National Assembly · Morning Sitting

Proceed, Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.

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

Thank you. Next order.

Hon. Geoffrey Mulanya, are you in the House?

Yes.

Proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT this House adopts the first Report of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee on the status of implementation of the Constitution by the following independent commissions, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 12th November 2024.

Thank you, Hon. Mulanya. Next order.

Is Hon. Joshua Kandie,

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairman of the

A certified version of this Report Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning regarding the expansion of financial institutions in Northern Kenya Region. Over the years, there has been a shortage of adequate banking and financial institutions in Northern Kenya Region. This shortage has negatively affected the residents who are predominantly dependent on pastoralism, trade and informa…

Thank you very much, Hon. Keynan. Do we have the Chairman, Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning in the House? In the absence of the Chairman, I call upon the Deputy Leader or the Majority Party to give an indication on when this request for Rtatement will be responded to.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I gladly say two weeks. I will talk to the Chairman to ensure it is done within that time. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Hon. Members, before we invite Hon. Joshua Kandie, I would like to recognise the presence of students seated in the Speaker's Gallery this morning from Kapsabet Boys High School and Kapsabet Boys Junior Secondary School (JSS) from Chesumei Constituency, Nandi County. They are welcome to the National Assembly to continue observing proceedings. Hon. Members, we have other stude…

A certified version of this Report

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to welcome the young students and pupils who have paid us a courtesy call this morning to observe the proceedings of the House. I welcome them to the National Assembly where laws of the country, the budgeting process and oversight over the Executive are done. These are tomorrow's leaders and they aspire to become like Members of Parliament here…

Thank you. That is where Hon. Wakili Murugara and the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya comes from, therefore feel encouraged. We will go back to Hon. Joshua Kandie, Member for Baringo Central, proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, 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 Administration and Internal Security regarding issuance of work permits to foreign nationals. In this era of rapidly expanding international trade and integration of world economies, migration policies must be geared towards buil…

Thank you very much, Hon. Kandie. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. We will respond to this Statement in two weeks’ time.

A certified version of this Report

Will you do it in two weeks’ time?

Yes.

Is that agreeable with you, Hon. Kandie?

Yes, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Thank you. Next is Hon. Sabina Chege who is also known as Maitu.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, 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 Health regarding coverage of cochlear implant surgery under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) . The sense of hearing is important for the cognitive development of children. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and…

Thank you very much, Hon. Sabina. Is the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health in the Chamber? I can see Hon. Nyikal, but he is not seated in his usual place.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. What Hon. Sabina has raised is important. We will have this Report in two weeks' time.

Hon. Sabina Chege, is that agreeable?

That is fine, Hon. Temporary Speaker, although a week would have been enough. I need to know whether it is covered under SHIF or not and the measures in place. Being a doctor and a former Principal Secretary, I am sure he can fast- track the time to one week. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Would you like to make a comment on that, Hon. (Dr) Nyikal? She is requesting for a week. Are you able to give the response in one week?

To be accurate, let us leave it at two weeks. I will make an effort. This is important. So, we will get some information. Going by the request

A certified version of this Report for Statement, we will have to seek information outside the country. If she can bear with us, we will give the response in two weeks’ time.

We will wait for two weeks. Next is Hon. Owen Baya in his capacity as the Member for Kilifi North.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise in my capacity as the Member for Kilifi North. 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 Tourism and Wildlife regarding the management of Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) . Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve is inter…

Thank you. Is the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife present or any member of that Committee? Hon. Baya has requested for a Statement. In the absence of the Chairperson, a member of the Committee or Leader of the Majority Party, you will have to stand in the capacity of Deputy Leader of the Majority Party and give a commitment to the House.

These are very interesting times, Hon. Temporary Speaker. On behalf of the Committee, I promise that they will bring a response in two weeks’ time. I also urge Chairpersons to be in the House, especially on Wednesday

A certified version of this Report mornings when we request for Statements guided by the Order Paper. They can see the House leadership is present.

Hon. Owen Baya, being in this House is a learning process. I would like you to stand and just withdraw what you said especially concerning informing the Chair then I will make a Statement.

I withdraw, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The response will be given in two weeks.

Thank you very much. Hon. Members, I order that the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife give the response in two weeks. Next is Hon. Silvanus Osoro, Member of Parliament of South Mugirango. These are responses. I can see the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security is in the House. Are you ready with the response for this? Now I would lik…

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I have two responses to Requests of Statements.

Especially the one for Hon. Silvanus Osoro who is not in the House. He is in a different engagement concerning the House. You may table the response to the Requests of Statement. You may now proceed to the next response to Hon. Beatrice Kemei. She is in the House.

Well guided, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I will table the one for Hon. Silvanus Osoro once I am done with Hon. Kemei.

Please, for order, table that one first then you can proceed to the other.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This is a response to the Request of Statements by the Member of Parliament for Kericho County, Hon. Beatrice Kemei. It regards the status of investigations into the murder of Mr Joshuah Mutai, including efforts to apprehend the primary suspect. Secondly are the immediate measures to safeguard residents of Sigowet Ward, particularly village elders, who feel appr…

A certified version of this Report neglect and assault case. Subsequently, he was charged before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kericho on the 9th February 2024 vide CR746/31/2024, CFE344/24. However, the case was withdrawn under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Code on 13th March of the same year. That followed a reconciliation where Mr Franklin sought forgiveness from both his wife, Mrs W…

A certified version of this Report based vigilance that helps identify and report threats. More security personnel have been deployed to reinforce local administration in insecurity-prone regions like parts of the North Rift and coastal counties. Lastly is on long-term measures. Village elders play an important role in local governance, community leadership, and dispute resolution both in rural a…

Thank you very much, Chairman. I would like to give a chance to Hon. Beatrice Kemei. Is the response satisfactory?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I appreciate the Chairman for the response. However, it is not satisfactory. I am not convinced, especially given the delay. From February to date, five or six months, investigations are still ongoing, yet nothing concrete has come forth. Residents are still living in fear because the suspect is still at large. I feel more should be done. I also suggest that the…

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. First, I appreciate the frustration expressed by my colleague. When a member of society dies under such circumstances, it is troubling. However, we must acknowledge the complexity of investigations. Sometimes, it is difficult to provide precise timelines. That said, I commit that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) will expedite the process to ensure…

Can we give a timeline? Can we say, within the next month, so the Hon. Member has something concrete to take back to her constituents?

Yes, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I will try.

Within one month. You will bring a report to this House on the progress of the matter. Thank you.

Well guided, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

A certified version of this Report

Hon. Members, before we move on, seated in the Public Gallery this morning, we have students from: DON St Philip’s JSS School from Imenti North Constituency, Meru County; Mitero Silver Springs Academy, Gatundu North, Kiambu County; and, St Clare Catholic School from Sigowet/Soin Constituency, Kericho County. Seated in the Speaker’s Gallery, we have PAG Jerusalem JSS students from Chesumei, Nandi …

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I welcome all students visiting this honourable House from various parts of the country. It is important for students to see how Parliament works. When we were in school, we debated and referred to ‘Madam Speaker’, though at that time, we only had ‘Mr Speaker’. I do not know why that was, but today they get to see both titles in use. To the students, work hard. …

Thank you very much, Member for Kericho County, for those kind words of welcome. Now we move to the response for Hon. Walter Owino, Member for Awendo. The response will be given by Hon. Kiragu. You may proceed Hon. Kiragu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I have the Statement signed by the Chairman.

To confirm, is Hon. Walter Owino in the House? Yes, you are. Hon. Kiragu, you may proceed.

[(Hon. Walter Owino spoke off the record)]

Hon. Walter Owino, Member for Awendo, requested a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the safety of road users along the Isebania–Kisii–Ahero road. The request covered the following:

Thank you very much, Hon. Kiragu, on behalf of the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. Hon. Walter Owino, is that response satisfactory?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I thank the Committee for the response. However, I am not satisfied because they are talking of having erected two bumps on a 4-kilometre road. You can imagine how ineffective that is. The road is still very dangerous. Accidents occur on that road as recently as last evening. I request the Ministry to kindly send their officers to …

Member for Kwanza, does this matter also concern you? Would you also like to weigh in? Please proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I just want to agree with my colleague. We should pass a resolution in this House that the Ministry and the State Department for Roads regularly check on the roads. You will realise the roads are very unsafe when driving. Therefore, I agree with my colleague that the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure should regularly check the roads. In fact, there is a broken and un…

A certified version of this Report

Hon. Kiragu.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I take seriously the comments by my very good friends. It is true that speed bumps help to make roads safe, but it is also noteworthy that they have been known to cause accidents, particularly when they are not properly marked. I take your statement seriously. We will ensure that the concerned Ministry or Department undertakes a revised safety evaluation of the mentioned se…

I would like to encourage further engagement with the Committee, so that you invite the Member for Awendo, Hon. Walter Owino, especially on the day that the Director-General will be present. Hon. Kiragu, is this a road under the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) or the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) ?

It is a KeNHA road. In fact, I would like to suggest to my good friend that it would be good for the Committee to travel to those areas to acquaint ourselves with the real problems facing our people, particularly regarding safety.

So that we close this subject, I would like to ask you, as a representative of the Chairman, to further engage the Director- General of KeNHA concerning this Isebania-Kisii-Ahero Road, bearing in mind that there have been many accidents on that road, as reported by the Member. Is anything out of order, Hon. Dorothy Ikiara?

[(Hon. Dorothy Muthoni spoke off the record)]

Hon. Temporary Speaker, this is a matter of national importance. Road safety should be taken very seriously. We continue to lose lives, especially along the highways.

Order, Hon. Dorothy. What

A certified version of this Report

Hon. Timothy Wanyonyi, Member of Parliament. I can see that Hon. Wanyonyi is not in the House, so that matter is deferred to a time when it will be next scheduled by the House Business Committee. Next Order.