Inaonekana kwamba hatuna Wabunge wa kutosha hapa na nitaagiza kengele ipigwe kwa dakika kumi.

Order Members! We now have the required quorum. As you know, this afternoon you will be encouraged very strongly to be speaking in Kiswahili. So, you can start doing your mocks this morning. So, Wabunge mwaweza anza kupiga msasa ngeli zenu za Kiswahi .

On this particular Order, we will start with the Member for Nyandarua, Hon. Faith Gitau.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I wish to ask the following Question to the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government: (i) What measures has the Ministry put in place to ensure that information that may not have been captured during the Huduma Namba Registration exercise in 2019 is included on the Huduma Card before it is rolled out? The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

(ii) What measures has the Ministry put in place to ensure that persons who may not have registered for various reasons, such as the elderly, majority of whom were not able to reach registration centres during the registration exercise are registered? (iii) Could the Ministry consider using information available in the current National Identification Cards (IDs) for citizens above 18 years and subsequently upgrading to Huduma Cards to save the country the colossal amount of money being spent in the Huduma Namba exercise? I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Very well. That one will be replied before the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. That is one Question with different parts. So, we go to the next Question by the Hon. Member for Ikolomani, Hon. Masaka Shinali. Is Hon. Shinali in the House? I thought I saw him. What is the issue Hon. Shinali? I thought you wanted to ask a Question. Proceed.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I have not seen the Question.

What? You are the one who has the Question. We can only lend you that copy, but you are the one who asked the Question and obviously you have it.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I wish ask the following Question to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works: (i) Could the Cabinet Secretary explain why the upgrading of Sigalagala - Malinya- Musoli-Butere Road (D-260), to bitumen standards in Ikolomani Constituency, including the extension of Malinya-Shitoli-Iguhu Road (A-9127) road has stalled? (ii) What measures has the Ministry put in place to ensure that the construction of the said road resumes as soon as possible and when is the expected completion date? (iii) What measures are in place to ensure that the sections of the said road which are currently impassable are also made motorable? I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

That one will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing. Next is Hon. Kinuthia, the Member for Subukia, also known as Hon. Gachobe. Please proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I wish to ask the following Question to the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Gender: (i) Why were the 50 persons from 26 Sub-locations in Subukia Sub-County who were recruited under the National Youth Service Youth Empowerment Programme in The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

the months of May to August 2016 to supervise works in their respective sub- locations not paid to date? (ii) Could the Cabinet Secretary state when the said persons will receive their dues? I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker:

That one will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. The next one is the Hon. Member for Sirisia, Hon. Major (Rtd.) John Waluke.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I wish to ask the following Question to the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Planning: (i) What measures, if any, have been put in place by the Ministry to protect vulnerable citizens and businesses, especially small and medium size enterprises from exploitation by digital money lenders, during the COVID-19 pandemic period? (ii) Could the Cabinet Secretary clarify whether there is existence of regulations on code of conduct or a set of rules for all members of the Digital Lenders Association of Kenya and, if any, how are they being implemented? Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

That one will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. The last one is by the Member for Trans-Nzoia County, Hon. Nangabo Janet.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I wish to ask the following Question to the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection: (i) What measures has the Ministry put in place to ensure that Kenyans seeking employment in the Middle East do so only through licensed and registered recruiting agencies approved by the Ministry of Labour? (ii) Could the Cabinet Secretary explain the recent claims of abuse of migrant workers in the Middle East leading to loss of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic period? (iii) What is the status of implementation of the Bilateral Labour Agreements between the Government of Kenya and countries in the Middle East Region regarding safety of Kenyan migrant workers? I thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker

Very well. That one will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. Next Order.

The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, this House orders that the business appearing in the Order Paper as Order No.9 be exempted from the resolution of the House of 3rd November 2020 regarding prioritization of business during the period 3rd November to 3rd December 2020, being a Thursday Morning, a day allocated for business not sponsored by the Majority or Minority Party or business sponsored by a Committee.

Hon. Speaker, we gave an undertaking in the House Business Committee (HBC) that Thursday mornings will be dedicated to Private Members’ Bills and Motions. We also have a small limitation in terms of the court order; that kind of froze in processing of these Bills until we reach some concurrence between ourselves and the Senate. This is a word we do not understand, which has effectively removed all the Private Members’ Bills we would have processed. Last week, we were fortunate to have the Annual State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President. Traditionally, you cannot interrupt the processing of the Address or leave it to later time by giving preference to other business because Members need to take it when it is still hot. Hence, in the HBC, we decided to ask Members to allow the House to take this morning and afternoon and probably Tuesday afternoon to process and give them an opportunity to debate the State of the Nation Address. It is a constitutional requirement that the President must address on the key issues for the House to debate.

For us to have the three days as a block, we agreed to ask Members to forfeit this morning. Never mind there was not much Private Members’ business except a few Motions. We still need to come to you to formally give you for processing of business sponsored by the Majority Party. So, this Motion is basically to ask for that. I hope you will indulge us in that request. I beg to move and ask my colleague, the Leader of the Minority Party to second.

Okay, Leader of Minority Party

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. My deputy staged a coup on me, but I can see on this one he has allowed me to proceed and second as the Leader of Minority Party. But he is seated on my seat.

I want to second this Motion. Yes, today morning is usually set aside for Private Members’ Motions and Bills. As the Leader of Majority Party has said, traditionally we have always allowed the immediate sittings after the President’s Speech to be set aside for debating it. In fact, the President’s Address to the Nation is such an important exercise in any democracy. This is because it spells out what the country has been able to achieve, what the Executive is doing and what it plans to do in the foreseeable future, mostly in the next one year.

So, Hon. Members should allow this House to start the debate this morning and continue with it in the afternoon. Those who will debate in the afternoon will be very unlucky because they will use the national language. I am sure many of us have issues, I am not the only one who has issues and challenges with it. I am pleading with you that Hon. Atandi should not speak this morning and be allowed to speak in the afternoon so that we can see how the people of Alego have become eloquent in the national language. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

With those remarks, I beg to second.

Put the Question.

I hear you Hon. Members, so I will put the Question.

So, we go to the next Order. Hon. Members, those Members who are severely challenged in terms of speaking the national language are encouraged to try their luck this morning so that in the afternoon we will leave it to those Members who can speak Kiswahili okay. Hon. Atandi you are encouraged, but unfortunately, you seem to be low in the ranking here. You might have your luck in the afternoon.

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

What is it Hon. Atandi, I can see you have pressed the intervention slot?

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I want to raise an issue on the previous Order. I have a Question that has not been answered in the last three months. Last week…

Hon. Atandi, do you mind saying that in Kiswahili so that I can hear?

Mhe. Naibu Spika, nimesimama kwa hoja ya nidhamu kuulizia Swali niliuliza hapa Bungeni kuhusu… Hii ni ngumu.

I hear you Hon. Atandi. Please save yourself the trouble. I have heard you are complaining about a Question you asked three months ago.

The Question has not been answered.

Where was it directed to?

To the Chair of Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. Last week, I even petitioned the Speaker and I think he did not rule the way forward properly. I really want you to give some direction because that Question was very urgent and important.

Are you a Member of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning?

No, I am not.

So, let me see if the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning is in the House. That must be Hon. Nyasuna Gladys Wanga. She is not in the House and the Vice-Chair. Well I request the Leader of the Majority Party to take this into consideration and look at why it has taken a long time. So, let us proceed to the next Order. We are on Order No.9, have you called it? Yes, let us have the Leader of the Majority Party. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 24(6), the thanks of this House be recorded for the exposition of public policy contained in the Address of H.E. the President delivered in Parliament on Thursday, 12th November 2020 and further that this House notes the following Reports submitted by H.E. the President, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 17th November 2020 - (a) Reports submitted in fulfillment of the provisions of Articles 132(1) (c) and 240(7) of the Constitution: (i) The Annual Report on the Measures Taken and Progress Achieved in the Realisation on National Values and Principles of Governance; (ii) The Annual Report on the Progress made in Fulfilling of the International Obligations of the Republic of Kenya; and, (iii) The Annual Report to Parliament on the State of National Security. (b) Other Reports submitted by H.E. the President: (i) The Report on Ease of Doing Business Milestones 2014-2020; and, (ii) The Annual Report of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Financial Years 2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, as I had stated earlier, last week on 12th November, we did welcome His Excellency the President to fulfil his constitutional duty through the State of the Nation Address, as required by our Constitution. Our Constitution requires the President to report basically on various measures, including the measures taken and the progress in the realisation of our national values which are contained in Article 10 of the Constitution. Also, in terms of the other requirements which I have already stated was the progress we made in terms of fulfilling our international obligations and the state of security. However, he also went further and looked at where we are in terms of the progress we made on easing the costs and the challenges of doing business and the progress we made on international benchmarking in terms of where Kenya is ranked. If we can improve on our economy and the ease of doing business, then our competitiveness and our attractiveness in terms of attracting foreign direct investments is enhanced. This also leads to new businesses and establishments coming up and job and wealth creation, which is what we need for this country. He also did indicate Government progress in achieving our national transformation agenda to achieve this economic development.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I want to look at these matters from several perspectives. First of all, I can look at it in terms of the prevailing environment and the challenge it has, which is the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of the impact it has had on all these issues. I also want to look at it in terms of the transformation, where we are in terms of obligations, security and, lastly, as a Parliament, what role do we play in assisting the President and the nation in the delivery of all these? We all know the impact COVID-19 has had in this country. The President did address this matter. He highlighted some of the issues and measures that are being taken like the lockdown which has been more partial than total compared to other places; the curfews that we have had; the shutting down of our learning institutions and the ban on public and social gatherings, which we The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

as politicians have been flouting with impunity. It has not helped the masses out there. Other measures are restrictions on passengers and even presence of people in vehicles and also in entertainment areas.

In all these, the President also highlighted the developments we made in terms of equipping our health institutions and the role played by our frontline workers in terms of the healthcare providers in the management of the disease. Unfortunately, despite all these measures, he also noted we have lost, at that point, 1,200 Kenyans to the pandemic. Most importantly, he encouraged all of us that we must remain firm and not backtrack from our vigilance in the fight against this pandemic. To quote from his Speech, as leaders, our stamina for discipline must not diminish. If people fall short of giving their best at this time, we as leaders have no option, but to give our all. We must know the way, go the way and show the way. I am repeating this because we as leaders are expected to set the tone at the top and the people can follow based on what they see from the behaviour of our leaders. I do not want to belabour this point. I think it has been discussed quite a bit this week, including on Tuesday in the Adjournment Motion.

Turning to the national transformative agenda and economic development, it is not all doom and gloom. Despite the challenge that we are faced with, the President did articulate some achievements under the Big Four Agenda. Most importantly, he reminded us that economic development is not about intentions. It is something that keeps coming. It is a running thing that keeps coming whenever we are processing the budget. It is not just about what we intend to do, but rather what has actually been achieved and what has been the results. Whatever we have done and the monies that have been spent, what impact does it have on the lives of our people in transforming the wellbeing and the quality of life of our people? Contrary to what many people think, the emphasis on his Big Four Agenda is not a legacy project. It is not about his legacy, but about a bigger economic development strategy or framework which will be used to reorganise Government delivery and answer the question of why in terms of selection of the priority areas that his Government is working on.

If you look at the first agenda in terms of housing, he did explain, for example, what is happening in terms of liberating the urban dwellers from the poverty of dignity which has been caused by them living in the slums. For example, we have seen the Park Road project, which was the initial pilot project that was delivered in time and within budget. We have also seen what is happening within Mukuru slums. This is part of looking not just at housing from a housing perspective, but housing as a means of liberating people and transforming their wellbeing by giving them decent housing so that they can start feeling that they are living as human beings, rather than just being shackled in slums.

The second point he articulated is that we need to start thinking of transitioning our young people from just being onus to owners of capital. He did give us examples of what is happening within the boda boda sector, the amount of money they are generating which is close to Ksh357 billion that is far bigger than even the amount we are sending to our counties. It is money that can be leveraged and harnessed to actually convert them to owners. They should not just think about

. These could well be the future owners of trains running on our Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) system or the commuter railway system so that people start thinking big and not just thinking of one boda boda. It is enough to leverage and work on others.

He did also talk about the issues of what is happening on food and food security, and more importantly, in terms of access to mortgage finance...

Order! Who is this Member? Sometimes it becomes very difficult for the Speaker to pinpoint particular Members, never mind the COVID-19 issue. Of course, we The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

encourage that Members dress in a manner that prevents the spread of COVID-19 but sometimes you really have to put your card very strongly for us to notice, because I cannot tell who that Member is at all. Proceed, Hon. Kimunya.

Pilots have a way of dressing their faces. We have the new Kenya Mortgage Refinance Corporation which has kicked off and will help people to realise the affordable housing project. In terms of land reforms, I am sure the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Lands will give us more information on this; the National Land Information Management System has been revolutionised. I know we have tabled here a lot of regulations to articulate this. It is really sorting out what is happening in the land sector. Most importantly, it is not just about giving people titles. He did explain here and has explained before what is happening, that using our own talent at a very affordable cost, our own very young tech-savvy guys have actually mapped the entire country and they continue with that exercise so that we actually know all the resources that we have. First of all, we need to know where every public land is. Secondly, we need to know the resources that are available within our own country. I think that is part of preparing the future exploitation for the common good. Critical, within the achievement of the Big Four Agenda, is the empowering of our young people. This starts with 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary schools. Even after secondary school at the age of 17 or 18 years, these people are still young, then there is the issue of investment of taking Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes. He said there are about 431,000 students that are currently enrolled within the 182 technical and vocational centres that are scattered across the various constituencies in the country. Apart from the technical training they are getting, there are partnerships that have come within the automotive industries, oil and gas industry, the marine and shipping and agro- processing, so that the link between industry and the training institution is already in place. In terms of national security, the President did report that our state of national security is strong. Despite the threats that are within our region, we know what is happening in Sudan, Somalia and of late, we have sadly seen what is happening in Ethiopia, which has been quite stable. At least, Kenya has managed to be a beacon of hope within the region in terms of security. That was also recognised within the United Nations system by getting Kenya a seat within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) which will help Kenya to, at least, contribute to global peace with more specific attention to our region. The new Nairobi Police Service Control and Command Centre for surveillance and communication is being implemented. Also, we now have the digital occurrence book pilot project with the aim of strengthening security. Yesterday was the launch of the Huduma Namba cards across the country which is tied to enhancing security. All the information about every Kenyan is now known and you can keep track of where Kenyans are which not only helps the security networks, but even between ourselves and businesses. We now have more confidence in dealing with Kenyans because even banks can trace where you are. It is possible for them to give you a loan because you have a fixed abode or a place they can trace you to. In all these things, as a Parliament, we would be expected to perform our own functions. You may recall that not too long ago, the President, at Bomas of Kenya, did launch a report that contains the views of Kenyans, developed for the last two years within the framework of building bridges initiative. It is a report that contains policy issues, administrative issues, legislative issues and constitutional issues to implement the wishes of Kenyans. It is expected that this House will The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

play a key role in ensuring that the policy has been debated, the legislative issues that are required have come to this House as part of transforming Kenya from where we are and filling up the legal gaps that are impeding progress and realization of the Kenyan dream. Most importantly, in terms of constitutional reforms that will be required, I am sure those who have read the report will agree that, indeed, issues have been identified and solutions identified. The next phase is to turn those intentions into legal mechanisms so that Kenyans’ dreams can be achieved. The report is available, it is in the Table Office. We tabled it here because Parliament is a key player. It is a public document and I would encourage as many Members as possible to go through it so that we can start preparing our role in terms of Private Members’ Bills and Committee Bills to implement the issues that are contained in there. I know Hon. Korir has already drafted a Motion on Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) which is meant to help the youngsters from universities to take some time before they start repaying their loans and insulating them from paying interest on the HELB loans. This is contained in the report and a Member has picked it up and it is already before this House. I encourage many more Members to do the same so that we play our part as Parliament. The underlying message is: The Big Four Agenda is not about the President’s legacy, as people put it and try to figure out what will happen when he leaves office. It is a national project anchored in Vision 2030, which this House has been supporting. Even as we start looking at the future leadership of this country, we need to start hearing the future of the Big Four Agenda within the framework of achieving our Vision 2030. In many instances within the Speech, if you note, the President lauded the efforts of this House in supporting the Executive’s efforts this far. He encouraged Members to be more vigilant in the fight against the pandemic, corruption and ensure safety for ourselves and our people so that we can achieve the bigger dream. I am also aware and we know from the HBC that we have close to 70 pieces of legislation that are still awaiting processing at different stages. I know time is not on our side, and we also have these restrictions in terms of sittings and all that, but I trust and believe that when we call upon you, we shall all rise to the challenge and we shall deliver in the best interest of our beloved Republic of Kenya. I could go on and on but I believe I saw the passion. He shared his vision of a new Kenya and encouraged all of us to start thinking beyond what I am doing for Kipipiri. We need to start thinking of the bigger picture that, as we wake up every morning and come to this House, let us always put our great country in the spotlight in our spheres of thinking and in the lenses that we see things. That whenever we are doing it, whatever we are doing, we will be doing it to achieve a greater country. When we are working on our National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG – CDF), we will be looking at how to contribute to infrastructural development so as to ensure that our kids observe social distancing in schools and get opportunity to become like us in the future. That patriotism and thinking big for our country is what we are being called upon, as leaders, to do. With those introductory remarks, I would want to beg that I move and ask my colleague, the Leader of the Minority Party, Hon. John Mbadi to second.

Very well. Hon. John Mbadi, the Leader of the Minority Party.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to second the Motion which is asking this House to record its thanks on the President’s Address to the nation, as has been ably moved by the Leader of the Majority Party. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Looking at this Speech of the President which was delivered to this House, and it is the seventh speech since President Uhuru Kenyatta assumed office in 2013, he actually covered many areas. The Constitution, under Article 132, requires the President to address himself to certain issues one of which is the effort the Government has taken and the progress realised in achieving the principles and values as espoused under Article 10 of the Constitution. Further, he is required to address himself to issues of international relations: how we have engaged in meeting our international obligations as a country. He is also required to address himself to issues of security for our nation. The President covered many areas. In summary, the President talked about matters education, the Big Four Agenda, the youth, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and matters economy. Looking at the Speech of the President, he gave us a summary of his presidency from 2013 to date. I am happy that the President started with the most important concern that the world has at the moment, the most important global concern at the moment is the COVID-19 pandemic. He took us through the measures that his administration has taken or put in place to mitigate against the effects of this health issue. He also recognised the cooperation and the partnership between the Executive and Parliament, and hailed the support that the National Assembly, more particularly, and even the Senate gave in terms of approving the statutory instruments, which included the Public Health Act and also the Public Order Act. He also went ahead and thanked Parliament for helping his administration in approving the economic interventions which were meant to steady our economy. Hon. Deputy Speaker, you will remember that this House approved various tax measures which included the reduction of Pay as You Earn, Value Added Tax and Corporation Tax. These were meant to improve liquidity both at individual level, money to our pockets as individuals to enhance our purchasing power, but also the liquidity of the entire economy which included other measures like paying verified bills to the tune of Ksh13 billion, VAT refunds by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to the tune of Ksh10 billion, lowering the Central Bank ratio by one per cent and of course, lowering the cash reserve ratio by one per cent. This House also approved, after receiving the request from the Executive, an Economic Stimulus Programme of Ksh66.6 billion which was supposed to help in increasing demand for local goods and services, and cushioning the vulnerable Kenyans. I have cited this just to demonstrate the collaboration that the Executive has had with this legislative arm of Government to help mitigate the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. That is something to praise. It is important to observe that the President recognised the role that Parliament played in that effort. It is not really disagreeing but I will take a different trajectory from the Leader of the Majority Party on the view that the President took on our economy or the state of the economy. I still believe that the President is shy of telling us the reality: the truth about where we are in terms of our economic health as a nation. There is no denying that this country, and alongside many others in the world, are struggling. Let us not shy away from this because that is why I see a lot of demands on our resources as a nation. People think that there is a pool of money somewhere where we can easily deep our fingers and sort out our problems. As a nation, we must agree, accept and come to the realisation that we are in total economic crisis as a nation. That is so because even the debt level that we approved the other day is almost hitting Ksh9 trillion. That is the plain fact. We borrowed Ksh784 billion from the World Bank. Fortunately, it was a concessional loan with zero interest, and I thank the National Treasury for that, and with a grace period of five years. However, it is still a loan. It has spiraled onto the loans that we had even before we approved that ceiling. Secondly, we also received US$1.6 billion, which translates to The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

over Ksh160 billion. If you add the two, you are almost hitting a trillion in a very short period of time just because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That raises our debt as a country. I am sure we are almost passing Ksh8 trillion and so, heading to Ksh9 trillion. We must bite the bullet. Hon. Deputy Speaker, if you look at our expenditure, the entire recurrent expenditure and the figure from the National Treasury, it is coming out that, as a nation, we are spending over Ksh100 billion more than what we are collecting on salaries and recurrent expenditure. That, therefore, means that we are borrowing to pay recurrent expenditure. That is not only unconstitutional but it is endangering the financial health of this country. I keep on talking about this and I want to ask the President to come out boldly on this matter. Even if it is a matter of all public officers taking a pay-cut, we should to protect the economy. Otherwise, if we continue pretending that things are normal, things are not normal. We had this even without this COVID-19 pandemic. Even with the 5.4 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth that we were realising, we were still not able, as a nation, to meet all our recurrent expenditure including the debt repayment with our locally generated revenue. So, that is something that the President, the Government and this House must address themselves to. Otherwise, the future generations will blame us for having neglected our duty. I thank the President for the efforts that the Executive has taken in trying to improve the dignity of our citizenry. He talked about eradicating the poverty of indignity. It is truly there is poverty of indignity. If you see the conditions in which some Kenyans are living even in towns like Nairobi in the slums, it is the poverty of indignity. The Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) under General Badi is trying to help correct or, at least, reduce the embarrassing situation that Nairobi has found itself in. That then moves me to ask Kenyans to think seriously of electing good leaders who can improve the welfare of the citizenry of that electoral area. When you elect clowns, you do not expect services. A City and county like Nairobi with its high levels of literacy should think seriously of who they put in place to run its affairs. If the national Government did not take the initiative of putting Nairobi under a different administration, the five years would have been wasted and the services in Nairobi would have deteriorated even further. I am not saying they were better before, but they were slightly better than what we saw under the kind of leadership which was put in place because people were giving out unga to be voted for and not selling their agenda and policy. I am also happy that the President has observed and recognised that mental health is very critical in this country and that we need to give it proper attention. Upgrading Mathari Hospital is a good move. If there will be any support that the President requires from this House in terms of budgetary allocation, we should not hesitate to help. I have talked about liberation of the urban poor from the poverty of indignity. I have also mentioned what the President talked about with regard to the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC), which has been put in place. It has been incorporated and capitalised. That is also a good move in helping achieve the Big Four Agenda. I also agree with the Leader of the Majority Party that the Big Four Agenda is not some event or activity that has to be realised as a project. It is a strategy. I agree with the President. It is a strategy to provide universal healthcare to all citizens of this country. It is difficult. You saw the emotion the Member of Parliament for Seme showed yesterday. I share with him. He has been a doctor. He knows what doctors are going through. The challenge of health must be confronted. Even developed countries like the United States of America are still struggling to provide universal The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

healthcare. There is still disagreement. We can make positive steps even though the resources are limited. However, those limited resources need not be stolen again. When we hear of billions of shillings possibly getting lost at a parastatal like the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), where a CEO appears before Parliament and says he is not aware of who decided on what to buy, who to bring or who to source from, it sends shivers down our spines as the institution that oversees that Authority. I appeal to the Departmental Committee on Health where Hon. Nyikal sits to bring very strong recommendations to this House on what steps we need to take in dealing with some of those people who are embezzling funds meant to improve the health services in this country. There are those who are even going ahead to profit from money that was meant to fight COVID-19 and yet, Kenyans are dying in their hundreds every month. We do not know for how long we will be confronted with this pandemic. There are Kenyans - and they are not foreigners - who decided to make themselves millionaires and billionaires from the COVID-19 funds. If we have to remain relevant as a House, we need a report with the names of those Kenyans against whom action should be taken. Those investigative agencies empowered through our Constitution and the law to take action should move with speed. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) need to take action against those immoral Kenyans so to speak. I will not over-emphasise the talk about the youth. The President is spot on. If we do not handle the problems affecting the youth cautiously and with urgency…

Order Members! There are two Members seated to my right. First, they have not exercised social distancing. Secondly, I can hear that they are conversing in a language that is not parliamentary. I will not mention their names but they should very quickly rectify their behaviour before I go to the next step of mentioning their names. Proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I had started talking about the youth. The youth bulge in this country is real. We must find ways and a clear strategy of dealing with the youth issues. I agree with the President that inciting the youth is not the solution. Tokenism is not the solution. The solution lies with clearly defined programmes, strategies and plans to empower the youth. That can only be done through innovation. That is something that we need to work on very seriously. The President tied the issues of security together with other issues under Article 10 of the Constitution on values and principles such as democracy, inclusivity, peace and coexistence. He tied them together and talked largely about the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). I have heard many Kenyans go to the extent of calling the BBI Report a useless document. They have even gone ahead and said that we should not waste money on useless initiatives. They are forgetting one fact. Without political stability, you cannot have security in a country. You cannot talk about health services. You cannot provide those health services. Kenyans forget very fast. Towards the end of 2017 up to the first two months of 2018, this country was ungovernable. We literally had two presidents recognised differently. We had the President who was sworn in at Kasarani and then another President we swore in at Uhuru Park - the peoples’ President. Whether it was me or you, you are the same ones who have been bringing problems with Tangatanga and Kieleweke . We must speak amongst ourselves. This kind of carelessness where you hear some people shouting when they have opportunities to talk later, bringing in a lot of propaganda on an important document like the BBI, and those saying that the BBI Report is useless, can you tell us which one is useful? What efforts have you taken? The effort cannot be distributing wheelbarrows. That cannot be the effort to bring peace in this country. Peace The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

in this country must be brought through some deliberate efforts to make changes that are required and necessary. I want to talk about the propaganda that we hear around. People talk about BBI increasing the wage bill by creating many positions. I want this House to listen to me on this. In order to realise the two-thirds gender principle, the membership of the Senate is being increased from 67 to 94. That is an increase of 27 Members. In the National Assembly, we are increasing it by 11 Members. That is a total of 38. Compare that to when you appoint the Cabinet Secretaries from outside Parliament.

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker?

What is your point of order, Hon. Koske?

How can this Member whom I do not even know…

Order, Hon. Mbadi! Proceed, Hon. Member for Chepalungu.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, is it in order for the Leader of the Minority Party to say that peace in this country is Hon. Raila? Is it in order that we are told that there is no peace without Hon. Raila?

Yes!

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I do not know why some constituents cannot elect literate people to come to Parliament. You do not bring these kinds of little people to come to Parliament. You do not even know what you are saying.

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

I do not want you to go that direction. What is it Hon. Ng’eno again?

Mhe. Naibu Spika, sisi wote ambao tuko hapa, hata kama tuko literate ama illiterate, tulichaguliwa na watu. Mtu akiwa Kiongozi wa Wachache, asifikirie amesoma kuliko wengine. Hata sisi tumesoma rafiki yangu. Tulichaguliwa na watu ambao walituleta hapa. Hauna cheo cha kuongea vibaya kuhusu Wabunge wengine ambao walichaguliwa kama wewe.

Kwa hivyo, is it in order kwa Mbunge kama mimi kuongea vibaya kuhusu mwenzetu ambaye ako hapa?

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Hon. Members, what is it Hon. Maanzo? You are taking a lot of time from the Leader of the Minority Party?

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I have been on the intervention button for quite some time. Is it in order for Hon. Mbadi to impute improper motive against the Governor of Nairobi City County and even giving names on the Floor of the House, while he is aware that he is already in court on some of the matters? He also had an agreement with the President. Is he making it better by calling the Governor names here, while we know that he was elected by over a million people?

The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Those are two issues. Hon. Mbadi, on the issue of the Member for Chepalungu, that is not the correct position. As a senior Member, that is something which I know that you can easily dispense with. He has some recognizable papers. That is the only bit that I have an issue with. However, the normal exchanges between Members are part of the debate.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, first of all, I did not know who that Member was. There is nothing personal.

From the way he spoke, I felt that there was something missing. Who spoke about Hon. Raila? I have not mentioned Hon. Raila since morning. When he came up with Hon. Raila’s name, I felt that he was not literate. Probably, he has a problem. Maybe, he did not hear properly.

That is a bit that I agree with the Leader of the Minority Party. I was also trying to ask myself the point at which that particular name was mentioned. I did not hear it. Members, that matter is sorted out. He has already made a point.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, how did he understand that I spoke about Hon. Raila when I did not? I thought that is not someone who is literate. If he is educated, then I want to leave it there. The constituents can continue electing him. However, he should be advised to listen properly. The Member who keeps on talking in funerals - who is my friend, Hon. Ng’eno - should also listen carefully.

Hon. Mbadi, recently, Hon. Ng’eno was in the same formation as you. From his gestures, I saw that he might be saying that he learnt a little from that side. Therefore, he speaks in those particular areas that you do. So, let us proceed.

Allow me to continue.

Your time is over. The Members took one minute from you. I will give you a minute, Hon. Mbadi.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, Hon. Maanzo’s point of order should not go unchallenged. I do not deny the fact that somebody was elected by over a million people. That is why I am speaking to those people who elected him. Over a million people should not elect someone who cannot run a county. In future, they should elect someone who can run a county. I have no regrets to say that.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I second the Motion.

Hon. Members, let me propose the Question. When you get the opportunity, you will contribute.

The first shot is given to Hon. Korere.

Mhe. Naibu Spika, ahsante sana kwa kunipatia fursa hii. Namshukuru na kumpongeza Rais wa nchi ya Kenya kwa hotuba yake kwa taifa wiki iliyopita.

Nilisikiliza na kufuatilia kwa makini hotuba ya Mhe. Rais. Kwa kweli, alizungumzia masuala nyeti na muhimu, haswa wakati huu nchi ya Kenya na dunia nzima inapitia magumu na The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

makali kutokana na majanga kama vile virusi hatari vya Korona na uvamizi wa nzige katika baadhi ya maeneo ya nchi hii na kwingineko katika Afrika.

Nikimnukuu Mhe. Rais, alizungumzia yale waliweza kufanya kama Serikali ili kupunguza makali ambayo Wakenya wanapitia, kwa sababu ya hali ya uchumi na ukosefu wa biashara. Baadhi ya kodi ambazo zimepunguzwa ili kukabiliana na makali ya virusi vya Korona ni dhibitisho tosha kwamba Mhe. Rais anajali taifa la Kenya, wachuuzi na wafanyi biashara wadogo.

Nitazungumzia kuhusu virusi vya Korona. Tumeona kwamba Mhe. Rais amefanya mengi na yote ambayo anaweza. Pia, ninapongeza Bunge hili kwa sababu waliketi chini kwa dharura, haswa Kamati ya Bajeti na Kamati ya Afya. Lakini inasikitisha kwamba baada ya Wabunge kufanya kazi usiku na mchana ili kuhakikisha kwamba Wakenya wako salama na sekta ya afya iko sawa, kuna wale ambao waliona nafasi ya kujitajirisha kwa kuiba fedha. Inahuzunisha sana kwamba tunavyozungumza sasa hivi, sio Wakenya wa kawaida peke yao wanaokufa; madaktari pia wanaangamia.

Mhe. Naibu Spika, nilibahatika kuwa katika kikao cha Kamati ya Bunge ya Afya jana, ambapo madaktari waliwasilisha malalamishi yao. Inasikitisha kwamba katika Bunge hili, kila mmoja wetu hapa anajua rafiki, ndugu au jamii ambaye ameangamia kutokana na makali ya virusi vya Korona. Hata kuna wenzetu katika Bunge hili ambao wameangamia. Tulivyo keti hivi, tunaangaliana kama “marehemu watarajiwa” manake hatujui nani atafuata. Najua Wabunge wanasikitika na kushtuka sana ninaposema sisi ni “marehemu watarajiwa” lakini Waswahili husema ukiona mwenzako ananyolewa, tia chako maji. Rais amefanya yote awezayo. Ni muhimi Waheshimiwa katika Bunge hili kumuunga Rais mkono, haswa katika vita dhidi ya ufisadi.

Mhe. Naibu Spika, ninaona muda wangu umeisha lakini sitakosa kuongea kuhusu usalama wa nchi hii. Kweli, nchi yetu ni salama kutokana na hatari za nje lakini nchi yetu si salama kutokana na hatari ya sisi kwa sisi. Nitokako mimi kuna ujambazi ambao umekita mizizi, haswa wizi wa mifugo na uvamizi. Kule kwetu, watu hawaogopi virusi vya Korona. Wanaogopa wezi wa mifugo. Nashangaa kwamba askari ambao wanafanya kazi katika eneo gumu kama hilo ni wale wa ziada, kwa kimombo wanaoitwa Kenya Police Reservists (KPR). Lakini baada ya miezi michache…

Your time is over. Next is Hon. (Prof.) Ogutu Abel, the Member for Bomachoge Borabu.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I feel privileged to contribute to the Motion on the President’s Address to the nation. I want to begin by saying that the address captures a number of issues that are affecting this country; ranging from security to health, education and youth unemployment. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I want to zero in on one sector that I feel has not been adequately addressed – the education sector. The President highlighted a number of actions that have been taken within this period to ensure that the education sector is transformed to the level that is required to serve this nation. He talked about the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) and mentioned the progress that has been achieved so far. He then moved on to the response by the Ministry of Education to the pandemic. The CBC is a good concept but the conditions under which it is being implemented are wanting. Those conditions, compounded with the pandemic, have seen students and pupils withdrawn from schools. They are now languishing at home, with many of them losing their lives and the opportunity to realize their dreams. Many of them have given up at the end of it. As much as many initiatives have been mentioned, including fabrication of desks and reopening of classes for final year students and Grade Four pupils, I feel like not much has been done in this sector and, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

therefore, not much was reported in terms of preparedness. We are talking about the expansion of infrastructure in schools, upgrading of the same infrastructure, provision of water and sanitation services. However, many Members will agree with me that there is nothing much to celebrate about in those areas. As much as we must open the doors for pupils and student early next year, the report does not give us indicative plans to ensure that proper infrastructure and proper water services will be in place. The President has been very categorical. He talks of, at least, 12,500 new classrooms, but I do not see how those classrooms are going to be put up between now and January. For that reason, I plead with the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG- CDF) to ensure that all the funds that are intended for infrastructure development are released so that construction of new classrooms can begin immediately to complement the resources that the Ministry of Education and the county governments are going to bring on board. Without constructing more classrooms, we would actually be dreaming. As we prepare to re-open schools in January, what is the health condition of teachers? We have deliberated a lot about the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and how it is becoming dysfunctional following the declaration by the Cabinet Secretary (CS) the other day that the Fund will not cover COVID-19 patients. We must also think about how to increase the security of everyone, starting with pupils to teachers and the communities where schools are located. The President was very clear that no child will be denied access to education. We want to realize this dream by ensuring that we move forward to expand the space and provide the necessary services to our children in schools, and ensure that their security is assured when the schools re- open fully. I support the Report.

Let us now hear Hon. Babu Owino.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I heard the President’s Speech and it turned me on, especially when he talked about youth matters.

Hon. Babu, please, put on your mask.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

The President’s Speech turned me on when he talked about matters to do with the youth, especially when he talked about the tax holiday for the youth, matters education and supporting the education system and children in this country. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would like to comment and warn…

On a point of order, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker.

I am on the Floor, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Can I please be given my time? The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Order! Order, Members! Hon. Member for Dagoretti South, what is out of order? Hon. Babu Owino, there is a point of order. Hon. Babu Owino, you must resume your seat.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I just want to inquire…

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): But you must cite the Standing Order that indicates that he is out of order.

I just want to inquire if it is in order for the Hon. Member for Embakasi East to say that he was “turned on” by a speech. Well, we all know that there is no switch where the President was and this Hon. Member is not a light bulb. How can he be turned on by a speech from His Excellency the President? I think he is using some very un- parliamentary language.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Hon. Member for Dagoretti, which Standing Order are you implying?

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is the Standing Order on relevance, which I can even quote in Kiswahili today being a Thursday.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Very well. First of all, allow me to order that Hon. Babu Owino puts on his mask. Put your mask on properly.

It is the biggest mask around!

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Secondly, on the language of “being turned on” it depends on how you interpret English. So, he was turned on by the Speech of the President. This is a House of debate. Can you carry on Hon. Member?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The Hon. Member for Dagoretti South, whom I refer to as “title”, is an intellectual. I knew that he would easily digest what I said. If I said that the President’s Speech turned me on, I meant that it turned my brains on.

That is something that ought to have been put to rest.

I also want to comment on the Hon. Member, whose name I do not remember, who evoked the name of Raila Amollo Odinga - Baba. He proved on a balance of probability just by evoking the name of Baba that he is not only slow, but he is also dense, vacuous, viscous, thick and unintelligent. Therefore, education is very important and it is free at the primary school level. So, the Hon. Member should next time know why he came to Parliament. Let him not just talk. He reminds me of a Member of Parliament who came from Migori. When the debate was on, the Member used to sleep in Parliament. Once when he woke up he asked: “What about Migori?” Just out of nowhere!

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I support the President’s Address.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): This is a House of debate. It is true that we cannot prove that Hon. Babu Owino was turned on. I wish Hon. Kiarie, the Member for Dagoretti South, would request for proof.

Let me have the Member for Ol Jorok, Hon. Muchira Mwangi. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Thank you Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the 7th State of the Nation Presidential Address by the President of the Republic of Kenya.

I congratulate the President for the good Speech that touched on pertinent issues that affect the country. The President talked about the COVID-19 pandemic which has taken a toll on the economy and the health sector of our country. Our people are dying. The pandemic has put a lot of pressure on our health sector. This is an issue we need to keep looking into until we win the war against the pandemic. Probably, we need to relook at the state of preparedness of our hospitals. Apparently, our governors did not give a true picture on the state of preparedness in our health sector. We have seen people suffering because of lack of proper facilities in our hospitals. We saw our colleague who went to a Level 4 hospital in Kakamega, and he could not get oxygen. Probably, the President, with the Council of Governors, needs to relook at the level of preparedness of our hospitals. We are not prepared to fight this pandemic.

We also have the issue of our health officers who are dying for lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). This is an issue we need to look into. In August, the President gave an order on the issue of KEMSA funds. He gave investigative agencies 21 days to investigate and report back on the COVID-19 funds. Two months down the line, we have not seen any report.

The issue of upgrading Mathari Hospital to a teaching and referral hospital is a good idea. Research has shown that one in every four Kenyans suffer from mental illness in Kenya. This translates to 12 million Kenyans. This is an issue that needs to be looked into. It is commendable that it came from the President. This is something Parliament, through the Departmental Committee on Health, needs to look into and provide the finances required.

On education, the President directed the Ministry to give the new dates of opening of schools. The Cabinet Secretary of Education has given the new dates as being January 4th 2021. However, the question that arises is whether we are prepared to open the schools as per the health guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health. The President directed that Members of Parliament, through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), should assist the schools in meeting the health guidelines: that is, sanitation and doing more infrastructure. I support the Member who spoke before me on the release of NG-CDF funds so that we are able to do this before January. It also calls for an increase of NG-CDF funds. The funds we have now cannot achieve the health guidelines in terms of more infrastructure and sanitation. The money is not enough to do the 100 per cent transition and cater for the health guidelines. So, if it is increased, it will enable Members of Parliament to achieve this.

Finally, on increment of the number of companies registered, it is a good thing. But we also need to publish the number of companies that did business with Government that were registered.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Let me have the Member for Runyenjes, Hon. Njiru Muchangi, who is next on my request list. I understand that he is in the consultation room. The other one on the request list is the Member for Kilifi North, Hon. Baya. The Member is consulting the Member for Runyenjes. This shows how religious I am in following the request list. The next is nominated Member, Hon. Sossion Wilson.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President; coming at a time when this country is facing a serious spike of COVID-19 cases. As it is, this country remains very The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

resilient in moving forward amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to briefly comment on a few issues that were stated by the President.

On education, the President underscored the importance of the CBC. Indeed, the true CBC that has been rolled out by the very strong economies particularly in the Nordic countries like Finland is a very transformative education system. How it is implemented in this country shall be based on proper preparation and the professional way it is done particularly in the process of curriculum review. In the process of curriculum review, it is the moment for the universities to engage in intensive research and release of reports. In the current circumstances, we see less of activities by universities. When there are less of activities in the universities, then it puts to question the quality of implementation process.

We urge the Government and the Ministry of Education to open doors to the universities to engage more in the roll-out of the CBC so that, through research, the country can be informed, and the Ministry can engage in proper activities.

The other key aspect for a proper CBC to be rolled out is teachers preparation and training, and particularly, at the pre-service. The teachers who are already in the teaching service have undergone the pedagogy on outcome-based curriculum. Such group of teachers may not do the best in rolling out such a curriculum. The best groups of teachers to do this are actually the pre- service teachers. Therefore, the pre-service teachers’ training at the universities and colleges should be the first point of investment. This is because a CBC teacher ought to deliver teaching at a higher order of pedagogy, and a CBC classroom shall require, at least, one to three teachers in every learning lesson. Therefore, the country must invest in teachers’ training at the pre-service level.

Thirdly, in terms of preparation, is reconfiguring of schools’ infrastructure. So, while we are talking about reconfiguring of infrastructure to accommodate the COVID-19 regulations, it should also take the class sizes of CBC into consideration. If you go to the Scandinavian countries, for instance, Denmark, if a class gets to 29 learners, it must be split into two. So, what it means for CBC is that the class sizes of learners must be drastically reduced so that the true competency objectives are achieved. That is because we are talking about competencies. Delivering competency outcomes in learners shall require more individualized teaching and evaluation at the end of every lesson. Therefore, we need smaller class sizes. Since we need smaller class sizes, we require more teachers.

The other aspect of the Speech is the re-opening of schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic. There is need for the Government to take over the provision of masks and other PPEs, without which it will be a toll order to re-open schools. Therefore, there must be affirmative direction of resources towards that. Indeed, this is where the public-private partnership comes in. If the Government cannot afford to do this, then all the corporate institutions that are doing business in this country should be able to direct resources towards that, as well as funding of schools.

On the BBI, and I am saying this on behalf of the labour fraternity, we do support it unreservedly. It has reached a time that we need to respect our eminent leaders. When you talk about Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga, he is a respected statesman and an outstanding…

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): You have already spent your time. Hon. Members, please, plan your speaking time. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Order, Hon. Wilson Sossion! I will not add you any more time. The next one on my request list is the Member for Endebess. Hon. Members, please, plan your time with the points you want to say.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to comment on the Speech made by His Excellency the President. At the outset, I would like to take this opportunity to send my condolence message to the people of Matungu Constituency following the death of our colleague, Hon. Murunga.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Order, Members! The Members who are transacting their businesses in the House, please, do it in a manner that we accept in the House. We must listen to the Hon. Member for Endebess.

Thank you. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, as the President was giving his Speech, the medical fraternity lost about 10 doctors in the frontline in the fight against COVID-19. That is a very big loss to our country. I also want to send my message of condolence to their families during this time. In the President’s Address, one of the key issues was COVID-19. These are difficult times. We have seen developed nations working very hard. We have Russia coming up with the Sputnik V vaccine and the United States of America (USA) with the Moderna vaccine, together with the Pfizer vaccine. These are milestones which are happening within those countries. Unfortunately, for us, what we have is ‘COVID-19 billionaires.’ The President having given a 21-day notice to the EACC, the DCI and the DPP, it is now more than 100 days down the line. We expected that when the President was going to give that Speech, at least, there could have been developments in the arrests and prosecutions of the ‘COVID-19 billionaires.’ When you look at the ravage the COVID-19 pandemic is causing, especially in the health sector, it is very difficult. As we speak today, many of our doctors are faced with challenges of inadequate PPEs, shortage of staff, et cetera . We have close to 2,000 medical doctors who have not been employed. They are outside in the streets looking for employment and yet, our Government has no strategy on how those doctors are going to be employed. It has no idea of how we are going to curb the spread of COVID-19. In terms of the COVID-19 pandemic, I expected that, by now, we should be looking at the progress that has been made in arresting the situation. This is because, every day, what we hear is becoming a common occurrence. We are only giving statistics. Those statistics are in terms of people; they are not just figures. We are talking of people who are infected and those who die and yet, we are not looking at the things we are doing in the medical sector to make sure that our frontline healthcare workers are in a position to deliver good healthcare. When Members of this House addressed the issue about what has happened to one of our colleagues, what the newspapers picked was that Members were asking for helicopters and other things. We need to have an infrastructure within every county that can be able to, not only take care of the Members, but every citizen of this country whether in the rural areas or in towns. So, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

the Government needs to look at the gaps that exist in the health sector and how it can address them. With those few remarks, I support the address.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): You support. Very well Member for Endebess. Let me have the Member for Kitui Central, Hon. (Dr.) Makali Mulu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to also add my voice to the President’s Speech on the State of the Nation. This is a very abnormal year, and I must thank the President for the Speech. This year has been very unique because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Speech had to be tailored so that it addresses issues which are affecting Kenyans. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, one of the things I picked is on COVID-19. There are some good proposals in the Speech which, if implemented, will help Kenyans. There was the issue of reforms in the NHIF as opposed to the Universal Health Care (UHC). It was good to hear the President say that there will be need to restructure the NHIF so that, even as we implement the UHC, it will be prepared for that important function. The issue of mental health is also very important. The proposal to upgrade Mathari Hospital to be a parastatal is also very welcome. The health of our children was also mentioned. As we address health of our children, there was a proposal to have honourable Members supporting the education sector. While this is a good proposal, the issue is the timing because I know most honourable Members have submitted their proposals. I do not know to what extent this request has been factored in. If it has not been factored in, it means there will be an issue. I think that does not stop the Government from also providing additional resources through the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) so that more classrooms are constructed. The other issue concerns our doctors and health workers. I think this is an area where the Government needs to do much more than it has done and, more so, on the issue of allowances, salaries and PPEs. There was the issue of national security. I was encouraged when I heard the President mention that national security is going to be given a priority. Then, there was the mention of the need to be peaceful as a country and also to be able to export peace to our neighbours. The President also mentioned regional integration where we are talking about ensuring that the integration of East Africa is enhanced. To me, this is very important because, when our neighbours are at peace, then automatically, Kenya will also be at peace and more likely, as the President was proposing, easily export peace to our neighbours. The other issue that was also mentioned is the need for leaders to reach out to each other so that, even where we differ, leaders should be able to talk to each other, agree on issues and, most possibly, build consensus. As a way of trying to explain this, I remember the President requesting the two Houses of Parliament - the Senate and the National Assembly - to engage in consensus building when it comes to issues of how we conduct our business. To me, this was very important because we have seen a situation where the Senate takes the National Assembly to court and the National Assembly has to go and defend itself in court. We are the same House. So, I like the idea of building consensus being encouraged and being given emphasis in this report. The last issue which was important is that we, as the leaders, are reminded that we are only leaders in this country and we hold this country in trust for future generations. This is what I want to say: If as today’s leaders we all appreciate the fact that we are only leaders in this country today so that we hold this country in trust for future generations, we would be able to do things correctly. This applies to economics; the way we manage our economy. We will be bearing in mind that The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

future generations will come and want to find a very strong economy. When it comes to social issues, we will bear in mind that whatever we do today has implications to our future generations. To me, this was the crux of the matter. That, as leaders, always remember what we do today will have implications - positive or negative - to future generations. That is how we should make our decisions. With those remarks, I support.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Very well. Hon. Members, for the sake of relevance, allow me to guide you. We are giving or recording the thanks of the House over the Speech of the President and, we are noting the reports that are in your Order Paper. That is so that we are a bit relevant. Thank you, Hon. Makali, for being relevant to Motion No. 9. Two, as much as possible, please, avoid visiting the Speaker’s and the Clerks-at-the- Table’s desks. I am receiving many Members. If it is an issue that needs to be addressed, we have the Leader of the Minority Party and the Leader of the Majority Party. We have the desk of the Clerks-at-the-Table so that we know the area. We are in a very dangerous time. Let us have the Member for Kathiani.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I also rise to give thanks in support of the President’s Speech that he gave to this House. I want to begin at the point where the President said that, like Moses who stood on top of Mount Nebo, he sees the promised land that the country is going towards. It is really true that this country requires that kind of foresight. When the President talked about bringing Kenyans together for a better future, it is really something that needs to be taken seriously. On the idea and the proposal that the President talked about of building bridges, I think many times people keep forgetting the history of this country and where we have come from. When the President talked about bringing Kenyans together, it is because, every five years, every election cycle of five years, Kenyans fight and lose their property, lose their loved ones and people get injured. Maybe, some people can forget but I cannot because, up to today, I walk with a metal plate in my leg. It has four screws. I cannot pass any metal detector because every time I do that, I am reminded of what I went through. I am okay; I am walking. What about those who are maimed and on wheelchairs? What about those whose properties were lost? What about those who lost their loved ones? Why is it that within a few months, we forget what happened? I want to say that what the President is doing is to bring Kenyans together. It is something that is very noble. Let us not politicise every situation because the fact is that Kenya has come from very far and we require everybody’s support. It is so unfortunate when we hear people completely saying no just for the sake of saying no; some saying no because they have even created a situation that we are dividing Kenya on a situation of us versus them, those who have versus those who do not have, the hustlers versus the dynasties. People forget we are trying to bring Kenyans together. Building bridges means bringing those that were opposing each other to the same table. So, I want to say that it is important that we, as a country, unite and support the President in this intention to unite Kenyans. COVID-19 has become the excuse. Unfortunately, it is so shameful when people use something that is killing children, killing grown-ups, killing men, killing women, killing doctors, killing politicians and killing leaders as an excuse. Let me say this because I have heard people who want to oppose the idea of bringing Kenyans together and they are saying there is Coronavirus. If, today, you have a problem of forest fires, you will look for a policy on how to address forest fires. Once that policy is in place, someone cannot wake up and say the solution to The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

forest fires does not solve a problem of flooding because that was not the problem in the beginning. These are separate issues. One is Coronavirus which we understand and has to be dealt with, the other one is the fights every five years and the economic downturn that this country takes every five years because of political competition. So, I want to say that I am supporting the BBI. I am also supporting the fight against Coronavirus. But let us go to what the Government has done on the fight against Coronavirus because, when people speak, it is like there is nothing that has been done. Healthcare workers are getting Kshs6 billion under the UHC coverage for recruitment of 5,000 health workers and 11,000 interns. That is a positive move. Those businesses, be they micro-sized, medium-sized and small enterprises are also benefiting tremendously because there is a temporary suspension of listing by the CRB. We have reduced taxes from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. We have also reduced VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent. Ministries are being told to pay pending bills up to Kshs13 billion. The Government is saying: “Hasten the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) VAT returns.” A Kshs5 billion credit guarantee is being given. So much is being done by this Government to support people who have been affected by the Coronavirus, not forgetting the Kazi Mtaani Programme and desks that have been given out to schools. I agree with the President. He has done quite a bit. However, a lot more can be done.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Let us have the Woman Representative for Nandi, Hon Tum Chebet.

Ahsante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda. Naunga mkono Hotuba ya Rais mchana wa leo. Rais alisema kuwa kuna changamoto nyingi katika hospitali zetu. Kweli, madaktari wamekufa. Mheshimiwa tuliyekuwa naye, Justus Murunga, ametuaga. Natoa rambirambi zangu kwa watu wa area yake. Kuna haja ya kununua masks kwa hospitali zetu. Wale wanaotuchunga tukiwa wagonjwa ni lazima walindwe vilivyo. Jana, niliona Daktari, Hon. Nyikal akitoa machozi ikanifanya nitokwe na machozi nikiwa nyumbani kwangu kwa sababu nina muheshimu. Tutilie maanani hali zao. Tuwache kila kitu na tushughulikie afya za watu wa Kenya. Rais alisema hakuna mtoto atakayewachwa nyuma, hata wale wanafunzi waliopata watoto wakiwa wadogo. Kule Nandi County, niko na wanafunzi 3,303 wenye umri kati ya miaka 14 na 19 waliopata watoto. Nawaomba walimu wakuu, kama alivyosema Rais, wasirudishe mwananfunzi yeyote aliyepata mimba nyumbani kwa sababu haikuwa shida yao kuzipata. Ni ugonjwa wa COVID-19 uliofanya watoto wakae nyumbani na wakatangamana na wenzao. Rais ametoa amri kuwa hata kama hao waschana wemezaa, warudi shuleni Januari. Kuhusu watu walio na akili isiyo timamu, Rais alisema hospitali ya Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital itaboreshwa. Natoa pongezi kwa hilo. Kwa sababu ya ugonjwa wa COVID-19, watu wamepoteza kazi na umaskini umeongezeka nchini. Ninajua kwamba hilo litashughulikiwa. Jana jioni tuliona mtu aliyenajisi watoto wake wawili, mmoja akiwa na umri wa siku nne na mwingine wa miaka minne. Tunataka aende kutibiwa Mathari ili watoto wetu wabaki salama. Kuhusu Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), iko sawa. Hata hivyo, hoja ya akina mama Bungeni ni lazima ishughulikiwe. Hatuwezi kutolewa wawakilishi wa akina mama 47 tupelekwe Seneti, mahali ambapo hatutaongea juu ya ugawaji na matumizi ya pesa katika nchi ya Kenya. Akina mama wa nchi hii ni lazima washughulikiwe. Hatuwezi kutolewa mahali na kutupwa kwingine. Sisi ni asilimia 52 katika nchi hii, na hoja zetu ni lazima zishughulikiwe vilivyo. Kuhusu pending bills, tuliambiwa wizara husika zitalipa. Wizara husika zilipe hizo pesa haraka. Kwa sababau ya madeni waliyonayo, Wakenya wanajiua. Wakenya wako na shida. Vijana The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

wamechukua mikopo na pesa zao ziko kwa Serikali Kuu na serikali za kaunti. Nikikutana na vijana, hawana motisha . Kwa hivyo, ni muhimu Serikali zishughulikie madeni ya watu ili watu wasijiuwe. Shule zitafunguliwa Januari. Zikifunguliwa, wazazi watalipa karo na nini? Mwisho, watoto wetu wahudumiwe na wanunuliwe barakoa. Walimu wanunuliwe barakoa pia. Jana kuna mwalimu aliaga dunia na nikaona watoto wakipiga nduru. Zile pesa zote zilizoko, zitumiwe kwa kutilia maanani maisha ya Wakenya. Sisi sote tunaogopa, hatujui tutabaki wangapi itakapotimia mwaka wa 2022, inavyosemwa na kuimbwa, kama afya zetu hazitiliwi maanani. Ahsante.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Very well. Let us have the Woman Representative for Lamu.

Ahsante, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda kwa kunipa nafasi nichangie Hoja ya Hotuba ya Rais tunayempenda. Katika mambo yaliyonifurahisha, la kwanza ni kuhusu kupambana na ufisadi. Lau litafuatilizwa kisawa sawa, Kenya yetu itafika mbali. Nampongeza Rais kwa sababu ameleta matumaini. Awali, hungeweza kuona Waziri akienda kuhojiwa mbele ya Tume ya Maadili na Kupambana na Ufisadi (EACC), lakini sasa hivi, tunaona Mawaziri kadhaa wakienda mbele ya tume hiyo kuhojiwa. Kwa mfano, sasa hivi, mitandaoni tunaona Waziri, Prof. Magoha akienda kwa EACC pamoja na wengine waliomtangulia kwenda. Kwa hivyo, tunampongeza Rais kwa kuleta haya matumaini. Kupitia kwa Utaratibu wa Utendaji No.2 ya 2020, Rais aliamurisha mfumo wa utendakazi na uwajibikaji wa matayarisho ya kupambana na COVID-19. Hata hivyo, mpaka sasa ni masikitiko. Tunasikia kuwa, kwa afya, bado kaunti hazijajitayarisha vilivyo. Sasa sijui kama sisi Wakenya itabidi tuwekwe fimbo jela kwa sababau mambo yameelezwa lakini watu hawayafanyi. Pesa zinapelekwa kwa magatuzi kwa matayarisho, lakini watu hawawajibiki. Tutamlaumu nani? Rais ameshatoa njia na utaratibu wa kufuatwa, lakini watu hawazifuati kisha watamlaumu Rais.

Itabidi mujifundishe, Mheshimiwa.

Kiswahili kitukuzwe kwani ni lugha ya Taifa. Leo mchana, itabidi watu wazungumze Kiswahili. Kwa hivyo, tuanze kujifundisha. Hata sisi kuna mambo mengine ambayo hutushinda na sisi hujitahidi kujua mambo hayo yana maana gani.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Please, carry on Mheshimiwa.

Ahsante. Pia nilipendezwa na alivyozungumzia ugonjwa wa akili. Alisema kuwa kutakuwa na hospitali za kisasa za kitaifa za kutibu ugonjwa huu. Kule kwetu Lamu, watu wengi akili zao zimeharibiwa na dawa za kulevya. Utapata vijana wadogo wamefungiwa kwa nyumba. Maskini! Ni kwa sababu akili zao zimepotea. Ikiwa kutakuwa na hospitali hizi, zitasaidia sana. Rais pia alisema kuwe na mustakabali wa kitaifa kwa watoto wetu. Watoto wetu ndio matarajio yetu. Huo ni mustakabali mzuri ikiwa utatengenezwa kutokea kwa shule za msingi. Watoto hawa watakua kwa njia nzuri na kwa maadili. Hapa Kenya, shida si sheria na pesa, shida ni roho zetu. Kila mtu huona pesa za Serikali ni za kuliwa. Tukijenga mustakabali mzuri, tutaweza kujirekebisha tukianza na watoto. Sasa hivi, wale wanaofanya mazuri ndio wanaoonekana ni The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

wabaya. Kama wewe huibi na huna pesa za kupatia watu kwa matanga na kufanya mambo wanayotaka wananchi, utaonekana mbaya kwa sababu wananchi wamezoea kuwa Wabunge wote wana pesa. Kusema ukweli, labda ikiwa Mbunge ana biashara zingine, mshahara wake hautoshi kufanya haya mambo. Kwa hivyo, huu mustakabali wa Kitaifa ni muhimu. Naona muda unaisha. Rais alizungumzia elimu. Tunataka elimu iende mpaka mashinani ili, kwa mfano, kile mwananfunzi wa Nairobi atakachopata ndicho mwanafunzi wa Lamu atakachopata vile vile. Pia, alizungumzia usalama ambao ni muhimu haswa kwa sisi watu wa mipakani . Tunahitaji usalama. Tunataka ukuta umalizwe kujengwa, mipaka ifunguliwe na mikakakti iwekwe kwa sababau sisi tuna jamaa zetu upande ule mwingine na tumetenganishwa. Kuna Wabajuni Wasomali na Wabajuni Wakenya. Kuna mengi ya kuzungumza lakini wakati umeisha. Nampongeza Rais. Ahsante.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Very well. Let us have the Member for Seme. Hon. Nyikal Wambura.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to respond to the President’s Address on the state of our nation. The President correctly said the nation is strong, resilient and breaming with the promise of an even brighter future tomorrow. He also correctly identified the major challenges that we face as a country. I will only consider one of the major challenges; the challenge of the Coronavirus pandemic and the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) - our attempt to get every Kenyan to access healthcare that they need, when they need it and at a cost they can afford regardless of their economic status. This is a challenge and the President has attempted to address it. However, there are some major challenges that have been revealed by the Coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has revealed the weakness of our health systems, particularly the management of human resource - those are the people who look after our patients, from the health worker who prevents diseases to the specialist at a Level 4 hospital and above that looks after patients especially in the era of COVID-19 when we need care, Oxygen and ventilation. The greatest challenge, and we must address it if we want to combat COVID-19 and achieve UHC, is the coordination between the national Government and the devolved county health systems. This is a constitutional provision that we have not implemented. The Constitution provides that in case of a devolved function, the national Government, in this case the Ministry of Health, has the mandate of policy and standards while the county governments have the mandate of implementation. The critical issue here is that, that has not been implemented. It is, therefore, not possible to have uniform provision of services and to coordinate services. Let us face it. Can the national Government, through the Ministry of Health, walk to a county and say a policy or standard is not being adhered to without the governors saying that is interference in a devolved function? The performance of the health function is so varied in different counties and there can only be one reason for the variance. It is because we have no uniform and harmonised policy and strategies. These should come from the national Government. The policies and strategies are there on paper, but it has not been possible to actually implement them. This is why health workers are crying for a constitutional health services commission. They believe that the commission will have the strength to implement the harmonisation that is required in handling their affairs efficiently, fairly and with consideration. If we want to progress as a country, we must look at the Constitution again. The main thing, in my view, is how to harmonise operations between the national and county governments. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): The Member for Makueni.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Under Article 132 of the Constitution, one of the matters the President is expected to report on is any threat facing the nation. The President reported COVID-19, which is not only affecting Kenya but the whole world. It has affected every system of finance, business, education and governance. A lot of people have died of COVID-19. In fact, the second surge is more dangerous world over than the first outbreak. Now, almost every Kenyan knows someone who has been infected with COVID-19 or has passed on because of COVID-19. It is very clear that the economy of the country has been affected. The health system is highly affected. Doctors, nurses and healthcare trainees have died. Recently, you saw what happened to doctors who also expect to remain healthy. It is next to impossible to get an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed. Patients have to wait. I am aware of a patient who died outside Kenyatta National Hospital awaiting an ICU bed and another one was awaiting an ICU bed at Karen Hospital. A friend was awaiting in a different hospital. They were totally unable to get a place they could be assisted. They stopped breathing. The case of Dr. Ashraf is even worse because he has been on the frontline taking care of patients. Unfortunately, those with blood groups A and B world over have had a worse chance with COVID-19 than those with blood group O. The chests of those with blood groups A and B close up quickly and they are unable to breath within a short time because of blood clot. It has been very difficult for them. The same case applies to schools. Fifteen principals are now reported dead. Of course, the principals will have interacted with parents and students. The world over students are carriers. They may not be completely affected, but they carry this disease to teachers and parents. Not many deaths of teachers and parents have been reported wherever schools have opened the world over. There are over 5,000 patients being treated at home. In the homes of those 5,000 patients, there are students. Such families know very well that they have an infected person with whom the child has interacted, but they allow the child to go to school to interact with other children and teachers. As a nation, we must take this matter more seriously, especially now that we plan to open schools fully. It is very important that money be released to NG-CDF so that the Fund can intervene as the President suggested to make sure every school has a water tank and children can constantly wash their hands. At the same time, soaps and sanitisers should be provided, so that there is total cleanliness in schools. Unless the Government, through the Ministry of Education, releases funds to expand classes and buy more desks, we expect a lot more deaths in January if we open schools with the current status. Loss of a single life, including that of a student, teacher or parent, is tragic. We have to be more serious as a country, more so on how we handle people on the frontline. If doctors go on strike, then we will have a bigger crisis than we have now. It is upon all of us, the Government, the Ministry of Health and companies through corporate social responsibility, to make sure there are masks in every school, home and institution. Masks reduce the spread of COVID-19 by 90 per cent. Secondly, we should make sure there is cleanliness because it reduces the spread of the disease. I want to thank the President for what he presented before the House. I hope that all the ministries and departments will take it upon themselves to prevent COVID-19 from destroying this country any further. I thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu)

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I want to first of all thank the President for his State of the Nation Address. On Page 49, the President said he would want to see a Kenya where no one will ascend to a high public office on account of his or her tribe. In addition, I wanted to add, not just tribe, it should be even race as well. This is because we have some Members in this Parliament who have not been chosen because of their tribe or race because we are testament to that. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the President also mentioned about the wages of politics and what the former late President Moi said that siasa mbaya, maisha mbaya. This is true. We, as Kenyans and as politicians, should accept each and every person's contrary opinion and I believe if we do that, we are going to go very far. I laud the President on his promise that by 2022, we will have 100 per cent electricity connection. I hope we can allocate more money to the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) and the Kenya Power for the last mile connectivity and more transformers in our constituencies. We have an issue with transformers and lines in our constituencies. I want to thank His Excellency the President because in 2017, we got titles in my constituency for the informal settlements of Majengo, Mjini and Salama. However, we have another informal settlement called Shauri Yako. From 2016, we have not received its title deeds and I hope with the President's message of titling, we will soon get them. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is very good to talk about the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) because it has been a thorn in the flesh of many Kenyans. However, I was just listening to the news from the United Kingdom (UK) and it seems everybody there wants to benefit from the COVID-19 funds. There is a Kshs18 billion tender which was given out to influential people there. We need to get to the bottom of the KEMSA scandal because at the moment, we need the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to be given to our doctors and medical personnel. The other day, our Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, talked about North Imenti; my constituency, being number two after Nairobi in the prevalence of COVID-19 cases. Let us not generalise COVID-19 in the regions where we come from. We need to know why the cases are increasing. My constituency hosts the county headquarters and covers more than seven counties from where people come for many things to the county headquarters. Therefore, I think we need to get away from the stigmatisation attached to COVID-19. I want to thank the President for reducing the Value Added Tax from 16 per cent to 14 per cent following the onset of COVID-19. We need to know when we will get the NG-CDF money. The President said that Members of Parliament should use the NG-CDF money to help schools get the necessary infrastructure to fight this pandemic. However, you cannot do anything if you do not have the money. Therefore, the National Treasury should release this money before January for us to act. We can intervene before January so that when children go back to school, we have enough classrooms and protective masks.

We are very far in matters UHC. We need to do much more and it should be free as well as school fees. We will be giving out bursaries when schools open.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Very well, next on my request list is the Member for Vihiga County, Hon. Adagala.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I also want to comment on the President’s Speech that was made last week. I totally support it. He talked about many issues, but one of those that caught my eye is about trade within The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

the East African Region. From his Speech, I was happy because right now, we have the COVID- 19 pandemic that has devastated many countries. We want to see how as a country the Government is going to assist the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) come up since most of their businesses have collapsed. Something must be done by the State to ensure that the SMEs have stabilised and are in position to venture into the East African market. The President talked about unity. When I unite, a nation is united. There are so many things that the nation needs to do. We need to grow in harmony. When we coexist, embrace unity and the leadership comes together and talks in one voice, I am sure we shall be united and enjoy. I have seen a youthful Member say that he was put on when the Head of State talked about the youth.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Hon. Adagala, what did you say? You said he was turned on?

He was excited. He was turned on. As women, we were turned off, especially the 47 women representatives. Our issues need to be relooked into. May be because of the BBI, we are told that the 47 women representative seats are going to the Senate.

On a point of order.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): There is a point of order by Hon. Nyamai. Hon. Adagala, please, resume your seat.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Is it in order for the Member to claim that women MPs were turned off? She should not generalise. She should speak specifically for herself. It is also important for Hon. Adagala to be relevant to documentation. When I look at the BBI document, I am seeing many gains for women.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Hon. Nyamai, what is out of order?

What is out of order is lack of truth in what Hon. Adagala is saying. She is saying that we were turned off as women.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Order, Hon. Nyamai. This is a House of debate. When she said she was turned off while you were turned on, she was referring to Hon. Ababu Owino.

Very well. Hon. Adagala the Floor is yours, just carry on. You are in order.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for intervening because that is the position. Another issue I want to talk about is the health of this country. The President talked very well and encouraged that the COVID-19 rules must be followed. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, please protect me.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Hon. Adagala, you are protected. Order Members! Order! Nothing is out of order. Let us not use the Standing Orders to put across our points.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The COVID-19 has devastated our country keeping in mind the fact that we have lost several people. In the western region, we have lost several doctors. We were in a meeting yesterday The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

where one of the senior doctors here cried. This is not a joke. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I am happy you have told people to put on their masks well.

We may shout and ask: “What?”, but Coronavirus is now acting in an abnormal manner. In as much as we may dance and say: “What?”, COVID-19 is here with us. I want to thank the President and encourage him to be stern and stop most things, so that we can concentrate on COVID-19 which is finishing our people. In as much as we hide and do nothing, our people are dying. We want medicine in our hospitals. Medical personnel should also be paid. In my county, nurses are on strike. We want to dance here saying many things, but whatever we say, Kenyans are suffering and dying. Health issues must be tackled. I want to thank the Head of State for taking charge of this. He has to ensure that our people get medical services in all the counties. Let us not use our names, throw words and tantrums here laughing. The country is sick. People are hungry and do not have food. Teachers are dying and we want to dance around here saying many things. We know the President is in charge and we are supporting him 100 per cent. Yes, I am a preacher and I will preach because I am annoyed that our people are dying.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Very well. Vihiga, well spoken. In Parliament, we also preach. Let me have the Member for Dagoretti South.

Thank you, very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me an opportunity to contribute.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Hon. Members, allow me to say that we have 27 requests from Members who want to speak to this. According to our Standing Orders, we know when recording thanks and noting reports, we do so for three days. Please, let us note we will all speak. I wish we could have the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs because of the Reports submitted in fulfilment of the provisions of Articles 132(1)(c) and 240(7) of the Constitution in the President’s Address. The Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs should be in the House or the Vice-Chair. Then, the second Report is to the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations, Hon. Katoo. I have seen the Vice-Chair. The third Report is to the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. It is important for them and the Vice-Chairs to be in the House to note this. So, representation is required, but the Leader of the Majority Party and the Leader of the Minority Party are also in the House. Carry on, Hon. Kiarie.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to make my contribution to the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President. This opportunity is much appreciated. I noted that the President, as required by law, brought the three reports that he is required to bring. However, I noted too that the President also went further to bring two other extra reports - Report on Ease of Doing Business Milestones and Report on the Progress Made by the DPP. I listened very keenly as the President was giving his report on the measures taken in the achievement of national values. I dare say that the President painted a very rosy picture and in fact went on to say that this country is looking strong and resilient, but that is not where I am going to dwell. The President brought the Report on our international obligations. He reported well to the House. However, on this issue of our international obligations, I know this House would have been better and would have benefited more if we got more information on how we are doing on our international obligations. I believe that even if it did not show up in the Speech of the President, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

we are able, as a House, to extract some of this very critical information even from the National Treasury. Some of us would have been keen to know how this country is doing on the issue of the debt burden. I would have been keen to know if we can get the National Treasury to table contracts that we have with some of these international bodies. I would be very keen to see how we are doing with our debts with the Exim Bank of China and the China Development Bank. These two institutions carry the bulk of the Kshs6.7 trillion that we owe China. On this issue of international obligations, I would have also wanted to know how we are doing on our commercial debts. I would like to know if the National Treasury would make it known to us how much debt we have with, for example, the TDB, but that is not what I am going to dwell on. I just wanted to note that even as we speak about our international obligations, one of our biggest and crippling issues is the debt that we owe our international lenders and an update on the status of debt and the restructuring of this debt would have been a good addition to the Speech that the President made. In general, the President gave a good Speech, but it would have been a better speech in normal circumstances. However, we are not in normal circumstances. We are in a crisis. In fact, we are in battle for the survival of humanity. We would have been keen to hear what we are doing in terms of prioritising issues in this country. I believe the issue of COVID-19 takes precedence of any other issue that we are tackling today. The other issues we are talking about are about development, but there is no development for dead people. How are we prioritising our issues as a country? I would have wanted to see a more COVID-19 heavy speech, so that we are able to know how this Government is tackling this critical issue. Finally, I saw the President rather poetically giving us an amazing picture of where he sees the country going, which is amazing, because he likened himself to Prophet Moses, who on Mount Nebo was able to see the Promised Land.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Order, Member for Dagoretti South!

Hon. Members, if you are rising on a point of order, you must quote the Standing Order you are rising on. Otherwise, I will rule you out of order. Let me hear the Member for Kisumu East, Hon. Shabbir.

I am rising on Standing Order No.1 on relevance and correction. The Member has referred to the China Bank and Exim Bank.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): That is Standing Order number?

Standing Order No.1 on relevance. May I proceed?

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Hon. Member for Kisumu East, you are actually out of order. Can you refer to your Standing Order No.1?

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I may not be able to quote the Standing order, but on relevance, the information he is giving is incorrect. China and Exim Bank cannot…

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Hon. Member for Kisumu East, can you resume your seat? Hon. Members, Standing Order No.1 as quoted by the Hon. Member for Kisumu East is not true. That is why I say it is important to know your own Standing Orders. So, the issue of relevance is not on Standing Order No.1. Let us not mislead the country. Do not inform the country that you have not read your Standing Orders. You are out of order. Please, Hon. Members, when you say that a Member is out of order, do not take advantage. Be The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

sure of the Standing Order that you are rising on. Today, the Member for Kisumu East, Hon. Shabbir…

You are out of order because you do not know the Standing Order you are referring to. Let me read Standing Order No.1 for you.

Standing Order No.1 gives cases that have not been provided for, for the Speaker to decide. So, for this one, it is the discretion of the Speaker and not relevance. I will give you homework to find out the Standing Order that talks about relevance. It is not Standing Order No.1. Carry on, Hon. Member.

Hon. Member for Kisumu East, you are out of order! You do not even know your Standing Orders yet you are a ranking Member

Thank you, very much for protecting me. I do believe I am very much in order because I am contributing to the Speech made by the President on the State of the Nation Address. One of the Reports he presented here is on international obligations. I believe I am in order knowing very well that this is a very highly indebted country borrowing Kshs2.5 billion every day; money that if we were to pay starting today, we would pay until 2090.

I want to conclude by saying that the President rather poetically and very eloquently painted a picture of words, telling us he likens himself to the great Prophet Moses, who on top of Mount Nebo, was able to see the promised land where he will deliver us as Kenyans. The younger generation of this country was highly inspired because we understand the vision of Moses and how he was able to see Canaan from Mount Nebo. It is very clear in my mind from Sunday School that it took a Joshua to deliver the people of Israel to Canaan. I believe the Joshua generation is up to the task to deliver this country to that promised land, so that plenty may be found within our borders, as quoted by His Excellency the President, that we love a lot.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): This is a House of debate. Just for the information of the Member for Kisumu East, the Standing Order on relevance is Standing Order No.106. As the presiding Chair, I must also guide you. It is important for me to guide you. I will read it for the Member to be satisfied and this must serve as information and guidance to the other Members who want to speak to this matter. National Assembly Standing Order No.106 on irrelevance or repetition says that the Speaker or the Chairperson of a Committees, after having called attention to the conduct of a Member who persists on irrelevance or tedious repetition either of the Member’s own arguments or in the arguments used by other Members in debates, may, after having warned him or her, direct that the Member discontinue his or her speech. That is Standing Order No.106 on irrelevance and repetition by Members. Let me have the Member for Laisamis, Hon. Marselino Arbelle.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the President’s State of the Nation Address. Indeed, they say patience pays. I have been here since morning and it is true that patience pays because my time has eventually come. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

In his State of the Nation Address, the President talked about COVID-19, a pandemic which is with us today and which has devastated the whole world. However, it is important for us, as a country, to appreciate that our numbers are not as high as numbers reported in other parts of the world. For instance, in the United States of America (USA) alone, I was listening to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) this morning, and I heard that the numbers are surpassing one million people. Our President was just trying to advise Kenyans. The fact that we are not much informed about the COVID-19 disease, he is encouraging people to at least follow the laid down protocols of washing hands regularly, sanitizing and wearing masks. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the President also said that the future of this country is bright. Indeed, I see the future of this country bright. The problem with Kenyans is that we always keep on complaining without appreciating. We are seeing a lot of infrastructure being developed in the country. For instance, if you happen to drive along Mombasa Road, you will realise that there is a lot of road construction work, but Kenyans are complaining. We are seeing a lot of bypasses which did not exist before and they are there today to decongest the city. We are seeing railway construction. Railway lines which have been abandoned for years have been rehabilitated. You can see railway lines running from Nairobi to Nakuru and Nairobi to Kisumu. The President also mentioned in his Speech that the Lamu Port is now operational. He also spoke about the Likoni Ferry Crossing Point where people used to board ferries which submerged and people died, but now there are floaters everywhere. So, we need to appreciate, as a country, that so much is being undertaken in the country. The President also spoke about the BBI. I am, indeed, one of the advocates of the BBI initiative, which is there to unite Kenyans. I get surprised sometimes when I come across people who are against the BBI when its sole agenda is to bridge gaps and bring communities together to share a table and have a conversation with one another. Having said that, I would like to congratulate our President because, first and foremost, he started his Speech by mentioning the word of God. Let him not even mention anything else. The first page of his Speech states: “O God of all creation, bless this our land and nation, justice be our shield and defender, may we dwell in unity, peace and liberty, plenty be found within our borders.” That is to say that whenever we want to start a conversation, we should start with a word of prayer. We will say, “Bismillah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.” Therefore, I congratulate our President for being a man of God. May God bless him wherever he is and give him strength to lead this country to prosperity.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): That is what we call relevance. You referred to the President’s Speech because we are noting and recognising his Address. Let us have the Member for Kikuyu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I wish to join my colleagues in congratulating the President on his Address to the nation, albeit, as he said, six months late because of the COVID-19 challenge. You remember I rose at the beginning of this Session on a point of order seeking information from the Speaker on when the President will be doing this. I am really glad that he was able to do this before the end of the year fulfilling his constitutional obligations. The President stated from the onset of his Speech that the state of our nation is strong and resilient. He said it is brimming with the promise of an even better tomorrow. At that point, I reflected on those words. In my view, the state of our nation is at its weakest in the history of this The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

nation. Our economy is faltering. Our people’s lives and livelihoods have been destroyed by this pandemic. The state of our economy is at rock-bottom and at its weakest since Independence. Therefore, as much as the President may want to be rosy with his words, we must also be forthright and bold to accept the reality of our nation today. As much as we may be resilient, it is not the nation that is resilient, it is the people who have been resilient. As leaders, we must never take it for granted that the people of Kenya have been resilient. If taken for granted, the resilience of the Kenyan people can also quickly and easily destroy this country. The President also talked about the promise of an even greater or a brighter tomorrow. I find desperation in Kenyans in the midst of this pandemic where people are dying every day. When the children of Oyugi Ogango Girls High School are wailing having lost their principal and when Members of Parliament and old men like Hon. (Prof.) Nyikal are crying and shedding tears on behalf of the medical professionals in this country, then there is a state of despair and huge desperation, not just among leaders, but the people of Kenya. Those are issues that we must address. When I sought a Statement from the Speaker on when the President will be coming to address the nation, I wanted to hear from the President what his priorities were in terms of issues that need to be addressed. I agree with the Leader of the Majority Party who mentioned this morning that we must be bold and honest with ourselves. The state of our economy is at rock- bottom, the weakest in the history of this country. Our debt problem, which was not dealt with in depth, is at a dangerous level. It is true, as the Leader of the Minority Party stated this morning, that we may find ourselves before the end of this financial year or at the beginning of the next financial year surpassing the Kshs9 trillion debt ceiling that we set. Those are issues that we must address. If we do not address them today, they will come to haunt generations that will come after us and they will blame us.

I am happy because the President noted that we are only custodians who are entrusted with our nation’s leadership today not only for our benefit, but also for the benefit of future generations. Therefore, to save the future generations, we must speak and debate on the question of our debt and the state of our economy, which is not very good. I said that it is faltering. There is also the state of our healthcare. That is why you see doctors and professors like Hon. Nyikal cry for our beloved country and healthcare workers. The President spoke about the universal healthcare pillar and the poverty of dignity. He sees a Kenya where nobody will sell land to cater for hospital bills. However, the UHC in Nyeri came to an end the same day. Therefore, we must be bold and courageous enough to speak the truth not only to the President, but also to our people and tell them that we are not in a good state. The state of our nation is not as strong as we want to imagine. The state of our economy is very weak. The dollar is trading at about Kshs110 today which is the weakest in the last 20 or 25 years. Therefore, as much as we want to praise ourselves… I wanted to hear where we are on the Big Four Agenda.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu: The Member for Samburu North, Hon. Lentoimaga Musa.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute. I want to congratulate the President for the good Speech that he made on 12th November.

I want to talk about insecurity. I know the President talked too much about our security and neigbours. We know we are in a turmoil area in the East Africa region. I expected him to talk about our internal security. I know the Government is trying its level best to contain insecurity, especially The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

in northern Kenya. However, we still have many challenges in terms of containing cattle rustling and the flow of small arms. Our region is infested with many illegal firearms which come from our neigbours in Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Somalia. The Government should address those issues and offer a long-term solution. Those illegal firearms should be contained. The clashes and serious issues that affect us are those small firearms that flow into our country, which are possessed by young men.

There is also the issue of infrastructure. I know the President and the Government has done a lot in building roads and connecting one town to another. The building of the infrastructure should be extended to areas that are affected by insecurity in our country. One thing that encourages insecurity, especially where I come from, is inaccessibility. Turkana County, West Pokot County, Samburu County and Marsabit County are affected by cattle rustling which is promoted by small firearms and poor infrastructure where these activities are carried out. There is a serious need to invest more money, just like in any other part of the country, to build roads to access the areas that are safe havens for bandits and cattle rustlers.

There is also the issue of unemployment and education. Unemployment and lack of education encourage banditry. We need to invest more in future to ensure that the young men who deal with banditry are educated. More schools should be opened in the areas that are affected by cattle rustling.

The other issue is about electricity connectivity. I know it has been happening everywhere in the country. However, where I come from, we find it is difficult because REA and KPLC have done nothing in those areas, especially in my constituency. Apart from a small unreliable generator in Baragoi Town, the entire sub-county is in the dark. There is no electricity yet there are funds which come through constituencies. The institutions dealing with this kind of work are weak and cannot handle the work that we expect them to do.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I am proud of the President’s Address. It is bold and encouraging and I hope with time, we will address some of these things.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Very well. Hon. Members, pursuant to our own Standing Orders, I want to inform the House that today is Day One on the debate on the President’s Address. As far as our Standing Orders are concerned, we are supposed to have four sittings. We will be guided by the House Business Committee, and we have the Leader of Majority who moved it very well, and we will have more time to debate the President’s Address. So, I must appreciate the Members who are in the House willing and very ready to debate it. We have the Member for Vihiga, the Member for Nakuru Town East, the Member for Mwingi West, the Member for Emuhaya, the Member for Kitui West, the Member for Taita County, the Member for Wajir East, the Member for Kilifi North, the Member for Runyenjes, the Member for Chepalungu, the Member for Lari and many other Members who are ready to debate on this.

(Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu): Hon. Members, the time being 1.02 p.m., this House stands adjourned until this afternoon at 2.30 p.m. Thank you.

The House rose at 1.02 p.m.

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