Hon. Members, we still have a small shortage. Let us have the Quorum Bell rung for 14 minutes. Party Whips, it is the expectation of the Chair that you should whip your Members.

Hon. Members, we can proceed. We now have a quorum.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table: 1. The following publications from the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis— (a) Special Paper No. 5/2024 on the Cost of a Nutritious School Meal in Kenya, by Mary Karumba, Samuel Kipruto, Eric Macharia, Isabella Kiplagat, Daniel Muia and Beatrice Ooko; (b) Special Paper No. 6/2024 on Relationship between Drought Early Warning System Information and Food and Nutrition Security in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya, by Clinton Ouma, John Nyangena, Fredwilly Nderitu, Eldah Onsumu, Nelson Mutanda, Mary Kageni and Mohamed Duba; (c) Special Paper No. 7/2024 on Drivers of Stunting Reduction in Kenya, by Violet Nyabaro, Florence Mugo and Grace Waweru; (d) Special Paper No. 8/2024 on Effect of Cash Transfers on Food Expenditure, Dietary Diversity and Nutrition Status of Beneficiary Households, by Samuel Kipruto, Davis Milimo, Richard Obiga, Isabella Kiplagat, Mary Karumba, Martin Kabaya, Irene Nyamu and Eric Macharia; (e) Special Paper No. 09/2024 on Effect of Access to Clean and Safe, Adequate, Reliable and Affordable Water on Child Nutrition in Kenya. (f) Special Paper No. 10/2024 on Food and Nutrition Security in Kenya: Embedding Nutrition Element within the Four Pillars of Food Security in the Counties by Peter Kipkorir, Hillary Wakhungu, Jecinta Ali,

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.

Eunice Mulango, Gideon Nyakundi, Isabella Kiplagat, Mary Njeri, Juma Wachilonga and Eric Macharia. (g) Special Paper No. 11/2024 on Status of Food and Nutrition Security in Kenya: An Implementation of the Framework for Harmonising Nutrition Indicators by Gideon Nyakundi, Allan Gathuru, Samuel Kipruto, Isabella Kiplagat, Japheth Kangethe, Eunice Mulango, Damaris Mulwa and Dorah Momanyi. 2. 19th Edition of the Biannual Report on the Status of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Control in Kenya from the National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse. 3. Reports of the Auditor-General and financial statements for the year ended 30th June 2024, and the certificates therein in respect of: (a) University of Nairobi Pension Scheme 2007. (b) GOK/UNFPA 10th Country Programme (Project Grant No. B4210) – State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy. (c) Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (IDA Credit No. 6138-KE) Teachers Service Commission. (d) East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP) – Grant/Credit No. IDA 6334-KE – Kisumu National Polytechnic. (e) Kisumu Urban Project (Project Advance Account) – CKE 1035.01.G. (f) Kenya Health Sector Programme Support III (DANIDA) Ref. 104. Kenya.810.300 – Grant. (g) Kenya Primary Education Equity in Learning Project IDA Grant No. D991-KE and Credit No.7067– KE and Grants Nos. TF C306-KE and TF C307-KE – State Department for Basic Education. (h) Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (Credit No. 6138- KE) – State Department for Basic Education. (i) Promotion of Youth Employment and Vocational Training in Kenya (TVET I & II) Reference: Loan No. BMZ 2016 67, 211 & BMZ No. 2016 65 298 and Project Grant Reference No. 1930 05 527 – State Department for Technical, Vocational, Education and Training. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

On a point of information, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

What is the point of order, Leader of the Majority Party?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I do not have a point of order, but a point of information. For the benefit of the Members who have not contributed to the State of the Nation Address and those who are rather new and serving their first term, this Motion is a very good opportunity for Members to speak. We agreed in the House Business Committee to have four allotted Sittings. We added this Evening's Sitting to allow as many Members as possible to contribute. Therefore, looking at the number of Members who have requested to speak, we may go up to 9.00 p.m. I also encourage those who are not here that this is the best time to speak. They should be available tomorrow morning to speak to it. Depending on the number of contributions we have, we may need to close the debate probably ahead of time, should the interest wane in time. I encourage Members to be available until 9.00 p.m. today and tomorrow morning. If we conclude this debate by lunchtime, we can allow the House to proceed with other important business, including the consideration of the Mediated Version of the Division of Revenue

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.

(Amendment) Bill, the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill and many other crucial Bills that are before the House, and which we need to finalise, including the approvals of constitutional commissions that are lined up, as was agreed on in the House Business Committee this afternoon. Therefore, I rose on a point of information to encourage Members to be available. Thank you.

Fair enough. Hon. Beatrice Adagala.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to also speak on the President's address to the nation. I will speak on food security. The President assured us that it is now under control and stable in the country. He assured us that our stores have enough fertiliser as we start planting in the new year. Therefore, we shall not have any problem with food and sugar. He assured us that there was enough sugar. Instead of importing, we shall be exporting it to other countries. The President talked about housing. We realise that it is a very important unit for every Kenyan. We must live in a dignified way. The issue of flying toilets will be an idea of the past. Every Kenyan has to live in a decent house. We support the President on the affordable housing agenda so that Kenyans can live dignified lives. He talked so much about corruption, which ails our country. He assured us that clear measures would be taken against corrupt officials so that Kenya could become a corruption- free nation. I also thank the President as he talked positively about gender issues. He said that the two-thirds gender rule should be achieved, which would be a plus for the women of Kenya. We are grateful to him for that. He talked a lot about Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Several Kenyan girls and women have been abused recently. There are several cases where girls are lured into small houses called Airbnb and other places, and they are molested. Some are even killed. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we thank the President for giving a warning against those who are out there to violate women, especially right now when we have started commemorating the 16 days of activism against violence that is recognised internationally. We want to thank the President for being on the front line to ensure that women are given proper care in 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.

society. We are calling upon the churches and the community to instil morals in our young boys to respect their sisters, their aunties and their grandmothers, so that we can have fewer cases of gender-based violence. So, I thank the President for being on the front line in ensuring that Kenya becomes a free country away from gender-based violence against women. The President did very well by stopping the Adani tenders. He did it very well. This one shows he is a caring and listening President. Kenyans all over the country had complained about Adani deals, and I want to thank him for stopping them. However, he should also look for other ways of improving our airport, as it is the gateway to this country and looks horrible. He should look for ways to repair it so that it looks like airports in Doha and other countries. That one has to be looked into. I also thank the President for coming…

Give Mheshimiwa the microphone, please!

I also want to thank the President for expanding the digital infrastructure in this country. We want our youth to make use of it so that they can look for digital jobs across the world. We insist that if all those computer labs are built in every ward, it will be a plus to our youngsters who will look for digital jobs and market our bananas, foodstuffs and other things that the women do to ensure that our lives improve economically. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Member of Parliament for Limuru, Hon. Kiragu, followed by the Member for Turkana Central.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for allowing me to comment on the Presidential Address. First of all, I want to thank the President for his address. It was a candid address. The President was bold and honest about the issues that the public has been concerned about. This is a President who, not long ago, heard the voice of Gen Zs and the public and actually declined to sign the Finance Bill. He heard the stories about Adani, acted upon them, and cancelled the contracts. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we look forward to our President following through on the issues he has raised. Some of those issues are very important to this nation. On unemployment, he is on record for working very hard not only to create employment locally, but also to find opportunities for our young people to work overseas. On education, he discussed the challenges of the Competence-Based curriculum (CBC) and the Junior Secondary School (JSS), and outlined the measures he is undertaking, particularly on additional physical facilities and teachers who have been recruited to make sure that our education system becomes effective according to the plan. We also know that he has a financing model for universities and his strategy for ensuring that our universities stay healthy in terms of finance and management. On matters of housing, I am here on record because, in Limuru, we have 980 units being built, which has created many employment opportunities for young people. The President's idea of making sure that we remove slums in our cities and the rural areas is the way to go because every citizen in this country deserves good shelter. On matters health, I am happy to report that many people in my area and others have given testimonies about how they have been helped by the Social Health Authority (SHA) and Taifa Care. If our President is one who cares about glorifying himself, maybe, he would have called it Ruto Care. We know that Obama had Obama Care. But I am happy that he has not put his name there. He called it Taifa Care, which is good for this nation. In agriculture, he is on record for having revived 17 factories in the sugar industry, and that is the way to go. To stabilise this country, we need to develop local industries like the sugar industries. I am an ex-employee of Mumias Sugar. I know what Mumias Sugar used to be like

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 western Kenya. For a country like ours to be food-sufficient and give us dignity in the world, there is nothing as bad as the leadership of a country going around the world to borrow food for its people. To hear that we have food in the stores, we can only say that subsidising production is the way to go because it has given better yields. I know people have talked about the Public Private Partnership (PPP). The country has no other way to look for money so that we can develop our infrastructure, whether it is the airport, power or roads. The only thing for the public to do is to understand the scope of what the PPP projects are intended to do. I want to support the idea of taking care of our women. The insecurity that has been there…

You just have half a minute more to conclude.

Thank you. I was saying that on the matter of women, we must take care of them. They are our mothers and our daughters. We must make sure that they feel safe in this country because if we shake the women of this country, we will shake not only the economy, but also the social fabric of our nation. Thank you.

Member of Parliament for Turkana Central.

I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. First, I want to congratulate the President for his Speech on the State of the Nation. It is one of the best speeches I have ever listened to. I got a lot of content, either because I am a first-time Member of Parliament or because when I listened even to the other speeches before, this was the best. At the outset, let me start by saying that the President spoke deeply on the Bill of Rights as enshrined under Article 43. The Bill of Rights is justiciable, meaning that anyone can take the Government to court when a Bill of Rights is not addressed. Under Article 21(2) of the Constitution, the Government has an obligation to ensure that, that is addressed. Statistics show that Kenya is not doing well, under this Bill of Rights. If you look at a Report by the World Bank in 2023, it states that 32.1 per cent of the Kenyan population lives below the international poverty line of $1.9 per day. A Report by United Nation (UN) also says 4.4 million people were faced with acute food insecurity in 2023 due to prolonged drought. Last year, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) gave a deficit of two million housing units with an annual demand of 250,000 units. We only gave a supply of 50,000 housing units. I do not want to speak on health. It is hard to learn that 66.7 years is given as our life expectancy by the World Bank. I do not want to dwell so much on that When I listened to the President’s Speech in paragraph 71 and 72, he mentioned listening and learning. The tone in itself was very positive for us to grow as a country. Members have spoken about subsidising production. I do not want to dwell so much on that. It is spectacular to see 17 sugar factories roaring and coming back to life, thus improving the livelihood of our people. I was in Kericho and I was told that in a week, Ksh90 million is dispensed to sugar farmers there. That is positive. I do not want to talk about Taifa Care, which should be called ‘Ruto Care’. This House is discussing the Cancer Prevention and Control (Amendment) Bill and, as a result of Taifa Care, we will achieve something. In conclusion, President Ruto is a great leader. As a country, we are working from a comfort zone to meet the dividends of development. We are in the right trajectory because this road was not taken before, but the President choose to take it. All the other manifestos were speaking about housing and universal health care – but even the Jubilee Government was unable to deliver on this…

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

Give him half a minute to conclude.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. In conclusion, this is the only time we are venturing into the unknown – that is what others feared to venture into. So, as a country, we are in the right trajectory. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

The Member for Ikolomani, followed by the Member for Migori, Hon. Fatuma Mohamed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me a chance to join my colleagues in applauding the President for giving the State of the Nation Address. In his Speech, the President highlighted several sectors of the economy. I may not have time to comment on all of them, but I will mention a few. The President highlighted coffee development issues. In 2000, Kenya was the leading exporter of coffee but now, we are only doing 51,000 tonnes. Uganda is leading with 500,000 tonnes. Allocation of more money to the Coffee Cherry Fund from Ksh2.7billion to Ksh6 billion is the right path. I encourage that our farmers should be provided with free seeds like in Uganda. That way, we will get more foreign currency. On youth un-employment, I wish to confirm and confess that I visited the National Employment Authority (NEA) that is located in Kasarani. The youth are getting employment opportunities, but they lack sensitisation. The office location is another issue. I was informed that they are building new offices in Kangemi, where accessibility will be easy for our youth. On the same breath, we need to allocate more money to NEA, so that they can employ staff in counties to reach the youth there and sensitise them. I believe Members need to hold a session with NEA to be made aware of the job opportunities that are available and cascade the same to our people. In the mining sector, as it is now, gold is being traded in the black-market and, thus, it does not provide the requisite royalties to areas that produce it. In the western region, the first internationally accredited gold refinery is being built. This will end the gold black-market trade so that our small artisan miners can earn something and sell their gold at international prices. A set of rules will be brought to this House by both private Members and the Government to regulate and bring together artisan miners into co-operatives. This way, they will realise the value of what they mine and work for. Let me also talk about the education because it is consuming a lot of money. The efforts that are being made by the Government of employing more teachers is applaudable. There are still challenges that we need to overcome. I am happy that the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury are taking efforts to ensure more infrastructure is done in schools to accommodate the JSS students. It is my wish that JSS, because of the curriculum, be accommodated in secondary schools because next year, we will not be having Form I. This area needs to be looked into because of the manner in which the new classes are being constructed…

The Member for Migori.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I stand to positively support the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya. I am a Muslim, and in my religion, I am taught that when something is good, please do not make it muddy. Honestly, for the first time, I agree in totality with all the issues that the President touched on and, with sincerity, majority of Kenyans are equally happy. However, there must be a few who are not, and that is normal. But, at the end of the day, the President is a politician, he must have critics, and that is okay. I want to tell my fellow Kenyans that this country does not belong to the President. He cannot think for us. We need to think together and criticise positively. We need to give ideas. Do not just criticise with no ideas that are positive.

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 in support of the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has now been renamed to Taifa Care and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). It does not matter whatever the name is it renamed to because whatever name it is, if you give it to a flower, it would still smell the same. That health cover is going to help wananchi . Personally, I am being deducted Ksh27,000 from my salary which goes towards that health cover. Any citizen with a sober mind cannot say that idea is not noble. After all, majority of us are not working. The few of us who are working, we are telling the President to continue deducting the money to enable the likes of Wanjiku, Atieno and Amina to get the health cover that will work for them. I support that system. I also support the idea that truly, the dollar rate has gone down. I am a witness. I bought a few things in January last year and, by the time I was paying, I really cursed the President. Little did I know that he was working on it. I really wish I had postponed to buy my stuff to now because the shilling is shining at the moment. I appreciate the fact that the dollar is now at an affordable rate that makes even food stuff go down, and businesses are workable for us. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am also in support of the security system that the President was talking about. Our girls and women are now being threatened by those unnecessary deaths that are occurring in the country. I also want to urge the churches that this is where you are needed the most; and I am begging the churches and our religious leaders to concentrate on godly affairs. I agree that it is your responsibility to check on the Government and the leadership of this country, but look at our girls who are being killed every day. What do you do on Sunday when they come? What do you teach them when they come? In our mosques, what do we tell our girls when they come for prayers? Do we tell them that the Government cannot protect them when they enter a lodging with the wrong man; that the Government will only catch the person after he has killed them; and that the President will not pay their families any money or give them their lives back? It is the responsibility of us the parents and the churches because they are supposed to give direction. As leaders, there is very little we can do other than speak about it in public barazas . What will I do if Fatuma decided to walk in with a wrong man in a wrong place at night? My dear girls who are in school and my dear parents who are out there, that responsibility is yours. The Government's responsibility is limited - other than to give a speech and say that they will see what they can do about it. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the security in Kenya is generally not good. This is the effect of unemployment, and can only be solved when the dollar is down so that the investor can have confidence to come to Kenya and invest. The security for a person who wants to come and invest here should be guaranteed as well as the condition for doing business here, is made manageable. Again, there are too many licenses that are required for foreigners who want to do business in this country. There are so many middle men who make it very difficult for an investor to be licensed. I am requesting the President to check into this so that we can have an opportunity to get that investment so that the jobs can be created. I come from a sugar-cane farming area, which is Migori County, and I am very happy that South Nyanza Sugar Company Limited (Sony Sugar) will now be working again. This will create employment opportunities. Also, I believe our farmers will be very happy because for the first time, they will be getting their payment. I congratulate the President and I pray that Allah gives him more guidance, and people who guide him to do the right thing than those who just criticize him. Thanks to God one person... Can I finish my statement, Hon. Temporary Speaker?

Okay, you have half a minute.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I urge my fellow leaders, and those who lost their seats by default or not, to please advise the President to be on the right track. Since the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)

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.

donated our men and women who have knowledge in leadership, you can now see that the President is being guided towards the right direction, instead of those who are now dancing to

and mugithi, and misleading the President, instead of helping him to lead this country. I am asking the current Deputy President to help the President. I can see that he is a good man. I can see it from a distance. Please, help the President, and do not be over-ambitious. Your time will come and, if you help Kenyans, Kenyans will reward you. May God bless Kenya. May God bless our leadership.

Hon. Mawathe, followed by Hon. Zamzam. Hon. Zamzam you are after Hon. Mawathe.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to also contribute. As per my observation, I find that there was a lot that was left to be desired. On the Adani Enterprise Limited deal, yes, there was pronunciation for the cancellation of the two, but there were three. There is still the Ksh104 billion that was still in the SHA/SHIF software. As far as the insurance for the common mwananchi from SHA to Taifa Care, we could have just retained the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and improve on it. I am sure we would have achieved more. I see many people on television every evening who have not been successful with their bills being paid for. They go to the hospital and end up not getting the services. A lot needs to be done to achieve that. The New Higher Education Funding Model is still a big challenge to the wananchi out there. I hope the President would have said that he is going to bring back the old model of the funding. There are so many unemployed youths out there and what the common mwananchi and the youth out there wanted to hear is what was being done to create employment. But that did not come through. Every year, we have many graduates who are leaving universities, but there is no solution as to how they can create or gain employment. The cost of electricity in Kenya is very high compared to our neighbours. The industries are fleeing the country to go to our neighbouring countries because of the high cost of electricity. I was hoping that the President would come here and say that he will reduce the cost of electricity so that we can, at least, attract more industries. That way, we will create jobs. There are so many companies in my area, that is Industrial Area and Mukuru Kwa Rueben, that have left the country and gone to Rwanda and Tanzania, and especially the Economic Processing Zone (EPZ). The cost of living is very high. There is no liquidity in the country. The common

does not have money in his pocket and what matters for most people is how much you are able to retain. If we keep on squeezing the common mwananchi’s payslip and taxing them, then they will not have sufficient money to afford an amiable living. The cost of doing business in Kenya is equally high because of the various licenses that you must acquire before you can be allowed to set up a business, and that is why the foreign investors are hesitant to do their business here. If you noticed, there was a hesitancy to engage in business. There was a lady on television last night who was talking about how her property was grabbed by people in the Central Business District (CBD), and nobody was there to help her. Somebody can just come with goons since they can afford, let us say, 60 of them, and you cannot. She was kicked out of her business and yet, she had a 10-year lease and had stayed there for only two years.

Hon. Zamzam, followed by Hon. Mwalyo.

Ahsante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Ningependa kuchangia Hotuba ya Rais aliyoitoa wiki iliyopita. Mghala mwue, lakini haki yake mpe. Kwa mara ya kwanza, nataka niseme katika Bunge hili kuwa baada ya

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.

kusikiliza Hotuba ya Rais na vitu ambavyo amevifanya, hajavifanya kwa maneno pekee bali kwa vitendo ambavyo tumeviona. Kwanza, ningependa kumpongeza kwa kuwapatia vijana wa taifa hili ajira. Nimekuwa katika sekta ya ajira kwa miaka 25. Niliweza kuwasafirisha vijana 65,000 wakapata ajira nje. Mkondo huo ambao Rais ameuchukua pia unafuatiliwa katika mataifa ya Philippines, Indonesia na India. Wote wameshika ile market ya Middle East . Hizo siyo ajira za kazi za ndani pekee. Ametafuta ajira za madktari, nurses na engineers, yaani katika sekta tofauti tofauti. Nataka kumpongeza kwa kazi 103,000 ambazo amewapatia vijana wetu hivi karibuni. Nataka pia nimpongeze Rais kwa Taifa Care. Hiyo huduma ya afya itamsaidia mpaka yule mwananchi wa chini ambaye hana mshahara. Ameizindua huduma hiyo ili kumsaidia yule mama ambaye anauza maji, yule anayesukuma mkokoteni, na wale wanaoishi maisha duni, ili waweze kwenda hospitalini na kupata huduma. Ningependa kumpongeza pia kwa sababu kwa mara ya kwanza, hatujakuwa na njaa huku Kenya mwaka huu. Hiyo ni kwa sababu mwaka jana, Rais aliwekeza kwenye ukulima na tumeyaona matunda ya ukulima. Chakula kimejaa na wananchi wameishi vizuri. Ukiangalia, utapata mahindi yako sawa, unga uko sawa kwenye maduka na Wakenya hawajalala njaa. Ningependa kumpongeza Rais kwa kuzalisha mazao ya shambani. Jambo lingine ambalo ningependa kumpongeza Rais kuhusu ni mfumo wa

(CBC). Tulilalamika hapa Bungeni kuwa hakuna madarasa lakini wikendi hii, naenda Mombasa kuweka mawe ya misingi katika shule ambazo zimetengwa katika mradi uliowekwa na Rais kuongeza madarasa ya CBC, ili watoto wetu wa

(JSS) waweze kusoma vizuri. Nikiangalia katika sekta ya ukuzaji wa sukari, tulikuwa tunapata kama tani 40,000. Sasa zimeongezeka na kuwa tani 84,000 ambazo zimetufanya tusiagize sukari kutoka nje. Tunatumia sukari ya hapa nyumbani. Nampongeza Rais kwa juhudi zake. Wajua kila kitu kinachukua muda. Kitu nilichogundua ni kuwa Rais alikuwa pengine hana timu iliyokuwa inaweza kumzungumzia yale mambo mazuri ambayo amefanya. Lakini kwa yote ambayo alituelezea, nimezingatia moja baada ya nyingine na nikaona kuwa si yale wanayoyasema kwenye mitandao kuwa Rais ni mtu mrongo. Hapana. Nampongeza Rais. Hata watu wakikurushia mawe, yachukue uyajengee taifa maanake hata ukifanya kitu kizuri, mtu mbaya siku zote atakutoa aibu wakati umefanya kitu kizuri. Kwa hivyo, ninampongeza Rais kwa juhudi ambazo amefanya. Jambo lingine alilolizungumzia ni femicide ama mauaji ya kiholela ya wanawake. Hilo ni jambo ambalo limetugusa sana akina mama wengi. Hata juzi, niliona huko Nakuru mchungaji wa kanisani aliyemdhuru na kumkata mke wake vibaya sana. Nasi tunajua kuwa kanisa ndilo linafaa liwe mbele katika kuleta amani katika ndoa. Siyo mchungaji huyo tu. Kuna wengine ambao hawako kwenye makanisa lakini bado wanawaua wanawake. Rais alizungumzia jambo hilo na kutuhakikishia kuwa wanawake wa taifa letu watapewa ulinzi. Lakini kama alivyosema mwenzangu, ulinzi unaanza na wewe mwanamke. Usijitoe waziwazi kwenda kwenye mahoteli au Airbnb na humjui mtu unayekutana naye. Anakumalizia huko kisha tunaanza kumsumbua President na mambo yetu ama starehe zetu za kibinafsi. Wanawake tuwe macho na tujichunge sisi wenyewe. Najua kuwa Rais alisahau kuzungumzia mambo ya blue economy, lakini nataka nimpongeze. Waziri wetu ambaye ni mgeni amefanya kazi nyingi na tunaona matunda makubwa sana ya blue economy . Akina mama kule Mombasa wanafanya biashara na wamepata pesa za kufanya biashara. Kwa hivyo, nimpongeza sana Rais.

Ashaongezewa dakika hiyo.

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.

Nataka kumpongeza Rais kwa juhudi ambazo amefanya kutupatia Waziri ambaye ni mchapa kazi, kama alivyosema mwenzangu. Wamekuja na kutupiga jeki na tunaona matunda kwa sababu ya uwiano. Nataka niwaambie Wakenya kuwa tumuombee Rais dua ili atupeleke katika njia sawa. Vitabu vimeandikwa kuwa tuwaheshimu viongozi. Tumuombe Mungu atuelekeze katika njia sawa. Nilikuwa mmoja wa wale waliokuwa wakimchapa fimbo Rais lakini, kwa hayo ambayo amefanya, nitakuwa mbele miongoni mwa wale wanaomuombea dua na watakaompa support ili aweze kuongoza taifa letu ili tuzidi kuona matunda. Ahsante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Mhe. Mwalyo, Member for Masinga.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to air my views about the President's Speech. This was one of the best speeches that the President has given since he was sworn into office. It is a plus for him to listen to the people. Even the Bible says that two people cannot walk together unless they agree. The President has started agreeing with the common mwananchi - the Kenyans. We have started a discussion. That is why he was even able to invite some young people, the church, and opinion leaders to speak to them, so that we can be on the same wavelength. In his conclusion, he said that he would continue to listen to them. That means that he wants to move with them as he governs this country. He wants to know what is ailing the people he is leading. That is a plus, as I have said before. I have seen the best model for funding universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVETs) institutions. This year alone, I have seen growth in the TVET in my constituency, which I started in 2018, after I came into office in 2017. I only had 500 students for five years. But this year alone, because of that funding model, the number of students who have enrolled in that TVET is now almost six times the usual number. There are 3,120 students. That means that there is something good that is happening in the education funding. Every child can go to school and the Government can pay for them and train teachers. We only had 10 teachers, but I currently have over 30 teachers who have been posted by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). At the end of it all, we will train young people who will be skilled enough to even start their own companies because they are learning technical skills which they can use once they graduate from the college. Again, job opportunities are opening up overseas in countries like Canada, Qatar, United Kingdom and Germany, where the Government has even signed some agreements. For example, in September, we saw very long queues at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), where young people were filling in forms to apply for those jobs. Some of them have been taken. One of them sent me a message two days ago stating that he flew to Qatar and had already got the job. This is someone who has been staying in this country and trained about four years ago, but had never got a job. But now he has one. What a joy for the parents who spent money to send their children to school and are now seeing them getting employed. So, on that, we say thank you very much to the President. In conclusion, I would like to say that Taifa Care and SHA are the game-changers. That is because everybody in this country will have a card to go and be treated in hospitals without paying any money. Even the poor in our constituencies will be treated. For example, I have been paying for 560 vulnerable and old people…

Give him half a minute to conclude.

I was saying that, through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) Office in my constituency, we have been paying NHIF subscription for 560 households. Now we are transferring them to Taifa Care. If you multiply that figure and include the father and mother, that is 1,120 people, which is a plus. So, to me, this is a game-changer, and we should encourage it to come to full

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.

realisation so that the people can stop murmuring. What I have told my people is that as many of them as possible should register because there is no reverse gear. It has to be either Taifa Care or you are nowhere. Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the additional minutes.

Hon. Mulanya of Nambale, followed by Hon. Manduku, and then Hon. Nimrod Mbai. Proceed in that order.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to debate the President's Speech. Having listened to the President on the day he gave the Speech in this House, I was a very happy person because it was a very progressive one. It will help to move our nation forward. At the moment, we are faced with very many challenges. Kenyans are crying out and need the House to come to their aid and address many issues. The President has given us food for thought on what we are supposed to do. Personally, I have four take-homes from the Speech. First, on food security, the people of Nambale, whom I represent, were among the beneficiaries of the President's programme on subsidised fertiliser. Initially, our people used to buy fertiliser at a cost of between Ksh6,000 and Ksh7,000. Additionally, the main depot was 70 kilometres away. I personally took the initiative to move it closer to the people by creating a mini-depot through my NG-CDF office. I urge the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to support the President on that particular initiative by ensuring that we have many collection centres, even at the ward level, because we are talking about farmers. Affording even the Ksh2,500 is a tall order for many Kenyans, and that amount does not even include transport. So, if we centralise the collection centres at the ward level, we will have many beneficiaries. Many Kenyans will access the fertiliser. Further, we will ensure that there will be no hunger in the country, as was experienced in the year 2022/2023. Further, I also noted the comment by the President on sugar-cane. Coming from the sugar-cane belt, I am a happy person that the President put ink to the Sugar Bill, 2022, which is now the Sugar Act, 2024. That Act will help control the production and sale of the sugar- cane in this country. The President was also very progressive by encouraging Kenyans that, instead of being a sugar-importing nation, we should be a sugar-exporting nation. By doing so, production will increase, and we will have many factories, thus creating many jobs and even improving our GDP by exporting sugar. That is extremely progressive. We should not encourage sugar barons to bring and dump sugar in our country. That will discourage our farmers, thus leading to low output from the farm. Still on sugar-cane production, I urge the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to ensure that, as we enforce the Sugar Act, 2024, we also control the price per tonnage for the farmers. This will ensure that a farmer does not go home empty-handed after toiling for 18 months to produce sugar-cane and support the nation’s economy. The other issue was on corruption. The President again gave us a take-home, where he challenged the House on the issue of election petitions being concluded within six months and yet, corruption cases take 10 years. If we reflect on the era when the period within which election petitions were concluded was not controlled, we note that a Member would serve a whole term while the petitioner was still struggling in the corridors of justice. So, that timeframe has helped reduce election malpractices. Equally, reducing the period within which to litigate on corruption cases will help our nation by discouraging people from engaging in that vice. Lastly, on the issue of Universal Health Care, there is a positive in that the President is encouraging Kenyans to embrace that particular mode of financing the health system in this country. The President's wish is to have all Kenyans access free health care in this country. We note that under Taifa Care, when you register today, you get the services immediately. Compare

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 to NHIF, where, when you register, there is a grace period of six months before you can get the services. We say this is a plus, and I encourage people to register.

Hon. Manduku,followed by Hon. Siyoi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Having had the advantage of listening to and reading the President’s Speech, from where I sit, I can confirm that it was factual, persuasive and touched the pulse of the nation. In fact, by his own admission, and as captured in paragraph seven, the President, for once, listened to the people. It was not just in the delivery of the speech, but also in the style it was written, the context and the content therein. Having said that, and after reading his Speech again and again, I can see that the President’s vision is for Kenya to be on the right trajectory. Let me highlight some of the areas where the President could have improved on. On the issue of Taifa Care, most people may want to understand that, that model is largely borrowed from the United Kingdom's health service model - the National Health Service (NHS). However, the concern of most Kenyans, especially those I represent from Nyaribari Masaba, is on the coverage, access, affordability, quality of the health care, transition from NHIF to SHA, sustainability of the system, and, more importantly, how inclusive it will be. On the issue of the economy, which the President aptly captured, people are still concerned about the cost of living, job creation and debt management. This House resolved, through the debt management strategies, that we should have a mix of 30 per cent and 70 per cent domestic and international borrowing, respectively. The National Treasury has not yet achieved those numbers. We still have to talk about economic growth and financial inclusion, especially with regard to the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). I laud the President for talking about femicide and acting on the issue. From where I sit, I condemn that vice. I urge the House to make a legal framework as soon as possible so that we can support the initiatives that the President has so well elaborated. I also urge the civil society to come on board and sensitise Kenyans on the dangers and vices that come with femicide. Education touches our people so much. We still have a few challenges with the transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). People want to hear and have an assurance that there shall be 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary schools and eventually to the university level. Thereafter, they will transition to the job market. Our people also want to be assured of quality and equity and that we shall always engage the stakeholders in any decisions that we make in as far as education is concerned. The President did not mention anything to do with the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). We know that, that matter is in court. Having had the chance, we think he should have shown that he is an interested party in making sure that we have the body reconstituted as soon as possible. He also did not mention where all his vision lies or aligns with the Vision 2030 that we know is an economic blueprint that this country has so well adopted. On housing, I urge those who are involved to fast-track the agenda and make sure that we build many houses as soon as possible so that they can have the economic stimulus that they are supposed to inject into the economy. On a wholesome, I thank the President for listening to Kenyans for once. Thank you.

Hon. Nimrod followed by Hon. Siyoi.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice and that of the people of Kitui East regarding the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President. I have a few issues to mention.

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.

Kenyans elected President William Ruto. We all know him. We heard him speaking to the country here the other day. From the afternoon, we have listened to the Hon. Members who are elected by the people to this House. Speaker after speaker has positively commended what the President has done. We have a nation. Truthfully – and not the truth of the truthful man - there is a narrative by the media and activists out there. They have created another Ruto that they want to scare Kenyans with. Ruto was here, speaking to the nation. This is Parliament. We have listened to Members who are elected by the people of Kenya. They are happy with what the President has presented before the country. For example, Kenya is a working nation. The President has elaborated his plans of creating a working environment for Kenyans, especially the youth, to create wealth without looking for employment. Young men, by using the internet and a laptop, can make money instead of going round with CVs looking for jobs. What else would we expect from a President if that is not good enough? Talking of the Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), we know that no country can raise enough money to sustain itself. Even the great economy of America borrows from China. They have a loan from the Chinese. If we borrowed to some point and we still needed more money to grow our economy, we still have to turn to PPPs. There is an ideology which came into my mind when the President was talking about PPPs. Let us take an example of a fresh graduate of medicine from a university. That young man may not be interested in employment, but creating his business. Through PPPs and the Government coming in as a guarantor, the young man can get medical equipment and space to open his or her hospital facility. He or she can apply what they learnt in school and employ others instead of going around looking for jobs. He can become an employer through PPPs. Our people need to understand this new term. People out there, especially media owners, have editorial policies of shaping a wrong Ruto to Kenyans and yet, we know the right Ruto understands where he is taking this nation. I urge leaders that it is high time we listened to the President because we are representing the people. Let us get out there. The media is not louder than us and cannot get to the villages better than us. Let us get there and talk to our people about Taifa Care and that the Social Health Authority (SHA) is working. My cousin had a bill of Ksh50,000. It was cleared through SHA. What else would we expect? I can see that my time is about to lapse. Allow me to say something about democracy. His Excellency President William Ruto has put the democracy of our country on another level. This country can never turn back to dictatorship. We have seen the President ceding ground on some issues that Kenyans have complained about. The President dropped a whole Finance Bill just because he listened to Kenyans. He also dropped the Adani deals because Kenyans had issues with them. Add me one minute, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Half a minute.

Thank you. We have heads of states who have literally contempt of court. The court says one thing and a president goes against it. However, our President listens to the people and changes his mind to follow what the people are saying. Imagine a President who gives some offering to a church and the priests says they do not want it and that it should be taken back. Being democratic enough, the President accepts it should be brought back and that he will look for another way of getting his offering to God, if a priest does not want it. I want us to laud the President and push the democracy of our country to another level where Kenya will never deteriorate back to dictatorship. Thank you.

Hon. Siyoi.

Thank you for giving me the chance to support and applaud the President for the good work that he has done and for his Speech 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.

week. I really appreciate our President because he has realised that basic needs in this country have to be taken care of. That is why he touched on each and every sector: Food, health, shelter and education. I will start with the food sector. I come from Trans Nzoia County which largely depend on agriculture. It is prudent to note that maize and unga were very expensive when we came in, in 2022 . The President had promised to lower the cost of unga . I am proud and happy to announce - as the President said last week - that the cost of unga has gone down. This was done through a subsidy on fertiliser. We thought it is important to subsidise fertiliser, ensure that we reduce the cost of production, instead of reducing the cost of consumption. By doing so, we are enjoying enough food in this country at the moment. That is why we have too much noise since the people are full. People are okay at the moment. The only thing that we are still working on is to ensure that they are busy. When the people are idle, most of the time, the noise goes up. The President is also working to ensure that Kenyans get jobs. To start with, when the Government came in, the employment of teachers was a problem. For the longest period, this is the first time that teachers have been employed in large numbers. I request the President to continue employing more teachers. We have trained teachers who are almost attaining the retirement age without being employed. If we do that, we would have helped them and also encouraged other teachers to join the education sector. I want to speak about Social Health Authority (SHA) that is very important in this country. The President thought of elevating the common wananchi, the people at the bottom, to ensure that they get equal treatment like the employed people. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) was charging Ksh500 but, at the moment, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) charges Ksh300. In a scenario where somebody is too poor to afford the Ksh300, the Government is willing and ready to pay for them. I applaud the President because this is a very important initiative that will ensure Kenyans get health services. As Members of Parliament, we are going to be relieved. Most of the time, we are called upon to attend harambees to help our people to pay for treatment. I think this will come to an end if SHA is going to start working promptly. On our currency, when we came in, the Kenyan Shilling had no value. But, at the moment, it is very strong. That contributes much to the business people who are importing goods. Our shilling has now gained value. I want to appreciate and applaud the President for that. We do not take it for granted. I also want to talk about the airport expansion. I have seen people applaud the President for listening to the people. But, in as much as he has done so, I want to believe it is because of the Adani’s dealings on corruption. We saw the other day on television that he had engaged in corrupt businesses in the US. But we still want to lease out our airport to an investor who can expand our airport. By doing that, we will create more job opportunities for our youth. Because this…

Give her half a minute just to conclude.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Our airport at the moment, is too small to accommodate, expand or create more job opportunities for Kenyans. If we are able to expand it, I am so sure that we will create job opportunities for our youth. We will have more people in the job market and businesses connecting from Kenya to other countries. Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Mishi Mboko, followed by Hon. Ruweida and then Hon. Naomi Waqo.

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.

Ahsante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Natoa kongole kwa Hotuba ya Rais Daktari William Ruto. Katika Hotuba yake, alizungumzia mambo mengi sana. Jambo la kwanza, nakubaliana na yeye kwamba shilingi yetu imejizatiti na kufika KSh129 kwa US$ moja kutoka Ksh162. Hii inamaanisha kuwa tunaelekea katika mkondo sawia kiuchumi. Hivyo basi, jambo hili linaweza kuwashawishi sana wawekezaji kutoka mataifa tofauti na wale wanaotoka nchini pamoja na wafanyibiashara. Hivyo, tumeona shilingi yetu imenawiri na kujisatiti juu ya dola. Kwa upande wa Special Economic Zones kama za kule kwangu Likoni, mpaka sasa, takriban wawekezaji 94 wameweza kuleta barua za kusema watawekeza katika sehemu ile. Hii ina maana kuwa uchumi wa taifa la Kenya utaweza kupanuka na ajira zitakuwa nyingi kwa vijana wetu. Mhe Rais pia alizungumzia njia ya kutafuta ajira pasi na zile zilioko katika taifa letu. Tumeona ametafuta ajira katika bara Uropa, Asia na zinginezo. Hili ni jambo nzuri. Lakini kuna wahusika wanamuangusha Mhe. Rais. Nafasi hizo zinavyotokea, hazisambazwi kwa njia ya usawa na uadilifu kwa kaunti zetu 47. Haswa, tukiangalia kuna kaunti kama za kaskazini mashariki, sehemu za Pwani na zile zinginezo, nafasi hizo hazifiki. Hivyo basi, Wakenya wanaona pengine jambo hili halifanyiki, na kumbe linafanyika tena kwa hesabu za juu sana. Wakenya zaidi ya laki moja wameenda kufanya kazi katika nchi za nje. Kwa hivyo, tunasema wahusika waangaliwe waweke ukenya kwa jambo hili. Vile vile, kwa kufufua viwanda vyetu vya sukari, uchumi umeimarika. Pili, tunajenga ajira. Vile vile, tunapunguza gharama ya maisha kwa wakenya kwa sababu bei ya sukari itashuka. Shilingi inavyonawiri, tunaona bei ya bidhaa kama unga na mafuta imeshuka. Kwa hivyo, kuboresha viwanda vya sukari ni jambo nzuri sana. Hivyo basi, tunaomba kiwanda cha Ramisi kule Kwale katika eneo la Pwani kiweze kufufuliwa, kuimarishwa ili uchumi uweze kupanuka. Jambo lingine nataka kulizungumzia ni swala la elimu. Rais alilizungumzia sana swala la elimu. Alisema walimu wengi sana waliandikwa kazi wakati wa awali na hivi sasa pia, walimu takriban 20,000 wataweza kuandikwa kazi. Namwambia Mheshimiwa Rais kuwa tunampongeza kwa jambo hili. Lakini ninarudia kusema kuwa wahusika waweze kusambaza nafasi hizo za walimu katika kaunti zetu 47 ili waone kuna uadilifu na usawa. Kwa Kiingereza, tunasema equity na equality. Maanake, tukizungumzia uadalifu na usawa, ni zile sehemu ambazo zimekuwa na changamoto zipate walimu zaidi. Swala lingine ni lile la Adani. Nampongeza Rais kwa kukomesha sakata hiyo. Kwa sababu lazima uwekezaji ufuate utaratibu na sheria na utumie fedha yenye haitamuumiza mwananchi katika taifa ya Kenya. Jambo lingine ni dhuluma za kijinsia, haswa kwa watoto wetu wa kike. Tumeona watoto wetu wakitekwa nyara na kuuliwa kikatili. Kwa swala hili, vitengo vya usalama na ujasusi lazima vijizatiti ili tuweke usalama kwa akina mama zetu, wasichana na vijana. Jambo la mwisho, alizungumzia kuhusu umoja wa mataifa…

Mpe nusu dakika.

Alizungumzia umoja wa taifa. Nampongeza kwa kuweza kuleta uwiano wakati tulikuwa na ghasia zile za Gen-Z . Tunajua ya kwamba umoja wetu ni nguvu yetu. Kama hangeleta viongozi wengine ili tuwe na uwiano, leo tungekuwa wakimbizi katika taifa letu la Kenya. Tungeenda Uganda na Tanzania kutafuta makao. Kwa hivyo, ni vizuri tutambue ya kwamba sote ni Wakenya. Kama ulikuwa Upinzani, sasa sote ni Wakenya. Ni bora Wakenya wote wafaidike. Mambo ya kuwa na shares ...

Mheshimiwa Ruweida Obo.

Ahsante, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi ya kuchangia mjadala kuhusu Hotuba ya Rais. Kusema kweli, Rais ni msikivu; yaani anasikiliza maneno. Hiyo ni sifa ya mwanadamu mzuri. Katika swala la Adani, kule

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.

kukataaa kwake kunatokana na kusikiliza. Hata hivyo, Mamlaka ya Kusimamia Viwanja vya Ndege Nchini (KAA) imepewa nafasi tena. Tunataka Uwanja wa Ndege wa Jomo Kenyatta uwe sawa na viwanja vingine vya ndege, kama vile Doha. Kuna Wakenya wengi kule. Ukiingia Doha, utafikiri uko katika Uwanja wa Ndege wa Jomo Kenyatta. Watu wengi wametoka makwao kwa sababu ya shida za kiulimwengu. Ikiwa Airport itaendelezwa vizuri, walio nchini wataandikwa kazi na hata wale watakaotaka kurudi nchini wanaweza kurudi na kufanya kazi nzuri. Kwa hivyo, nataka kuambia KAA kuwa, kwa kuwa President amesitisha Adani, ni lazima wajitahidi Airport iwe nzuri. Mambo madogo madogo yamewashinda kufanya, kwa mfano, ukiingia airport zote Kenya, utakachoona ni jinsi ambavyo taxi zipo na vyoo vilivyo. Ukivitazama tu, utajua ni sura ya Kenya. Vitu vidogo vimewashinda. Ukiangalia vyoo ni vichache na usafi sio wa standard kama zile za viwanja vingine vya ndege. Upande wa taxi, abiria wanavutwavutwa ni kama wako katika Soko la Kongowea, Mombasa. Wenye taxi hawawezi kupanga laini. Niliuliza hili swali wakati mmoja na hata Waziri akaalikwa hapa, lakini hilo la laini halijawahi kufanyika. Sijui sababu ni nini. Mimi hamu yangu kubwa ni airport ibadilike iwe kama airports za mataifa mengine. Huwa tunaambiwa kuwa hapa East Africa, sisi ndio big brother. Lakini airport zetu zinatoa sura mbaya ya Kenya. Nilipendezwa na hutuba ya Rais na ninampongeza kwa mengi aliyosema. Rais kwa kweli anafaa kupewa muda. Ana nia nzuri ya kuiendeleza nchi hii. Akipewa muda, atatekeleza na mambo yatabadilika. Rais alizungumza kuhusu madeni ya kitaifa kuwa mengi alipoingia uongozini. Hata hivyo, hakuongeza madeni. Alitumia hekima. Angeongeza madeni, tungepigwa mnada kama nchi zingine. Inafaaa Wakenya waangalie jinsi ambavyo haya mambo yanavyoenda. Wasiwe tu wakiweka lawama. Sasa hivi, Rais ametuliza taifa na wakenya wamefurahi. Rais alizungumza juu ya kupunguza matumizi na ubadhirifu katika Speech yake. Hilo ni jambo nzuri ambalo Wakenya walitaka kulisikia. Kusema ukweli, Kenya inajiweza. Huwa inaporwa lakini bado husimama. Jee, ikiwa haitaporwa, si Kenya itakuwa mbali zaidi? Rais alizungumza juu ya bei ya bidhaa kupungua na ni ukweli bei zimepungua. Ukweli unafaa kusemwa. Kuna bidhaa kama unga ambazo zilikuwa ghali na kwa sasa bei yao imerudi chini. Kwa hilo, tunafaa kumpongeza Rais. Mtu akifanya mema, aambiwe amefanya mema. Kama wenzangu walivyo zungumza, shilingi ya Kenya imepata thamani dhidi ya dola. Ilivyokuwa awali ni tofauti na sasa. Wanaofanya biashara wameona utofauti huo. Hapo ninampongeza. Suala la kuwaandika waalimu kazi ni jambo nzuri. Maeneo bunge yetu hufanya mitihani sawa na maeneo bunge mengine. Hayafanyi mitihani tofauti. Shule ya upili ya Siyu ilikuwa ya mwisho kule Lamu East. Hata hivyo, tatizo halikuwa la shule. Wanafunzi hawajawahi kumwona mwalimu wa chemistry tangu shule hiyo ijengwe. Watatatuliwa vipi? Naomba waalimu waandikwe. Najua tuko kwa mpangilio katika Serikali hii. Kitakachopatikana tutakipata. Kwa afya, sisi kama Wabunge tutie bidii ili watu wetu wajiandikishe katika mpangilio wa bima ya afya. Ni mpangilio mzuri na utawasaidia sana Wakenya. Kuhusu nyumba, huo ni mpangilio mzuri. Nyumba zitasaidia na itakuwa legacy ya Rais…

Mpe nusu ya dakika moja.

Hili jambo likifaulu, itakuwa legacy ya Rais. Rais alizungumza juu ya mambo ya ICT hubs . Hilo ni jambo muhimu sana kule Kiunga kwa sababu ipo mbali sana na Huduma Centre. Kiunga haipati services za Serikali. Itasaidia sana.

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.

Rais alizungumza juu ya Gender-based violence (GBV). Naona Permanent Secretary na Inspector-General wamesimama kidete. Nawatahadharisha wanawake kuwa hii dunia imekuwa mbaya. Tunaona wakiwaamini watu na wanapoenda makwao, mambo yanaharibika baadaye. Hii Serikali ni ya broad-based Cabinet. Imewakilisha wengine …

Hon. Naomi Waqo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to contribute to the debate on the Speech that was given by the President during the national address. It was well articulated. The President spoke to his people. He also addressed us leaders who are working with him in this nation. One thing that was clear is that the President was passionate as he was addressing the nation. He confirmed that he has been walking with the nation. He also confirmed that he is hands-on and he is a listening President. As he was speaking, he addressed national values, principles of governance and the country’s progress on its international obligations. Many States of the Nation Addresses have been done. From when he was elected, he has made a few other addresses. But this address was unique. The President touched on different areas in his Speech. He captured very well the rapid change that our nation has gone through since he delivered his last national address. That confirmed that he is concerned with our progress. After every national address, the President knows the activities that need to be done and the projects that need to be accomplished before his next address. He knows every activity, challenge and progress that the country goes through. One important thing that he mentioned, as I said, was that he has improved his listening skills and he is listening to the people. Many times, he has been criticised for not listening to what is said on the ground. From this speech, it is quite clear that our President is not walking alone. He is walking with his people. He is ready to listen. Different actions have been taken based on the different challenges that we went through. A listening President is a gift to the nation. Many people suffer because they have no one to listen to them. Many people suffer because nobody is ready to give them time and reason with them. The fact that our President has confirmed that he is listening to us confirms that he will be able to promote the trust between him and us, as leaders, and between him and the citizens. It also confirms that communication is built and will be perfected. It also confirms that, as a result, there will be a healthy working environment. This is what Kenyans need. Because of the tough and rough time that we have gone through, the nation has suffered. If we have a listening President, then we are on the right track. On the issue of gender-based violence (GBV), girls and women in this nation have suffered. Even those in politics have suffered in a way. Our President passionately addressed that issue in his address to the nation. Now that we are in the 16-days campaign against GBV, we need to speak about it and condemn it. We also plead with the police and all human rights and other concerned organisations to take proper measures against anybody…

Give one minute to the Whip.

We should take the necessary action against any person who violates the rights of any woman, so that we can have a good society. Concerning the Adani deals, our President has made us proud. Let us walk and work together. Let us plan to do great things for this nation. I am sure that in the next three or four years, Kenyans will be happy with the progress. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support the Motion.

Next is Hon. Bernard Kitur, who will be followed by Hon. Mark Mwenje and Hon. Joseph Cherorot, in that order. The rest of you will speak in the next round.

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

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the State of the Nation Address that was made by the President. In accordance with Article 132(1)(c), the President is required every year to lay before the House a report on all measures taken, and progress made towards realisation of national values and principles of governance, international obligations as well as on the state of national security. At the outset, the President painted a broad picture of a positive outlook of our country on account of right decisions that the Kenyan Kwanza Government has made, him being the leader of the Government. In the overview, it is common knowledge to everyone that all macro- economic indicators are positive. Take the easy ones, for instance. In 2022, when we came into leadership, the Kenya Shilling exchange rate to the US Dollar was at about Ksh160. Currently, it stands at about Ksh130. It shows clearly that there are positive gains in that regard. There were a lot of complaints during that time about the high cost of living. Importation of goods was extremely expensive and that scenario had a negative ripple effect on the local market. Over time, we have seen a decrease in the inflation rate from 9.6 per cent to 2.7 per cent largely because of the prevailing favourable climatic conditions and right public policies that have been implemented, including the policy on fertilizer subsidy. The subsidy has led to an increase in maize production in our country. In 2022, about 34 million bags of maize were produced. In 2023, we produced 47 million bags. Expectations for 2024 stand at 74 million bags. A society that has food is able to have productive communities. We note that the sugar industry was on a downward trend during that period. There are now 17 factories that are up and running, with four being refurbished. Kenya has always been an importer of sugar, but the production has since exceeded our current need of 40,000 metric tonnes. We now produce 84,000 metric tonnes. These are very positive indicators of the right decisions that the President has made in the last few years. We are now seeing the results. This also disproves the naysayers. The macro-economic indicators show that foreign reserve now stands at Ksh9.5 billion. In the last 10 years, we have had about 4.5 to 4 months reserve cover. This means that investors are assured of meeting their US Dollar requirement locally. This is a challenge that we faced when we came to power. It was a very serious issue then. Financial institutions have since been reducing the interest rates that are charged on commercial loans. What does that mean? It means that you can access capital cheaply to do businesses within the country. This is a positive indicator worth mentioning and celebrating. I come from a region where we have lately embraced coffee and dairy farming. I was very impressed…

Give him a minute.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, thank you very much. Several things were mentioned by the President. The housing programme is going to have a positive impact on our country. The President spoke about corruption. I appreciate what the Government is doing in that space. Finally, the GBV vice must be fought by all. I thank the President for taking that challenge head-on. This House must instate measures to ensure that all women in our country are protected. Men must protect our women. We thank the President for the very strong leadership that he has provided. We pray that all the other things he mentioned shall be achieved. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Mwenje.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Talking about the economy and job creation, the people are looking for hope and reassurance.

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.

They want to hear us speak about the economic growth and how to address the challenges. Allow me to go straight to some of the issues that were raised. One was the issue of Adani, which has been a thorn in the flesh in the Government and amongst us as Members of Parliament. Hearing the President agree to cancel those contracts was like pulling out a thorn that has pricked you in the foot. It is painful, but it is good pain because it is relieving. It is what got Members of Parliament on their feet. Even those who wanted to support the deal felt that there was an issue. On the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which salaried workers have had an issue with, there are teething problems. It is taking long to realize the benefits. Those are the issues we feel the President should have delved deeper into. Salaried workers have also had an issue with the housing levy. That is a programme whose benefits will take time. We also need to speak to Kenyans on how it will benefit us 10 to 20 years down the line. Hon. Temporary Speaker, the President spoke about the abductions. I must admit that I did not find the response quite satisfactory, unless he was admitting that there is a rogue team out there that is carrying out the abductions. What we have heard about Dr Kizza Besigye and other persons who have been abducted is of concern.

The President spoke about Junior Secondary School (JSS) education. His Government has done very well in terms of the construction of classrooms, especially for schools in Nairobi City County. He has constructed quite a number of them. We appreciate it. He fell short on the new university funding model. There is quite a bit that needs to be done. The projects that I have just mentioned are big ones. I fear that, at times, we forget what the common mwananchi wants – small projects. The President talked about food prices, which is very good. We know that food prices have come down. The price of unga has come down significantly. He is working on job creation, but more needs to be done.

There are other basic needs like roads and hospitals, which need to be addressed. There is also the issue of construction of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, which the Government promised to construct in the remaining constituencies that do not have them. There is also the issue of climate resilience of Nairobi River, which we believe the Government is doing very well. Those are some of the things that this Government must look into because they touch on the people. The President has had meetings with Members of Parliament several times. I hoped he will consider having a constituency-based or ward-based budgeting policy that would, for instance, guarantee Kshs1 billion for each constituency.

I have just come from public participation where I was listening to constituents talk about the National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) in my constituency. Some of the projects they were talking about go beyond NG-CDF. I will need about Ksh2 billion or Kh3 billion to implement them. If we allocate such sums of money to some of these constituencies, we will start seeing the real changes down there that will impact the common mwananchi positively. Such a move will be a game-changer for this country. There is also the issue of corruption. Corruption cases must end within six months. This is something that needs to be done. The establishment of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs is a brainchild of the President. We need to equip those studios.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, as the National Assembly, it is our job to oversee the operations of the Government. Let this House not be seen as a sycophant of the Executive. Let us criticise where we think the Government is going wrong. When they are doing something right, let us applaud them. By doing so, we will make the Executive stronger. We will help the Presidency to carry out its mandate effectively and ensure that we have a better Kenya for everyone. It is important that this House does not lose its voice, going forward. Kenyans feel that this House has been captured. We must ensure that this House speaks for the country. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

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

Hon. Cherorot. Is Hon. Tom Odege in the House? Proceed, Hon. Cherorot.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me a chance to contribute to the debate on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President, Dr William Samoei Ruto. Many people have said it is a wonderful Speech, which I also support. It reflects on what he has been doing for the last two years. This is like his scorecard. This has happened because our President is resilient. He has managed to turn around the economy of this country. His Speech gives hope and direction to all Kenyans. That means that he has focus and determination to take this country forward. He covered so many areas in his Speech. There are many areas that need attention in this country – like the State Departments which have been neglected. His Speech gives hope to most Kenyans who have been suffering economically. As a country, we have direction right now.

The President talked a lot about education. We currently have challenges in our universities. Some of them are about to collapse. Through the President’s wisdom, our universities are now picking up. He mentioned that there are administrative issues at Moi University, which will be tackled. He also mentioned the issue of school fees for students, especially those who are in colleges. About 95 per cent of the school fees for students from poor families are being paid by the Government. Education is an equaliser. That is what the President has taken care of. We have students from vulnerable families. They will have a chance of going to school like other children in this country. There was also the issue of corruption. The President was very clear that we have to avoid engaging in corruption. We must ensure that Kenyans are not involved in corruption. If we want to grow economically, we have to fight it. We have to start the fight against corruption.

The President also mentioned the issue of GBV. Femicide is a big problem. Our women are being killed. He said that boys should not use their masculinity to fight women. This is a very clear indication that he cares. This one also should be extended. I watched news on television yesterday, where it is reported that there are house-helps who are suffering in silence. There was an incident in Kiambu, which should be taken seriously. A house-help was tortured by her employer. She was forced to jump from fourth floor, and she broke her legs. We have a listening President in this country. The issue of Adani’s contracts was also mentioned. The President cancelled them. This is a challenge for the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Secretariat and those who were handling the contracts. It is a lesson for all of us from the President that, any PPP initiative in this country must be handled properly, paying attention to the provisions of the law. Due diligence should be done. We should ask ourselves whether the county is getting value for money in all PPPs. As a country, we will achieve the highest level of development if we conduct our affairs diligently. For those reasons, I congratulate the President.

Let us now listen to the Member for Nyatike. He will be followed by the Member for Kisauni and, thereafter, by the Member for Sigor. We will go in that order. We still have a few more Members who want to contribute to the Motion. Hon. Ruku and Hon. Lekumontare will have chances to contribute. Proceed, Hon. Odege. Take as little time as possible.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to react to the Speech that was delivered by the Head of State in this House. There is a number of positive aspects that I picked from the Speech. For the first time, the President appeared before us here with no political connotation, which was a very clear signal that he is ready to unite the country. He is ready to push the country forward. His priority has wholesomely been zeroed into development and how we can

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.

unite the country. This is very positive and commendable. Some of us who have been on the Opposition Benches have been very keen to pick up issues that we could use to hit him and the Government, but he left us with nothing negative to pick out of his Speech. All leaders in this country have a reason to support his new approach in the political arena in this country. His Speech was very good. It is uniting and focussed on the efforts that are being made towards the development of the country. That is what we need as a country. On the issue of education, I must say that he addressed it clearly, and I want to congratulate him for fixing the issue that was affecting our universities. When university lecturers were on strike, everybody in this country was concerned. Now that they have gone back to work, I would urge him to go deeper into the root cause of the problems in the universities and fix them once and for all. We do not want to see university lecturers on strike again next year. University lecturers should be made comfortable so that the issue of strikes comes to an end, and our students can receive quality education from our universities

On agriculture, as most of our Members have pointed out, the efforts that have been put in the agricultural sector have borne a number of fruits. We can clearly say that there is some hope in the agricultural sector. We are going to increase our harvest and attain food security in this country.

On the killing of women, even though it is very painful to all of us, I want us to look into it keenly because, as a country, people cannot rise all of a sudden and start killing each other. The stress levels in this country should be re-examined. Kenyans must be going through a very difficult situation. Even though we are talking about the inflation coming down, the cost of living has not come down and the people are trying to vent their stress in the wrong areas. That is why we are seeing a number of deaths. Even though some of our colleagues have urged the ladies to be careful, it is true that security starts with yourself. But again, that security that starts with yourself should also make you self-protective. You protect yourself as you protect others. No one has a right to kill another person. If we can reach a level where we are today, then we need to come out strongly against it. The Government needs to go deeper and examine the stress levels in this country because there is something wrong. We may be treating symptoms, but the real disease is lying somewhere. That is why we see the things that are happening in our country. This is unbearable, and we need to re-look into it.

On the Adani issue, I just want to urge our President not to abandon the issue of public private partnerships (PPP) because this country cannot develop without them. Let us do them above board, which will not attract criticism from all the corners of this country. We need to do something better. For example, if you compare the Ethiopian Airport with the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is a shame. We are not doing any business here. When you look at the number of passengers going through that airport currently, it is not even a third of what we are seeing in Ethiopia. It is a concern which we have to tackle as a country and ensure that we compete where we are supposed to be. If we are competing with Dar-es-Salaam and Rwanda, I think we are not in that league. There must be something very wrong with us when it comes to air transport. We need to do something. If the PPPs will solve it, let us allow PPPs to come in. But let it be done above board so that we do not come across...

Give him a minute to wrap up. Proceed.

We should not repeat what has happened, and which has caused a lot of embarrassment to our country. We need an airport which can compete with Ethiopia, not Rwanda and Tanzania. That is where we are supposed to go as a country.

On SHA, people have talked a lot about it. I do not want to repeat what has been said, but the success of SHA will depend on the Government facilities; namely, the county referral hospitals, the Kenyatta National Hospital, the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and all 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.

other Government facilities. No matter how much we fund SHA, if the Government health facilities will not add to what we need as Kenyans, SHA will not succeed. Those facilities should be well facilitated by the Government. They should not be facilities where you go and you are told to go and buy medicine. Kenyans will lose faith in SHA if the Government facilities are not well fixed.

Hon. Bedzimba, proceed.

Ahsante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa fursa hii nami niweze kupenyeza sauti yangu kwa kuichangia Hotuba ya Rais aliyokuja kuzungumza hapa, kwa taifa.

Kwanza, nizungumzie swala la Adani. Kwa kuivunjilia mbali kandarasi ya Adani, Mhe. Rais amefurahisha Wakenya wengi kwa sababu ni jambo ambalo lilikua limeleta utata mkubwa. Wafanyikazi wote walikuwa na wasiwasi kwamba badala ya kulipwa kwa mwezi, watabadilishwa kuwa na mikataba. Ni jambo la utata mkubwa kuona rasilimali yetu tunayoitegemea, mtu akikuja kuisimamia kwa miaka 30. Kwa hivyo, ilikua ni wasiwasi mkubwa. Alipoifutilia mbali, amefanya jambo nzuri. Amesikiliza wananchi, na kiongozi yeyote ni yule anayesikiliza wananchi. Kwa hivyo, hilo nampongeza Mhe. Rais.

Nikija katika upande wa shilingi kuwa na nguvu, ni kweli, shilingi yetu ilikuwa imekosa thamani kubwa. Hata ilikuwa ukienda kwa nchi jirani kubadilisha pesa yetu ya Kenya wanaikataa. Wanasema pesa ya Kenya haieleweki kwa maana leo iko hivi, kesho iko chini zaidi. Lakini imeimarishwa na mpaka sasa pesa yetu inaheshimika. Kushuka kwa dola, sisi tunategemea kwamba taifa litaimarika wakati pesa za kigeni na hali ya uchumi kama mafuta yataweza kushuka bei. Isipande kwa sababu dola imeanguka. Kwa hivyo, wananchi wanategemea wakati dola imeendelea vizuri na pesa zitashuka ili kusudi mwananchi aweze kujikimu ama gharama za maisha zisiweze kupanda juu.

Tuje katika upande wa SHA. Mimi mwenyewe nimeweza kushuhudia wagonjwa wa moyo katika Hospitali ya Rufaa ya Mombasa, yaani Coast General Hospital . Kuna mgonjwa ambaye alienda kuwekewa pacemaker au kifaa ambacho kinaweza kufanya moyo wake upige kwa usawa, bill yake ikaja Ksh1.3 milioni. Na nikashangaa kuona SHA imemlipia Ksh1.1 milioni papo hapo. Kwa hivyo, nimeona ni jambo ambalo kama watalitilia bidii; kama hawatabadilika, hii SHA itasaidia sana mwananchi wa kawaida. Na vile vile, ukiangalia SHA katika levels 2, 3, 4 hospitals, ukipiga tu kwenye simu yako *147# ili kujisajili, wewe unatibiwa bila malipo. Ikiwa itaendelezwa vile inavyoendelea sasa, itawasaidia mwananchi wa chini kwa ukubwa sana.

Hivi sasa, SHA kwa mwezi ni shilingi Ksh300, NHIF ilikuwa Ksh500. Kwa hivyo SHA kwa mwaka ni Ksh3,600. Nina imani kwamba ikiwa watajipanga vizuri, itakuwa jambo la busara kwa sababu matibabu ni ghali sana na mwananchi wa kawaida hawezi kulipa. Katika NHIF, kulikuwa na uzito mmoja. Wakati unaambiwa unangoja approval, unaweza kungoja masaa matatu au matano kabla kupewa hiyo ruhusa ya kupewa dawa ama kuruhusiwa kwenda nyumbani. Lakini SHA kwa sasa ni kwamba ukingoja approval, hauchukui muda. Kwa hivyo, ikiwa wataendelea namna hii, basi itasaidia wananchi sana. Juzi tu nimetembelea hiyo hospitali na SHA wamelipa kufikia sasa Ksh21.9 milioni kwa wagonjwa wa moyo. Tunaipongeza SHA kwa kufanya hivyo. Itilie mkazo na iongozwe na watu ambao wataweza kuiendeleza zaidi.

Tukienda kwa upande wa chakula, bei za chakula zimeshuka. Unga zamani ilikuwa inanunuliwa kwa Ksh160. Mhe Rais alisema ukweli kuwa bei ya unga imeshuka lakini shida iliyoko ni kwamba uchumi wa taifa unaimarika ikiwa pesa imeingia katika mifuko ya wananchi. Ikiwa wananchi wana fedha, basi uchumi huwa mzuri. Lakini kama mwananchi hana fedha, uchumi utakuwa wa kuzungumziwa tu. Mwananchi hatakuwa na faida.

Nikimalizia, kwa sababu muda wangu naona umekwisha, ningependa kuzungumzia kazi katika mataifa ya nje. Kweli, zimekuja juzi na zimesaidia watoto wengi. Lkini kuna watu ambao…

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.

Naomba dakika moja.

Wakati unadidimia na Waheshimiwa wengi wanangoja. Lakini tafadhali chukua nusu dakika.

Kwa hivyo, vijana wapelekewe kazi kule waliko ili ziwasaidie. Ama watu watasema kwamba zile kazi zimekuja kwa ubaguzi. Kwa hivyo, kazi zingine kule Ujerumani, Uajemi ama nchi zingine zikija, zote zigawanywe katika maeneo yote, ili kila mmoja aweze kufaulu. Kwa haya mengi…

Mbunge wa Sigor.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. First of all, I want to…

Order! Proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to contribute on the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President, which he delivered in this House last week. It met the expectations of Kenyans because in his Address, the President gave Kenyans hope. I listened to the President and the whole Government was here. Members of Parliament, the Judiciary and the Executive were also present in this Chamber. The President told us that listening is our full-time work. As leaders, we must listen so as to make the right decisions, plans and programs that will positively have an impact on the Kenyans. I want to state a few positive things which were mentioned in the Address by the President. First, he indicated that the shilling has gained against the US$ and was trading at Ksh129 down from Ksh162. Secondly, inflation reduced from 9.6 per cent to 2.7 per cent. Thirdly, through his administration, 56,000 teachers have been employed. His Excellency the President also stated that 17 sugar factories are now up and running. That way, we have become sugar-sufficient. We sincerely need to commend the President for ensuring that, that has happened. In the fight against corruption, the President, through this administration, has embarked on a programme for digitising Government services. That is one way of eliminating corruption. We have moved from 350 Government services since his administration came into power to 20,850 services, which are now accessible through the digital platform. We sincerely need to commend his administration for doing that. Each arm of Government had its own share of comments from the President. Parliament was called out for delaying the Conflict of Interest Bill, which is before this House. The Judiciary was also called out because cases are taking forever. That needs to be looked into so that the dispensing of justice for corruption cases is done within the shortest time possible. On the cancellation of the Adani energy solutions procurement, the President directed the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Public Works and the Ministry of Energy to cancel the procurement process at whatever stage it was. This was received very positively by Kenyans. I commend the President for listening to them. The National Treasury was also directed to ensure that e-procurement is working because they have been dragging their feet on it. Taifa Care will ensure that all Kenyans access health services. The President told Kenyans to register so as to benefit from its rollout. We need to support the President because he indicated that he has laid a firm foundation for this country. We now expect...

Next is the Member for Kitutu Chache North. Take exactly two minutes so that I can give an opportunity to two other Members before we adjourn the House.

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

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I also want to commend the President for the State of the Nation Address that he gave last week. The President gave us a scorecard of his Government for the last two years. He clearly showed us the kind of work he has been doing and sold a lot of hope to Kenyans. The President indicated the micro-economic policies he has put in place to ensure that the price of food commodities come down. The exchange rate of the dollar against the shilling has also come down. We commend him so much for doing that. We have also been seeing him traveling outside the country, signing labour bilateral agreements and Kenyans were very agitated. Out of those agreements, many young people have got formal employment. This will positively impact the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of this country. The President mentioned that over the last two years, 56,000 teachers have been employed by the TSC. He indicated that about 11,000 JSS classes have also been built, which is a very good thing.

Hon. Lekumontare. Take two minutes and then I will give a chance to the Member for Wajir East before we adjourn for the day.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me this chance to speak on the Address by the President, which was very promising to Kenyans. The President talked about the challenges that Kenyans are experiencing and how he is addressing them. If you look at the education sector, our universities are facing challenges, which need to be addressed. Currently, SHA is not covering everybody. An important thing the President has been saying even when he was campaigning is that, there will be no more abductions. We still have missing people. If nobody is abducting them, then, the Government should be alert so that our people can stop disappearing. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Members, this is a House of traditions. We have already exceeded our time by five minutes. I do not intend to alter the tradition today. Hon. Members, the time being 9.05 p.m…

Order! Like I said, the Member for Wajir East and Hon. Ruku will have the first opportunity to speak tomorrow morning. And if you will be there on time, I will ensure that the Speaker has the communication.

Hon. Members, the time being 9.05p.m., this House stands adjourned until tomorrow Tuesday, 26th November 2024, at 9.30 a.m.

The House rose at 9.05 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.

Clerk of the National Assembly Parliament Buildings Nairobi

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.