National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting
Wednesday, 25 September 2024
The Speaker detailed ongoing upgrades and new constructions of major sports venues—including Moi International Sports Centre, Kipchoge Keino Stadium and several regional stadia—to meet CHAN and AFCON requirements, noting specific completion percentages and upcoming deadlines. He also highlighted a number of long‑delayed projects from the Jubilee era that remain incomplete, describing them as "monuments of shame" and calling for further collaboration to finish the remaining works. The debate balanced reports of progress with criticism of stalled stadiums and the need for additional resources. The Minister highlighted significant delays and low completion rates for several county stadium projects, noting contract terminations and the need for re‑advertising using new prototype designs. He urged the National Assembly to allocate budget and pursue public‑private partnerships to accelerate completion and ensure sustainable management, while also outlining measures to support Kenyan sports teams in international competitions. The debate focused on chronic under‑funding of grassroots sports agencies and the need for the National Treasury to restore resources, while also addressing the hand‑over of sports facilities to county governments and the importance of clear MOUs to prevent political interference. The Speaker highlighted the upcoming Football Kenya Federation elections, pledging government support for transparent, neutral venues and technical assistance. Finally, the discussion emphasized treating sports as a private‑sector‑driven enterprise, leveraging schools for talent development and improving university‑level programmes.
Hon. Members, there is no quorum. Serjeant-at-Arms, you may ring the Quorum Bell. Hon. Members, we now have the quorum to transact business.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:
Thank you. Next is the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Petitions. The Vice-Chairperson is here. Hon. Janet, you may proceed.
Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table: Report of the Public Petitions Committee on its consideration of the following:
Thank you. Next Order.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motions: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Public Petitions Committee on its consideration of Public Petition No.41 of 2023 by Mr. Bob Ndolo regarding the banning of TikTok in Kenya, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 25th September 2024.
Hon. Beatrice Kemei.
Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that the Kenya Roads Act 2007 mandates the various road authorities to, among other functions, control roads and road reserves and access to roadside developments; further aware that market centres are ordinarily constructed along road developments across the country; noting that due to improper planning, some of the market p…
Next Order.
Hon. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 259D (2) (b) to notify the House of the exceptional achievements of Ms. Esse Mbeyu Akida, a Kenyan professional woman footballer who is visiting the National Assembly today.
I note that Ms. Esse Akida, who currently plays professional football in Greece, hails from Kilifi North Constituency and I would like to recognise her for her immense contribution to women football in Kenya.
[(Applause)]
Ms. Akida, you may stand up to be acknowledged.
[(Applause)]
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. As we acknowledge the presence and the achievements of Ms. Akida, who is in the House, I want to indicate that she is already an inspiration to the young girls. Football sport for girls in this country is not very old. It was introduced around 1993-1995. Currently, it has surpassed the
otherwise celebrated football for the men, which I happen to have played and, at one time, called to the national team. I am happy that the Members of the Bunge FC, including the goalkeeper, who is the Member of Parliament for Kitutu Masaba, are in the House. We encourage the other girls who are practising and playing football to be inspired by Ms. Akida, who has gone beyond the boundaries. By do…
Hon. Irene Mayaka.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. As a soccer enthusiast, let me acknowledge Ms. Akida for the fantastic job she has done, for even going ahead to write a book. Ms. Akida is one of those girls from the Harambee Starlets who continue to inspire other girls in this country to play soccer. I want to inform the Bunge FC members who are here that if you did not know, for the first time in Kenya, the Women Socc…
Yes, Hon. Tandaza.
Ahsante sana, Mhe. Spika, kwa kunipa fursa hii. Natoa shukrani zangu na kongole kwa dada yetu kutoka Pwani, Bi. Akida, ambaye ameweza kufika kiwango cha kimataifa. Hii ni kuonyesha kwamba talanta za soka ziko kila mahali, hata kule Pwani. Mwezi uliopita, tulipeleka kijana kutoka Pwani kwenye kambi ya mbio kule Bomet. Kwa hivyo, tunakosa tu vifaa na mafunzo, lakini dada yetu ametuonyesha kwamba Wa…
Naomba tufungie hapo. Kwa niamba ya Bunge lote, Mama Akida, tunakushukuru sana kwa heshima ambayo umeiletea nchi yetu. Endelea kuwasaidia wasichana wadogo nchini Kenya waweze kunawirisha talanta zao katika michezo, haswa soka. Ahsante sana.
[(Applause)]
Hon. Abdikadir Mohamed, Member for Lagdera. Give him the microphone.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I have a request for a statement regarding elephant invasions and presence of lions in parts of Lagdera Constituency.
Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c), I request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife regarding the increased invasions of elephants and recent presence of lions in parts of Lagdera Constituency. The rise in human-wildlife conflicts currently being experienced in various parts of Lagdera Constituency is alarming. This has bec…
Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife. Wapi Kareke? Is the Vice-Chair of the Committee in? Deputy Majority Whip, where are your chairmen?
Hon. Speaker, some are not here. I will make sure that they…
Inform them to bring a response in two weeks’ time.
I will do so, Hon. Speaker.
Before we move to the next Order, allow me to acknowledge students who are seated in the Public Gallery. They are from Karii Kamburi Secondary School from Tharaka Constituency in Tharaka-Nithi County; Mihuti Secondary School from Mathioya Constituency in Murang’a County and Withare Primary from Laikipia East Constituency in Laikipia County.
[(Applause)]
Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Allow me to welcome students from Karii Kamburi Secondary School and the other schools, to observe the proceedings of this august House. This is the National Assembly, a part of the
Thank you, Hon. Murugara. On behalf of the House and myself, we welcome the students and their teachers to this House of Parliament.
On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.
Yes, Hon. Clive. What is it about?
It is a follow-up on a previous statement request, Hon. Speaker.
Go ahead.
Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to follow up on a statement I sought on 24th April, 2024 regarding the status of the Kenya Digital Economy Acceleration Project that is funded by the World Bank. I would like the Chairman, Hon. Kiarie, to listen because I was promised that a response would be brought to this House after two weeks. After waiting for three months without getting a response, I rose on…
There is no provision under which you can restructure your question or request for a statement. Hon. KJ, from April to now, is inordinately long.
Hon. Speaker, I acknowledge that the request was made on 28th May and we channelled it to the Ministry. There was a great delay of the response that we were expecting from the Ministry. However, on 3rd September 2024, we received a response. You always tell us that committees are here to work. The Committee considered the response from the Ministry, but it was not a report that we were ready to t…
I can assure Hon. Clive that we are taking that issue very seriously. It goes to the core of Kenya's super digital highway project. If answered properly, it will be for the benefit of all the Members in this House. We have an insufficient report which is already being channelled through the system. As they do so, there are some specificities that we are still seeking from the Ministry. I thank yo…
[(Loud consultations)]
Order, Members at the bar. Order, Members conducting an illegal kamukunji in the Chamber. Hon. K.J., that explanation is inadequate. The right thing to do if you get a response from the Ministry that is, in your opinion, inadequate, is to bring it to the House and seek the permission of the Chair to go back and get more information. Secondly, you also have a duty, if the response is inadequate, t…
Hon. Speaker, I can confirm to the House that we have taken the course of action that you are directing us to take. There are members of the Committee here. I can see Hon. Kivasu and Mhe. Irene Mayaka. They can bear me witness that we have okayed the report, even in its inadequate form, to be brought to the House so that even as the process of seeking the specificities goes on, we still present it…
Thank you. Hon. Members, after I put the questions on Orders 8 and 9, the Leader of the Majority Party should arrange to bring in the Cabinet Secretary who is coming to respond to Questions this afternoon. Next Order.
[(Hon. Dick Oyugi walked into the Chamber)]
Hon. Maungu, take the nearest seat.
Members on your feet, resume your seats.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Who moved the Coffee Bill? Is Hon. Mutunga in the House? Call the next Order.
Hon. Mutunga, can you reply?
Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to reply to the debate on the Coffee Bill. The Members of this House have declared coffee as an important crop, and it is grown in 33 counties of Kenya. It occupies about 800,000 small-scale farmers and more than 4,000 districts. The Bill recognises the industry and bestows responsibilities on the county governments, the national Government, th…
In conclusion, during the Committee of the whole House, the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock of the National Assembly will propose some amendments. Some private Members will also propose amendments to make this law sharper and better for Kenyans. With those remarks, I beg to reply.
Member for Lagdera, take your seat.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The Bill was read a Second Time and committed to a Committee of the whole House)]
Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on its consideration of the Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union relating to the Pan-African Parliament, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 19th September 2024 and, pursuant to the provisions of section 8 (4) of…
[[The Speaker (Hon. Moses Wetang’ula) left the Chair] [The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) took the Chair]]
Union that is relating to the Pan-African Parliament. The Protocol was adopted at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of States and Government held on 27th June 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. It governs the operations of the Pan-African Parliament with an aim of enhancing the full and effective participation of African people in the economic, development and integr…
Just a point of correction, Hon. Chairperson, before the Seconder. You mentioned that the Pan-African Parliament does not bring its reports to this House. In fact, it does and it is the Report of the Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Pan-African Parliament that is in Order No. 20. So, that can be corrected in The Hansard.
I correct that. My point was that the Report must even be subjected not just to the tabling of this House, but even debating it. There have to be other ways of making sure that the information that is brought to this House, other than what is available on The Hansard, is able to reach the public. That is what this Protocol is trying to achieve.
Okay. I am glad with the clarification. You may proceed Seconder.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I wish to second the Motion that this House approves the ratification of the Protocol to the
Constitutive Act of the African Union in relation to the Pan-African Parliament. The establishment of the Pan-African Parliament was first envisaged in the treaty establishing the African Economic Community. That Treaty aimed to harmonise policies among existing and future economic communities as a means to gradually establish the African Economic Community. It outlined a phased approach to its re…
Clerks-at-the Table, switch off the warning lights and add the Hon. Member more time.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker Article 7 provides that the Pan-African Parliament shall be the legislative organ of the African Union. Just like this Parliament is the legislative arm of Kenya, the Pan-African Parliament will become the legislative arm of the African Union. That is how important it is. On how Members will serve and their numbers, initially from this Parliament, we had two Member…
[(Question proposed)]
The Member of Parliament for Yatta, Hon. Robert Bassil.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I had actually slotted in my card to contribute to the Technopolis Bill.
Okay. Hon. Nyikal, were you going to contribute to this one?
Yes, Hon. Deputy Speaker.
You may proceed.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. This is a Report that we need to support. The future of Africans, in my view, lies in the unity of Africa and seeing Africa as one both in socio-economic and, if possible, political sense. We really need to improve free movement of people across Africa by having roads across, airspace and rails because that is the only way we can take advantage of this great expansi…
the fashion of a European Union that will allow free movement and trade so that we can strengthen ourselves. Therefore, an instrument that links the Pan-African Parliament with the African Union is a necessity. I support it. That is what we need. Africa is large. Young Africans make up a large population. They should be allowed to move freely across this Continent, utilise our potential and see o…
Member for Marsabit County, Hon. Naomi Waqo.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. Looking at the House, it is clear that many Members are out for other meetings. This is a very important debate. I know many Members would want to participate. Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 96 (1) , I move that debate on this Motion be adjourned to enable more Members to contribute to this very important Motion. We can proceed…
[(Question, that debate be now adjourned, put and agreed to)]
[(Debate adjourned)]
There was no one on the Floor when the debate on the Bill was interrupted yesterday. We can come to you, Hon. Basil. Proceed.
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I was not there when the Mover moved the Bill. Technopolises are industrial parks which spur innovation and attract local and foreign investors. It is important to support the Bill because it will create jobs. We have many unemployed youths in Kenya today. Technology will upgrade employment for Kenyans. This Bill will also ensure that we diversify our country’s sour…
One of the flaws of the Bill is that it will increase the burden on the taxpayers. Many taxpayers want investments in areas where money can be recouped. Investing in industrial parks will require huge amounts of money, which will slow down the development in terms of how much money can be generated through industrial parks. More importantly, the Bill will create disparities in terms of development…
Hon. James Nyikal, did you want to speak to this Bill?
Thank you once again, Hon. Deputy Speaker. We are coming up with great ideas today that are not receiving much attention. The concept of this technopolis, which is actually an industrial park, is for innovation. The bigger idea behind it is the use of knowledge in production. In many countries, such technopolises are linked to universities which create industrial parks where university dons conduc…
[[The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Hon. Omboko Milemba) took the Chair]]
I support.
Very well.
On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
What is your point of order, Hon. Kemei?
Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 35, and looking at the House and the very important business that we have to debate today, I wish to bring to your attention that we do not have a quorum. I know many Members are engaged elsewhere. I, therefore, feel that this can wait for another time. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
Hon. Member, you are right. There is no quorum in the House. I, therefore, ask the Serjeant-at-Arms to ring the Quorum Bell for ten minutes.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Very well. You can stop the Bell. We have already rung it for 10 minutes. Hon. Members, be upstanding. A Member rose under Standing Order 35 which relates to quorum. I ordered the Quorum Bell to be rung for 10 minutes. I can still confirm there is no quorum in the House.
Hon. Members, the time being