National Assembly · Morning Sitting
Wednesday, 9 August 2023
Members highlighted the widespread problem of intestinal worm infestations among school‑aged children, linking it to poverty, poor nutrition, and inadequate water and sanitation, especially in northern and low‑income areas. They called for regular deworming programmes in schools, improved water supply, hygiene education, and targeted nutrition support, urging the government to allocate budget and prioritize these interventions. The debate combined criticism of current conditions with constructive proposals for action. Members highlighted the vulnerability of children whose parents are in prison and called on the government to expand social protection, funding and legislation to ensure their care, education and health. The debate was largely supportive, urging the Ministry of Labour and correctional services to provide fostering, adoption and dedicated centres for these children. All speakers expressed unanimous backing of the motion. Members unanimously supported a motion to establish a dedicated cancer fund and to integrate it into upcoming legislation, emphasizing the need for increased awareness, early diagnosis, and financial assistance for patients. They highlighted alarming cancer statistics and the burden on families, calling for constituency-level centres and resources to combat the disease. The debate was largely constructive, with calls for coordinated national and county action.
Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum
Leader of the Majority Party.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:
Next Order.
[(Hon. Temporary Speaker consulted the Clerks-at-the-Table)]
The first Question by the Member for Butula, Hon. Joseph Oyula, will be deferred. So, we will have the next Question by the Member for Emuhaya, Hon. Omboko Milemba. Question 350/2023
[(Question 250/2023 deferred)]
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to ask the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) the following Question: Could the Commission ––
Hon. Members, if you want to intervene, press the intervention button. Before we move on to the next Order, allow me to recognise students and pupils from the following schools: In the Speaker’s Gallery, we have Umoja Tulwet Secondary School from Kuresoi North Constituency, Nakuru County; and Firm Foundation Academy from Kasarani Constituency, Nairobi County. In the Public Gallery, we have Ndere B…
[(Applause)]
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to welcome students from various institutions. I welcome them to Parliament, the august House. A special mention to Kamasat Primary School in the Public Gallery, which is my alma mater. It holds special memory in me. I was in that Public Gallery in 1996, when I was in Standard Four. At that time, the Hon. Speaker was a Member of Parl…
Thank you, Member for Marakwet West. On behalf of the National Assembly, I welcome all the pupils and students.
On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.
Hon. Kassait, what is out of order?
Hon. Temporary Speaker, Hon. Milemba directed his Question to… How I wish he listens to me.
[(Hon. Omboko Milemba stood in the gangways)]
Hon. Omboko Milemba, this point of order concerns you. Take your seat now and listen to Hon. Kassait.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, the Question by the Hon. Milemba was directed to the TSC. Our Standing Orders do not have room for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TSC to come and answer questions on the Floor of the House. Can I be in order to ask that the Question be directed properly, or Hon. Milemba can drop it and approach the TSC in person?
Order, Hon. William. I will help Hon. Omboko. We have an addendum to the Standing Orders that allow questions to the independent commissions to be responded to in the committees. So, it is in order. Next Order.
Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 97 (1) and notwithstanding the resolution of the House on Wednesday, 15th February 2023, this House orders that each speech in a debate on any Motion introduced by an individual Member be limited in the following manner— a maximum of one-and- a-half hours with not more than 10 minutes fo…
Motions. That means the whole morning session or the afternoon session is taken up by only one Motion, therefore, making it difficult for us to process the many Motions that we have. The House considers individual Members’ Motions every Wednesday morning, which has been allocated three hours each. Currently, we have 25 Motions before the House. If each Motion takes almost three hours, that is alm…
Hon. Samwel Chepkonga.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Indeed, we agreed as HBC on the need to fast-track the Motions that have been pending in this House. I second.
[(Question proposed)]
Put the Question.
Is that the mood of the House? However, before I put the Question, I will give Hon. Omboko and Hon. Makali Mulu a chance to speak.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for this chance. I support this Motion. We noticed that the new Members are very active and we want to congratulate them. They have many Private Motions. To accommodate all Members to exercise this power and contribute, it is better that we reduce the time for the Motions and time of speaking. This will give more Members a chance to contribute and be felt by their…
Thank you, Hon. Omboko Milemba. Let us have Hon. Makali Mulu.
Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to support this Motion. It is important that we thank Members who have taken the initiative to table Motions in this House for debate. However, if you look at majority of these Motions, you will find that they are just urging the Government. I hope this Motion is specific to Motions and not Bills. I want to encourage HBC to start prioritising Bills. I have…
Thank you, Hon. Makali Mulu. I can confirm that the limitation is on Motions and not Bills. Hon. Members, before we move on to the next order allow me to recognise, in our Public Gallery, students from the following schools: Ol Kidogoye Primary School from
[(Question put and agreed to)]
Kilgoris, Narok County; and, Karumandi South Primary School, Gichugu Constituency, Kirinyaga County. We welcome you in the National Assembly. Next Order.
Next Order.
Hon. Members, the time being 1.00