National Assembly · Morning Sitting

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation, regarding the lack of a fishing corridor in Lake Nakuru. Lake Nakuru is located within Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya, in the Rift Valley. It is a shallow alkaline lake renowned for its…

Yes, Hon. Kangogo. Proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I heard Hon. Gikaria’s request for a Statement. As I promised to bring a substantive answer in

the first week after recess, it is worth noting that Lake Nakuru is gazetted as a national park. I do not know if fishing is allowed there. I will bring a comprehensive answer to Hon. Gikaria.

Hon. Kangogo, send the letter to the Ministry now rather than after recess. It will be available by the time we return from recess, rather than waiting to send the letter after recess. The next request for Statement is by Hon. Francis Sigei, Member for Sotik.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee of Lands regarding the irregular issuance of balance statements to settlers within Gelegel, Motiret, Sotik East, Kipsonoi, Koiyet and Cheplelwa settlement schemes. Residents in the Gelegel, Motiret, Sotik East, Kipsonoi, Koiyet, and Cheple…

Thank you. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Lands or a representative to give an undertaking on behalf of the Committee. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, give an undertaking on behalf of the Departmental Committee on Lands.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, we need to do it after recess. However, I will talk to the Committee’s Chair and see whether they can do something before and send a response on time. I am much obliged.

Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, they can send out the Statement now requesting an answer. If they dispatch it this week, it will be available by the time we come back from recess.

Okay. Thank you. Much obliged. You can also ask the Member for Kabuchai, my friend, Hon. Kalasinga, and the Member for Tinderet to move to the room behind them, if they need to discuss in such high tones.

[(Hon. Majimbo Kalasinga and Hon. Julius Melly consulted loudly)]

Member for Kabuchai and Member for Tinderet. Next is a Statement by the Hon. Member for Keiyo North, Hon. Adams Kipsanai.

Hon. Deputy 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 Sports and Culture regarding the status of Tambach Museum in Keiyo North Constituency. Tambach Museum is a key cultural and historical project aimed at preserving and showcasing the rich heritage of Keiyo Community and the wider Nor…

Thank you. The Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture. Is there any Member from that Committee? Yes, Hon. Ngusya.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I will brief the Chairperson. We will respond when we resume from recess. Thank you.

Next, we have a Statement by the Member for Machakos County, Hon. Joyce Kamene. You may proceed.

Hon. Deputy 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 Transport and Infrastructure regarding the status of upgrading the Matuu-Ekalakala Road to bitumen standards. Matuu-Ekalakala Road in Masinga, Machakos County, was commissioned in July 2017 for upgrading to bitumen standards and mai…

There is no debate on this. Do you have a point of order?

I am not debating; it is just a rider.

I can indulge you, but that is not procedural.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. That road touches my constituency and Yatta Constituency. The contractor was paid Ksh155 million last year. Up to now, the contractor has refused to go back to the site. As the Committee deliberates on this, it can consider whether it is possible to terminate the services of that contractor and engage another contractor.

Thank you. Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. Is anyone from that Committee here? Okay. The Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. We will respond immediately after we resume from recess. I will also ask the Chairman to ensure that the request is sent to the Ministry now. Thank you.

Thank you. Next is a response from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation. Is Hon. Kareke Mbiuki here?

Yes, he is here.

Okay. Proceed.

Hon Temporary Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Public Service Internship Bill (National Assembly Bill No.63 of 2022) and approved the same with amendments.

Mover.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I request Hon. Gichimu to second the Motion.

Hon. Gichimu.

I second.

[(Question proposed)]

[(Question put and agreed to)]

Mover, please move Third Reading.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the Public Service Internship Bill (National Assembly Bill No.63 of 2022) be now read a Third Time. I request Hon. Nyikal to second.

Hon (Dr) Nyikal.

I second.

[(Question proposed)]

Hon. Lesuuda.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I take this opportunity to sincerely thank every Member who has contributed to this Bill since it was first read in this House. I also thank the Members of the Departmental Committee on Labour for the intense engagement when I appeared before them and for their support. Despite having other amendments on public service matters, I appreciate that they gave this B…

Thank you. Hon. (Dr) Nyikal.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This is a very important Bill because in some cases, the treatment of interns has been abusive. Many young people have joined institutions, sometimes performing meaningful work, but without clear regulations. They spend time there without certainty of what they did. This Bill, with its amendments, provides a clear distinction between internships that we normally …

Hon. Mayaka, would you like to comment? I can see you have pressed the intervention button.

Yes, I did, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Thank you for the opportunity. I take this chance to thank Hon. Lesuuda for this very progressive Amendment Bill. Internship is a space that has not had proper structures. This Amendment Bill provides for structures for young professionals who will be seeking internship work in public service institutions after college and university.

Speaking from experience, having gone through an internship programme in the private sector and seeing the difference with what is experienced in the public sector, I think this is a very good direction from this House. It gives me joy that we are able to legislate and introduce structures to institutions and spaces that did not have them in the first place. I thank Hon. Lesuuda for this Bill, and…

Hon. Gichimu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I am happy for the millions of youth in this nation whose internship will now have a legal framework. Previously, internship was loosely handled. But under the leadership of Hon. Lesuuda, this House has considered the youth of this nation. I hope that this Bill will be assented to and become an Act of Parliament very soon. Once it becomes law, we will follow up w…

Hon. Ken Chonga, Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Labour.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The various amendments made to this Bill provide guidance on internship in our country. Initially, there was no proper structure on how internships were handled. To a great extent, that lack of structures encouraged abuse of the timelines and working conditions of interns. I congratulate my sister Hon. Lesuuda for this Bill. I have looked at the Bill keenly and I…

Thank you, Hon. Members. I will now put the question.

[(Question put and agreed to)]

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

Hon. George Gachagua, you had finished moving. Do you have a seconder?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I ask Hon. Timothy Toroitich to second.

Hon. Timothy Toroitich, please go ahead.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to second this Bill. From the onset, I thank Hon. Gachagua for such a progressive Bill. This Bill seeks to provide for a comprehensive legal framework through the establishment of the Environmental Professionals Institute of Kenya. This will promote professionalism within the environment management profession in the country.

[[The Temporary Speaker Hon (Dr) Rachael Nyamai left the Chair] [The Temporary Speaker (Hon. David Ochieng’) in the Chair]]

Say that “you second”.

I second.

After such eloquent moving and seconding of the Bill, I will now propose the Question.

[(Question proposed)]

On my requests dashboard, I can see Hon. Gichimu, Hon. Saney and Hon. Mayaka.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Environment is a very wide sector with a multitude of practising professionals. The manner in which this sector is handled is very chaotic. A lot of unprofessional things are done on the environment. How environmental audits and environmental impact assessments are done is not satisfactory. They are merely paperwork. They do not give the professional test require…

Finally, for us to live well with the challenges of complexities of life and climate change, we need to have a sustainable way of developing and protecting our environment. That will come with a regulation component that will make sure that there are standards and ethics for all professionals. Those standards have to be met. Anybody who does not meet the standards will be deemed to be a quack and …

Hon. Mayaka, I do not know if you want to take two minutes. Go ahead.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Yes, I will be very brief. I support the Bill. I want to thank Hon. George Gachagua for bringing it to the House. Having interacted with environmental professionals, this will be a very important Bill to them. It will allow them to have networking opportunities to further develop their professions, to have certification and to shape policy. If we take …

Hon. Gichimu, there is a chance for two minutes. Go ahead.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I also rise to support the Bill brought by Hon. George Gachagua, the Member for Ndaragua. Many professions like the legal profession, engineers and surveyors have bodies that are recognised by Acts of Parliament. This is a chance for environmental professionals to have their law that will bind them together for purposes of registration and guide their operations. This Bill…

continuous training to help them deal with matters of the environment. We are all surrounded by the environment. Currently, we are facing challenges with climate change. When these professionals are organised and known, they can have forums to come up with ideas and way forward on how to deal with environmental matters that affect us, including climate change. Without belabouring the points that …

Hon. Members, debate on this Bill will continue next time it is slated in the Order Paper.