise of the former Prime Minister. I personally know three members of that family, namely, Raila Odinga Jr., Winnie Odinga and Rosemary Odinga. I pray for them and wish Mama Ida Odinga all the best in the next phase of he…

Members on their feet, take your seats. Hon. Elijah and Hon. Mary, take your seats. On a light touch, Hon. Wanjala said that behind every successful man there is a woman. Who stands behind a failing man?

[(Laughter)]

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am in agreement but note that the Cabinet Secretary is coming in at 4.00 p.m. We have about 17 minutes. So, we may need to quickly rush through these Motions.

Okay. Hon. Chonga.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Special Motion:

Reply.

I am well guided, Hon. Speaker. Let me take this opportunity to first of all appreciate all the Members who have contributed to this Report. Honestly, we have done our due diligence. We realised that Francis was indeed qualified for this position. As Hon. Otiende Amollo has well-articulated the sections that were being contested on why Francis Meja should not be the Chairperson of the Public Servi…

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Next Order. We will dispose of the next Motion in the same way. The Minister is now in the House waiting.

The Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Energy, Hon Gikaria. Give Hon. Gikaria the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to move: THAT this House adopts the Report of the Joint Committee of the Departmental Committee on Energy of the National Assembly and the Standing

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Public Debt and Privatisation

Thank you. We will now go to Order No. 7 on Questions and Statements.

Hon. Kitur.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker…

Hon. Kitur, which road is this? From Eldoret to Shamakhokho. Where does it pass?

Kapsabet.

Okay. The Kapsabet-Kapkangani Road. Go ahead.

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 Transport and Infrastructure regarding the expansion of the Eldoret- Shamakhokho Road. The Eldoret-Shamakhokho Road is a major transport corridor which links Eldoret to Kisumu and serves as a key route for the movement of goods and passengers between th…

Hon. Kitur, would it not be wise for you to amend your request to read Eldoret-Chavakali Road? That road does not end in Shamakhokho.

Seemingly, Hon. Speaker, from Shamakhokho onwards, the road is expanded.

It is not. I know it. So, expand your request for the Chairman of the Committee to deal with the Eldoret-Chavakali Road.

Well guided, Hon. Speaker.

Yes.

Okay.

Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. Hon. Saney, you are in the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.

On behalf of the Committee, I promise that there shall be a response one week after the recess.

No, the last week before we go on recess; we have three weeks to go.

Well guided, Hon. Speaker.

Make sure you deal with Eldoret-Chavakali Road and not Eldoret- Shamakhokho Road.

Hon. Osoro, request for a Statement quickly so that we go to the Cabinet Secretary.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a joint Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health and Chairperson of the Departmental

Chairpersons of the Departmental Committee on Health and Departmental Committee on Education, when can you bring a response? Hon. Melly, you have the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. If it is agreeable with my counterpart in the Departmental Committee on Health, we can present a report in two weeks’ time because we need to summon two Cabinet Secretaries and the regulators on both sides.

Can you bring a response next Thursday?

Is it on Thursday, next week?

Yes. This is a very simple matter.

Yes. Let me find out and then I will bring it back.

Hon. Jaldesa, your Chairman said that you are holding brief for him.

We shall do as you have guided.

We will now go to Questions and we only have one. Hon. Yussuf Farah has Question 2/2026. Leader of the Majority Party, the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Ruku, is in the House. Because of the widespread drought situation in the Northern part of Kenya, I directed him to anchor this Question to give the House and country a comprehensive Statement on the interventions he is taking to mitigate and ameliorat…

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to move: THAT, the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the whole House on its consideration of the Judges’ Retirement Benefits Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 27 of 2025) be amended by inserting the words

‘subject to recommittal of Clauses 2, 8, 23, 26, 44, 54 and 55 and the Long Title.’ I request Hon. George Murugara to second the Motion.

Hon. George Murugara.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to second.

[(Question of the amendment proposed)]

[(Question, that the words to be added be added, put and agreed to)]

[(The Motion as amended agreed to)]

Hon. Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Judge's Retirement Benefits Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 27 of 2025) 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.

Give her the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I second.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Mover.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the Judges’ Retirement Benefits Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 27 of 2025) be now read a Third Time. I also request Hon. Mulyungi to second.

Yes, Hon. Mulyungi.

Hon. Speaker, I second.

Thank you, Principal Secretary Mulyungi. Next Order.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

[(The Bill was accordingly read a Third Time and passed)]

Hon. Speaker, I wanted to beg your indulgence. Since this debate has started and about an hour is remaining, may we skip Order No. 13 to allow the Chairman of the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee, Hon. Mulyungi, to move his Motion under Order No.14?

Okay. I order and direct that Order No. 13 be stepped down and be placed in the Order Paper for tomorrow. Clerk-at-the-Table, call out Order No. 14.

[[The Speaker (Hon. Moses Wetang’ula) left the Chair]]

Hon. Mulyungi.

I will step down the matter appearing under Order No. 15 and reorganise the Order Paper so that the House transacts business under Order No. 16 in priority.

Call Order No. 16.

I beg to move: THAT, this House adopts the Ninth Report of the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee on its consideration of the audited accounts of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund for 11 Constituencies in Nakuru County for the financial years 2013/2014, 2014/2015, 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, laid on the Table of the Hous…

Hon. Caroline Ng’elechei.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Before I second, let me first appreciate my able Chairman of the Committee. This is because we are well aware and have been informed that since this Committee came into existence in Parliament, it has never been able to work on as many audit reports as we have tackled so far; for over 100 constituencies. As you can see, most of the reports are from financial years 2013/201…

Hon. Njeri Maina Itung’ati.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, you say it very well. Allow me to appreciate the Chair for the work that the Committee has done to the point of tabling this Report before this honourable House. It is very intriguing that the issues

that plague the NGAAF also plague the NG-CDF. These are the issues of untimely disbursement of funds to the constituencies with respect to the NGAAF. I must appreciate the drafters of the 2010 Constitution because were it not for them, Hon. Temporary Speaker, you would not have known a great Itung’ati like Njeri Maina. With that, NGAAF and the NG-CDF are a direct return on investment in regard to…

Every financial year, as County Women Representatives, we receive National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) disbursements from the National Treasury, which are like quinine - they are there, or they are not there. The need by the people on the ground is there. I also recommend that, as we table and discuss these reports, we look into having a committee that handles the issues of the NGAA…

Hon. Timothy Toroitich, do you want to contribute to this?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I will be very brief on this subject matter. I take the cue from my colleagues who spoke before me, especially on the delay of this Report. This Report refers to an audit that was done in 2013. That is 13 years ago. Some of the recommendations have been overtaken by events. We have enacted several National Government Constituencies Development Fund legislations in this Hous…

Since we are passing this Report and adopting the recommendations, we must follow up and ensure that we set a timeline in which these recommendations are effected and/or actualised, so that we do not have reports we have passed here but, at the end of it, those recommendations are not implemented. Hon. Temporary Speaker, having said that. I rest my case. Thank you.

There being no more requests, the Mover will reply.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to thank Members who have contributed to this Motion and agree with their comments. In particular, the fact that the NG-CDF and NGAAF have impacted heavily on the development of the constituencies and counties, especially in the villages, I recommend that in the future, we consider enhancing the funding of the NG-CDF and the NGAAF so that whatever has been…

Thank you. Again, the putting of the question to this Motion under Order No.18 is deferred to the future for the convenience of the House. Next Order!

[(Putting the question deferred)]

Motion is deferred to the future, as and when the House Business Committee will schedule it for consideration by the House. Next Order.

Again, this matter is deferred to the future when the House Business Committee will schedule it for consideration. Hon. Members, that being the very end of the matters which were listed for consideration, the House will adjourn, but before it does so, I want to thank you, the Chairperson of the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee, for your commitment to duty. You have sat in the House from the…