National Assembly · Afternoon Sitting

Hon. Lillian Siyoi, Member for Trans Nzoia County? Hon. Irene Mayaka.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock regarding the devastating effects of the rapid spread of the dodder weed (Cuscuta species) in Kenya. The Dodder plant is an invasive plant that poses a serious threat to agriculture and environmental sustainability. Dodd…

as Sironga, Marindi, and West Mugirango, farmers have reported widespread infestation of tea bushes, leading to plant drying, reduced green leaf deliveries to factories, and declining farmer earnings. This invasion is projected to cause major agricultural losses, threaten livelihoods, reduce tea productivity, and undermine food security in affected regions. It is against this background that I se…

Thank you, Hon. Irene. Any Member from the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock? I do not see Hon. (Dr) Mutunga. Hon. DK, are you from that Committee? Yes, tell your Chairperson to bring the response the first week after recess.

[(Hon. David Kiplagat spoke off the record)]

Well noted, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Pauline Lenguris? Hon. Ibrahim Sane? Hon. Josses Lelmengit. Member for Emgwen.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding a fatal road accident that occurred at Sirwa Yala along the Chavakali–Kapsabet section of the Eldoret–Kapsabet– Chavakali Road (C39) , and the status of the ongoing maintenance works on the same road. On …

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. GG, when will you bring a response?

Hon. Speaker, we will respond in the first week after recess.

Thank you. Hon. Ibrahim Saney? Hon. Pauline Lenguris? Hon. Lillian Siyoi? First, I apologise to the House for coming late. We called you twice.

I apologise to the House for coming in late. I was delayed by a traffic jam, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you.

Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, Dr Mutunga. When can you bring a response? This one is very urgent if what the Hon. Member is saying is true. I want a response tomorrow. We are recessing tomorrow, the 30th April 2026. Right?

It may not be possible for us to get it tomorrow because I am aware that the Cabinet Secretary is out of the country.

The Cabinet Secretary does not go with the office. I want you to give us a preliminary response tomorrow at 2.30 p.m., because we are undermining food security in the country if what she is saying is true.

[(Laughter)]

Yes, the Cabinet Secretary does not go with the office. I will try my best to pass the message today so I can see how quickly they respond. I agree with you. Thank you. I will do that.

For the last time, Hon. Pauline Lenguris and Hon. Ibrahim Saney. Hon. Ngogoyo.

[(Requests for Statements deferred)]

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the construction of link roads to the Ngong-Suswa Highway. While the Ngong-Suswa Highway was developed to decongest traffic along existing corridors and provide a faster alternative route to Na…

Yes, Hon. Sunkuli. Do you want to joyride on that? Go ahead.

I request to joyride because the road from Ngong to Narok and onwards, which the Member is referring to, is very important. It seems to be falling apart already. Some parts of it need to be repaired. More fundamentally, because it is now a major highway, could Safaricom try to place its boosters there? One cannot reach any network for half of that road. We must place much importance on that road a…

Hon. GK, when can you bring a response? Do not limit yourself to the two link roads. I think the point Hon. Julius Sunkuli is raising is legit. A highway like that must have a network in place in case of emergencies or any issues arising therewith.

Is the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Regional Development in the House? Hon. Lochakapong, are you ready to respond to Hon. Edith Nyenze’s request? Go ahead.

Yes. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. This is a response to the Statement regarding the effects of floods experienced across the country, which will be in two parts. One is a response by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. The Cabinet Secretary of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes has responded to the second part. I have just compiled the responses into one…

How long is that?

I think maybe about three minutes or so. So, the State Department for Special Programmes is mandated to provide food relief and essential supplies to affected populations during a crisis. This includes ensuring the timely provision of both food and essential...

We know their mandate. Tell us what they are doing.

During the February-March 2026 rains, which occasioned serious flooding in some parts of the country, several households were adversely affected, thereby necessitating urgent government humanitarian interventions. In response, the State Department for Special Programmes undertook immediate relief measures to support affected households, providing food supplies and essential non-food items, reachi…

their dignity and welfare, and meeting their immediate basic needs, pending the restoration of normal livelihoods. The intervention specifically included the distribution of food commodities alongside critical households and hygiene items, such as blankets, mattresses, soap and sanitary towels, particularly to families affected by the floods. Hon. Speaker, the State Department provided relief sup…

Thank you. Hon. Nyenze, are you satisfied we move to something else?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to thank the Chairman for the response. It is good and detailed, but I have a few points to note. Actually, this one sounds like just a classic ministerial statement. It lacks information on how the Government is being proactive in preventing these floods that cause so many deaths. Hon. Speaker, I note that recurring floods in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya, incl…

Hon. Peter Lochakapong, I think that is just a compliment to what you said. We can leave it there. Thank you, Hon. Nyenze. I will come back to Orders No.5 and No. 6 for Delegated Legislation and Hon. Pauline Lenguris at Order No. 7, but let us first dispose of Orders No. 8 and No. 9.

Members on their feet, take your seats. Mover.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.38 of

Hon. (Dr) Oundo.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to second.

[(Several Hon. Members stood along the gangways)]

Hon. Members, on your feet, take your seats. Hon. Bowen.

Yes.

[(Question Proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

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

Members on your feet, take your seats. Hon. Ngogoyo, take your seat. Mover.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Mover, Hon. Tandaza, I beg to move that the Crops (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 8 of 2023) be now read a Third Time. I request Hon. Naomi Waqo to second.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to second.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

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

We will go back to Order No. 5.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House:

Thank you. Next order.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:

THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Delegated Legislation on its consideration of the Copyright (Consolidated Music and Audio-Visual Works) Tariffs, 2026, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 29th April 2026 and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Instruments Act, Cap 2A and Standing Order 210(4)(b), this House approves the Copyright (Consolidated Music and Audio…

Thank you. Call out, Order No. 7.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife regarding incidents of human-wildlife conflict in Wajir North Constituency. There have been numerous cases of human-wildlife conflict resulting in fatalities in Wajir North Constituency. In 2022, the individuals, namely Mr…

Thank you, Hon. Saney. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife. Is there any Member of the Committee? Hon. Ruweida.

Tumesikia na tutafuata. Hizi kesi zimekuwa nyingi sana. Naomba Wabunge wenzangu waweke pesa nyingi kwa bajeti.

Umesimama kwa niaba ya Mwenyekiti, sio?

Ndio.

Mheshimiwa, tuambie ni siku gani utaleta jibu la hilo swali, na si kuanza kujadili jibu la hilo swali.

Mhe. Spika, jibu tutaleta baada ya likizo.

Shukran.

Pia, kesi ambazo zimeletwa kwa Kamati ni nyingi sana. Zote zinataka pesa. Kwa hivyo, tuweke pesa nyingi katika bajeti ndio watu walipwe. Asante, Mhe. Spika.

Kamati yako inashughulikia makadirio ya pesa za Wizara yenu.

Ni kweli tunaweka, lakini ikifika katika Kamati ya Bajeti, mambo yanabadilika. Hiyo pesa inayohitajika ni zaidi kuliko ile tumeweka.

Okay, we will get a response when we resume from the long recess, Hon. Saney. Next Order.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House adopts the Report of the Mediation Committee on the National Disaster Risk Management Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.24 of 2023) , which is a Bill for an act of Parliament to establish the National Disaster Risk Management Authority and County Disaster Risk Management Committees to provide a legal framework for coordination of disaster risk ma…

(mc) carry out annual national drill exercises as part of disaster management preparedness. Concerning clause 27, the committee's observation was that the amendments sought to provide that the development and maintenance of an electronic database on disasters be done in consultation with the county governments. The Committee resolved to adopt the amendments with the modification that development o…

Hon. Catherine Omanyo, who is also the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, to second.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I beg to second the Motion on the Mediated Version of the National Disaster Risk Management Bill (National Assembly Bill No.24 of 2023) as moved by the Chairperson of the Mediation Committee, which was constituted pursuant to Standing Order 149 (2) of the National Assembly Standing Orders, and Standing Order 166 (2) of the Senate Standing Orders. The passage of …

Thank you, Hon. Catherine Omanyo. Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri. I see he intends to contribute to a different Motion. Hon. Danson Mwashako also awaits a different Motion. Hon. Members, the Co-Chairperson of the Mediation Committee, Hon. Peter Lochakapong, moved the Motion so satisfactorily that no Member wants to contribute to it. Therefore, I want him to reply to the Motion as a mere formality because …

[(Question proposed)]

[(The Temporary Speaker consulted with the leading Clerk-at-the-Table)]

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the understanding is that when a Bill has been agreed upon in a Mediation Committee and is tabled in this House and in the Senate, we just ask Members to adopt and approve it. With those few remarks, I beg to reply.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Next Order.

Hon. Members, you have one hour and five minutes to conclude the debate on this Motion. Those who are interested in contributing to the Motion should press the intervention button. Hon. Jematiah, are you keen on contributing to the Motion?

Yes.

As Hon. Jematiah prepares to contribute to the debate, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health should be in the plenary to reply to the Motion.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Public

Nowadays, we lack physical activity, and we consume excess food. The other problem is that most food is mainly westernised. We have easy access to junk foods that cause people, especially children, to grow very fast. This disease does not discriminate by age, gender or status. It has become a serious problem. Exposure to food that is not nutritious is one of the contributing causes of cancer. Pol…

There being no more interest by Members to contribute to this Motion, this debate stands exhausted. You want to contribute?

[(Hon. Yussuf Farah spoke off the record)]

Yes.

Is that Hon. Yussuf Mohamed, the Member for Wajir West? Please make your contributions.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to the Motion on adoption of the Report by the Departmental Committee on Health regarding access to healthcare by cancer patients in this country. Cancer is a well-known disease that is in every household nowadays. It has caused great pain and anguish to many Kenyans, regardless of where they come from. We know many peo…

per person. The Committee came to the conclusion that cancer patients exhaust their SHA allocation before the end of the year. What they are recommending is that we increase the limit from KSh550,000 to KSh800,000. This might be sufficient for a person to get proper medication through the SHA. The SHA is a very beneficial universal healthcare insurance entity that was needed in this country. Excl…

Yes, Hon. Catherine Omanyo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also support the Report of the Committee. I have had many friends who reached out for help because cancer treatment is prohibitively expensive. It costs families and friends a leg and an arm for one to pay the amount of money that is required for treatment. Many times, cancer patients are given so many appointments to keep visiting hospitals. The hospitals are …

There being no more interest by Members to contribute to this Motion, I call upon the Mover to reply. Do we have the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health in the House? Dr Nyikal is attending to other parliamentary obligations within the precincts. Therefore, the Mover will reply to the debate when the House Business Committee reschedules this business next time. Next order.

Hon. Members, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Regional Integration had requested that the debate on this Motion be deferred to a future date. The request has been acceded to by the Speaker and, therefore, the debate on this Motion is deferred. Next Order.

Hon. Members, the Motion appearing under Order 15 will stand stepped down to be considered in the future by the House as and when it shall be rescheduled by the House Business Committee. I do so for the convenience of the House. It is so ordered. Next Order.

Hon. Members, again, at the request of the Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation, the Motion appearing under Order 16 in the Order Paper of this afternoon is deferred to the future for consideration by the House. Next Order.

Hon. Members, the Chairperson of the Select Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity had requested the Speaker to defer the consideration of this Motion to the future, and the request is acceded to. Therefore, the Motion appearing under Order 17 is accordingly stepped down to be transacted by the House in the future.