Hon. Members, pursuant to Standing Order 225(2)(b) that requires the Speaker to report to the House any Petition other than those presented by a Member, I wish to report to the House that I have received a Petition from Captain (Rtd.) Abdullah Molu Mamo from Marsabit County. Hon. Members, the Petitioner affirms that Marsabit Forest was created as a forest reserve with an area of 152.2 km2 in 1932, while the Marsabit National Park was established in 1940 with an area of 395 km2. In 1949, a large area of 2,020 km2 was established as Marsabit National Reserve in order to create a buffer zone therefore reducing the possibility of human wildlife conflict. Due to the increased population around Marsabit Mountain over the years, an area of 534 km2 was de-gazetted in 1982 to create room for more human settlement. Hon. Members, the Petitioner asserts that Mt. Kulal Forest is a biosphere reserve and thus forms an important ecosystem having been recognized by UNESCO in 1978. Being un-gazetted, it is difficult for the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) to effectively transfer imperative guiding principles and recommendations for proper conservation and management. The Petitioner considers this approach as beneficial to the residents as well as the KFS with the view that KFS will have increased its areas of conservation while the residents will have adequate place for settlement without any encroachment. The Petitioner, therefore, prays that this House, pursuant to Section 34 of the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016, the Cabinet Secretary responsible for environment initiates the process of de-gazetting 60 acres of land in Marsabit Forest with a view to allocating it to the community and gazettes the whole 112,998.9 Acres of Mt. Kulal Forest for proper conversation and management. Hon. Members, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 227, this Petition stands committed to the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources for consideration. The Committee is required to consider the Petition and report its findings to the House and the Petitioners in accordance with Standing Order 227(2). 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.

I thank you. There is an indication that Members want to comment. There are people who have placed an intervention. Let us have the Member for Kimilili.

Mhe. Spika, mimi naunga mkono maombi ya Meja Mstaafu. Natumai kwamba Kamati itakapoangalia masuala haya muhimu ambayo yamegusiwa, Wakenya watapata changamoto ili waendelee kupanda miti katika mashamba yao. Hii ni kwa sababu hakuna haja Mkenya kukosa makao kama kuna mahali pamoja ambapo msitu uko wa ekari nyingi zaidi. Inafaa tuangalie vile tunaweza kuwasaidia Wakenya watumie yale mashamba pasipo kuingilia na kuchafua mazingira. Kwa hivyo, naunga mkono maombi haya. Asante Mhe.Spika.

Let us have the Member for Mavoko.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. When I look at the climatic change of this globe, it is indeed very worrying. When we were young, we used to see forests and rains came in two seasons yearly. Hon. Speaker, if we allow the demarcation of forests, then we are inviting a hostile climate. So, I would not allow anybody to think of demarcating forests for human settlements. How I wish all the forests that we had are still there. If I look at the hills, sometimes before 1990, those hills up to a certain height used to belong to the Government. To date, you see every hill with maisonettes, big homes and hotels on top. I think we should correct that. In fact, our Environment Act states that anybody dwelling or destroying forests for domestic or business reasons must be discouraged. Hon. Speaker, looking at Marsabit in North Eastern, it is a semi-arid area. The more we deplete the forest, the more desertification is encouraged. I think it is important for Kenyans to know it is not about having huge chunks of land to occupy. But we should look at a way of having arable land that is good for agriculture and conserve as much as possible. I oppose that Petition because I want more afforestation in our nation. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Members, those of you who may wish to comment and make some statements about a Petition, please, do not make it an occasion for debate. You know this House is guided by rules. There are other places where they speak for 30 minutes on Petitions or for hours until evening! Let us now hear the Member for North Horr.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. This Petition covers my home county. I think I know the Petitioner. He might be from my constituency. Northern Kenya and particularly, Marsabit, has a very unique ecosystem. Marsabit Forest has one very unique and fragile ecosystem. Maybe, it is the only forest we have in that part of the country. I will have a chance to interrogate this Petition further because I am a Member of the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. It will be important for me to reach out to this constituent and advise him that this is not the right way to go. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Members, let me allow other Members who have Petitions to present them. You know we have a maximum of 30 minutes. I will give the Member for Dagoretti South a chance. Not being in his place, let us have the Member for Kilifi North.

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 very much Hon. Speaker. I, the UNDERSIGNED, on behalf of the Pemba people of Kenya, would like to present a Petition regarding the recognition of the Pemba people as citizens of the Republic of Kenya. I wish to draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, the Pemba community whose population in Kenya exceeds 5,000 people is part of the 16 Swahili dialects of the traditional Swahili of Kenya whose root word Suhailya means “people residing on the shores of the ocean”; THAT, the Pemba People of Kenya are originally from the eponymous island in the Zanzibar Archipelago and were part of the Swahili states from Socotra all the way to Mozambique and Madagascar; THAT, the Swahili states as established accorded people not only freedom of movement, but also equal citizenship rights to settle, farm, marry and trade freely without restrictions, which formed the basis of negotiations between the Sultan of Zanzibar and the British Colonial Government on the administration of the Kenyan Coast Ten-Mile Strip; THAT, the Pemba community settled within the Ten-Mile Strip which was part of the Sultanate of Zanzibar and, therefore, under the sovereignty of the Sultan of Zanzibar and not under the British, and which was officially recognized as a Protectorate of Kenya; THAT, as the British ceded sovereignty over inland Kenya for independence in 1963, so did the Sultanate of Zanzibar cede sovereignty over the Ten-Mile Strip and, subsequently, Kenya became a country comprised of the Ten-Mile Strip where the Pemba community lived as well as the inland protectorate; THAT, the Pemba people were, therefore, no longer in the Sultanate of Zanzibar but in the newly formed country called Kenya but were, unfortunately, not listed as part of the indigenous communities of Kenya which has presented huge difficulties in accessing or replacing identity cards; THAT, majority of the Pemba community reside in Kilifi and Kwale where they live without identity and are stateless because they are not recognized in Kenya and have no nationality in Tanzania either, and while the Government of Kenya has accorded varying degrees of recognition to the Makonde Community as well as the Malakote Community of Tana River, the Pemba People of Kenya have not been accorded similar citizenship recognition;

THAT, failure by the Government of Kenya to recognize the Pemba people of Kenya as citizens continues to cause great anguish and inconvenience to them since they are unable to register their children at birth, they miss out on education, health and other social services, are excluded from employment, are unable to register businesses or to open bank accounts or even to register phone sim cards, have unrecognized marriages, are compelled to register assets such as land through proxies, and are regularly exposed to arbitrary arrests for falling to carry identity cards and for allegedly being in Kenya illegally;

THAT, the continued delay in the recognition and registration of the stateless communities in Kenya such as the Pemba community by the authorities is in clear breach and violation of both the constitutional and statutory provisions on citizenship in Kenya;

THAT, efforts to have this matter addressed by the relevant authorities have been futile; 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.

THAT, the matter in respect of which this Petition is made is not pending before any court of law or constitutional body. NOW, THEREFORE, your humble Petitioners pray that the National Assembly, through the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security: (i) Enquires into the matter with a view of securing the urgent recognition of the Pemba people of Kenya as citizens of the Republic of Kenya so as to safeguard their constitutional right as well as recognizing their economic and social contribution to the coastal region and the country at large; and, (ii) Secures the submission of a Report by the Cabinet Secretary for Administration and National Security on measures, including affirmative action programmes, taken by the State to address the plight of stateless persons and communities living in Kenya.

And your Petitioners, will forever pray. Thank you.

How many did you say they are because they appear fewer than the Malakote?

The Malakote are fewer. They are approximately 5,000.

Sit down! I am aware that under Article 297, apart from the 290 Members from the single Member constituencies, there are the 47. Please, I want to urge the 47 of you to take your time. Where you have not learnt something, ask your neighbour and she will tell you it is not done that way. Allow the Member for Kilifi North to explain. You may want to explain something because, maybe, it could be the only exciting thing you have heard since you came. Now, you want to make it impossible for us to communicate.

The Malakote are in Tana River.

So, she is Malakote and that is why she is making noise.

I am not sure if she is a Malakote, but they are in Tana River.

We never said anything wrong about the Malakote. I just know and am aware they are part of the super minorities just like the Pemba and others.

The Shona.

Do not get excited. I will give you a chance now that it has been confirmed that you are a Malakote. Let me give the Member for Dagoretti South to also present his Petition so that the comments, including the one by the Malakote Member, can come together

Thank you, very much, Hon. Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to present this Petition. The chance is highly appreciated. This is a Petition regarding the establishment of a retirement package for the Auditor-General.

Hon. Speaker, I, the Undersigned, on behalf of Kenyan citizens draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, the Office of the Auditor-General is an independent office established under Article 229 of the Constitution and Section 4 of the Public Audit Act; 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.

THAT, the Office of the Auditor-General is mandated to audit accounts of national and county governments, courts, commissions and independent offices, Parliament, political parties and accounts of any entity as required by law, and submit reports to Parliament and also to give assurance on the effectiveness of internal controls, risk management and the overall governance at national and county government; THAT, the office can only serve as a tool in the checks and balances of public accountability and promote such accountability when it discharges the mandate independently and in a manner that inspires trust; THAT, the holders of the office must be given constitutional safeguards beyond the fixed term of service of 8 years so that they are insulated from exigencies that may compromise their independence and integrity during their term in office, guarantee personal and financial security of the outgoing auditor-generals, protect them from potential retaliatory actions and safeguard the dignity of the office; THAT, legislation of post service benefits of the holder of the office of the auditor-general is of utmost importance and necessity to enable and ensure the auditor-general’s independence; THAT, there is need for parity in treatment as per the structure of Government and the equivalent levels thereto by inclusion of the Auditor-General’s post service benefits in the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Act; THAT, efforts to have this matter addressed by the relevant authorities have been futile; THAT, the matter in respect of which this Petition is made is not pending before any court of law or constitutional body. NOW, THEREFORE, your humble Petitioners pray that the National Assembly, through the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning: (i) Enquires into the matter with a view of recommending a retirement benefit package befitting the stature and risk of the office holder; (ii) Initiates legislation on the retirement benefits of the Auditor-General either through amendment of the Retirement Benefits (Deputy President and Designated State Officers) Act or propose any other amendment to statutes or propose new legislation; and, (iii) Makes any other recommendations it deems appropriate in the circumstances of the Petition. And your humble Petitioners will ever pray.

Thank you, very much.

It is correct to say that it is not pending before any tribunal, but it has always pended in my office.

That Office has always petitioned, and I told them I do not initiate any legislation. So, it was mis-directed. Nevertheless, I think it is a Petition worthy also commenting on because, of course, the Auditor-General’s Office is not the only independent office under our 2010 Constitution. I think it is for you Members to comment on this. Let me give the Leader of the Minority Party, Hon. John Mbadi, the first chance. You can comment on either of the petitions.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to comment on the first Petition by my friend, Hon. Owen Baya. I think, as a country, we must speak to this issue. It is very sad that you live in a country where your great great grandparents came to, you did not 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.

even contribute to their movement to that country and then you are declared stateless in that country. In our Constitution, we are a country of contradiction. When you read Article 14 of the Constitution, one of the conditions to qualify as a citizen of this country is where a child found in Kenya who is or appears to be less than eight years of age and whose nationality and parents are not known is presumed to be a citizen by birth. Someone can just pass through Kenya and drop a child and leave that child here. So long as the parents are not known and that child is below eight years or presumed to be below eight years – maybe the child could even be 12 years but because of challenges of growth, the child appears to be eight years and below – that child is automatically a citizen by birth; whereas a child born in this country of parents whose great great grandparents came to this country so many years ago cannot be recognized simply because you come from a particular minority community. It is not fair. It is discriminatory. This is a matter that the Committee of Hon. Koinange - the super chairman - should look into and not address itself to the Pemba people only. It also includes even the other group that came to Parliament the other day - the Shona - who are just living not very far from here. They are in Kiambu. All of us somehow came from somewhere in this world. In fact, very few… I think, maybe, the Maasai are the only ones who are original inhabitants of this country. If I start counting my ancestors, the 10th ancestor came from Uganda. So, someone may decide to take me back to Uganda or refuse to give me an ID card or refuse that I should not vote in this country or I cannot open a bank account. How do those people survive? I think this is unfair and it is high time that this House takes steps to regularize this. The Executive should have acted on this matter even without being prompted by Parliament. However, now that the peoples’ representatives are seized of this matter, I just want to request Hon. Koinange and his Committee to look at this matter holistically so that tomorrow or the day after, we do not get another petition from another marginalized group or a group that is discriminated against. I feel it is very unfair. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Now let us have the Tana River Women Representative, who is confirmed to be a Malakote.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I just wanted to clarify that we protested against the name Malakote. We are now Wailwana and not Malakote.

Sorry, can you say it again. Marijuana?

We are now Wailwana, Waingwana. We are not Malakote. We are not minority anymore. Tumezaana ! We have multiplied. So, we are no longer that minority as my Member thought and we are all over in this country. I just wanted to clarify that. Thank you, Hon. Speaker

I wish the grandfather of the House was in the Chamber. He would remind Hon. Kioni that during the negotiations for the new Constitution, the Malakote were specifically recognized as forming some of the minorities in this country. However, because many of you may not be privy to this information, you can look for the Hansard . You can see what happened in the month of January 2010 during the negotiations for the new Constitution but, of course, you are still at liberty to change names. Whether it is walijuana or marijuana or whichever, it is also okay 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.

to inform the country that, actually, you have multiplied. If you belong to the Christian faith, they would say that we were told to go out there and multiply. So, you have done well. Hon. Murugara, the Member for Tharaka, have you also multiplied?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. The Tharaka are not a minority as such. They are recognized. But there is a community in Tana River known as the Munyoyaya who are actually a very small minority in the country and who trace their roots to the Tharaka. It is historical. They are not Somalis, Pokomos or Oromos. They are actually a Bantu community that migrated down the Tana River into Madogo, the area that is near Bura. Hon. Wario is not here. He would confirm that, that is a small minority community and it is related to the Tharaka. I think as we discuss Hon. Owen’s Petition, let us also consider the Munyoyaya.

Hon. Maanzo, you have the Floor.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Recently, when the Shona people came to Parliament, having left Kiambu Parliament to make a case for themselves, Hon. Shamalla and I represented the National Assembly to listen to them. They are very well documented in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). I believe there is a case for the Shona, the Pemba and any other minority in the country, who were here before Independence during the British rule. Now that we have the Huduma Namba, this is the opportunity for those people to be recognized. When we made the Huduma Namba law, it became clear that every person living in this country can now be registered in one way or the other. I believe this is the opportunity. I thank you. Hon. Speaker.

Let us have Hon. Kioni.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to speak to the three petitions by supporting the one for the forest issue in Marsabit. Ndaragwa has a similar issue and I am sure the Committee, while addressing that issue, they can also jog their memory on the issues of Ndaragwa. I support that Petition. The second one is the issue of Pemba. It is worrying that we still have our own people who are still suffering and cannot even get their marriages recognized in this country. It is a worrying issue. On the third Petition, I have this to say. To me, they speak to the implementation of the Constitution because the Constitution has a clear guideline as to who becomes a Kenyan citizen, if he was not by 2010. I see the role not because I am the Chair of the Constitutional Implementation and Oversight Committee (CIOC), or because of this community, but because we are not sending these petitions to the relevant Ministries which have failed to do what they were supposed to do. My thinking is this: They should be called upon to say why they have failed to implement the Constitution as is provided for. I see quite a bit of those communities falling within that area. We had the issue of Kibra, with the case of Nubians. Those were recognized and I do not understand why others should be struggling. I think the way to look at these issues is to let Kenyans know that there is a place they can bring… They do not need to come. We do not need to bother them by having them protest along the roads. We need to let them know that there is machinery within Parliament. I may not be able to say this again here, not because I am going anywhere, but because I only think it may be useful now. CIOC is supposed to ensure that those aspects of the Constitution that are not being implemented and are not benefitting Kenyans as they were intended by the 2010 Constitution... 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.

So, I am asking and I know your Office has been very kind to us. Some of these aspects we keep talking about and I hear them from day to day, every other day... We have talked about the Office of the Auditor-General. For as long as the Auditor-General is meant to report to the Finance Committee on matters that relate to that office, the office will not become independent of the Ministry in charge of Finance. We have said this as a Committee that we need an independent committee in Parliament that deals with constitutional commissions and independent offices. That way, I can tell you that issue of the Auditor-General would have come here much earlier and that committee would have been able to protect the independence of the retired Auditor-General, which would then give confidence to the ones who are serving now. I support the three petitions.

The Member for Lamu, you have the Floor. There is another mwenyeweyaya or…

Mimi ni Mbajuni. Sisi ni wale waliotengwa na bado tu wachache. Tunawahimiza watu wazaane ili tuwe wengi. Nimeamka kuunga mkono ombi la Mhe. Baya. Ni kweli hao wapendwa wanadhalilishwa hapa Kenya. Kuna mambo mengi hawapati kule Tanzania na huku Kenya pia hawapati. Si wao peke yao. Kuna tatizo zaidi kule kwenye mipaka. Mipaka ilipowekwa Lamu, iligawanya jamii. Kuna Bajuni wa Somalia na Bajuni wa Kenya. Bajuni wa Somalia wakakaa kwa maisha. Kuna babu zetu walioa kule na wa kule wakaoa Kenya. Kuna watoto walizaliwa kule na wengine wa kule wakazaliwa huku. Ni ndogo lakini imegawanywa. Kulipotokea shida Somalia na watu wakapigana, walikimbilia Kenya kutafuta hifadhi. Hao watu wako Kenya eneo la Kiunga kwa zaidi ya miaka arubaini sasa. Wengine wameolewa huko na wakazaa. Wengine huku wakazaa. Hapa sasa hawana vitambulisho vya Kenya. Kuna mmoja nakumbuka alinililia. Ana miaka karibu arubaini na alisoma Kenya akamaliza kidato cha nne. Kule kwetu Lamu ukipata C+ umepita sana. Ana C+ na hakuweza kuendelea na masomo kwa sababu hana kitambulisho. Imebidi afanye biashara pale. Kwa hivyo, hili tatizo liko. Mimi pia ombi langu litakuja kuwatetea watu wangu wa Kiunga. Ahsante, Mhe. Spika.

Let us have the Member for Ugenya.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to comment on, at least, two of the petitions. The first one is on the Pemba issue by Hon. Baya. Article 5 of the Constitution defines what the Kenyan territory is. I would like to urge the committee concerned that, as they do this, they are able to look at what consists of Kenya as a territory. Who is inside How do you ensure that anybody inside this territory of Kenya feels part of the country? Like someone has said, today it is Pemba, tomorrow it will be a small tribe in Nyanza or in the Coast or at the North. So, this should be a petition that should allow the committee to, at least, look at Kenya as a country and who belongs to it so that it does not depend on who the President is or who is there to say: “Let organize the Shona, the Luo or whoever it is. Let it be done so that everyone knows that he or she is a Kenyan first, and then they belong to a tribe and that tribe is part of the country. I would wish the Committee does that. Secondly, is about the Office of the Auditor-General. That Office was the worst treated office in my opinion, in the last administration. It was the first time we had this office in the country but, all the time, we had laws coming to this House to try to emasculate it, to make it weak. It almost became personalised on the person of the Auditor-General. That is why I really want to thank the Hon. Member from Dagoretti North for bringing this Petition and hope that it could lead to a Bill. It should not just be a decision of the Committee, but a Bill that comes to this House so that we are able to put in a law specifically, and how some of these things are being dealt with. I also wish that when that happens, we deal with all the other positions. Sometimes, it is very painful, 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.

having lost an election. I had to come back and I know how it feels. Some of the commissions that we pass here in this country have members who get their gratuities every year. At the end of the year, they calculate how much they worked for and they pay themselves. At the end of the sixth year, they all get their gratuities. Members of Parliament have to wait until the end of the five years. That is still contested because you are not sure you will get it in the first term or the second term. So, some of these things should be dealt with early enough; whether it is not seen to be benefitting the individuals or the office concerned. It is the same story with the office of the former Prime Minister. For a long time, it became something like a carrot and a stick. Will he get it or not? Will we give the Speaker a send-off or not? These are issues that need to be settled totally so that the country knows what is going to happen. Finally, on the issue of the Petition that you read, this country is losing so much in terms of the forest cover. It pains me that where I come from in Siaya, the forest cover is less that 0.4 per cent and yet, when a petition like the one you read comes up, the way decisions are made or whether they should be given up for investment or not, is not public. The committee concerned should check that the transparency with which we allow the concerned institutions, whether country governments or national Government, in giving out property, especially land that is gazetted forest for private investment. I hope the committee concerned will look at these issues and give a good report to this House. Thank you.

Member for Wajir West. I have already given you the microphone. Do not go near the Malakote.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to contribute on the Petition by Hon. Owen Baya. It is unfortunate that on this day and age, we are talking about communities that are discriminated against and Kenyans who do not get identity cards (IDs). This is not limited to communities like that. There are communities like the one I come from which have been subjected to too much vetting and too many processes in the process of acquiring IDs. If you look at our presentation - and it is good that the House hears this on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and what we later on called the “irreducible minimums” which we learnt from the other side - is the issue of harmonization of the processes where a Kenyan citizen is issued with citizenship or an ID. I was a member of that Committee in the last three years. I am requesting the Chair to look at the processes a Kenyan goes through to get an ID and harmonize them throughout Kenya. Students who completed high school when I was elected in my constituency are yet to get those documents because of a vetting process that never ends. Those are true Kenyans. They are people who have nowhere else to call home. So, as I support this Petition, I request the Committee to expand the investigations and look into the issues involved in the process of getting an ID card. I thank you.

The Member for Nairobi County, you have the Floor.

Mhe. Spika, nimesimama leo kumuunga mkono mwenzangu, Hon.Owen Baya, kwa hili ombi ambalo ameleta hapa Bungeni. Mimi mwenyewe ninafahamu sana watu ambao hawana ukoo nchini. Tumekaa na watu hao kwa miaka miwili tukizungumza, wakitueleza shida ambazo wanapatana nazo. Walipoona Rais akipeana vyeti vya kukaa kwa Wanamakonde, hawa wa Kibera pia waliona kuwa wana uwezo. Saa zile Washona walikuja hapa Bunge kutuletea ombi lao, walisema kuwa Rais wa kwanza, Mhe. Jomo Kenyatta, aliwatambua na kama angekuwa amebarikiwa na maisha ya mbeleni zaidi, angekuwa ameshawatimizia ombi lao la kuonekana na kujulikana kama Wakenya. Washona wenyewe walipewa shamba karibu na Chuo kikuu cha Daystar, ambako walijenga kanisa 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.

lao. Ni watu ambao wana maombi na wanakaa na ukweli na undugu na Wakenya. Hawajui nchi nyingine. Wakoloni walipokuwa hapa, walileta watu kutoka Afrika nzima. Tuko na watu kutoka Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Pemba na Tanzania. Hao watu wote waliletwa hapa kukaa na sisi na kufanya kazi kama kujenga reli. Lakini sasa wako na shida sana. Hawatambuliwi. Tukiwa na hii Huduma Namba, watakuwa na shida zaidi. Hata kama tunataka kuwatambua kama Wakenya, ni lazima pia tuwasamehe kwa sababu kuna mambo waliyofanya, ambayo si ya haki – kama kwenda kuchukua vitambulisho ama kuwaandikisha watoto wao kuwa wamezaliwa Kenya ili waweze kwenda shule au hospitali. Kuna familia nyingine tunazozitambua ambazo watoto wao wamezaliwa huku, lakini wazazi hawatambuliki. Kuna wengine wamemaliza masomo ya O-Level lakini mpaka sasa hawawezi kujiunga na vyuo vikuu. Mhe. Spika, sisi kama Wabunge tulikuomba tuwe na caucus ya kuangalia hao watu ambao hawana jinsi ya kujulikana ama kutambulika kama Wakenya. Tuko na wengi na si community moja. Katiba yetu inasema kuwa haifai watu wengine wapate na wengine wakose. Sisi sote kama Wabunge tunajua kuwa hao watu ambao wako nchini mwetu na wameishi na sisi wanafaa watambulike kama Wakenya. Kwa hivyo, naunga mkono hilo ombi la watu wa Pemba na watu wote wengine kama vile Washona na wale wa Rwanda ambao wameishi na sisi kama Wakenya, ili watambulike kama Wakenya. Ahsante, Mh. Spika.

Hon. Members, only 30 minutes are dedicated to comments on petitions and I must administer that. So, the final one is the Member for Baringo.

Ahsante sana, Mhe. Spika, kwa nafasi hii umenipa ili niweze kuchangia ombi hili, ama tunaiita ardhihali katika kitabu chetu ambacho tumepewa kipya. Nataka kuchangia ardhihali ya yule Mheshimiwa aliyetoa Hoja kule Marsabit na kusema kwamba misitu yetu ni ya muhimu sana. Hii misitu ambayo tunataka kuhifadhi ndio maisha yetu. Tusipokuwa na miti nchini, tukiweza kujenga vyumba vikubwa, kutaka kutengeneza mambo ya siku hizi na tusahau mazingira, unapata kwamba sisi kama binadamu tutaumia. Si Kenya peke yake ila dunia mzima. Miti ni muhimu kwa sababu bila miti hakuna uhai. Hewa ambayo tunapumua inatokana na miti na ni hewa safi. Kule Baringo ambako nimetoka, shida ambayo tuko nayo ya mafuriko inatokana na mmomonyoko wa udongo. Sehemu za juu zimekatwa miti; miti ambayo ingezuia mchanga kufurika kwenye mito. Kwa sasa, watu wanaumia na hawajui sababu. Tuhifadhi misitu yetu maana ndio maisha yetu. Miti ni dawa, ndio tunatumia kupata karatasi za kuandikia, kujenga nyumba zetu, kupika na ndiyo tumekalia, kama viti. Kwa hivyo, tuhifadhi mazingira kwa sababu ni muhimu. Wale ambao wanataka kukata misitu kusudi wajenge, Kenya bado ni kubwa. North Eastern shamba ni kubwa. Baringo, kwetu, pia shamba ni kubwa. Kujeni kule mkajenge muache kukata misitu. Ahsante, Mhe. Spika.

I will begin to limit contributions on petitions because many of you do not seem to appreciate that it is not a question of debate. Those Petitions are referred to the relevant committees to which they were meant to; namely, the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security for the one by Hon. Owen Baya; the one on forest, which I read out, to the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the one by Hon. John Kiarie to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. 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.

Next Order!

Leader of the Majority Party, you have the Floor.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the House: Quarterly Economic and Budgetary Review for the First Quarter of the 2020/2021 Financial Year from the National Treasury and Planning; Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements in respect of the following institutions for the year ended 30th June 2019, and their certificates therein: (a)The State Department for Vocational and Technical Training; (b)The State Department for University Education; (c)The Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning; (a) Kenya Industrial Estate Limited; (b) Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority; and, (c) Water Sector Trust Fund. Report of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements of the Human Resource Operations at the National Construction Authority (NCA) for the period 2014/2015 to 2016/2017. I thank you.

The Chairperson, National Government Constituencies Development Fund Committee, Hon. Wafula Wamunyinyi.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House: Bi-Annual Report of the Select Committee of the National Government - Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) on the Implementation of the NG-CDF Act, 2015 for the period of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 financial years.

Very well. Next Order!

Let us have Hon. Ochanda.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that Articles 203(g), (h), (i) and (j) of the Constitution of Kenya safeguards the rights for marginalized communities and ensures equitable distribution of resources to address affirmative action regarding distribution of resources; concerned that various Government agencies and departments use different modes, parameters, indicators and definitions of marginalization, arid and semi-arid lands, hardship areas, poverty and poverty pockets to place mitigating preferential and affirmative resources; further concerned that many areas that qualify and at times are worse off than the traditionally acclaimed marginalized zones do not benefit from the affirmative action Government resources, this House resolves that the Government, through the State Department for 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.

National Planning, to urgently develop a common national policy and criteria that solves hardship indicators, marginalization progression and clear parameters for use by all Government agencies and departments, as well as county governments, in directing preferential and affirmative action resources.

Let us have the Member for Dagoretti South.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, aware that there are diverse talents among the youth of this country; noting that these talents have been severally displayed through various inventions and innovations which have been showcased by the artisans in platforms such as the Annual Youth Innovation Week and others profiled on social media; concerned that most of these innovations and artworks do not go beyond making sensational stories in their localities, local dailies and social media mentions; further noting that most of those innovations and artworks are crucial in ideas promotion, intellectual development, creating employment and addressing the problems that affect us as Kenyans on a daily basis; concerned that there is inadequate support and administrative measures in place by the Government to support the artisans; cognizant of the fact that the Kenya Vision 2030 seeks to make our country an industrialized middle income economy; aware of the immense potential for wealth creation and job opportunities that our local productions can generate if well-developed and commercialized; recognizing that while our imports are well in excess of Kshs2 billion and are largely composed of non-value adding consumer goods; noting that home-grown talent and technology would be regional sensitive and appropriate for the environment that we live in, the social economic dynamics and suitable for our utility; further concerned that most artisans lack appropriate technological skills, capital and tools, this House, therefore, resolves that the national Government, through the relevant ministry, formulates a policy which stipulates that, at least, 2 per cent of the National Government-Constituencies Development Fund and Uwezo Fund is allocated for the purpose of equipping artisans with the necessary skills, tools and technology.

Very well. Next Order

In the first segment, we have the Member for Lamu West. The Member has written to request that the Question be deferred. The request has been acceded to. The Question is deferred.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I wish to ask Question No.322 of 2020. (i) What measures has the Ministry put in place to ensure that contractual obligations owed to various contractors in the country with regard to construction and upgrade of various health facilities in the marginalized areas under the Equalization Projects Programme since January 2018 are fulfilled? (ii) Could the Ministry provide a list of the various health facilities whose construction or upgrade was done under the Equalization Projects Programme and indicate the completion and handover dates for each?

The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Health. The next Question is by the Member for Bondo, Hon. Ochanda.

Hon. Speaker, I rise to ask Question No.324 to the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Energy. (i) Could the Cabinet Secretary explain the reasons for the frequent power outages in Bondo Constituency and state when the matter will be resolved? (ii) Could the Cabinet Secretary explain why electric power transformers in many areas of the constituency are either faulty or not operational, including those in areas such as Nyayo, Sanda, Rapogi, Dunya, Kibuye, Minya, Miyandhe, Ulanda, Nyandusi, Ndhere, Magombe, Bur Yiro and Uhanga Primary Schools, Nyaguda Secondary School, Rapogi and Gombe Dispensaries, Bar Okwiri and Kodinya markets, Uhamba Irrigation Project, Bar Kofuangó Legio Maria and Anyanga, Nyenye Misori, Honge, Kamumbo and Nyaudenge beaches? (iii) What measures has the Ministry put in place to ensure that transformers in the said areas are operational to facilitate the realization of the Last Mile Connectivity Programme?

Very well. The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Energy. The next Question is by the Member for Ruiru, Hon. King’ara.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker for giving me this opportunity to ask Question No.334 of 2020, which is directed to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works: 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.

(i) Is the Cabinet Secretary aware that the C556 Gatongora-Machinani-Kiratina- Gikumari-Juja Farm Road in Ruiru Constituency is in a deplorable state? (ii) What plans are there to ensure that the said road is upgraded to bitumen standards?

The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing. The next Question is by the Member for Nakuru Town East.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to ask Question No.342 of 2020 directed to the Cabinet Secretary for Education: (i) Why is Egerton University management continuing to pay the teaching and non- teaching staff half salaries since April, 2020, despite having a court order directing for full payments and even after receiving full capitation from the Government? (ii) What arrangements are in place to ensure that the staff is paid their full salaries without any further delays?

The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Education and Research. Let us move to the next segment. The Majority Whip!

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I wish to give an update on the arrangements towards the funeral of the late Hon. Justus Murunga. Thank you, Hon. Speaker for according me consent to update Members on the arrangements which are being made towards the funeral of the late Hon. Justus Murunga, the Member for Matungu Constituency.

As Members are aware, an Ad hoc Committee was established by your good self in line with the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) Bereavement Policy to coordinate the arrangements towards the funeral of our departed colleague, Hon. Justus Murunga. I serve as the Chairperson. The Committee had its first meeting yesterday and commenced arrangements on how best to assist the family of the late Hon. Murunga to ensure that he gets a befitting send-off. Some Members of the Committee have already visited the family. We shall soon brief Members on funeral and other arrangements in due course.

At the present, I wish to remind Members that in line with our established tradition, as well as the parliamentary practice regarding bereaved colleagues, the Leader of the Majority Party and the Leader of the Minority Party have authorized the Clerk of the National Assembly to deduct Ksh10,000 from every Member for onward transmission to the family of our departed colleague.

Thus, we expect a deduction of this amount from our pay in this month. We shall keep the House updated on further progress made in the funeral arrangement.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Sossion, you have the Floor. 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. Speaker. Pursuant to Standing Order No.44(2)(c), I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education and Research on the welfare of intern teachers who serve under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

In the recent past, the Government of Kenya adopted a systematic approach of utilizing interns across its ministries, State corporations and agencies. In view of the myriads of benefits that emanate from a robust internship programme, that includes the opportunity to obtain fresh perspectives, as well as ability to evaluate emerging talent and professions in the economy. However, TSC has now introduced measures that include deductions of Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and union deductions from the remuneration which is received by those interns. The Government Internship Programme is an important undertaking that needs to be continuously safeguarded. It is on account of this concern that I seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education and Research on the following: (i) Why does the TSC pay its interns Kshs15,000 despite the official Government pay rate for interns being at Kshs25,000 per month? (ii) Why are interns’ terms not upgraded to permanent and pensionable at the end of the one-year period contract? (iii)What is the rationale of deducting the HELB loans from interns and yet, they are engaged for only short durations? (iv) Why does TSC compel interns to remit union deduction without their consent contrary to Article 41 of the Constitution? (v) Why does the TSC automate deductions specifically to Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) only and not any other union on the interns’ payroll without the consent of the teachers?

I thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Do you want a statement to be read in the House because it looks like a mouthful? Since you are an active Member of that Committee, I thought that this is a matter that could be easily canvassed there. Since you want a Statement, is Hon. Florence Mutua in the Chamber?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I have heard the request of a Statement from Hon. Sossion. We will deal with it before we go on recess.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Very well. Hon. Duale.

Hon. Speaker, under your leadership, this House is known for introducing reforms, including the Kiswahili version of the Standing Orders which is called Kanuni za Kudumu. You need to give a direction at some stage. With all the respect to Hon. Sossion, there is an aspect of conflict of interest which is stated in the Standing Orders. One, Hon. Sossion has asked a question to a Committee which he belongs to.

Two, he has asked a question about a Union that he represents. At what stage does Hon. Sossion sit in that Committee as the Secretary-General of Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), so that we protect the Government public officials? At what stage is he the nominated Member of Parliament who represents special interest? At what stage is he a Member of the Committee? There must be tidiness, decency, distinctions and boundaries. Going forward, the 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.

Committee that deals with the Standing Orders must make this very clear. There is a matter on KNUT. I know that he has a serious issue with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TSC. However, Parliament, in its committees and Plenary, is under obligation to protect public and State officials who cannot defend themselves. The Committee under Hon. Florence Mutua can interrogate those questions. However, going forward, Hon. Sossion cannot have the cake and eat it. He cannot wear many hats and, at the same time, purport to wear one.

I do not think that there is need for debate. That is a matter that we have expressed. I do not need to be addressed on this matter. Sorry, I will not allow it. Very many trade unionists are raising up their hands. First and foremost, many of you who are trade unionists should be removed from the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare.

Those of you who belong to the teachers’ trade unions should move away from the Departmental Committee on Education and Research. What Hon. Duale has said is true. From that Statement, Hon. Sossion said that money is being deducted and taken to KUPPET, which is not his union. It looks like it is an issue of which union should get the money. It becomes very convoluted, Hon. Members. I am saying this because it is a matter that we have discussed in the past. However, we left it to the good conscience of each of you. When you know that you represent Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union, then avoid being in the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. You will voice the concerns of that Union better and nobody will accuse you of having some vested interests because you are not a member of the committee. However, you ask a question, you sit in the Committee and the people who will respond will be there. It becomes very difficult to draw the line.

The issue of conflict of interest is very well addressed both in the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, Leadership and Integrity Act and our Constitution. Indeed, remember that we are even supposed to have a register where you register conflict of interest. Hon. Sossion should have registered that one. Whether we like it or not, he is conflicted. Hon. Sossion, you do not have to address me on this issue. There is no way you can persuade anybody that when you are dealing with this matter, you are just like any other Member who left his or her constituency and came here. Maybe, it is something that you have sat in your Union where you are the Secretary-General and discussed. It becomes very difficult now, especially when you sit in that same Committee. I am acutely aware that you are also a member of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare with a few others, including the Member who raised up his hand there. There is someone I am looking for. Yes, I can see the Hon. Tonui and several others like Hon. Omboko Milemba. Sometimes, it is only fair if you can opt out on your own volition. In fact, you can imagine how useful the Hon. Sossion would be when he is not a member of the Departmental Committee on Education and Research. He is appearing before that Committee and prosecuting matters about the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), without anyone there responding or feeling that either they are sharing information with the Committee which you are then picking and possibly using it in your other union meetings. I believe you would do very well if you were not a member of that Committee. 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.

I am sure that the Hon. Florence Mutua-led Committee would benefit a great deal when you are prosecuting these issues. Now, when they appear before you and give information and you are the one who has sought that information and later that information is found elsewhere, it becomes compromised. However, I would rather leave it you Members. It is a matter that the Procedures and House Rules Committee will be considering as it happens normally at the end of this term.

On a point of order, hon. Speaker.

There is nothing out of order. The Leader of Majority you, have a Statement.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No 44 (2) (a), I rise to give the following Statement on behalf of the House Business Committee (HBC), which met on Wednesday, 18th November 2020 to prioritize business for consideration. Hon. Speaker, on Tuesday next week, the following business has been prioritized for consideration. If the debate on the Presidential Address is not completed today, it will proceed as the last and final business for today. If it will be completed today, we will start with: (i) The Report of the Committee on Delegated Legislation on the annulment of the Crops (Sugar) (General) Regulations of 2020. (ii) Then the approval of nominees to the various National Government- Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) constituency committees. This is subject to the Members of those committees of debate being in the House. (iii) The Report on the Committee on Delegated Legislation on the Annulment of the Crops (Fiber) (Crop) Regulations of 2020. (iv) Committee of the Whole House on the Tea Bill (Senate Bill No 36 of 2018). (v) The Report of the Transport, Public Works and Housing Committee on the Inquiry into the use of the Standard Gauge Railway – this is a continuation of debate. (vi) The Report of the Sports, Culture and Tourism Committee on the Inquiry into the Status of Stadia in Kenya. (vii) The Report of the Committee on Implementation on the Public Petition on Reconsideration of the Resolution of the House. Hon. Speaker, in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Order 42 A (5) and (6), I wish to convey that the following Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) are scheduled to appear before the Departmental Committees as follows: (i) The CS for Tourism and Wildlife will appear before the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources on Tuesday, 24th November to respond to Questions from the following Members: (a) Hon. (Ms.) Rehema Jaldesa, MP. (b) Hon. Anthony Kiai, MP. (c) Hon. Stanley Muthama, MP. (ii) The CS for Interior and Coordination of National Government will appear before the Departmental Committee on Administration and National 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.

Security on Wednesday, 25th November 2020, to respond to Questions from the following Members of Parliament: (a) Hon. Sylvanus Maritim, MP. (b) Hon. Kipsengeret Koros, MP. (c) Hon. Qalicha Gufu, MP. (d) Hon. (Ms.) Edith Nyenze, MP. (e) Hon. Sharif Ali, MP. (f) Hon. Alfred Agoi, MP. (g) Hon. Robert Mbui, MP. (h) Hon. Caleb Kositany, MP (i) Hon. (Ms.) Kawira Mwangaza, MP. (iii) The CS for Energy will appear before the Departmental Committee on Energy on Wednesday, 25th November 2020, to respond to Questions from the following Members: (a) Hon. Josphat Kabeabea, MP. (b) Hon. Didmus Barasa, MP. (c) Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu, MP. (d) Hon. Alois Lentoimaga, MP. (e) Hon. (Dr.) James Nyikal, MP. (iv) The CS for Labor and Social Protection will appear before the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare on Wednesday, 25th November 2020, to respond to Questions from the following Members: (a) Hon. Josphat Kabeabea. (b) Hon. Stanley Muthama. Hon. Speaker, the HBC will reconvene on Tuesday, 24th of November to schedule business for the coming week.

Let us have the Member for Dagoretti South.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I rise to appeal to your magnanimity, requesting that the Petition that I just read, regarding the establishment of a retirement package for the Auditor-General, be directed to the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee rather than going to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. The reason being that I believe that even in the existing laws in our Constitution, there are ways of ensuring that this happens by just implementing the Constitution, as it is, without necessarily even having to make new laws. Therefore, I request that we move this Petition to the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee.

Well, if it is your desire that the Petition be redirected, it is so ordered that the Petition be directed to the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee - a Committee chaired by Hon. Jeremiah Kioni.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. This is because, I would not afford to risk having this going to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, ending up at the National Treasury and dying a natural death there yet again. So, thank you very much, Hon. Speaker.

Not that in the National Treasury there is a place for those who are naturally dead but… 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.

Member for Mwea, I can see you are burning to say something.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Yes, I have a burning issue. On 15th of October, I received a response from the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co-operatives on a request for a statement that I had directed to them on the looming crisis on the rice industry in Mwea. During that time, the discussion ended with the Chair saying that the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) will buy rice from Mwea. Hon. Speaker, the looming crisis that I talked about then is now with us. Our societies are full with rice. They do not have money to buy any more rice from farmers and yet, we have a bumper harvest of rice in Mwea. The boards do not know where to take this rice. Hon. Speaker, I am seeking your indulgence for the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co-operatives to summon NCPB next week so that we can discuss this issue. Otherwise, our farmers are suffering back home and that is why I am seeking your indulgence on this particular matter.

Is the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co- operatives in the House? This is because, as it were, we may not be able to summon people. There must be a notice of invitation which they have failed to honour and another one, until it now becomes necessary for summons to be issued. Now does Hon. Haji have a Vice-Chairperson? Is there any Member of the Committee present? The Committee is one of those not worried about COVID-19, I think. How can all the membership be out of the Chamber?

Hon. Kabinga Wachira, your request will be channeled through the Office of the Leader of the Majority Party to communicate to the Chair of Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Co-operatives to see whether they can invite the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to a meeting sometime next week.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker for that directive. This is a very serious case. Our farmers do not know where to take the rice that they have in the fields. Some brokers have started taking advantage of the same. The President issued a directive for rice to be cost at Kshs85 per kilogramme of paddy, but it is now going for Kshs50. If we allow it to move that way, we are going to have a total crisis. Therefore, I beg that the NCPB, because it took over from the Strategic Food Reserve Fund to be invited early next week to discuss this issue.

As I have said, the Leader of the Majority Party will communicate that matter to the Committee.

The Hon. Florence Mutua has a Statement to make.

Hon. Speaker, I have a response to a request for a statement regarding the recruitment of teachers by Hon. William Kamket Kassait, MP for Tiaty Constituency. The response was to come from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), by Dr. Nancy Njeri Macharia. There is a lot of background information which I do not think is necessary right now. So, Hon. Speaker, kindly, indulge me to go straight to the Question.

The Question was: Were key stakeholders consulted during the drafting of the criteria, policy for recruitment of teachers?

I will start by reading about the recruitment of teachers in the Public Service. The TSC being a constitutional body is bound by the provisions of the Constitution that provides for the Values and Principles of Public Service. In discharging its mandate in the recruitment of teachers, 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 Commission has endeavored to apply the principle of fair competition and merit as the basis for recruitment. The Commission also considers other factors such as equity, fairness, regional balance, non-discrimination, patriotism, national unity, sharing representation of Kenya’s diverse communities, etc. The key principle driving recruitment and deployment of teachers is that TSC is an equal opportunity employer that abides by the tenets of the law as espoused under the Constitution of Kenya, the TSC Act, the Employment Act, the National Cohesion and Integration Act, among other pieces of legislation.

Accordingly, all employment vacancies are filled competitively with the object to promote national values, fairness, non-discrimination and equity. The available vacancies are advertised based on the demand for and the supply of teachers considering the existing establishments and budgetary provisions as provided. The Commission’s policy on recruitment is contained in Part V of the TSC Code of Regulations for Teachers which reads: The Commission shall recruit registered teachers in accordance with recruitment guidelines issued from time to time. The Commission shall advertise available vacancies based on the demand for and supply of teachers and taking into consideration the existing establishments. A teacher who is recruited by the Commission may be deployed to serve in any part of the country based on the teaching service requirements. The Commission shall issue an offer letter of employment on permanent and pensionable basis to a person employed to teach in a primary or a post-primary institution in the manner set out in the 11th Schedule A and B, respectively. An offer of employment letter on contractual terms to a teacher in a manner set out in the 12th Schedule or a posting letter to a teacher appointed on a permanent and pensionable or contractual terms to teach in a primary institution as set out in the 3rd Schedule.

In developing the Code of Regulations for Teachers, the Commission strictly adhered to the provisions of the Constitution that underscores the principle of public participation and the provisions of the Statutory Instruments Act, 2010, which governs the process of developing subsidiary legislations. In addition, the Commission also complied with the Statutory Act, 2015 as is required by law. Thus every clause in the Code of Regulations was discussed, negotiated and agreed upon by all stakeholders in the education sector. Those stakeholders included, the Ministry of Education, the National Assembly and its Committees - that the Departmental Committee on Education and Research and Committee on Delegated Legislation, the Senate and its Committee on Education, Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association, Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, the Kenya National Union of Teachers and the Kenya Parents Association. That is the response to the first question.

Question two: What particular factors informed the adoption of the criteria used during

The microphone has gone off.

Hon. Speaker, thank you. The second question is: What particular factors informed the adoption of the criteria used during the recruitment and which particular entity approved the criteria?

Regulation 55(1) of the Code of Regulations provides that the Commission shall recruit registered teachers in accordance to the recruitment guidelines issued from time to time. The following factors informed the adoption of the criteria used in recruitment: 1. Principles of fair competition and merit as the basis of appointment of public officers. The criteria ensure that those who graduated earlier are given first priority in recruitment. 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.

2. Transparency and accountability, equity, fairness and impartiality, inclusiveness and non-discrimination. Broad national objectives which include enhancing national cohesion and integration among communities. 3. Promotion of objectivity and certainty as the applicants are conscious of their chances of being recruited in any of the vacancies declared. 4. Affirmative action and people with disabilities are treated to a different score to increase their chances of being recruited. 5. The criteria are as approved by the Members of the Commission as per the established procedure pursuant to Article 237(b) of the Constitution. The third question is: What measures has the TSC put in place to amend the recruitment policy in view of the fact that certain requirements under the criteria such as internship has disadvantaged many candidates? Internship programme is a Government policy that ensures that young people are accorded the opportunity to acquire practical skills and experience to make them ready for the job market. In line with the Government’s policy on internship, the internship programme in the Commission is intended to provide the opportunity for qualified teachers to acquire, develop and sharpen their teaching skills and also learn the ethos of the teaching service. The Commission, through its experienced teachers, offers coaching and mentorship to interns with a view of making them all- round teachers. Hon. Members may note that the engagement is conducted through an elaborate, open transparent and competitive selection process targeting teachers who are yet to enter the employment of the Commission. Advertisement, selection and engagement of teacher interns is governed by the same teacher employment policy that governs recruitment of teachers under permanent and pensionable terms. Therefore, recruitment of interns being administered under the same policy as for teacher employment ensures that both candidates, namely the interns and teachers, pass through the same criteria before engagement.

Lastly, in addition, interns deem themselves unemployed teachers. Their recruitment for employment under permanent and pensionable terms of service does not disadvantage other prospective teachers seeking recruitment under similar terms of service.

The last question is what specific measures the TSC is undertaking to protect interests of local communities during recruitment of primary and secondary school teachers. The response reads that the constitutional design of the Republic of Kenya and its ideals aspires one cohesive nation founded on the national values and principles of governance. National public bodies like the TSC are bound to inculcate and promote essential values like patriotism, national unity, the rule of law, inclusiveness, equity, non-discrimination and protection of the marginalised, good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability, and sustainable development.

The last part, and this is very key, reads that the limited budget the TSC receives for recruitment must, as a matter of fairness, be distributed to all counties without discrimination as per Section 5 of the Employment Act. The Commission strives to give equal opportunity for all Kenyans. To this end, the Commission has been allocating the available vacancies based on the overall understaffing in the country.

I had given the Member the response in time. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Very well. Let us hear from Hon. Kamket.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. This is a very emotive matter to me, and I am sure to many Members here. The matter of recruitment of teachers, 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.

especially secondary school teachers, has been a very big problem to us, more so in my constituency. In fact, the most important question in this Statement is the last question about the protection of local communities. We have a situation in this country where whenever teachers are recruited, our constituencies become recruitment centres or employment bureaus for people other than the people whom we represent. We get a very big backlash, as elected leaders, when our own teachers come to seek for employment, and they are turned away because of this factor. These are very good factors that the Chairperson has read. This is a very comprehensive Statement, but it does not help me as well as the people I represent, and I will go home very disappointed. The ideals of the Constitution are fair; everything is fair, but the reality on the ground is that the people we represent do not get these employment opportunites. I am very frustrated on what to do with the teachers who have graduated. We are all Kenyans. That is true. However, what do I do with all the teachers who have graduated? Some people from other regions come and get these jobs. It is something we need to consider as leaders in this Assembly, so that we give equal opportunity to local communities and even protect them more. This is a major problem. Once these people are employed, after a few months, they seek transfers.

Hon. Kaluma, the Floor is yours.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Looking at the policy on recruitment of teachers, it appears, on the face of it, to be very good. However, there are two problems which need to be addressed. All the teachers being recruited have passed through teacher training colleges. In fact, for primary school teachers, in particular, the P1 teachers, some of them have gone through Government teacher training colleges. They have gone through practicals. I remember I was a pupil in a school which used to host these teachers, and they are graded properly. The ideal situation should be that when teachers are trained and subsequently have their TSC numbers, and they have graduated from colleges, they should be absorbed on a first-to- graduate, first-to-enter/recruited basis. When you then create another thing you call a subsequent interview, we are merely creating an avenue for the officers undertaking the recruitment to get money from whoever has the money and whoever does not. We have cases in the country where a person graduates like within this year, and the following year he or she is recruited. Others are taking over 10 years to be recruited yet these are people who have been trained on practical teaching. So, there is unfairness to a large extent. In fact, they are forgotten completely. Secondly, there is a reason why the recruitment of teachers is spread across counties. You cannot be saying that in a constituency like Homa Bay Town, because it is called Homa Bay Town, there are no indigenous communities. I can confirm that, and it is something that I took to the Departmental Committee on Education and Research before Hon. Florence Mutua took over the leadership of that Committee, that for the past several years, if you ask for anyone who has been recruited in that one clan called Kanyada constituting Homa Bay Town Constituency, you will find nobody. The TSC leadership are not indigenous people. So, what has been happening, as Hon. Kamket says, is that you will get people being recruited from elsewhere, they will stay within the county for some two to three months and then they get transfers. The local people are doing farming and boda boda business because they cannot be absorbed yet they are trained. The response has come well, and I am very happy that we have a Chairperson of the Committee that can go deep into these issues, but there is need for review. If the reason why this thing has not been fair is the fact that the local people across the country are not going in, then it 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.

is serving no purpose. However, the idea that you are subjecting people who have qualified through teacher training colleges to things you are calling interviews to grade them, it is a big corruption.

I have followed up this thing in Homa Bay Town that if you do not have something like Kshs300,000, you will not be recruited. So, the poor people are languishing yet when you walk around schools, those people who are not recruited are teaching freely and their subjects are the best performing ones. So, I request that in as much as we have a comprehensive response, we need to sit down again not just to confirm that the policies are good, but to also hear cries coming from Kenyans so that we have a recruitment system which is fair and is in accordance with the Public Service codes. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Now, Hon. Members, because this is a response to a request for a Statement, let me suggest the way forward. This is something that obviously affects the entire country. The best way to deal with it would be at the earliest when we have the House retreats, maybe, Hon. Florence Mutua, you consider reminding the Clerk to invite the mandarins in the TSC.

The leadership of the TSC and possibly, even the Ministry to be present. This is a matter that even if I allow debate on, I can see there are a number of you who want to make comments on it. I suspect that you are merely going to lament in the same manner as Hon. Kamket and Hon. Kaluma. So that we do not become a place where people only lament…

No! That is a new dimension. Let us not cry.

Let me suggest that Hon. Kimunya takes up the matter, so that Hon. Florence Mutua, you place it as one of the topics to be discussed by either the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the TSC or whoever it is that attends that workshop. I have workshopped a proper seminar for the Members of Parliament in the National Assembly where we discussed, among others, this particular issue. That is why I always raise that issue whenever we have seminars or workshops. Maybe by the time the particular person who is supposed to address the issue takes the podium, many of you would have already taken off. Like now I am seeing very many of you coming and telling me that you are going to Mombasa. I do not know what you are going to do in Mombasa. You know, Hon. Members, everybody has been cautioned not to let their guard down. Do not just rush into hotels. Those are dangerous places. So, when we have that seminar, whenever it is going to be, not too long from now, I would expect that there will be a full house. Members, this is something that affects every corner of the republic, is it not? So, as many of you as possible should be able to raise those issues with the people responsible. Even if you raise it now with Hon. Florence Mutua, she will have, again, to go 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.

and sit with the leadership of the TSC or whoever else and then bring another response. Obviously, as Hon. Kamket has said rightly, that response is the kind of thing that can earn somebody 90 per cent if it was to be marked on the basis of what is in the Constitution. Hon. Kaluma is giving a different story about some clan which does not get employed. What Hon. Kaluma has said is that there are some people who have been out there and have not been employed for more than five or 10 years while others who graduated later have jobs in less than two years. The Statement read out by Hon. Mutua acknowledges that recruitment is on the basis of first come, first served. Those who finished earlier get the chance to be employed first. So, we need to understand that from the point of view of those who implement that policy. They are best placed to explain. Hon. Florence Mutua, you wanted to say something.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I appreciate the comment from the Hon. Member and Hon. Kaluma. Recently, we had a retreat with the TSC and we actually raised this issue. We requested them to furnish the Committee with a list of all the constituencies with explanation as to how they have done the hiring in terms of the locals vis-a-vis the non-locals. It is good that you have requested that we invite them. I think that will be the best place for them to come with that list. They will then explain how they have done it, whether they have recruited locals vis-a-vis non-locals. Secondly, the Code of Regulations is a live document just like the Constitution. So, if it is not working, it can be amended.

Next Order.

Hon. Members, debate on this Motion was concluded on Tuesday and what remained was the Question to be put, which I hereby do.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to support the Address by His Excellency the President which was in fulfilment of a constitutional duty under Article 132(1) (b) of the Constitution that obligates the Head of State, once in every year, to address a Special Sitting of Parliament. The President is obligated to place before the two Speakers and the House, specific documents; a document that deals with national security, a document that deals with the realisation of national values as referred to under Article 10 and shows how his Government is complying and, finally, to tell the country, the nation and the House the progress made in fulfilling Kenya’s international obligations. The President talked about many things, from COVID-19 to his economic blueprint in achieving the national transformative agenda and economic development. The President talked about his vision in terms of the Big Four Agenda and the prevailing state of national security. At the outset, let me talk about COVID-19 and its impact on our socio-economic and political life. It was very sad for Members of the Committee to cry on national television. It is very very sad. I was scared that Hon. Kamket was about to cry just because his Statement was not adequately replied to. Members of Parliament have constitutional powers under Article 93, Article 94, Article 95 and Article 96. They have powers under Article 121 of the Constitution. This House is the one that deals with the budget-making process and oversight. It is very sad that Members of a Committee of Parliament - the Departmental Committee on Health - cried before television cameras instead of working closely with the National Treasury, inviting the Cabinet Secretary for Health and compelling him to do the right thing, and if he does not listen to the House, the House has powers to deal with him. The Committee should be working with the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the leadership of the House to provide resources to pay our frontline health workers. We cannot expose our frontline health workers to what we are seeing. Of 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.

course, I was disturbed to see a seasoned doctor, who is a former Permanent Secretary and Director of Medical Services, crying on national television. That was an indictment on the whole House. I want to categorically say that I am not part of those who are going to cry. If there are people who want to cry, please, cry in your individual capacity. Go to the television cameras and cry there. Do not cry while serving in a Committee of Parliament because a Committee is an extension of the House.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, our doctors are dying. Kenyans are dying. I am sorry. You know I said a long time ago that there should be a change of guard. Our doctors are dying. Kenyan citizens are dying. It was very sad the other day, when I was not in the House, for a Member of Parliament to ask for a chopper. It is very ugly. We do not need choppers. We want to be treated the way other citizens are treated. We want to go through what our voters are going through. Members of Parliament are not special class. This House must rise to the occasion. We must leave everything else we are doing. As a country, our resources and energy must be directed at the war against COVID-19.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, with your permission, allow me two minutes.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Yes, you will have two minutes.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we must rise to the occasion. I am sure for those of us seated here, our people are dying. The numbers we see announced by the Ministry of Health are less than 0.01 per cent. Kenyans are dying in their villages. For me, as a Muslim, when a person passes on, we bury him within the first six to eight hours. The COVID-19 infection rate has gone up. It is sad today that as a country, we do not have an insurance cover for our civil servants. The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) came out and said they cannot cover COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we are not addressing the situation of the healthcare system in the counties. It is either the National Treasury is not giving them money or they are eating the money meant for COVID-19. If you go to any of the Level 5 referral hospitals, you will find that there are no Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and masks. I was in my constituency and people who cannot raise Kshs500 for their daily bread are being told to buy a mask for Kshs1,000, Kshs2,000 or Kshs500. The President must declare COVID-19 a national disaster. Above all, we, as the leadership, must lead by example. We must protect the vulnerable section of the society, the elderly and people whose immune systems are not strong and have underlying medical conditions. A spade must be called a spade and not a big spoon. The Departmental Committee on Health, the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning and the Budget and Appropriations Committee must ask the Minister for the National Treasury to bring a supplementary estimates budget that will redirect the resources we have towards fighting this epidemic called COVID-19. Finally, if you want to build a cohesive and united nation, the voice of the Malakote people, who are the minority in Tharaka and Garissa, must be heard. You cannot build one Kenya when you leave out the pastoralists, church and women. I want to talk to the women of Kenya; you better remain in this House, so that you become ministers and assistant ministers. The Senate in its current 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.

formation will be like the county assemblies. How can you live an Assembly where you have a chance of becoming a Deputy Prime Minister or a Prime Minister and go to a House where you cannot get even a kindergarten position? I support.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): I am trying to know who is where.

We are here.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Members, that is not what I meant. There is a queue. I will balance both sides. Let us not be anxious. Please, if you have spoken to the Motion, do not repeat. Clerks-at-the-Table, what has happened? Hon. Adagala.

Hon. Members, if you have spoken to the Motion, pleases, take out your card. I am calling out the names as they appear on the list here. If you are not keen on contributing to the Presidential Address, please, remove your card. The Hon. Chachu Ganya.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for this opportunity to contribute to the President’s Address. I appreciate the Address that was given by the President in service to our nation as he has done on many occasions. The President raised many issues of national importance. The Address was delivered during an extraordinary period in which we are faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, he highlighted many achievements his Government has made in the last one year and a half. These are the Nairobi Express Project, the Nairobi-Mau Summit Expressway Project, the Lamu Port Berth 1 Project, which has been completed, and the Likoni Floating Bridge Project, which will be the first floating bridge in our country. He also mentioned the Kisumu Port rehabilitation works which has been completed and is now operational. Having highlighted some of these key investments on our infrastructure, the President also raised the issue of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). This is an initiative that is trying to address critical challenges our country is facing like negative ethnicity, inclusivity, equitable development and corruption among others. The President mentioned that BBI will try to address these challenges and hopefully lay a foundation for a prosperous nation where tribalism, corruption and all negative aspects of our nation will not be celebrated, but there will be a strategy in our Constitution to address them. The Address failed to adequately address some issues. For instance, the impact of COVID- 19 on our health and economy was not fully addressed. I felt that since the whole year we have been dealing with this pandemic, the President ought to have come out clear with a message to the nation. The roll out of the Universal Health Coverage is welcome. Similarly, the far reaching reforms in NHIF are appreciated. However, I expected the President to direct NHIF, a Government corporation, to come up with strategies and mechanisms of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in our country, especially in terms of covering the vulnerable Kenyans who are under this cover. At the moment, civil servants and teachers are covered because they have comprehensive coverage, but other Kenyans are not covered. When they fall sick to this pandemic, they are on their own. I also expected the President to consider our frontline health care workers. He appreciated their work in his Address and that is welcome. However, I wanted to see tangible mechanisms 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.

provisions from the State, especially in terms of PPEs, payment of their allowances and their healthcare coverage, so that they can take care of themselves as they take care of the rest of Kenyans. The Adress was good on many fronts. A lot of issues were covered, but as I said in my initial remarks, I felt that it was short on addressing the serious COVID-19 pandemic that we are facing. I wanted to know what the Government is doing at the national level and what the Council of County Governors (CoG) is doing since it has a national summit that briefs the President. However, I did not hear much of these. Now that the vaccine is almost here with us - and it has been proved to be 95 per cent effective by the University of Oxford in United Kingdom - I hope our Government will come up with a mechanism of buying the vaccine for the 50 million Kenyans. It is capable of doing that. Let it buy 50 million vaccines and ensure every Kenyan is vaccinated against COVID-19. I support.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. David Ochieng’.

Thank you so much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I want to support the President’s Speech. This Speech was delivered as a duty under the Constitution. As Members of Parliament, we have a duty to support the President of the Republic for the country to succeed. Part of our duty is to ensure that when the President speaks to the Assembly and talks about things that have been done and are required according to the Constitution, we can see tangible, visible and actionable results as per what the Constitution requires. The President talked about what he has done in ensuring that we have the national values and principles of governance effectuated. I do not know whether it is true that eight years down the line, Uhuru’s Government is more inclusive than the Government that was there before he came to office. I cannot say with confidence that he has taken steps to ensure that Article 10 of the Constitution is lived up to. Time and again in this Assembly, we have had to just allow his appointments saying that we should just pass them for him, so that we do not distract him. His appointments to too many positions have been so tribally skewed that they would not pass the test of inclusivity. I have been in this House and I have seen how sometimes Members in Committees are told: “This is for the President. He wants this very badly.” You cannot build a country based on the Constitution if at every corner you get a chance, you abrogate the Constitution. You cannot say today that Kenyans feel they are part of the country or that they feel patriotic, because there are no tangible steps being taken by the Presidency and the Executive to make us feel part of the country. He talked about economic empowerment. I have checked some of the projects he talked about like the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the expressway. How Kenyan are these projects? Yes, they are being built on Kenyan soil, but can we say that those implementing them are Kenyans? Can we say that the money being used to build them remains here? I have talked about this issue several times. There is no way this country will grow if every chance we get to grow economically, we throw back money to Europe and China. In building the SGR, the smallest things like bolts and nuts were imported. In building the expressway, the things being used are hardly Kenyan. The manpower being used is hardly Kenyan. So, how do you build an economy? How do we ensure that all these projects we are implementing are Kenyan? There is no way you are going to pull the youth out of poverty when every opportunity you get to do big projects you give back to the Chinese and the Europeans and there is no framework to ensure transfer of 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.

technology. It is painful. He may have achieved a lot in terms of what is on the ground, but most of the money does not remain with us. The President who talked to us here last week was so bullish in talking about youth empowerment and how he is going to transform the lives of the youth. Every youth you meet in Kenya today wants to give up. They do not know whether tomorrow will be a better day than yesterday. We have not had sustainable projects that can make the youth feel they can do and get somewhere. We still live in an economy where you must know somebody. How many people will the millions of youth get to know to make sure that they get into the mainstream economy? The informal economy is part of our economy. We must put money into it. Even as the President says he has put so much money in the fight against COVID-19 and reduced Value Added Tax (VAT), most of the people who are supposed to benefit from the VAT reduction have no earnings. Let us target all COVID-19 interventions to the lowest person in the economy so that we ensure we carry them along. I am sorry my time is up. I had so much to say. Let the President walk the talk. Intentions, like he said in Paragraph 8 of his Speech, are not enough. Let us see him in his last 18 months taking proper steps to ensure that the young people of this country feel part of the country and feel that their interests are being taken care of. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I support. Thank you.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Jesire Cheruiyot.

Asante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda, kwa nafasi hii umenipa nichangie Hoja hii. Hotuba ya Mhe. Rais ilifana kabisa. Aliongea mambo mengi ambayo sio lazima sisi sote tuyafurahie. Lakini kwangu, nasema ni asante maanake aliyataja mambo yanayoguza mwananchi wa kawaida. Janga ambalo liko kwa sasa la Korona, ama COVID-19, ni janga ambalo limeleta shida humu kwetu mpaka hata sisi tumepoteza ndugu na marafiki na watu wa karibu kwa sababu ya ugonjwa huu. Anaposema wametenga kama nchi pesa nyingi sana za kupigana na janga hili, ni kweli lakini kuna shida kwamba wale ambao wanapewa nafasi ya kuhudumia wananchi hawana utu wa kutumia fedha hizi kwa njia inayofaa. Jinsi ambavyo sisi wawakilishi wa akina mama katika nafasi zetu za Ubunge tunavyotumia fedha za NGAAF na zile za NG-CDF, na tumeelewa mikakati ya kutumia zile fedha, inafaa pia kule kwa uongozi wa ugatuzi wawekewe mikakati ili fedha ambazo tunapanga ziende huko mashinani zitumike kwa ratiba ambayo imepangwa ili wale wasiwe na njia ya kutumia fedha kwa njia ambayo wanafikiria. Ni vyema kwamba tuone fedha ambazo ziliwekwa pale, kwanza zile kila kaunti ilipewa za Korona, tujue zimefanya kazi gani ili tuone kinagaubaga kwamba fedha zile zimefanya kazi na mwananchi anafaidika. Kuna mambo mengi ambayo yaliongelewa, hata kuendeleza uchumi wa nchi hii. Ni bayana kwamba vijana wa nchi hii hawana kazi. Na katika ile hali, Mhe. Rais anasema kwamba tunahitaji kuwa na uwiano na utangamano. Watu wakae pamoja. Tuishi kwa amani na tusigawanyishwe kwa upigaji wa kura. Ndiposa anajaribu kuleta huu muungano wa marejesho ili watu wakae pamoja ndio tusikizane na nchi hii ipate amani ya kudumu. Tunajua kwamba vijana wetu hawapati kazi kwa sababu wanamaliza masomo yao kwa wingi na baada ya hiyo, hawawezi kupata kazi wote. Wengi wao ambao wamehitimu kwa masomo hawapati kazi kwa sababu nafasi za kazi nchini ni chache. Kwa hivyo, wale wanaowekeza katika nchi hii kwa biashara na mambo mengine ya kibinafsi ndio wangeweza kuajiri vijana hawa kazi. Shida ni kuwa hawa ambao wanatakiwa kuja kuwekeza katika nchi hii hawana tena imani nasi na wanaogopa kuwekeza pesa zao katika nchi hii, maanake kila baada ya miaka mitano, tuko vitani na kukikimbia. Ni vyema kwamba wamefikiria tukae pamoja. 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.

Kwa mambo ya uongozi wa akina mama, wengi wanasema kwamba tumepoteza. Kwangu mimi nasema hatujapoteza maanake nafasi zile zimependekezwa ni nafasi mpya za Seneti. Sio kwamba tunahamishwa kutoka Chumba hiki na kupelekwa Chumba kingine. Ni nafasi zingine mpya ambazo zimetengenezewa wanawake waweze kuchaguliwa. Tuko na nafasi ya kuchaguliwa kwenda Seneti ama kubaki kwa Bunge la Taifa. Mimi naunga mkono Hotuba ya Rais.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Member for Malindi.

Asante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda. Kwanza, nimesimama kupongeza Hotuba ya Rais wa Jamhuri ya Kenya aliyoitoa wiki iliyopita. Ni jukumu lake kikatiba kufika mbele ya Bunge na kutoa ratiba ya vile nchi na maendeleo ya kitaifa yanavyopaswa kuendelea na jinsi yalivyo na tunavyopaswa sisi kama taifa kuendelea Kitu ambacho kimenigusa sana ni kuhusu ile hospitali ambayo alisema hospitali ya kuangalia maswala ya akili; Hospitali ya Mathari. Na hata niseme hivi na mimi nikiwa ni shahidi wa juzi tu ya kwamba hospitali hii ama taasisi hii inahitaji kuangaliwa kwa umakini sana. Kule nje Wakenya wanaumia kwa sababu kuangaliwa akili ama kwenda kupimwa akili ni sharti moja katika mahakama zetu kabla hujaweza kushtakiwa na makosa ya jinai. Ni lazima uangaliwe kwanza akili kama ziko timamu. Nasema hivyo kwa vile mimi nilipitia hayo juzi na nimeona Wakenya wanaumia sana. Katika Mkoa wa Pwani taasisi moja peke yake ambayo ni CoastGeneral Hospital na daktari mmoja katika Pwani nzima ndiye anayesimamia maswala hayo ya kuangalia akili za wale wote walioko rumande kabla hawajashtakiwa na makosa ya mauaji. Nilisikitika sana na nikaona ya kwamba mengine Mungu anayaruhusu yafanyike ili wengine wakaweze kutetewa. Hilo swala ni jambo ambalo linawaumiza Wakenya wengi ambao hata wenzao na miili yao na maisha yao yanaisha ndani ya seli kwa sababu ya kukosa huduma muhimu kama hii. Namshukuru sana Rais na ningependekeza ya kwamba labda mbeleni kabla kipindi chetu hakijaisha tutakuwa na sheria ambayo labda mimi mwenyewe kama mhusika mkuu nitakuwa nimeileta kuhakikisha ya kwamba hospitali hizi hazibaki Nairobi tu lakini kila kaunti kuwe na hospitali hii ambayo itakuwa ni muhimu sana katika maswala ya kuweza kunusuru wengi ambao labda wako pale kwa maonevu lakini wamewekwa pale kwa sababu ya kukosa huduma hii muhimu. Pia vile vile, katika swala hilo ni kwamba ikiwa leo ni siku ya wanaume katika dunia, nataka niseme ya kwamba wanaume wengi wanateseka. Unaeza kuwaona wako hivi wanacheka lakini kwenye majumba yao wanapitana na mashaka. Akili zao sio vile tunavyofikiria ziko sawa. Tumeona kisa hapa leo Nairobi Women Hospital ambapo mtoto wa miaka minne na mtoto wa siku nne amenajisiwa na babake. Huyo ni mtu ambaye kweli ana akili timamu? Tunaeza kuwa tunacheka nao lakini akili zao si nzuri. Akili zao lazima ziboreshwe, Kaimu Bi. Kaimu Spika wa Muda. Jambo lingine ambalo nataka kusema ni kwamba Kiswahili - na nataka nipongeze, though haikuwa kwenye hotuba ya Rais lakini alituzindulia - katika Bunge hili, Kiswahili kitukuzwe na kizungumzwe kwa sababu sisi tunatafuta kura kule chini kabla kuja hapa Bungeni kwa lugha labda tatu, ya mama, ya taifa ambayo ni Kiswahili, lakini tukifika hapa, tunaunda sheria katika lugha moja tu ya Kiingereza. Huwa tunawaundia sheria kule lakini hawatuelewi. So, iwe Bungeni Kiswahili kitukuzwe mpaka kortini kwa sababu kule haki zinatafutwa na lugha ambayo wananchi wengi hawaielewi. Na mwisho ni kwamba COVID-19 imetufunza mengi. Juzi tulipoteza ndugu wetu hapa. Na ni kwa sababu gani sisi wenyewe kama Wabunge hatuangalii hata hospitali zetu kule mashinani ziko vipi? Sisi Wabunge tuna medical cover nzito nzito wakati wananchi hawana cover. Wabunge 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.

tuko na cover kubwa. Kwa nini basi tusiangalie tena tukabadilisha vifungo na kusema ya kwamba labda cover zetu zipelekwe katika bima ya kitaifa na sisi wote kama Wabunge tuwe tunatibiwa katika hospitali za hapa nchini ambazo si private, but public hospitals?

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Member for Taita Taveta.

Shukrani sana, Naibu Spika wa Muda. Nakushukuru kwa kunipa fursa ili niweze kuchangia swala hili ambalo tunaliongea hapa na ni swala kuhusu Hotuba ya Rais. Ninataka kusema ya kwamba Hotuba ya Rais ilikuwa sawa. Kuna mambo mengi ambayo aliyataja na mojawapo ikiwa ni janga hili la Coronavirus. Mimi nataka kusema hivi: Coronavirus ipo, Coronavirus imeuwa, Coronavirus imeumiza na inazidi kuumiza Wakenya. Wakenya wanakufa, madaktari wanakufa, na hata sasa Wabunge na walimu wanakufa. Ni uchungu sana kuona kwamba madaktari ambao tunawategemea kutusaidia wakati huu mgumu hata wao pia wanafariki kwa ajili ya ugonjwa huu. Watu wanaumia mioyo. Watu wanaumia akili. Watu wana uoga mkubwa sana. Ni wakati sasa kama nchi wa kuwajibika bila samahani. Ni wakati wa kuona kwamba hospitali zetu tumeweza kuziboresha kila sehemu ya nchi hii. Swala lingine pia ambalo ningependa kulitaja ambalo lilikuwa kwa Hotuba ya Rais ni jambo la elimu. Nashukuru kwa sababu kulikuwa na maswali mengi ya kwamba watoto wamekaa nyumbani muda mrefu na kunakuwa na sintofahamu ya kuwa ni lini basi watoto hao watarudi shuleni ama itakuwa namna gani kuhusu maswala yetu ya elimu. Napongeza Idara ya Elimu kwa sababu walitoa tarehe ambazo shule zetu zitafunguliwa. Swala kuu kwa wakati huu ni je, tumeweka miundo misingi ya kuweza kuwakaribisha watoto wetu ama kuweza kuwarudisha watoto wetu shuleni? Tunayo madarasa ya kutosha? Tunayo madawati? Na je, ile ada ya shule itakayolipwa tuko nayo? Tunajua wananchi wengi wamekuwa nyumbani na wengi wamekosa kazi kwa sababu ya hii mambo ya Coronavirus. Hili ni janga. Na hawana fedha sasa. Je, watalipa vipi hiyo ada? Tunajua watoto wetu wamekaa nyumbani na wamekuwa wakubwa na hata zile sare zao za shule haziwatoshi sasa. Kwa hivyo, itakuwa ni kama mwanzo mpya kupeleka watoto kuanzia sare ya shule, kuanzia vitabu na hata ada za shule. Kwa hivyo, ni wakati wa kuweza kuangalia hilo swala na kuona ni vipi tutasaidiana na kusaidia jamii itakapofikia kurudisha watoto wetu shuleni. Nikimalizia pia, swala lingine ambalo Rais alitaja ni mambo ya BBI. Kuhusu BBI nitasema kama kina mama bado tunahisi tumenyanyaswa na tunasema bado kuwe na muda wa majadiliano. Hii si kwa sababu ya akina mama peke yao, ila wadau mbali mbali waweze kuja na kutoa hoja zao pale ili kuwepo na uwiano. Nasema asante sana. Nikimalizia, pia niwapongeze kina baba wote walioko hapa na niwapongeze pia kina baba manyumbani na kina baba wote wa Kenya wale wanatenda wema kwa sababu leo ni siku ya kina baba; International Men's Day. Asante sana, kwa kunipatia hii fursa.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Member for Wajir East.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for making available time for me to contribute significantly on the Address of His Excellency President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta on the Floor. The Address of His Excellency was very balanced and gave a lot of milestones that have been achieved in the country. However, one thing I have observed is that most of the observations and the answers, which have been given in the Address, were more general and lack a lot of specificity. There was the issue of the Coronavirus. Coronavirus is a pandemic. It has seriously affected the entire nation. It has disrupted the economy. There was no specificity in terms of its disruption of normal life. If you look at it, the great majority of the country is significantly affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. 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 as much as His Excellency has made significant effort to curb the menace in terms of restrictions of movement, there is still a serious wave of the pandemic in the country, more so, in the affected counties. How prepared are we in hospitals in our counties? Most of the counties that have referral hospitals are ill prepared. Do we have sufficient beds? Do we have ventilators? This is something that we have been talking about for the last six months and up to date, most of the counties are ill prepared to curb COVID-19. What is the synergy in terms of the implementation between the national Government and the county governments?

What is the national Government doing to ensure that county governments comply with its functions of delivering health services to its citizens? This is a critical issue that has not been addressed and yet Kenyans continue to die as a result of COVID-19. The country has spelt out a very specific road map on having UHC. The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) is not sufficient enough. The medical insurance covers are not good enough and yet there are great citizens of this country, a large population, who are not covered in terms of the health care systems. What measures are there in place to cover the most vulnerable societies particularly during these difficult moments? What measures have we put in place as citizens of this country? These are issues that need to be addressed significantly, so that they can confront this monster called COVID-19. This is one thing I expected His Excellency to clearly bring out. It appears that he was more fatigued on the issue of the COVID-19, even the Ministry of Health seemed to be so fatigued. Generally, we want more specific actions to be put in place and a clarity of what synergy we are going to put in place with the county governments. How can we ensure that county governments enforce and provide the necessary environment to fight the COVID-19? On the issue of security, there was a significant improvement in the country particularly the constituencies bordering neighbouring countries. There is a significant reduction of the AlShabab attack particularly in our area and that is a commendable job that has been done by the security agencies and the Ministry for Interior and Coordination and National Government. Further to that, there are certain actions they have so far taken in terms of the development of security agencies and that is one thing that I will commend in terms of security. In terms of infrastructure, electricity and the road network in northern Kenya, there are issues that have not been mentioned by His Excellency in His Address. These are critical because we cover a large mass of land, but we have not been connected to the grid. The road network to northern Kenya has not been fully exploited. It is still gravel and we do not have roads. So, these are efforts which should have been undertaken by the President and we expected him to tackle in His Address, but was neglected. Thank you very much.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): I will now give a chance to the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. You have 10 minutes according to the resolution in the Order Paper.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I wish to associate myself fully with the words of His Excellency the President during the State of the Nation Address last week when he indicated that the state of the national security is strong. Our national security apparatus have been on overdrive trying to ensure that we are secured despite the many challenges that we are experiencing as a country. Many security threats posed by terrorists have been thwarted by our gallant security officers led by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) working together with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) officers. We are indeed very grateful to have security officers who include our soldiers for putting their lives at risk to protect us. 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.

Our police officers have since March this year been playing a huge role in helping us combat the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been in the frontline in the fight against COVID-19. In the initial days, they played a very big role in contact tracing. They also manned the very many roadblocks erected all over the country to restrict movement of our people in an attempt to reduce COVID-19 spread. Up to now, they are fully involved in ensuring that the current curfew is observed strictly. I urge this House to push for our police officers to get COVID-19 allowance just like the other frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19. In the near future, we all would like to see the issue of psychosocial support and welfare of police taken very seriously. We have lost a number of our police officers to COVD-19. I challenge all of us in the House to put up extra office space for the officers in our police stations and our police posts to help them have the required social distance at the work place. Let us also install hand washing tanks at our police stations to maintain hygiene of our police officers and those visiting police stations. Let us also extend this to our schools and especially those with very high populations. I also urge our national Government administrative officers, especially chiefs and assistant chiefs, to be more visible in the fight against COVID-19. Let them also be more visible in the fight against crime. Let them be in the frontline in the fight against radicalisation of our youth. Let them activate and operationalise the Nyumba Kumi initiative to help prevent crime. Also, to mention that Nyumba Kumi will assist us in fast-tracking the Huduma Namba third registration. As I conclude, I echo the words of His Excellency the President when he urged all of us to stop inciting fellow Kenyans against each other. Words, whether spoken or written, have the potential to burn a whole nation. I urge our fellow politicians, our religious leaders, media personalities and bloggers to stop inciting our people against each other. Let us stop the so-called hustler nation narrative because it is not healthy at all. We saw the way Rwanda, Mali and also Burkina Faso have gone. Let us not play politics with our security. I thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Let us have the Member for Likoni.

Asante sana, Naibu Mhe. Spika Wa Muda. Mimi pia napata nafasi hii kuweza kuzungumzia Hotuba ya Mheshimiwa Rais na niseme ilikuwa ya kizalendo sana. Alizungumzia mambo mengi sana. Nimeskia Waheshimiwa wenzangu wakizungumzia janga la Corona. Jamani hakuna ambaye hakumwona Mheshimiwa Rais aking’ang’ana wakati tulipata kesi ya kwanza ya Corona. Hata viongozi wengine tukiwemo sisi wenyewe tulisema ya kwamba Corona ni uongo na ni jambo la kutengenezea watu pesa na ni mambo ya propaganda . Kwa hivyo, mimi nataka niseme kuwa wakati tunazungumzia ufisadi katika mambo ya Corona, sisi Wabunge tuna jukumu la kuangazia mambo ambayo yalifanyika katika taifa letu la Kenya. Hata Bunge la Seneti lina nguvu ya kuangalia mambo ya afya katika kaunti zetu. Afya imegatuliwa na iko mashinani. Ningetaka kumwambia Mhe. Rais katika juhudi zake alizofanya kupigana na janga hili, aongeze nguvu zaidi ili tuweze kupata vifaa na wahudumu wa afya zaidi na bima ya afya ya kitaifa ya kuweza kuangalia Wakenya kwa sababu ya janga hili.

Vile vile, Mhe. Rais alizungumzia kuhusu kujenga ajira laki moja ya vijana wetu. Nataka kushukuru mpango wa Kazi Mtaani . Huu mpango umeweza kuchukua vijana 26,000 katika kauti 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.

34. Kwa sababu janga la Corona linaendelea, vijana waweze kuendelea na huu mpango na uweze kuangalia vijana wote katika kaunti zetu 47. Pia, yale mapato wanapata yaweze kuangaziwa.

Namshukuru Mhe. Rais kwa kutujengea daraja katika Eneo Bunge langu likishikana na Eneo Bunge la Mvita. Kwa sababu ya mambo ya Corona, watu wa Likoni walikuwa na changamoto kubwa sana kujikinga na janga hili. Hivyo basi, daraja hili litaweza kutusaidia kwa ule msongamano na tuweze kusafiri na kuendelea na shughuli zetu.

Pia, Mhe. Rais alizungumzia ule mpango wa mambo ya boda boda. Hii ni njia moja ambayo itaweza kujenga ajira zaidi kwa vijana wetu kule nyanjani. Basi mpango kama huu uweze kusambaswa kule mashinani katika maeneo Bunge yetu na kauti zetu ili kujenga ajira. Mhe. Raisi alisema kuwa vijana wajitokeze ili waweze kupate mshahara na kuwa wamiliki wa fedha. Kwa hivyo, ni lazima wajenge uwezo katika kupata zabuni kama za madeski, za kufanya kazi ya kuleta vifaa vya kupigana na Corona na za ule mpango wa kutengeneza nyumba za kisasa katika makazi duni. Hii ni kwa sababu tunataka kuweka Wakenya katika hali nzuri. Mhe. Rais pia alizungumzia mambo ya mkusanyiko wa digiti au ditigisation ya mambo ya mashamba ama ardhi. Mimi ni mwanakamati wa Kamati ya Ardhi na tumeweza kutenga pesa na sasa hivi kuna kaunti ambazo tayari wameweza kuitumia. Kwa hivyo, namuunga mkono Mhe. Rais kwa jambo kama hili. Pia, mambo ya mafunzo ya vijana, kuongeza madarasa, madawati, vifaa na waalimu ili ule mpito wa watoto kusoma kutoka shule ya msingi hadi shule ya upili uweze kupatikana ndiposa watoto wetu waweze kuwa na elimu. Mhe. Rais alivyozungumzia kuhusu watoto kurudi shuleni kufikia Januari mwaka ujao, alisema kuwa mikakati iwekwe ili wazazi wasihangaishwe na mambo ya karo. Janga la Corona limerudisha nyuma uchumi wetu. Wazazi wapewe nafasi waweze kulipa kwa njia watakayoweza ili kusomesha watoto wao. Naunga mkono Mhe. Rais kwa mambo ambayo amefanya kama kutengeneza magari hapa Kenya. Yamekuwa assembled hapa na vijana walipata ajira. Pia, mambo mengine kama kuweze kujenga viwanda katika taifa letu la Kenya kama sampuli iliyofanyika ili watoto wetu waweze kupata ajira.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): The Member for Kitui South.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I hereby support this Speech by the President in the year 2020. I choose not to go to the political side, but focus on the development the President has done. I would like to start on the matter that concerns the Departmental Committee on Lands. In the last eight years, the President has mentioned that his administration has been able to produce 5.4 million title deeds. This is almost double the number of title deeds that have been produced since Independence. This is something that we should be very proud of as a country. The title deeds will spur development in our counties. The titling process is ongoing in most of our counties and areas where it has never been done before like Kwale, Samburu, Kilifi, Ukambani, Garissa and Meru. All parts of this country are being titled. I would like to appreciate and thank him for mentioning this as part of what he has been able to do. Regarding digitisation, this is a programme that was started many years ago by different ministers within the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning but when you look at the progress made so far, it is great to note that our title deeds are being digitised. They will be stored in a safer way and it will be easier to do searches. It will be even more authentic for people who would like to invest in this country to check on-line and identify pieces of land they may be interested 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.

I would like to call upon our lawyers and more so the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to appreciate this kind of project. They should not look at it as a way of stopping them from doing what they do every day, carrying different documents in corridors. They should appreciate that they can also find a niche in a digitised economy where our title deeds are stored in soft copies. They should not fight this project because it is among the projects being fought. Digitisation for private land is being done by the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. Public land is being digitised in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning and the National Land Commission (NLC). With regard to assisting in production of title deeds, surveying and all that that goes with production and digitisation of title deeds, this Government has been able to build registries and purchase vehicles which have been taken to different counties. It has also encouraged our workers in this ministry by giving them promotions, some of whom had not been promoted for the last 15 years. I would like to laud the Government for this. I would like to reflect on what the President said about the work of this House. He appreciated we do legislation, vetting of officers and oversight. He did not complain about harassment of officers, but thanked us for the oversight we are offering his administration. He also put the House into task on the issue of Sectorial Properties Bill which is ongoing. We promised to deliver soonest possible and I am informed it has come back from the Senate. I would like to reflect on the love for this country that the President has. He compared himself with Moses. Those of you who have seen tarmac roads in your constituencies and counties may not be able to relate to this the way those of us who did not have a single kilometre of tarmac road would relate The President gave his own experience in this House as an Opposition Leader, seated on the Opposition side; as a minister and as a President during the hard times when the country was burning out there. Also, as a President in better times that is after the handshake when there is some peace. He said he feels like the Moses of this country. The people of my constituency and Kitui County relate with this in that our President has shown courage on where he would like to take this country. He has shown us his relationship with God and he has faced challenges in very difficult times. He offered solutions and will not give up. This is a very good analogy we can relate with. I would like to relate with connectivity because for once, I have a 147 kilometres road. As I conclude, I would like to say that the President of the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, has saved our people from being kept on the road waiting to be buried.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Kiti Chonga.

Ahsante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda. Nataka kuchukua nafasi hii kupongeza Hotuba ya Mhe. Rais kwa sababu kuna mswala mengi sana yameleta utata katika utendaji kazi na ni kama yameguziwa pale. Kwanza, ningetaka kufurahia na kusherehekea ambalo halikutajwa katika Hotuba ya Mhe. Rais mwaka jana. Hii ni kuhusu zile dhuluma za kihistoria kuhusu maswala ya ardhi kwa kimombo

. Mwaka jana, swala hilo halikuzungumziwa. Mimi nikiwa kiongozi kutoka Eneo Bunge la Kilifi Kusini, niko na mengi ambayo hayanipi usingizi haswa nikitafakari suala hili la dhuluma ya mashamba. Hata nikisimama hapa, tayari niko na petition yangu ambayo nishaileta hapa Bungeni kuhusu vile shamba kubwa la Vipingo ambalo lilikuwa limepewa mzungu wakati wa ukoloni afanye ukuzaji wa makonge lakini kufikia hivi sasa, takriban nusu yake limechukuliwa na mabwenyenye bila wenyeji kupatiwa fidia yoyote. Hilo lisitoshe, tuko na masuala ya wale wenye mashamba ambao hawajulikani. Nasikia wengine wako uarabuni na wengine ndani ya Kenya hii lakini mashamba makubwa makubwa yameshamilikiwa nao. Mabwenyenye wengi mara kwa mara wanapata nafasi hii. Wakishajua kuna mashamba kama 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.

yale, wanakuja kutengeneza hati miliki katika Wizara ya Ardhi halafu wanarudi kule. Wale ambao wamekuwa wakiishi ndani ya mashamba yale, wanaambiwa leo wakatafute makazi mapya.

Pia, tuko na kesi ambazo watu zaidi ya miaka 100 wamezaana na kuzikana pale. Watu wamefanya ukuzaji wa mimea tofauti na nafaka ambazo zinawakimu kimaisha kwa sababu zikishapelekwa sokoni ndio nao wanapata chochote cha kuwasaidia. Lakini unapata ghafla bin vuu asubuhi moja mtu amekuja anasema lazima mvunje na muhame. Visa kama hivi ndani ya Kilifi Kusini vimejaa. Si Shariani, si Mtepeni, si Vipingo, si Shimo la Tewa, kila uchao visa hivi vimejaa. Hivyo basi, ninaunga mkono kikamilifu Hotuba hii nikitumaini kwamba yale yaliyozungumzwa na Rais yatapata mwelekeo mwafaka na matatizo haya ambayo yanatukumba ya mashamba yatapata suluhu ya kudumu. Nasema hivyo kwa sababu niko na wasiwasi na tashwishi. Wewe na mimi tunakumbuka kwamba kuna tume nyingi sana ambazo ziliundwa kuchunguza kuhusu masuala ya dhuluma ya mashamba ikiwemo tume ya Ndung’u. Ninajua mambo kama haya yako katika ripoti ya tume ya Ndung’u lakini kufika sasa imekuwa ni ndoto tu maana haijabainika wazi ni lini ukweli ambao uko ndani ya ripoti ile utaletwa nje watu wajue nini ambacho kimefanyika na mwelekeo ni gani. Hivyo basi, isiwe tu kwamba hili suala lilitajwa. Tunaomba kwa hisani ikiwezekana pia tuhakikishe tunaona mambo yakifanyika. Kabla muda wangu haujaisha, niko na suala lingine ambalo ninataka kuligusia kwa juu sana. Ni kuhusu bima ya kitaifa. Tunajua kwamba tuko na bima ya kitaifa lakini watu wengi hawana uwezo, hususan wazee. Ningeomba wazee ambao wako rika la miaka 70 kuendelea wapewe huduma hii bure katika hospitali zote. Saa hii tuko na janga la Corona. Wengi wanaoathirika ni hawa. Tunaomba hili pia ni suala ambalo linafaa kuangaliwa kwa kina wazee wetu waweze kuchungwa. Nitamalizia na suala la ufisadi. Kenya ni maskini kwa sababu ya ufisadi. Kila uchao utapata kesi za ufisadi. Nafikiri imefika wakati hizi sheria za Bunge ziweze kuundwa upya ilimradi ziweze kuhakikisha kwamba watu hawatajihusisha na visa vya ufisadi. Tunasema vijana hawana kazi na viwanda haviwezi kufufuliwa lakini kila uchao unasikia mabilioni ya pesa yamepotea.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Kipyegon Ng’eno.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for also giving me this chance to make my contribution on this President’s Speech. First, I would want to say that I did not get a chance to be in the House at that particular moment because of a few issues here and there, but I followed the Speech comprehensively and I noted several things which I would wish to discuss. First, I would want to say that the Speech itself fell short of a President who we consider a great man who has led this country through thick and thin, especially at a time when several issues needed to be addressed; issues that affect the people of this country. We know that the world over, speeches which are given by presidents, especially those on the state of the nation, are avenues through which presidents address the matters that matter most to the ordinary people and to the country, especially matters to do with security. Therefore, I have my reservations on these particular issues. Remember the President addressed the nation when we are in the middle of a pandemic that has ravaged the country and the world. Most of the presidents the world over address this matter very seriously. They put all the efforts and energies behind dealing with this particular pandemic. When you look at the Speech of the President, it was like the matter of Coronavirus comes up at the tail end or it was an afterthought. We have seen several people die. Forget even about the Members of Parliament who have died in the course of their duties. Let us talk about those Kenyans who die outside there, people who nobody even reports on when they die. Forget even about the doctors who their 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.

colleagues normally report on how they die. There are so many other people who die in the villages. The reason they die is not because the disease is so dangerous, but because we cannot handle the disease. We have refused in totality to handle this particular pandemic. I do not believe that a country that has developed for over 50 years could even fail to offer beds where some of the sick can be treated. We have devolved billions of shillings to the counties, but simply because we have corrupted almost everything in this country, nobody would even imagine handling these matters until we cry to the national Government. Nurses and doctors are dying. These people are even refusing to treat us because they do not want to expose themselves. We do not even have simple things like PPEs which doctors can use. These are very cheap things. The equipment was brought by the Chinese. They gave it to us free of charge, but because we are reckless, useless, stupid and corrupt, we just sold them off thinking that Coronavirus will disappear because it “disappeared” in Tanzania. Coronavirus is killing people in this country, but nobody wants to think and talk about it. There is the question of schools. Our schools have been closed for the last one year. We are told we can open bars, but schools should remain closed. The people we open bars and clubs for are parents who go back to their children. So, what is the use of opening a bar or a club? People go and rave the whole night. They drink and kiss one another. They play around and then go back to their children. Then we close schools. That is stupidity of the highest order. It is high time we reasoned. The economy of this country has been ravaged. The cohesiveness in this country has also been affected. People are talking of the BBI. The BBI is not a big deal. If you want to have a cohesive country, it is us. It is not the Constitution or the law. We have enough laws that can make this country move in the right direction. It is us. It is only us who can decide to have a united country.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Nyenze.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the President’s Speech. At the outset, let me say that it is a very good Speech. According to me, he gave hope to the nation and Kenyans especially during this time. I say so because he started by reminding us about our solemn pledge to God and to one another through our national anthem, where he actually reminded us about our national anthem which says; Oh 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 boarders.

I thought by starting with these words of hope, through our national anthem, it would inspire us as Kenyans, to serve faithfully, so that we can have plentiful within our boarders. It actually reminds us to also be thankful for what we have and to also embrace one another in peace and liberty.

As he addressed the nation as per Article 132 of the Constitution, I felt he also gave hope to the youths especially the boda boda riders, when he said that they are going to have a school for the boda boda riders that will offer licences. This is aimed at empowering the the boda boda riders so that they can have capital and savings to invest in things like petrol stations, boda boda assembly factories and other investments that would transform their lives. That was a good Speech but I would say that with boda boda riders and youth in general, they need to be assisted to come up with such initiative because most Kenyans including mama mboga and other hustlers work from hand to mouth. So it becomes very difficult to save. So, I would urge the Government to also 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.

open a kitty for such people if we are to actualise their dream. They need to have a kitty started for them, so that they can save the little they get to that kitty.

The other thing which the President addressed was the Big Four Agenda. He specifically touched on housing where the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) has amended the Act on pension to allow members to use part of their pensions for acquiring houses. This is a very good initiative because most of us Kenyans dream of owning homes. It is not easy to own a home. Through the pension schemes, since the Act has already been amended, people can now own houses. However, my caution is that the market should also…

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Jaldesa.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this debate. As I rise to add my voice to this debate, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the President for the many issues he captured. The President talked about the COVID-19 pandemic especially on administrative intervention. I commend him for that because due to the timely lockdown, at the onset of Coronavirus, we were able to sort of reduce the spread. However, I expected much more in terms of the long-term measures. This is a disease that is likely to be with us for a long time. I did not quite follow what the President really wanted Kenyans to do.

Secondly, on matters education, I would like to commend the Government especially when the President said that they were able to provide student text books to the ratio of 1 to 1 especially from Grade One to Grade Three. That will go a long way in addressing some of the challenges in our public schools. However, I just want to be fair by mentioning these issues. The other positive issue that I want to talk about is what the President talked about, the ease of doing business global ranking report that placed Kenya at position 56 out of 189. That is very commendable. However, I expected the President to address quite a lot especially this time when we are going through a difficult time. I expected the Presidents’ Speech to talk specifically on austerity measures to address the depressed economy. Even as this House, Members can agree with me that we are suffering. Our staff have not been paid. Those of us who come from interior parts of this country, those far-flung areas, have not even been able to service our vehicles because we cannot even get the small entitlement that we always get. The country is bleeding. I was in my constituency over the weekend and I visited a family that had not cooked for four days. Therefore, we expected the President to tell us exactly what will happen to this country.

I also expected the President to talk about the ballooning debt ceiling. If we do not address that, it will mean we are not serious as a nation. I know the Chinese will be knocking our doors for their loans. I am worried. We might lose the Port of Mombasa. We might lose our airport. I also expected the President to talk about corruption. The issue of corruption seems to be a political statement which has now gone under.

I wish I had more time, however, I will go to the issue that is very emotive to my heart; the BBI. The only good thing about the BBI is the preamble. Words that talk about equity, equality, national ethos and shared prosperity. I cannot pick one incident to confirm to those preambles. When you talk about resource allocation, 18 counties out of 47 are going to lose if the BBI will go through. God forbid.

On the issue of representation, the women of this country have been reduced to flower girls once again. We are being told women will be moved out of this House; the House that…

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): I will give you a minute, Hon. Jaldesa. 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.

It is so sad when the women of this country are once again reduced to flowers girls. As women, we have fought so hard to reach where we are. To be removed from the National Assembly and be taken to a ballooned Senate does not solve the issue of two-thirds. We want to compete with men…

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Eric Njiru, what is out of order? Let us just listen to Hon. Njiru.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, why are you continuing to allow Members to speak without putting on their masks?

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): That is a valid one. Hon. Rehema Jaldesa, although it muffles your voice, make sure that the microphone is well positioned, but please keep your masks on throughout. Conclude, Hon. Jaldesa.

(Isiolo (CWR), JP): Sorry, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I have a very thick mask and it is interfering with my audio. We cannot support the BBI that will take away women gains. BBI should be about uniting this country. I heard one Member say that for this country to be united, we must stop the issue of a hustler nation. Then, we cannot have the reggae discourse in the BBI. As I conclude, I wish…

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. (Ms.) Eve Obara, what is out of order?

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, is the Hon. Member in order to claim or allege that by going to the Senate, the women will be turned into flower girls and that they will not be allowed to compete with men? We have 290 constituencies that women can still compete for with men. So, just put it in the right perspective.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Order Hon. Obara! You will have your chance to speak to the Motion. Every Member has a right to express themselves as long as they are within the confines of the Standing Orders. So, Hon. Jaldesa, kindly conclude.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I conclude by saying that the State of the Nation Address was more of a political statement than a statement that will unite the country. I thank you.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Actually, Hon. Obara, now you have the Floor to fully express yourself.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The only issue that I had was that women are not going to be allowed to compete and yet, we know that there are 290 constituencies under which we can also compete. Let me also take this opportunity to appreciate the President’s State of the Nation Address. First of all, I acknowledge that he appreciated the House for approving nominees in the various State offices, like the ambassadors and commissioners in good time. Secondly, he dwelt, to a large extent, on the COVID-19 pandemic, and he acknowledged and commended our frontline workers across the country on the work that they have done, and that the country will forever be grateful for their services. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, without getting into the details of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ravages that have been going on across the country, with a statement of appreciating our frontline workers, I tend to see that there is a big disconnect given that for the last 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.

two weeks we have seen nothing but the frontline workers complaining that they have not been paid, they do not have the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), their allowances have not been paid and their colleagues have died when they should not have. Therefore, even as we appreciate them, we should see how best this country can take care of our frontline workers. This is a shared responsibility between the national government and the county governments. If we can all recall the amount of money that this country has given for this COVID-19 challenges, we do not understand why in almost all our hospitals there seems to be no oxygen. Our colleague recently passed on because of lack of oxygen, yet billions have been sent to these counties. As much as I am putting blame, I also want to appreciate our Government for cushioning Kenyans during these difficult times. We clearly know that there was a reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) from 16 per cent to 14 per cent. There was also a reduction of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. Further, there was a reduction of Corporation Tax from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. We are also aware that the President gave a directive that pending bills of up to Ksh13 billion be verified and paid to the suppliers to improve on the liquidity in the country. We also know that he asked Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to expedite the payment of verified VAT refunds for companies within three weeks. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I also noted, during the Address, that the President also talked about the phenomenal increase in mental health across the country, which has caused distress to families in this country. To mitigate this challenge, we are happy that the Government has now established an office in the Ministry of Health to spearhead the response to this disruption, and elevating Mathare Teaching and Referral Hospital to be a specialised hospital. On education, I noted that the President acknowledged the challenges that the education sector has undergone. He assured the country that they were soon going to release the calendar for the next school term. We are happy that after the State of the Nation Address, we now have a calendar for our educational institutions…

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. George Gitonga, you have the Floor.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to also make my comments on the President’s State of the Nation Address that was delivered to us in accordance with Article 132 of the Constitution. Every year the President comes to the House to deliver that annual Address in which he delves into matters of development and security. As far as I am concerned, and I represent the people of Tharaka, I expected His Excellency the President to speak on the Big Four Agenda. Unfortunately, not much about this was said. When we look at it, it is like the agenda is being given a back-burner position. We do not know why. We have been told that it may not be part of the President’s legacy, but I still believe it is, because every leader would like to look behind and see what he has left. While COVID-19 is ravaging the country, the Government is supposed to put in place measures to ensure that Kenyans are protected from this pandemic. Unfortunately, not much has been done and we appear to be in for a long haul. I say this because, while this House sat through the first surge and made regulations to ensure that the pandemic is combated, unfortunately, the money that was set aside by this House for that particular work was actually stolen and this just goes on unabated. As regards the Big Four Agenda, we have the universal healthcare which is supposed to take care of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, we are being told that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) may not deal with such cases and as such, Kenyans are exposed. As 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.

mourn our colleague who has possibly succumbed to this ailment because we are not sure, I am also mourning a young boy of four years from Tharaka Constituency who has died because of a snake bite. His name is Karani. His father is a chief called Basilio Kimathi. The young man has died because there is no anti-venom in hospitals and dispensaries in Tharaka. A simple thing such as an anti-venom which is supposed to be found in every hospital in every arid and semi-arid area which are infested with snakes was missing. The boy has died. May his soul rest in eternal peace. This is a shame to our Government’s universal healthcare policy. It is also a shame to my county government which is supposed to ensure that this drug or medicine is stocked in all hospitals and dispensaries so that our people are taken care of. What I expect from the Government is a blueprint. It is not the matters that we are talking about. It is not much about the BBI. It is about a blueprint on youth unemployment because very soon, this will be another pandemic. We also want to hear how the rural constituencies are benefitting from the Government as regards electricity, roads and titles. As regards the BBI, the Leader of the Minority Party who is not here spoke passionately about it. Nobody has said BBI is useless. Absolutely no one. What we are saying is that BBI is not crucial at this moment. We should focus and put all our resources into combatting COVID-19. BBI will be with us and we will continue having it. We will continue having the discussion for as long as we are Kenyans. For COVID-19, we must protect our country. I support the President’s Speech.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Let us have Hon. Sahal Ibrahim.

Asante Mheshimiwa Naibu Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi hii ya kuchangia Hotuba ya Rais. Hotuba ya Rais ilikuwa nzuri sana na tuliifurahia. Kwa kiwango cha afya, almaarufu universal healthcare (UHC), tumeikaribisha na kuifurahia lakini ina matatizo yake. Kama una kadi ya NHIF na haikusaidii wakati uko mgonjwa, sioni faida yake. Juzi huko Nyeri, nilisikia watu wakilalamika kuwa hospitali nyingi hazichukui kadi ya NHIF. Hiyo inaleta shida. Katika elimu, Mheshimiwa Rais alituambia umuhimu na faida ya elimu. Ni vizuri na tuliifurahia. Alisema ni lazima madarasa yajengwe na National Government – Constituencies

(NG-CDF). Hatusemi kuwa ni NG-CDF pekee itatumika. Tunataka Serikali kuu nayo isaidie ujenzi wa madarasa. Na si madarasa pekee. Madarasa yatakayojengwa yawe ya maana na yahudumu kwa miaka mingi sana. Mtoto ataweza kusoma na kuelewa vizuri ikiwa darasa ni nzuri na ana mahali pa kuketi. Hiyo ni muhimu sana. Kwa afya ya akili, Rais alisema kuwa atajenga hospitali kubwa sana. Tunakaribisha hiyo na kufurahia kwa sababu watu wengi hapa nchini wana matatizo ya kiakili na hawajijui. Wengine wanasumbua watoto na wake wao. Wengine wako barabarani. Hospitali hizi zikijengwa zitasaidia. Madaktari wengi wataenda kwa chuo hicho wajifunze vile watahudumia watu ambao wana magonjwa ya akili. Jambo lingine nataka kuzungumzia ni uchumi. Uchumi wetu ni mbaya sana. Hatuna kitu cha kujivunia. Nasema hivyo kwa sababu mimi ni mwanabiashara. Biashara iko chini sana. Hali hiyo imeletwa kwa ajili ya ugonjwa huu wa COVID-19. Ukienda kwa maduka, hakuna mtu anayenunua kwa sababu watu wengi wamepoteza kazi zao. Wakenya wengi hawana kazi kwa sababu ya COVID-19. Tumekataa wale ambao wanatufanyia kazi kwa nyumba zetu waje kwa sababu ya ugonjwa huu wa COVID-19. Kama hawana pesa, nani atawasaidia kununua vitu kwa 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.

maduka? Hiyo imeleta shida. Tunataka Serikali ichukue hatua ya dharura kuwapa wafanyibiashara mikopo ili wajisaidie wenyewe. Kuhusu ajira, kuna shida. Vijana wengi Kenya hii hawana kazi. Hatuwezi kujivunia na kusema tumeajiri watu wa mkono kwa barabara au kwa reli. Lakini vijana ambao ni wasomi wako na shida. Juzi nimesikitika kuona kwa televisheni vijana ambao walimaliza chuo kikuu na hawana kazi. Mmoja anauza samosa, mwingine anapanda miti, mwingine anatengeneza manure, mwingine anarandaranda bado anatafuta kazi, mwingine ni engineer na anabeba mawe na mchanga. Hivyo si vizuri. Tunaharibu vijana wetu. Ndio maana vijana wengine wanaenda kwa Al Shabaab. Hawana kazi. Hakuna kitu cha kujivunia hapa. Vijana wanateseka. Wanarandaranda kwa mitaa na hiyo haisaidii nchi yetu. Mwishowe, nataka kutuma risala za rambirambi kwa familia ya Mheshimiwa Murunga. Tunasikitika na kumwomba Mungu ampeleke mahali pema peponi.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): I can see consultations between Hon. Jaldesa and Hon. Akinyi. I would imagine that you are trying to convince each other about the flower girl concept. That is a good consultation. Let us have Hon. Hassan Rehema.

Asante sana Mheshimiwa Naibu Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa fursa hii nichangie Hotuba ya Rais. Haikuwa mbaya, ilikuwa hotuba nzuri. Lakini kuna yale yaliyonivutia kutokana na hiyo Hotuba. La kwanza ni swala la ufisadi. Namshukuru sana Mheshimiwa Rais kwa sababu anang’ang’ana sana kupigana na ufisadi. Lakini wale wanaomwakilisha kutekeleza masuala ya ufisadi hawawajibiki vilivyo. Naona wamechukua mikondo ya siasa. Huwa watu wanafuatiliwa kwa mirengo. Naona siasa zimeanza mapema. Kama wewe si wa mrengo fulani, basi wewe ndio utaandamwa. Lakini kama wewe ni wa mrengo fulani, basi uko huru kufanya utakavyo. Kwa hivyo, naomba wahusika wamuunge mkono Mheshimiwa Rais kupigana na ufisadi bila ubaguzi. Mfisadi ni mfisadi. Hana ukubwa wala udogo. Suala lingine ni kuhusu maendeleo yale ametufanyia, haswa kwa masuala ya barabara. Tumeona anawajibika sana. Huzuni yangu ni kuwa naona barabara nzuri katika miji mikuu ndizo zinaangaliwa zaidi. Huko barabara zaongezwa zikiongezwa. Kuna sehemu ambazo hali ya usafiri iko na shida mpaka sasa.

Tafadhali, wale ambao wanawakilisha ofisi ya Rais, wamepatiwa majukumu, wajue kuna wengine bado wanateseka. Nimefurahi leo kwa sababu mwenzangu amesifu zile kilomita za barabara wamepata kwao. Mimi sina la kujivunia kama mama wa Kaunti ya Tana River, kwa sababu barabara ya kwangu mpaka sasa ni mbaya. Hata tone la mvua likianguka hivi, usafiri kwangu Tana River ni shida. Kwa hivyo, wale mnaotumwa, msitubague. Mfanye Rais awache

yake nzuri.

Ninataka kuzungumzia suala la BBI. Siyo hoja mbaya kurekebisha Katiba. Tangu mwanzo, wakati Katiba ya 2010 ililetwa, tayari ilikuwa na matatizo. Watu walilalamika na wakasema ilikuwa na shida. Wakasema tuipitishe halafu tutarekebisha. Watu wanalalamika. Wanasema kuna matatizo katika Ripoti ya BBI. Wacheni tusuluhishe ndiyo tuepuke kurekebisha Katiba mara kwa mara. Tusipitishe halafu tuje turekebishe tena. Turekebishe sasa. Pia, haina haja ya kupoteza pesa. Hili ni suala la sisi, Wakenya. Tunaweza kukaa tujadiliane na pesa hizo ziende kwa maendeleo mengine.

Kenya ni yetu na ni kubwa kushinda watu wote. Pia, katika hilo suala la BBI, sioni kama mwanamke anatendewa haki. Ile nafasi ya wanawake 47 ambao ni wawakilishi wa kaunti ibaki katika Bunge la Kitaifa na watupatie wawakilishi wengine kutoka Bunge la Seneti. Wale wengine 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.

ambao wanapanga twende tukapambane na wanaume nguvu, tunajua idadi tunayo na tutapambana. Hatusemi ile nafasi ambayo tuko nayo tunyang’anywe. Tuachie na tuongezwe zingine.

Asante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Let us have Hon. Manje Wathigo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this chance to contribute to the President’s speech. The President means well for this country. He articulated the issues that are before him. He started by reminding us that we have a sacred duty in this Republic. He would like us to create a country that our children will find a good place that they will call home.

He gave his speech amidst this COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, the steps that he made were very good for this country to fight COVID-19 disease, especially when he put in place a curfew. During the first phase of it, we, as a country, were able to contain COVID-19 disease at that particular point. He gave incentives like the tax rebate and reduced the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 16 per cent to 14 per cent, corporate tax and PAYE from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. The initial measures were very good. However, in this second phase, there is something that the President or we, as a country, need to do. Just like the way he said in his speech, we should not be fatigued by putting on the masks, keeping distance and sanitising our hands. We, as a country, have to do something because we are taking the measures which have been put in place casually. We are likely to get the disease.

Last night but one, I listened to a research from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). They said that about 4 per cent of those who gave blood in June and July had COVID- 19 disease. Some of them went through without knowing whether they were sick. We have a dire situation in the country. We have to do something. Yesterday, I buried one of my key people in the constituency. Many people attended the burial. His name is Mr. Paul Njogu Njuguna (Pop Metal). Despite the fact that he died of COVID- 19 disease and it was very clear, people were not taking care. They were not protecting themselves. We know that Kenyans are social. However, we have to make sure that we take care of this disease.

The President also narrated about the development agenda and road infrastructure that is coming up in the country strongly. It is very key that he addressed the issue of irrigation. He gave the bold step that he needs to make sure that the transition from primary school to secondary school is 100 per cent. This is the second year running. It is working properly. The education system is being changed from 8-4-4 System to Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) which will serve this country. He also elaborated the enablers of the Big Four agenda and how he has tried to connect the country. This one will go to a string length. If it is not addressed, I see a threat. The rate at which the debt is going up in this country has to be addressed. That is a threat in this country. We get money. Our production in the counties is not very good. We concentrate on getting money from Kenyans or debts, and then we distribute it to counties that are not functioning.

We should now concentrate on the production at the county level. If the county is not producing, then we should also reduce resources. At the end of the day, I see a threat. After another five or 10 years, this country will come to a standstill because it is equivalent to a business sector. If you use one business to fund other units which are not producing, at the end of the day, you will cramp at that.

Another issue that has to be addressed in this country is the political issue. We have never solved a political equation in this country. We have to address it deliberately. We have to make sure that we come out and know how we will move forward. There are some people who join 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.

politics to form a cartel that will enrich themselves. The Governors are being exploited and blackmailed because the Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) come together to exploit the situation. They blackmail the Governors, so that they give them something. If we do not solve this particular problem, this country is under threat of politicians. We have to make sure that we do that. We also have to respect the institutions that we have.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Let us now have Hon. Mawathe Musili.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to contribute on the President’s speech in the State of the Nation Address. I want to congratulate him for the wonderful speech he made on that day. Allow me to take a second to pass my condolences to the people of Matungu Constituency on losing our friend, Hon. Murunga. I wish to comment on three issues which were in the President’s speech. The first one is the continuous fight of COVID-19 disease. We must support the President because everybody has a part to play in fighting this COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the Members wear masks. However, some members in the community do not wear them. If you are infected with COVID-19 disease, you end up dying alone. We should encourage citizens to wear masks, so that they can protect themselves. We need to encourage the President and call upon him, the country and the Government to please allow the continuation of the Kazi Mtaani Programme. We should continue funding it, so that the unemployed youths who are out there can continue to have something small which helps them. We encourage the Government to continue with Kazi Mtaani Programme.

On the issue of BBI, it is normal to change the Constitution. Every country worldwide, including the United States of America (USA) that has one of the oldest Constitutions, have had amendments which we always heard of. There is the fifth amendment and first amendment which is normal. We really support it. We look forward to the BBI and changing or amending the Constitution which is the right of the common mwananchi . On the issue of education, as directed by the President in his Speech, Members should make an effort to spend some funds of the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) in constructing the classes. We also wish to encourage our NG-CDF Committee and the Constituencies Boards to also hasten the approvals. Some of the approvals are taking too long. We wish to encourage and motivate them to hasten them so that some of us can start constructing classrooms.

Some of us, like in my Constituency, Embakasi South, I only have one High school, that is, Embakasi Girls High School; yet I have submitted requests to construct four more classes that are still held up in the Board. So, we encourage the National Government Constituencies Development Funds Committee in Parliament to work with the Board to ensure we hasten that process.

With those few remarks, I wish to support.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Gakuya, you may have the Floor.

Asante, Bi. Naibu Spika wa Muda. Langu ni kuunga mkono Hotubu ya Rais aliyoitoa hapa Bunge. Ilikuwa ya kufana kabisa. Kwanza, alianza na ahadi ambapo alisema ni vizuri tuweke ahadi kwa Mungu na kwa nchi yetu. Hii ni kwa sababu ahadi hunawiri kwa ukweli; na ukweli hauna pande mbili. Ukweli ni pande moja. Na cha mno sana, Rais alisema kuwa, kama Musa kwenye Bibilia, ameona mbele kuhusiana na nchi yetu. 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.

Na mimi kama Kiongozi wa hapa Nairobi, kuna mambo mengi aliyozungumzia ambayo yalinigusa. Haswa, alivitaja vyeti miliki ambavyo vimepeanwa kwetu. Tumeweza kusaidika na shilingi bilioni sita ambapo wakazi kama 40,000 walipata vyeti miliki vya ardhi na bado vingine vinaendelea kupeanwa. Lakini kunazo changamoto kwa sababu kwa vyeti hivyo, kuna ile mizozo ya ardhi zaidi ya 5,000 ambayo mpaka sasa haijaweza kutatuliwa. Hata kama huwa tunahakikisha kuwa kila mtu amepata haki, hivi karibuni lazima watu watapata haki. Kwa mfano, katika eneo Bunge langu la Kasarani, sio tu waliopata vyeti hivo, tunao watu ambao wamekaa katika mashamba ya wenyewe. Vile vile, katika Agenda Nne Kubwa za Rais Uhuru Kenyatta, Serikali inahakikisha kuwa watu wamemiliki nyumba. Huu ni wakati wa watu waliopewa kazi hiyo, hamna haja ya kununua mashamba sehemu zingine ndio wajenge nyumba za kufana. Miaka imepita na wananchi huenda ikawa walijenga sehemu hizi baada ya mwongozo mbaya wa wakati huo katika eneo la mashariki mwa Nairobi.Watu hawa ni wengi; hizi ni zaidi ya familia 300,000 ambazo ziko huko. Kwa hivyo, namuunga Rais mkono na tunapoendelea kupatiana vyeti hivi vya ardhi, tuweze kukumbuka familia hizi. Sheria ambazo zipo zimetosha kuhakikisha kwamba kila mtu ametosheka. Tukiangazia mambo ya chakula, chakula ni kitu muhimu. Imefika mahali katika nchi yetu ambapo hatutakuwa na hali ya kujimudu kimaisha kupitia chakula. Bila kufanya kazi na Serikali kushikilia ile mikakati ifaayo ili kuleta chakula, hakuna vile tutakavyo endelea. Tunaweza kuwa na barabara nzuri, teknolojia nzuri na maendeleo mazuri, lakini, ikiwa haya yote hayawezi kuweka chakula mezani, itakuwa ni bure kabisa. Tunapozingatia mambo ya uchumi, uchumi bora huletwa wananchi wanapopewa nafasi ya kufanya kazi. Walakini, mahali imefikia hapa Kenya, kila mtu akimaliza shule, akienda kuomba mkopo kwa Serikali, anaulizwa ni biashara gani anataka. Swali langu ni: Je, iko haja gani ya kwenda kusomea masomo mengine? Basi, si tuweke masomo ya biashara kutoka shule zetu za upili hadi vyuo vikuu. Tunapowambia watu kufanya biashara, tunawafunza wizi. Hii ni kwa sababu, biashara unaweza kuifanya haraka na upate mali nyingi. Basi wanaona hakuna haja ya kwenda pole pole. Kwa hivyo, watu wale, wamefanywa na Serikali kutokuwa wanabiashara bali wanaleta miradi ambayo inawafanya watajirike haraka. Asante, Naibu Spika wa Muda, na tushikilie Rais ili kuwezesha mikakati yake kutendeka.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Hulufo, you may have the Floor.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to contribute to the President’s Speech, which I support. I would like to talk to a few issues that His Excellency touched on, beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has not only been declared as a national disaster, but as a global disaster because it is affecting everybody globally, including developed countries which have advanced medical systems. It is unfortunate that the frontline soldiers who are helping us deal with this pandemic are not properly facilitated to have protective gears. We have had instances where our doctors have threatened to go on strike, unless their welfare is looked into, in terms of being protected as they provide services to Kenyans who are affected by this pandemic. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would like to echo what the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security has said. For example, police officers and prison officers who have not seen anyone who require special support because of the role they play. For example, police officers are exposed to risks as they deal with offenders. Together with the Committee on Administration and National Security, we have had the 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.

opportunity to visit some police stations, including Isiolo Police Station in my Constituency last week. What we saw there worried us as national leaders. I would like to appeal that police officers be given special allowances during this pandemic. The President also briefly touched on the Big Four Agenda, which he said we should not see them as projects, but rather as economic development strategies. In that strategy, the only part which specifically is on Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) and, especially on pastoralists is on manufacturing. If you look at affordable housing, development mostly take place in the cities. We also have cities, for example, my constituency hosts Isiolo which is designated to be a resort city. We also have, what I would, probably call the only slum in Northern Kenya in one of the wards in my constituency that is Bulesa Pesa Ward, but we have never benefitted from affordable housing. But the part of the Big Four agenda which we thought is going to help us as pastoralists is the part on manufacturing which related to value addition of hides and skins. Unfortunately, looking at the Big Four agenda that is the pillar which had the least focus. As we speak, in most of the northern counties, over the last one year, for lack of market for hides and skin, literally after slaughtering animals we have been throwing away these valuable byproducts from our animals. Of course, sometimes the President can provide the broader vision, in good faith and heart, for the country, but when it comes to implementation, those tasked with the role of implementation have let him and Kenyans down. I would also like to talk about education. Of course, the closure of school when the outbreak of COVID-19 was confirmed in the country was timely. I believe, it has helped save our children. His Excellency also directed that the Cabinet Secretary issues a calendar on reopening of schools and how our kids can recover the lost time. That is fine. Apart from hastening the opening of schools, how safe are they? Our schools are crowded. In most of the places, especially in the north where we have poor school infrastructure, providing education is tricky because the population is dispersed. Even with the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) we struggle to provide adequate facilities. Therefore, I would like to urge the Ministry of Education to be given adequate funds for infrastructure.

Finally, in my constituency, there is an operation that is going on targeting Ngare Mara Location. It relates to security. It is done in such a way that women and children are….

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Hulufo, when you just stand and you do not ask for time, I will just move to the next person. You look like you want to ask for time, but you are not. I will give you a minute to wrap up.

Thank you very much. Because it touches on the right of Kenyans, I would like to appeal to the security organs in Isiolo who are carrying out operations to spare innocent mothers, fathers and children. We support the Government when they deal with rogue bandits who target security officers, but I appeal to them to avoid carrying out collective punishment. Women, children and the elderly should not be touched.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Sophia Noor.

Thank you Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this chance to add my voice to support His Excellency President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta’s State of the Nation Address. At the outset, any given country, be it devolved or developing, faces challenges in one way or the other. This country is not an exception. Kenyans and Kenya is facing a problem.

I would like to thank His Excellency the President for the Address he gave on 12th November 2020. On COVID-19, we know that is a global crisis that has affected the whole world 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 one way or the other. We know that on the economic front, major sectors have been affected by COVID-19. Back home, we want to say the truth and it will free us. His Excellency the President and the Government of Kenya went out of their way to mobilize resources and established a framework to address coordination of COVID-19 but what happened? The stakeholders who were given the mandate to implement the framework and to use the money properly have misused the resources and have let down Kenyans when we are losing Kenyans in a big way. They have misused the resources. They must take responsibility. These people must individually, institutionally and at the county level take responsibility. We know that health is devolved and the national Government has given resources to our counties, but what are we seeing? We are seeing horrible things at our health facilities and institutions. We have seen frontline medical personnel crying out. I was touched when I saw Dr. Nyikal break down. That shows a state of helplessness, that we can neither help nor do anything. This is a bad image for the country. This time round, if these people are not held to account for the resources that had been mobilized for COVID-19, then there will be no other day that we will hold people to account for misuse and mismanagement of resources in this country.

The other day, in this 21st Century, and my brother here is a witness because he is my neighbour at the constituency, I saw a mother during child birth. She delivered and was referred elsewhere because she developed some complications. We did not have an ambulance to take the lady. We lost her. How can we, in this time or era, have that kind of situation? We have been asking for resources and asked governors to take services closer to the people, but what is happening? We are not getting the fruits we are supposed to get.

As Members of Parliament, we are servants of our people at the constituency and county levels. We do not need any special treatment during this COVID-19 time. We are supposed to work for our people by giving proper services and help by reaching out to them. It is not the time to ask that we be provided with helicopters. What for? I always go every weekend to my constituency although the roads are terrible. I go out to serve my people, but I cannot ask to be….

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): One minute, Hon. Sophia.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. What we need is proper services at the grassroots or all services that are required.

Most counties in this country do not have oxygen plants. When they do not have something as basic as an oxygen plant, what are we saying about this country? This country needs to be serious. We need to talk to one another and sit and see that the development plan of the country is taken seriously. This is the time to talk to one another because we have experience. We know what has happened to us and what is waiting ahead of us. The COVID-19 is here with us and we must follow the framework that have been put in place very seriously.

On education, His Excellency the President was very clear that we use the resources we have for NG-CDF but ….

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Let us have the Hon. Njiru Muchangi. Is it Mshangi or Muchangi?

It is Muchangi. Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Sophia, you overstepped. I gave you one minute and you went ahead to do a lot.

Yes, Hon. Muchangi, go ahead.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I also want to contribute to the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency 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.

I thank him for the Address. I was seated here listening to the plans His Excellency the President has for this country. My attention was drawn to the issue of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which seeks to restore dignity to our people so that they will not need to sell their land to pay hospital bills and that our people will not forgo food so as to buy medicine. That is a good thing. I have said in this House in the past that a health nation is a wealthy nation. I was happy to hear that the President’s administration intends to carry out far reaching reforms with regard to National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

The moment the NHIF charges were raised to Kshs500 so many Kenyans, and particularly the very poor ones, were unable to continue paying the Kshs500 because they had to decide whether to buy food or to pay for the NHIF coverage. I believe UHC programme will help our people. They will not have to suffer because they lack Kshs500 to pay to the NHIF.

There is also need to have a health services commission like we have the Teachers Service commission (TSC) so that issues to do with health are streamlined at the national and county levels. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many challenges that we have in our country with regard to healthcare services. I believe a health services commission would streamline the management of public health institutions so that our doctors do not continue to suffer. I remember yesterday I was in a discussion with one of the doctors who is my friend, and he was telling me that apart from people suffering during this period, they are also suffering. This is because of delayed salaries and the fact that their NHIF premiums have not been paid by the county governments. So, there is need to relook at this matter and establish a health services commission.

Lastly, I was very happy to hear that His Excellency the President intends to transform the lives of young people from earners of wages to owners of capital. This is very possible. It is possible for our young people to employ themselves. However, the reality is that we have very many challenges in this country. When young people want to start businesses, they are discouraged by the very high levies charged by the Government. They are also harassed every day. An example is the boda boda sector, which has employed over 1.2 million young people. However, these people suffer every day in the hands of the police. They are harassed and punished even for very small mistakes.

Young people are suffering because they are harassed everyday by the police, yet the services they provide to Kenyans enable them to earn some little money to buy something to eat and feed their families. So, if the Government of Kenya can make it possible for our young people to start businesses, I believe they can employ themselves and…

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): No, Hon. Muchangi. It will be unfair to other Members. Time is running out. So, kindly, let us confine ourselves to the five minutes. Let us have Hon. Mohamed Sheikh.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I stand to welcome the President’s Speech. Article 132 of the Constitution of Kenya obliges the President to give a state of the nation address at least once a year. Therefore, the President was within his constitutional right to give us the State of the Nation Address. The President highlighted considerable information that was necessary for us to know. He highlighted our international and national obligations and all matters that are within our borders. The President started with us our national Anthem and mentioned that may peace 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.

within our borders. That is one of the things that I want to touch on; that is national security. I am quite happy that national security is improving, and it is at a stage where we can say that we are quite comfortable for progress in this nation. The President touched on socio-economic and health challenges. Those are issues that touched Kenyans over the last few months through the better part of this year. We have had considerable number of socio-economic challenges as well as healthcare challenges. The President highlighted that we have realised a 5 per cent economic growth in this country despite the challenges that we have had. This is something to be happy about. Let me touch on something I know very well – the issue of health. Having been in the medical field since 1989, I am in a position to say that the state of our healthcare services is in the doldrums. It is absolutely in the dark ages at this particular time. Despite being a country that is considered a middle-income by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, we face challenges in terms of healthcare. Let me be categorical, COVID-19 is considered a pandemic, and what pandemic means scientifically is a disease that is found across the globe. It started as an epidemic and went to pandemic, and it is going to be endemic. Let us face it. What endemic means is that this is a disease that is going to be there forever. Endemic means a disease that is found within particular locality, and it is a disease that we are going to be living with. Therefore, our plan should not be short-term – running after Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) only. That is not enough. What is required is a strategy that will salvage this country from the scourge of such pandemics and this endemic condition. I would stand to say, as an epidemiologist, that this is going to become an endemic condition – a condition that is going to stay with us forever. What we also need to understand is the plight of doctors. As a Member of the Departmental Committee on Health, I was there yesterday when my colleagues broke into tears. It touched every one of us that our doctors and the entire health personnel do not have health coverage. Universal health coverage is one thing that the President has launched. I was privileged to be there in Mombasa a couple of weeks ago when it was launched. However, what I want to emphasize is that health coverage for health personnel and poor people is something that needs to be worked on. Health coverage or insurance is one thing, but the facilities are not adequate. We are prepared to face it, and we have to face it with all our resources mobilized towards supporting communities that are going to face that. I also applaud the President on the mental health specialized centre of Mathari. That is a very good thing that he has pointed out because the mental health status of our people is also in a serious situation. With those remarks, I support.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Let us have Hon. Chumel Moroto, Member for Kapenguria.

Asante sana, Bi Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi hii ili pia nichangie mambo ambayo Mhe. Rais alisema hapa juzi akiongelesha taifa nzima. Imekuwa kawaida kwa sababu iko katika mpango wa kila mwaka ili Rias aje kutoa hotuba ya hali ya taifa katika Bunge. Itakuwa mwaka ujao tena atakapokuja kutoa hotuba ya hali ya taifa kama alivyofanya juzi na miaka iliyopita. Hii si mara ya kwanza. Hata marais wengine walifanya hivyo. Hata wakati ‘Nyayo’ alipokuwa Rais, alikuwa anakuja kutuhutubia na anapomaliza, tulikuwa tunajadili hotuba yake kwa siku saba na inabaki hivyo. Rais Kibaki pia alikuja na kusema yake. Sasa ni wakati wa rafiki na kiongozi wetu Rais Uhuru Kenyatta. 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.

Wakati Rais anakuja kuongelesha taifa, kuna mambo ambayo amepanga na yako katika moyo wake ya kwamba haya ni lazima yafanyike lakini wale watekelezaji, wale wanamsaidia wanampotosha. Kumbuka ni yeye aliweka hawa watu. Kama ni Mawaziri, ni yeye alipendekeza. Ilipofika hapa tulisema hatuwezi tukapinga kile Rais ameleta kwa sababu huenda ikawa hawa ndio wako na moyo wa kutaka kusaidia Mheshimiwa Rais kutekeleza ile mipango ameweka hapo mbele. Umesikia wakati mwingi tukizungumzia ile Miradi Nne Kuu katika jamhuri hii. Ni ile ambayo inagusa mwananchi wa kawaida. Kama hiyo ingetekelezwa, sisi hapa hatungekuwa na maneno. Nimesema kwamba Rais, kwa sababu namjua hata vile alikuwa akitembea akiwa kijana kabla hajapata kazi, ni mtu alikuwa anakula na watu na kuzungumza na watu. Anaelewa yale mateso watu wako nayo. Tukiongea kuhusu huu ugonjwa ambao uko mbele yetu, unamaliza watu tukiona. Jana hata yule alikuwa director wa medical services, Mhe. Nyikal, alilia. Yeye anaelewa kwa sababu anatoka kule. Mheshimiwa Murunga ambaye ametuwacha, hangekufa kama angepata oxygen katika ile hospitali ambayo alifikishwa kwanza. O xygen tu peke yake ya kurudisha hewa na hali ya kupumua ilisemekana ilikosekana. Hata mpaka sasa hakuna hatua Serikali imechukulia ile hospitali. Tunajua ya kwamba kuna pesa ilipeanwa. Nimesema hili Bunge lisiposaidia Mhe. Rais, tutakuwa tunamlaumu bure, lakini yuko na moyo wa kutaka kutengeneza kile kitu. Lakini mpaka saa hii hakuna mtu amechukuliwa hatua na mtu ameenda. Si huyo peke yake, bali na wengine kama vile wenzangu walisema tukiwa hapa. Kuna Wakenya, hata mahali natoka kule Kapenguria. Hospitali ya Kapenguria ni kubwa lakini utapata ya kwamba mtu akiwa mgonjwa anakimbizwa mbio mpaka Eldoret, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Kwanza anapita Kapenguria na Kitale, bali pesa imepeanwa kila mahali. Kwa hivyo, ndio nataka kusema kwamba wale ambao wanahusika, especially ile

ambayo inasaidia mambo ya health, tunataka wachukue hatua. Kama mtu hawezi akafanya pale hata afadhali ajiuzulu na mwingine aje afanye, yule ambaye atakuja kusaidia wananchi. Sisi kama wafugaji tumeona ya kwamba hiki kitu ambacho mnasukuma, mambo ya BBI, tangu hii Equalisation Fund ilipoletwa ilifanya kazi mara moja na ikakufa mpaka saa hii. Mahali mimi natoka, umesikia hata leo hapo Kapedo na juzi viongozi kama yule Regional Commissioner wa Rift Valley na viongozi Waturkana,Wapokot na wa Baringo, walikuwa wanafanya mkutano lakini mpaka leo watu wanakufa baada ya wao kutoka huko. Hakuna yule amerudi kuona ni nini imefanyika mpaka sasa kwa sababu tunazungumza na wale watu wa huko. Kwa hivyo, ndio tunasema kwamba nikiwa mtu ambaye nimekaa hapa kwa muda mrefu, nataka tuangalie hili Bunge liamke na lifanye kazi yake, ili lisaidie Mhe. Rais. Nina imani na yeye kwa sababu naelewa vile alianza hadi wakati huu. Lakini wale wanamsaidia ndio wanammaliza kabisa. Asante, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. John Mose.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me a chance to also add my voice to His Excellency’s Address. I want to say that His Excellency the President touched on very critical and crucial matters that really concern us as a country. To start with, His Excellency the President was candid and forthright in respect of the aspect of the pandemic that has ravaged the country. From His Excellency’s Address, it is clear that he outlined very well the steps the Government has taken in terms of addressing the pandemic. However, allow me also to say that we still urge that with the upsurge of COVID-19 pandemic, as 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.

a country are we still required to even reengage ourselves. I think the President needs to refocus because of the upsurge of the pandemic. In my constituency, in the last like two weeks, we have lost very many people. When you look at even those that we have lost, some of them are those who are frontline workers in the Government. We should be able to rededicate ourselves to address this issue of the pandemic. What do I say? You know the pandemic as at now has serious consequences on other serious sectors of the economy. One of them is the education sector. I am aware and the Cabinet Secretary for Education has announced that schools are opening in January. It is going to be disaster for this country. I say so because of our level of preparedness and infrastructure in terms of what we have done to have the many pupils go back to school in a deplorable condition. Therefore, I urge the Ministry of Education to dedicate the money that it has put for infrastructure to be channelled to the various schools so that we have many classes put up and renovations done in many of the schools which initially were not set for this. Besides, many of the private schools that were helping have closed. The proprietors have opted for other options. Some of them have even converted their schools into restaurants and accommodation places. Therefore, this is an area that we need to address. Secondly, very many Kenyans have lost jobs and in January, they are required to pay school fees for their children. I urge that the Government refocuses its energies, strength and all its resources to ensure that it assists parents in January to address the issue of the schools that will have reopened. There is something that the President did which is extremely good. The boda boda sector for our young youths was for many years considered an area of rogues, thieves or criminals. However, with the Government coming in, we want this House to pump in more resources to ensure that we have invested in our young people. At the end of the day, the boda boda sector has become a serious industry that employs very many young people because they also do a very good service to our people in terms of movement from one town to another. So, with those remarks, I support the President’s Address.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Member of Fafi, Hon. Osman.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me the chance to contribute on the State of the Nation Address by the President. I thank the President for the big heart he has for this country. I thank our President for bringing the country together. I will only talk about the BBI. My concern is about the BBI. As pastoralists, we are Kenyans and we have been marginalised by our Government for the last 57 years. As my senior has spoken, the Equalisation Fund was only seen once since it was started. I also want to say that the BBI is good for the country. The President has good intentions. We got peace from the Handshake. People are taking advantage and politicking about the BBI. I have supported the President throughout, since the day I was elected. Up to today I have never been in any other camp except that of the elected President of the Republic of Kenya. I have attended all the BBI rallies. The only one that I missed was the first one which was in Kisii. I attended the rest. I went round to support the President and the BBI. However, what I have found out after seeing the BBI Report is different from what we proposed. I know the President has good intentions for the country. He wants to bring the country together, but people are taking advantage of that; they are calling each other names. For example, if you openly speak your mind by saying something is not right, you will be labeled tangatanga, kieleweke and many 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.

other things. As Members of Parliament, we are here to help the President, to legislate and support our people on the ground. About Fafi, it is the third largest constituency in this country and it has no roads. One week ago, I supported Administration Police and Special Forces who were stuck in mud for seven days. I had to send a tinga to go and help these soldiers who were stuck in mud. Earlier, my sister spoke about health. This is the only time we are seeing the fruits of our Kenya Government, 57 years down the line. What I am trying to say is that, let us support the President and the BBI. However, the only problem I have with the BBI proposals now is that we cannot desire to amend the Constitution and yet we cannot give room to amend the BBI proposals. That is not good for this country. I want to talk to our President, if he can hear my voice as a young leader from the northern part of Kenya. We want his help. As pastoralists we belong to this country. We are not going anywhere out of this country and we are not here as third class citizens, we are Kenyans. I was born in a camp in Lanet. My dad was a military man who served this country. Your Excellency the President, we are here to support you. We have some issues with the BBI. If we pass the BBI today as it is, pastoralists’ counties will lose money. If you can remember, the other day we had a problem with the revenue sharing formula in the Senate. We do not want to go back there by opposing the BBI. The other thing is that, as pastoralists, we are Kenyans. We need to unite and defend the interests of our communities as pastoralists. As pastoralist tribes, we should stick together and open our eyes. We should have our own party with a party leader who, next time, can sit next to the President and raise our concerns or before any other President that will be elected. A pastoralist can also be a President as it was said. We are big in numbers and we have been marginalized by governments for the last 57 years. Another thing I want to ---

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Osman, unfortunately your time is up. You have made your point. Let us have Hon. Mugambi Gichuki.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I stand to support the seventh President’s State of the Nation Address. I want to laud the actions he has taken to drive this country forward. In particular, I want to recognise the achievements in terms of ease of doing business in this country which we need. I want to laud his record on infrastructure expansion and the measures he has taken to ensure that, at least, there is security and peace in the country. Generally, these are the fundamentals that we need to do business in this country and to grow and move forward. I want to take note that the President admitted that corruption is pulling his speed down on his resolve to deal with matters corruption. I appreciate that the President alone cannot fight corruption. It is a duty for all leaders. It is a duty of all Kenyan citizens to fight corruption because it is one of the biggest pandemics that is facing this county. We cannot go far and we cannot do much without eliminating corruption. In terms of the conditions for doing business, I would like to appeal to our President to constitute his team that can be walking around to see how to revive the economy that has been highly ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. We get a little worried when we read the newspapers and see that power costs in this country will be going up. If power goes up during difficult times like this, are we going to be competitive in terms of business and compete with other producers in the world? We also need to improve our port services. We need to have seamless services at our ports of entry to ensure that our business communities that are doing imports are able to do their business without losing. Also, as we move forward, this country requires major stock-ups, so 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.

the economy can recover. We have shortage in almost all sectors when it comes to materials for production. Therefore, we need to improve and support our communities that are importing goods. I want to laud the President on the measures he has taken so far in protecting Kenyans against the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that in the first spike, he did a lot and achieved a lot. After that, Kenyans took everything for granted. For example, they started saying that there is no Coronavirus and that it is a money making venture. We are now seeing how serious the second spike is. Today, I want to personally call upon all leaders to support the President in terms of implementing the COVID-19 regulations to protect Kenyans against this pandemic. Leaders should not go round without masks and should not greet or hug publicly and tell people that there is Coronavirus. For sure, we know that there is Coronavirus. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, you can only add me one minute because I am the last one and I have waited for long. I want to laud the private sector in this country ---

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Gichuki, please conclude because you are not the only one.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The Private sector has come in handy to support the Government initiatives. Perhaps, if we all join hands we are going to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Member for Gatanga.

Asante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipatia nafasi hii ili niongee kuhusu Hotuba ya Rais. Ningependa nichukue nafasi hii kumshukuru Rais kwa Hotuba nzuri aliyotupa wiki jana. Yale maneno Rais aliongea yalikuwa muhimu. Alitaja tiba katika hospitali zetu, maendeleo, biashara na ajira kwa vijana wetu. Nikigusia yale aliyoyataja Rais, kwanza ni maneno ya barabara. Nachukua nafasi hii kumshukuru Rais sana maana pale kwetu Gatanga, Rais Uhuru Kenyatta ametutengenezea barabara nyingi. Gatanga ni sehemu moja ya Kenya ambayo waweza kutembea wadi zote sita kwa kuendesha gari lako kwa lami. Kwa hivyo, hili laonyesha kwamba, kwa maendeleo, Rais ametuangalia vilivyo. Barabara hizi zimetusaidia sana. Kwa kuwa Gatanga ni karibu na Nairobi, sasa tunaona watu kutoka Nairobi wakiishi Gatanga. Na ningependa niulize Rais, badala Serikali ijengee watu nyumba, Serikali itujengee barabara na wananchi wenyewe watajijengea nyumba. Jambo lingine, ninashukuru Rais kwa kutushikanisha na watu wa Nyandarua. Barabara inayotoka pale kwetu Gatanga hadi Njabini itatusaidia sana, maana itafanya biashara ikuwe rahisi. Kwetu tunakuza avocado, ngwaci na mimea mingine. Tutaweza kuenda Nyandarua na tulete viazi na karoti. Biashara itakuwa vizuri. Jambo lingine ningependa kutaja ni ugonjwa wa COVID-19. Hii wiki nimekuwa na shida sana. Leo nimetoka mazishi ya mtu ameuawa na huu ugonjwa. Jana nilikuwa na mazishi mengine na kesho pia nitaenda kwa mazishi. Pia nilienda katika shule moja pale kwetu na nikashangaa sana, maana nilipata watoto wote wamevaa barakoa vile Serikali inasema lakini katika chumba cha walimu hakuna hata mwalimu mmoja alikuwa na barakoa. Nikashangaa sana. Nikasema kama tunataka kueleza wanafunzi vile wanafaa kufanya na walimu wenyewe hawavai barakoa, itakuwa vipi? Kwa vile huu ugonjwa utaendelea, lazima kama nchi tukae chini tuone vile tutaelimisha wananchi, maana pale nyumbani hata ukiongelesha wananchi kama kiongozi na uwaambie wavae barakoa, wanakuangalia vibaya; hawaelewi chenye unasema. Kwa hivyo, lazima Serikali ijitolee, tufunze watu na tuone vile tutaendelea. 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.

Hata watu wakishikwa wapelekwe katika korokoroni za polisi, kuko ni shida. Katika kaunti nzima, hakuna nyumba nzuri. Zile nyumba za polisi tuko nazo ni zile za zamani sana. Hata ukishika mtu na umweke pale, ugonjwa utaenea tu. Shida ingine tuko nayo kama kaunti na hasa katika Gatanga ni shida ya maji. Yale maji mnaoga nayo hapa Nairobi yanatoka kwetu lakini shule ya msingi ya Ndakaini hamna maji. Hao watoto wetu hawana maji. Katika Gatanga tunajaribu, lakini bado tuko na shida ya maji. Kwa hivyo, ningependa kuuliza Serikali na magavana wetu watusaidie ili wanafunzi wetu wakuwe na maji maana bila maji ugonjwa utaendelea kuenea na hatutaweza kuumaliza. Jambo lingine ni biashara. Tuko na vijana na tunasema hawana ajira. Ile shida tuko nayo ni vijana wetu wanakataa kuenda zile shule za ujuzi wa kazi ya mkono. Hapo ndio shida ipo. Serikali imetoa pesa nyingi, lakini vijana wetu wanadharau kazi za mkono. Na hapo ndio kazi ziko. Ile Bajeti tunapitisha hapa, pesa nyingi tunapeleka kujenga hosipitali na kuweka stima. Kwa hivyo, ningeomba vijana wetu kuwa kazi za tai zimeisha na wakubali wafanye kazi za mkono. Hata ile kazi NG-CDF inafanya ni kujenga madarasa.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Mwirigi Paul.

Asante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda. Nasimama kuchangia Hotuba ya Rais. Hotuba hiyo ilikuwa na mambo mengi mazuri ambayo yanafaidi mwananchi wa taifa hili. Kila wakati Rais akisimama kunena, huwa ako na mambo mazuri ambayo yanafaa kumfaidi mwananchi wa taifa hili, lakini shida ni moja tu kwa wale ambao wanafaa kuhakikisha ya kwamba yale ambayo Rais ameyaangazia yametekelezwa. Ni kweli Rais alizungumzia mambo yanayohusu vijana na ajira kwa vijana na kwamba vijana ndiyo watakuwa wenye kazi. Na aliweza kusema katika kandarasi ambazo zitakuwa zikipeanwa katika taifa hili kuwa ule ujenzi katika ile ajenda zake nne, wale ambao watakuwa wanapata zile kandarasi ni vijana lakini haya mambo saa zingine huandikwa tu. Na wale wanaofaa kuifanya kazi hii kumsaidia Rais ili aweze kuafikia yale ambayo ameweza kuyasema hawayafanyi. Ndiposa waona kama mwezi wa pili lile jambo ambalo lilifanyika ya kwamba kampuni inafunguliwa kwa mwezi mmoja na mwezi unaofuata ile kampuni inapewa kazi ya kufanya bila kuhusisha wale vijana wasio na kazi kwa sasa. Pia, wakati huu taifa hili linapitia janga la virusi vya Corona. Ni matumaini yangu kuona ya kwamba hili janga litachukuliwa kwa uzito kwa sababu wakati huu ni wakati muhimu ambapo tunafaa kuangazia ya kwamba hospitali zetu zina dawa za kutosha na vile vile maisha ya wananchi wa taifa hili yanafaa kuangaziwa sana. Hii ni kwa sababu kama taifa halitakuwa na mtu kama wananchi watakuwa wameaga dunia, sidhani kama kuna kiongozi atakayekuwa na watu wa kuongoza. Kwa hivyo, ni vyema sana wakati huu ambapo nchi inapitia hali hii ngumu, yale mambo mengine yanayoweza kufanywa baadaye yawekwe pembeni na hili jambo la ugonjwa liangaziwe sana. Hii ni kwa sababu wananchi wanapitia huu ugonjwa na kuna pesa ambazo ziko. Kwa hivyo, sio wakati ambapo Serikali inafaa kusema ya kwamba haina pesa za matibabu. Rais aliweza kuzungumzia kuhusu shule zetu na ile miradi ambayo inafaa kufanywa kule ili mwaka ujao shule ziweze kufunguliwa. Sijui kama shule zitaweza kufunguliwa kwa sababu mpaka sasa pesa ambazo tunafaa kupewa za NG-CDF bado hazijafika na bado tunatarajiwa kujenga shule. Na pia zile pesa ambazo Wizara ya Elimu inafaa kuzitoa sijui ni kwa nini wakati mwingine hawaangazii yale ambayo ni muhimu kwa sasa. Hii ni kwa sababu watoto wengi wanaaga dunia. Pia Rais aliweza kukumbuka vijana na akaweza kusema sana sana ile sekta ya boda boda ile pesa ambayo hukusanywa ni zaidi ya Ksh357 milioni. Hii ni kumaanisha watu hawa hufanya 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.

kazi na kama Serikali itaweza kuangalia vijana na kuwasaidia katika kufanya biashara, nadhani vijana wetu watakuwa na jambo la kujivunia sababu ni watu wa kujifanyia kazi. Kwa hayo machache, naomba kuunga na kuhimize watu wote ambao wanafanya kazi chini ya Rais Uhuru Kenyatta...

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Leader of Majority, you have a minute to move your reply.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. A good thing speaks for itself and I have been listening here. I have been here the whole morning and the whole afternoon and I have heard Members and their positive contributions and also some suggestion they made on things that could be made better in the course of policy formulation and all that. Therefore, I am very encouraged and I want to thank Members who participated in the debate on day one and day two, even staying up to this late; the patience and the dedication. In addition, I do not want to repeat the same thing I said during moving, I would just want to rest the matter there. We will take all the comments made and factor them going forward and I am sure His Excellency the President will also be getting the feedback on Members' comments on his Address. So, with those few words, I wish to thank Members and I beg to reply.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): That is good enough. We shall defer putting the Question until when the matter comes back in the Order Paper.

(Hon. (Ms.) Soipan Tuya): Hon. Members, the time being 7.00 p.m., this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 24th November 2020, at 2.30 p.m.

The House rose at 7.00 p.m.

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.