National Assembly · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 4 June 2025
Members discussed the Agriculture and Livestock Extension Services Bill, emphasizing the need to revitalize extension officers, incorporate AI and digital tools, and address health and climate challenges linked to pesticide use. While acknowledging the sector’s decline and resource gaps, they expressed strong support for the bill as a means to boost productivity and youth involvement in farming. Members unanimously praised the Agricultural Extension Services Bill, arguing that a network of extension officers in every ward would boost livestock and crop productivity, improve food security and reduce reliance on imports. They highlighted past successes, the need for modern farming knowledge, and the role of extension officers in climate‑change adaptation and rural development. The debate called for clear coordination between county and national governments to revive these services. Members criticised the current lack of qualified agricultural extension officers and the negative impact of devolution on farmer support, linking it to food‑security risks and incidents such as fake fertiliser imports. They urged swift passage of the Agricultural and Livestock Service Policy Bill to certify extension workers, improve coordination between national and county governments, and strengthen farmer guidance. The debate combined criticism of existing shortcomings with optimism that the Bill will address these gaps.
Sergeant-at-Arms, I direct that you ring the Quorum Bell for 10 minutes. Sergeant-at-Arms you may stop the Quorum Bell. Hon. Members, we may now begin. First order.
[(The Quorum Bell was rung)]
Hon. Naomi Waqo on behalf of the Leader of the Majority Party, you may proceed.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:
Next Paper is by the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Hon. Atandi, are you ready? Not yet. Okay, we will come to you next. Let us go to the Paper by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation. Hon. Bowen, are you ready?
[(Hon. Samuel Atandi spoke off the record)]
Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I beg to lay the following Paper on the table of the House: Report of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation on its consideration of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Biodiversity in Areas beyond the National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) . …
Hon. Members, we shall move to the next Order. We will come back to Order No.5, at a later time when the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee is ready. Before we move to the next order, allow me to welcome two schools seated in the Public Gallery: Little Prince School from Kibra Constituency, Nairobi County and St. Bakhita Girls School from Makueni Constituency, Makueni County. …
Again, we shall skip the first one by the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee to a later time. Let us move to the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: That this House adopts the report of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation on its consideration of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond the National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) , laid …
Thank you. Next Order.
Hon. Members, as we proceed to Committee of the whole House, we shall stand down the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (National Assembly Bill No.61 of 2022) . The team that was supposed to harmonise the amendments, led by Hon. Nyikal, has not yet met. So, we will stand it down to a later time after they inform us.
[[The Deputy Speaker (Hon. Gladys Boss) left the Chair]]
Chairperson.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Environmental Management and Coordination (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.66 of 2023) and approved the same with amendments.
Mover.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that this House do agree with the report of the Committee of the whole House on its consideration of Environmental Management and Co-ordination (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.66 of 2023) . I also request Hon. Kamuren to second the Motion.
Hon. Kamuren.
Thank you, Hon. Chairlady. I second.
[(Question proposed)]
Can I put the question?
Yes!
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Hon. Mayaka, move the Third Reading.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the Environmental Management and Coordination (Amendment Bill) (National Assembly Bill No.66 of 2023) be now read a Third Time. I also request Hon. Naomi Waqo to second.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I second.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the question!
The mood of the House is that I put the question. I have confirmed that we have the requisite quorum in the House for purposes of making this decision.
[(Question put and agreed to)]
[(The Bill was accordingly read a Third Time and passed)]
Hon. Members, before we move to the next Order, I wish to recognise the presence of the following school seated in the Public Gallery: The Nairobi
Academy from Langata Constituency, Nairobi City County. On behalf of the House and the substantive Speaker, I welcome you to Parliament. Thank you. Hon. Members, we now move back as I had indicated earlier to Order Nos.5 and 6 to allow the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee to lay a Paper. Hon. Atandi.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee on its consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the Financial Year 2025/2026 and the Medium Term and the Compendium of Departmental Committee Reports on the consideration of the Annual Estimates.
Read out the next Order. We will now go to Order No.6. Just state it out. It is notice of Motion.
Hon. Atandi, proceed.
Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee on its consideration of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure and the Medium Term for the Financial Year 2025/2026 laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 4th June 2025, and pursuant to provisions of Article 221 of the Constitution, Section 39 of…
Thank you. Next Order.
THAT, aware that Article 43(1)(a) of the Constitution provides every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to health care services; further aware that the Government committed to accelerating attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to ensure all Kenyans have access and receive essential quality health services; cognizant of the fact that …
Hon. Members, the time being 1.00