Hon. Members, we have a quorum to transact business. Clerk-at-the- Table, please, proceed.

Why are you shouting like cowards? Who has been appointed to shout? Stand up and tell the Speaker what you want! What is the issue? Yes, Hon. Bowen, what is it?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. The concern we all share this afternoon is the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG- CDF). Last week, you communicated and informed us that the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning would appear before us regarding the NG-CDF. We have fewer than ten days before schools re-open and pupils return to school without bursaries. Many NG-CDF projects, including those under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), have been initiated but remain incomplete due to lack of funding. The Cabinet Secretary has not honoured his word. He said he would release funds weekly, but I believe only about a quarter of the funds have been disbursed to date. Therefore, this afternoon, we state as follows: Order No. 1 is NG-CDF and NGAAF; Order No. 2 is NG- CDF and NGAAF; Order No. 3 is NG-CDF and NGAAF; and Order No. 4 is NG-CDF and NGAAF. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Bowen. You are preaching to the converted. Last week, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning was summoned to this House to address the NG-CDF issue. The Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Leader of the Majority Party, and the Leader of the Minority Party are all aware. We have just concluded a House Business Committee meeting. The Minority Whip and others in that Committee are also aware that tomorrow, at precisely 3.00 p.m., the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning will appear before this House. I have already informed him that he is not coming to engage in unhelpful rigmaroles. He is first expected to confirm that part of the funds has already been wired and, secondly, to outline how the remaining funds will be disbursed as we approach the one-month recess. It is now entirely up to the House. If you prefer that Order No. 1 through Order No. 4 be NG-CDF and NGAAF, we can continue talking at each other, even though the solution is already in hand. The House Business Committee was clear, and Hon. Millie can confirm that the NG-CDF is central to constituency management and is here to stay. No one shall wish it away. We shall ensure that the Treasury places NG-CDF at the top of the priority list for Exchequer releases. We understand the economic challenges the country is facing. Still, we also know that with proper planning and engagement, NG-CDF and NGAAF will continue to be disbursed for you to manage constituency affairs. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Therefore, I encourage you not to disrupt the House business, as doing so would be a zero-sum game. Whether we sit today or not, the Cabinet Secretary will still appear tomorrow. He will do what we have instructed him to do. Let us remain better focused and, as the British say, let us not be penny-wise and pound-foolish; let us be penny-wise and pound-wise. Shall we proceed with the business?

Go on and call the First Order. Hold on. Yes, Hon. Makali Mulu, what is it?

Hon. Speaker, thank you very much for your wise counsel. However, we are concerned that this particular Cabinet Secretary has communicated with this House several times through you. We are very concerned as Members of Parliament, especially since we had hoped that the situation would improve with one of our own in that position. Unfortunately, it appears to be getting worse. I have served in this House for many years, and I can confirm that this has been the worst year regarding NG-CDF disbursement. We claim to have sent experts who understand our challenges as patrons of this Fund. While we appreciate your explanation, Hon. Speaker, our fears remain. I wish that either the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee or the Leader of the Majority Party could confirm that the money will be wired today before the Cabinet Secretary appears tomorrow. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. KJ.

Hon. Speaker, this matter concerns what I believe is the most effective decentralised Fund. We are reading news about a governor from a neighbouring county whose residence, Ksh13 million, has been discovered. Meanwhile, NG- CDF is being framed as a national concern. This House’s focus should be on the devolved funds that are allocated to the counties. We are speaking at a time when the NG-CDF is under attack from several quarters. Let it be on record that this House shall stand firm to defend a fund that delivers results for Kenyans. When we visit our constituencies, we expect to see the tangible impact of the funds disbursed through the Division of Revenue to the counties. As it stands, NG-CDF is the only Fund with a visible impact on the ground. As we take up these concerns with the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, we must also send a clear message to those seeking to undermine NG- NG-NG-CDF: this House shall defend it. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Korere.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for your guidance and confirming that the Cabinet Secretary will appear before this House tomorrow. We speak passionately about NG-CDF because it is a textbook example of true devolution. In our counties, the impact of NG-CDF is easy to see with the naked eye, which is not the case for other funds. I want the Cabinet Secretary to take this seriously. Now that you have assured us of his appearance tomorrow, he had better come, having already disbursed the funds into our accounts. He must also bring proof of the same failure, for which we shall hold him hostage right here.

Order, Hon. Members! Member for Bumula, the Cabinet Secretary is appearing tomorrow. I shall not give you the Floor. It was your point of order that led the Speaker to summon him. As a diligent young parliamentarian, the right thing to do is to wait. The Cabinet Secretary will be here, and since you initiated the matter, you will be the first to pose a question after his statement. 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.

There is no need to pre-emptively debate what we shall discuss tomorrow. I encourage you to have faith. Whenever the NG-CDF has been threatened, I have stood at the forefront to defend it without fear, favour, or prejudice. When disbursements have been delayed, I have personally contacted the Treasury to ensure the release of funds, and I shall continue to do so. When activists challenged the NG-CDF in Court, I engaged top legal counsel on your behalf. The caucus of lawyers in this House, led by Hon. (Dr) Otiende Amollo and Hon. Chepkonga, played a key role. The Supreme Court has now ruled that NG-CDF does not conflict with devolution. Soon, I shall issue a comprehensive ruling in response to the House, on the request of the Leader of the Minority Party, Hon. Junet. Rest assured that the NG-CDF is in safe hands with me. Let us proceed with other business. Tomorrow at 3.00 p.m., you shall all avail yourselves here. The Cabinet Secretary will be here.

Yes, Hon. Farah. I recognise you purely on account of your seniority.

Absolutely. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Considering what Hon. KJ has raised, NG-CDF is merely a trigger point. The deeper issue is the broader problem with devolved funds across counties in this country. We have a serious problem with the devolved funds in the counties. Billions of Kenyan shillings are going to waste in those places.

Hon. Speaker, I am educating 100 medical students in key institutions across the country. My Governor cannot even sponsor 10 students, yet he has all the funds. Money is being wasted everywhere. They have come for Equalisation Fund, Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) funds and others. They are coming for everything. We must save this country from the county governors. This is the debate Members of Parliament are keen to ventilate on. We are fully in agreement, and we support you in the other ones. You have done more than all of us. Thank you.

Hon. DK.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. We know well that this National Assembly is under attack from all quarters. We have problems with NG-CDF and the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF).

As we discuss now about NG-CDF, KeRRA has only released around Ksh17 million out of Ksh62 million. We have letters flying left, right, and centre on what happens to the rest. We have so many issues that we cannot continue burying our heads in the sand and thinking that things are all right. I was proposing that we suspend the House until tomorrow.

Yes!

When the two cabinet secretaries for Roads and Transport and National Treasury and Economic Planning come, they will explain what is happening to the Members of Parliament. If you look at the devolved funds, 85 per cent is used for recurrent and administrative purposes out of the total that goes to the counties. In contrast, only 5 per cent of the NG-CDF is used for administrative purposes. The net effect is that a small amount of money, say, Ksh45 billion or Ksh53 billion, is being felt. On the contrary, of the Ksh450 billion that goes to counties, only about Ksh50 billion goes to development. Even with that, the governors will still follow it. I think we should just disband the counties!

You have made your point. Yes, Hon. Keynan.

Hon. Speaker, I want my colleagues to listen to me. The NG-CDF did not come out of the blues. It was a product of well-calculated evaluation by the Members who were there and tired of manipulation by the then Executive. You are aware 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 even Parliament was a department under the Office of the President. Our Clerk of the National Assembly and everyone else were secondees from the dreaded Special Branch and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). What we did was to give Members of Parliament an effective, workable, people-friendly platform to deliver development to their constituents. Over the years, we have seen a gradual increase in NG-CDF allocations. What is surprising in this House is that one month to the end of a financial year, we are yet to receive something commensurate with the first quarter. Yet we are here adjudicating for everything else. Right now, NG-CDF is under threat. Hon. Speaker, thank you sincerely for the Supreme Court's decision. That judgement would not have been possible without your input and the legal brains you put together. As the father of this House, we thank you. Having said that, there is something that we cannot run away from. It is the Members of Parliament who oversee NG- CDF and KeRRA. So, why have we thrown our mandate into the dustbin? Where is the Chairman of the National-Government Constituencies Development Fund Committee and the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure? We have a club of greedy governors whose only interest is to amass wealth, usurp national roles, and get money.

If those are the people you want to sit here and empower, I will tell you this House will be the worst in this country's history. I want you to stand up for your rights. Resist! The Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport must come and ensure that the remaining allocation of money for roads is sent. Through the Cabinet Secretary, the Chairman of NG-CDF must also release the money. Hon. Speaker, you are a lawyer and were here when we fought for the current Constitution. Some of us from regions disadvantaged over the years through skewed administrative practices fought for the Equalisation Fund. Right now, it is not working courtesy of these greedy governors. They have gone to Court and have stopped it. As the leadership, I ask that we suspend everything else until the question of KeRRA, Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and NG-CDF is sorted out. No more business. No more business!

Yes!

Order, Hon. Members. Hon. Chikati.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Order.

From what my colleagues Hon. DK and Hon. Keynan have presented, and given the mood of the House, I kindly request you to direct the suspension of the proceedings until tomorrow. Thank you.

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Order. Order, Hon. Members. Take your seats! Hon. Members, take your seats!

Put the Question.

There is no matter before the House to put the question.

Hon. Members, I want to encourage you. This is your House, and you are the nerve centre of everything in this country. You appropriate, oversee, legislate, and represent. You have the power in your hands. I encourage you that it will be a very unwise decision to do what some of us are asking you to do. For the simple reason….

No!

Order. Order, Hon. Members. I am your Speaker. You elected me. I have a duty to lead and advise you. Is that Hon. Kimilu or Hon. Mwalyo who is looking very agitated? Hon. Kimilu, unajua,

Mwalimu Nyerere. Fisi alikuwa anakunywa maji mtoni, na kondoopia alikuwa anakunywa maji kwenye huo mto. Fisi alikuwa anakunywa kule maji yanatoka,ilhali kondoo alikua anakunywa kule chini maji yanakoenda. Halafu fisi akamuuliza kondoo,“Mbona unanichafulia maji?” Kondoo akasema, “Maji yanatoka kwako na kuja kwangu,nimeyachafua namna gani?” Akasema, “Kama hujayachafua, kwa nini ulinitusi mwakauliopita?” Kondoo akasema, “Mzee, mwaka uliopita sikuwa nimezaliwa. Nimezaliwa juzi.”Akasema, “Kama sio wewe, ni babako ndiye alinitusi”. Haja yake ilikuwa ni kumshika yulekondoo amle. Anayetaka kufanya jambo lisilofaa, hahitaji sababu. Anaitwa hasidi. Hakunamahasidi katika hili Bunge. You are all Members of Parliament. I encourage you again... Members of the House Business Committee, especially the Leader of the Minority Party and the Leader of the Majority Party, know what we have been doing to fight for NG-CDF). They know how much resistance we have put against your detractors. For the record, I have been in this House before and during the NG-CDF. I do not want to talk about ‘after-NG-CDF,’ because there will be no ‘after NG- CDF.’ It is here to stay. It will always be there. It is very easy. In one of the Parliaments where I was with Hon. Farah and Hon. Keynan, there were three Members: Hon. John Koech, Hon. Jimmy Angwenyi and a third Member. Who was the third Member, Hon. Keynan?

No, Hon. Oloo Aringo was in Parliament much earlier. They held no positions, but they used to walk to the national Treasury on behalf of the House and frog-match the then-minister to the House to tell Members about CDF. It will be an extremely cowardly act for you, Members of Parliament, with all the powers under the Constitution in your hands, to boycott your work. It will be a very cowardly act, I can assure you. As a House, you almost impeached a Cabinet Secretary. Indeed, you impeached a Deputy President. You have powers in your hands. How do you run away from your own House? That is the big question. I ask you to give the House an opportunity tomorrow to listen to a response to a very noble Point of Order raised by the Member for Bumula. It is only tomorrow, not the next day or Friday. It is tomorrow at 2.30 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.

If you agree with your Speaker, we can go on with the business of the House. Those of you who are not keen to carry on with the business of the House, do not disrupt the House. Let those who want to go on with business continue. Let me now give the Leader of the Majority Party an opportunity to tell us about the issue of NG-CDF.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. As you rightly said, this is a matter that we have discussed at the House Business Committee. As the Member for Bumula said last week in his Point of Order, NG-CDF is not money going to Members of Parliament. Members of Parliament are elected by their people to represent them in this House. Part of that representation is to advocate for resources to go, especially to vulnerable children who, up to date, have yet to get bursaries. It is also not lost on many people in the country that, with the advisory by the Controller of Budget, all bursaries from county governments to vulnerable children should stop. Only NG- CDF is left to help these children. Many children, especially college-going students, are waiting for bursaries. The best we can do as a House is to hold the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary accountable for why they cannot disburse the NG-CDF in time. Previously, we got a commitment from the national Treasury that they would have disbursed all NG-CDF money before the end of the financial year, which is only two months away. I agree that it is less than 24 hours before the Cabinet Secretary appears before the House. I encourage Members to be present because there are not usually very many in the House when Cabinet Secretaries appear to answer questions most Wednesdays. This is the time to hold the Cabinet Secretary to account for his words. He committed to making monthly disbursements to ensure all the money is disbursed by the end of June. Therefore, whatever magic he will do between now and 30th June 2025, 100 per cent of NG-CDF money must be disbursed. Hon. John Mbadi has sat where we are sitting and knows what NG-CDF is to the people of Kenya. Let me repeat: he knows what NG-CDF is to the people of Kenya, not to Members of Parliament. Members of Parliament will still earn their salaries and go about their representation and oversight work without NG-CDF. The Fund means a lot to the people of Kenya. There are places where children do not go to school, not just because of lack of bursary. The national Government now prides itself on building over 14,000 classrooms over the last year. However, the number of classrooms that NG-CDF builds around the country in a year is probably triple that number. It is only through the NG-CDF that children access schools, and some communities get security through the construction of police posts and police stations. We are lifting a very huge burden from the national Government through NG-CDF. Therefore, the Cabinet Secretary of the national Treasury has no choice. Tomorrow, he must come prepared, if not with his words, then with his chequebook. Tomorrow, it is pesa, pesa and pesa to NG- CDF. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Junet.

Order, Hon. Members. Hon. Wario, those children up there are watching you, and you are their Leader. Order!

Hon. Speaker, I first appreciate the guidance you have given the House. The NG-CDF has a lot of enemies for no apparent reason. Many people are fighting it because they do not have the correct information about it. County 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.

governments and devolution have been in existence in this country for more than 10 years. It is now imperative for Kenyans to take stock of what has happened through devolution since its inception in 2013. The NG-CDF projects have the least administrative expenditure, unlike county governments, which spend all their money on recurrent expenditure. This Fund goes directly to schools, children who want to study, and homes. On education matters, county governments only deal with Early Childhood Development Education (ECDEs). In contrast, the national Government funds primary and secondary education, which is where NG-CDF helps. There is no shorter time than a day. We have said that the Cabinet Secretary must appear tomorrow in person. I urge the House to wait until we make our final decision tomorrow, God willing. I have gone through the Order Paper today, and there are some serious issues that we need to deal with.

Let us not play into the hands of our enemies. Our enemies have said, time and again, that we think about NG-CDF. They do not see that we help Kenyans. They do not see that NG-CDF is for Kenyans. No Member of Parliament benefits from NG-CDF in any way. This is money that builds schools. I plead that we give the Cabinet Secretary a chance tomorrow. Let him come and tell us what plans he has for us. Let him come with the money. For now, even if we suspend the business of the House, we will still wait for him to appear tomorrow. He will not come today.

I urge Hon. Kimilu to be patient. I know the people of Makueni are suffering, but they might be suffering at the county level, not because of NG-CDF. Can we wait until tomorrow to deal with this issue perpendicularly? Today, we have some issues on the Order Paper, including the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Our country has been grey-listed. This Bill will help our country avoid being grey-listed. Therefore, I concur with your guidance that we continue with the House business and then listen to the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning tomorrow.

Order, Hon. Members! Members, on their feet, take your seats. Hon. DK, take your seat. If it is the message, it has been heard loud and clear that Members of this House are not happy, first with the continued assault on the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). Second, Members are unhappy with the delays in disbursement of NG-CDF and are demanding answers on the cause. They want an assurance that these delays will be resolved.

Hon. Charles Nguna, say that again, and I will send you out. I think you are taking advantage of the fact that you are my friend and we meet in the gym. That should not be extended to this 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.

You have made it clear, and everybody knows. When the NG-CDF started, as a Member of Parliament for now Sirisia and Kabuchai Constituencies, my first disbursement was Ksh6.2 million. It grew to Ksh12 million the following year. In the third year, it grew to Ksh23 million and Ksh42 million in the fourth year. Through your efforts and the goodwill of Kenyans who benefit from the NG-CDF, it has grown gradually to where it is now. Without any fear of contradiction, if you go to any county today, it is much easier to see what the NG-CDF has done than what devolution has achieved.

I have said this over and over again. You all know that if you go to your constituencies, you can count the health facilities, schools, police stations, and administration centres you built. You can also count children in schools. Today, in the House Business Committee, we were saying that I call a Kamukunji to encourage you. You saw yesterday in the media that many Kenyans are being killed more on bodabodas than in vehicle accidents. I have told the House Business Committee to embark on creating a situation where, even if it means additional resources, you go out there, sit and talk to our young people in the bodaboda sub-sector about observing traffic rules. Let us borrow a leaf from what we see in Rwanda—a motorbike carries two people, and both must have helmets. You have seen motorbikes in Kenya carrying not just ordinary people, but even four police officers who are supposed to enforce the law. I have seen four police officers on one bodaboda, with the rider sitting on the petrol tank, looking like he is in a toilet. We have to bring order, and you can use the NG-CDF to educate the public. Hon. Members, instead of saying you leave this Chamber, I thought you would say, ‘’Give us time now to debate what more we can do with the NG-CDF as we wait for it to come.’’ When the Cabinet Secretary comes here tomorrow, neither Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah nor Junet Mohamed will be there to defend him. He will stand here to tell us that, before the close of the financial year, every single shilling of NG-CDF must be in the accounts of each constituency. Also, every single shilling of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) must be in the accounts of each county. The County Women Representative for Laikipia came to me asking, ''Why are these men not talking about NGAAF? They are only obsessed with NG-CDF.'' I told her, “I will be your defender as a woman MP representing counties.” As we defend the NG-CDF, we shall also defend NGAAF so that we move together. So, let me ask you, Hon. Members, to cool down. Let us get to our business. Tomorrow, come with your sharpest knives, sharpest tongues, and, if you wish, your harshest language to talk to your former colleague, Hon. John Mbadi. Clerk-at-the-Table, you can now call out the Orders. No more on that.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Millie.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

I have given Hon. Millie the first chance, and then I will come to you, Hon. Sunkuli.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I thank you for the Communication you have given on the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). I 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.

have a little correction. Until early this year, I was the President of the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians. When I joined two years ago, I was immediately elected as the Vice-President of the Committee, where I served for one year. I was then elected as the President, serving for another year. Because of the nature of the work of the Committee, you are only allowed to serve for one year. I served for one year, and my term ended this year. We have a new President from Europe. The IPU is a Parliament of Parliaments. I have served in the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) before, which deals with African issues. The IPU deals with global issues and has membership in all the nations you have mentioned. I request to say two things. First, I was elected in my individual capacity in the Committee I sit in and not nominated by the Parliament of Kenya. This is my first time serving as a Member of this Parliament in the IPU. One of the things that I have observed is that other countries have risen to the top because of consistency. I request that we have dedicated Members the way we have some in PAP so that they are recognised even if they seek core positions in future. Last year, we supported the Speaker of Parliament of Tanzania, who became the President. He is currently serving as the President. However, it becomes difficult because Members of Parliament from Kenya keep coming in and out. I am not pushing this for myself because I came under a different setup. I am encouraging the Members who are there to attend continuously, which will help Kenya. Finally, this goes to our Members because many of them are unaware of the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians. It protects the rights of Parliamentarians globally. We deal with Members of Parliament who have been murdered and some who have gone through sexual violence and enforced disappearances. I encourage our Members because most do not know about this system, which they can utilise. We were very happy this time because one of the Members of Parliament we defended became the Prime Minister of Senegal, Hon. Ousmane Sonko. When we see things like that, they make us very happy. We defended and protected him. We were his voice when he was being harassed. With those few remarks, I encourage us in Kenya to continue being an open and democratic society so that we do not find ourselves in a situation I see in the other countries in the IPU. I thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Sunkuli, you can take one minute.

I will be very brief, Hon. Speaker. I rise on a point of order. When you read the Communication, you indicated you wanted to acknowledge Members of Parliament in this House. I do not know whether you intended to acknowledge those currently sitting or those who have served in the IPU. You know very well that the history is long. The most memorable one is the late Dr Bonaya Godana, from whom I took over. I represented Kenya in Windhoek, Namibia, in a very comprehensive meeting.

Hon. Sunkuli, I represented Kenya in Santiago, Chile, in 2002. I did not even mention myself.

This is a House of Records.

I mentioned the contemporary ones, but you are in the history books.

Hon. Speaker, this is a House of Records. I implore you to get a more researched Communication that covers the real history of this nation and acknowledges us because we are contemporary.

Hon. Kiarie, take one minute. We have to go on with other business.

Hon. Speaker, I must thank you because the team you sent to the IPU does not leave the country unprepared. When out there, we do 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.

speak our minds but Kenya's position. To totally understand the Kenyan position, we have to be very well prepared from this Parliament. I thank you. Hon. Millie Odhiambo-Mabona has represented this country at the IPU at a very high level as the President of the Committee on Human Rights of Parliamentarians. Yours truly, the Member for Dagoretti South Constituency, has also served two terms as the President of the Committee for the Respect and the Promotion of International Humanitarian Laws. The delegation that has just come from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, had two new Members: Hon. Lotee and Hon. Makali. They ably represented our country, Kenya. I support what Hon. Millie Odhiambo has said. This Parliament should seriously consider having a permanent delegation going to the IPU for institutional memory so that this glowing representation by Kenya is supported. Finally, Hon. Sunkuli and Hon. Speaker have been to the IPU. I had a good opportunity to represent Kenya in not less than six IPU meetings. This is the Parliament of Parliaments, where resolutions and conventions are even escalated to the United Nations (UN) and become laws that superintend the entire world. This opportunity given to other Members will serve this country well as a representation. The delegation is normally led by the Senate, which has a constant delegation. Can we, as the National Assembly, have a constant delegation going to the IPU? Hon. Speaker, I truly thank you for giving me the opportunity.

Hon. John Makali. Give him the microphone. Are we malfunctioning? There is one microphone in front of you.

Is it working?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to make my remarks as the newest Member of the IPU. First, let me thank you for making me part and parcel of the delegation that went to Tashkent. I must admit that it was my first opportunity to attend the IPU. I thank the leadership of the House for giving a first- term Member the opportunity to go and represent this nation. It was not very easy to get that particular position. It took the leadership of Hon. Millie Odhiambo-Mabona and Hon. Kiarie Waweru and the negotiating skills of the Member for Kitutu Masaba, Hon. Clive Gisairo, for us to get that particular position. Kenya is still rated very highly internationally. Several other issues were discussed. As indicated, we will keep Kenya's flag flying very high. I urge that we keep giving opportunities to first-term Members of Parliament. They can actually deliver and learn a few things that can assist this House and Kenyans. Several issues came up, such as social development and justice. We needed to push for the youth agenda and gender empowerment to be at the forefront as a nation as we discussed the two-thirds gender rule. As Kenyan Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) representatives, we will keep flying the Kenyan flag very high.

Hon. Members, we will leave it there. Many Members have served in the IPU. Hon. Farah used to lead delegations to the IPU. Hon. Sunkuli and I both served there. Many Members have served there, but we say kongole to the current team led by Hon. Millie Odhiambo for representing our House well. Hon. Members, allow me to acknowledge students and teachers from Greenvale School from Kesses Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, seated in the Speaker's Gallery. We also have students and teachers from Pwani University from Kilifi North Constituency in Kilifi County and Bomet University from Chepalungu Constituency in Bomet County seated in the Public Gallery. On my behalf and that of the House, I welcome the students and those accompanying them to Parliament. 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 Kesses, I was not encouraging anybody to contribute, but I will give you one minute.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I appreciate that you have allowed me to welcome students and teachers from Greenvale School. It is the only school in Eldoret that has transformed the lives of young Kenyans by ensuring that they get proper training and skills. I welcome them to Parliament, and I am happy to see them here. I know that they will soon join me on this Floor to serve Kenyans.

Hon. Baya.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to welcome students from Pwani University in my constituency, the first university in the Coast region. I served there as a lecturer and a registrar some time back before I came to this House. I welcome them to Parliament. I know it is their maiden visit to this House. We owe them a foot thump as we welcome them to the House.

Next Order.

Yes, Hon. Speaker.

Go ahead.

ALLEGED ACQUISITION OF TRUST LAND BY THE GOVERNMENT 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. Speaker, I, the undersigned, on behalf of Nyariyo-Yakididi Chabat Beta Culture Community in Taita Taveta Constituency, Taita Taveta County, draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, the Nyariyo-Yakididi Chabat Beta Culture Community is a registered and recognised community group from Taita Taveta Constituency registered under the Community Land Act and the Community Land Regulations; THAT, the community is dedicated to preserving and advancing the welfare and culture of the Taveta people, including the protection of natives' land rights as guaranteed under Article 63 of the Constitution and the Community Land Act; THAT, in 1963, the Government of Kenya reserved a trust land of LR No.249/1963 for natives for purposes of grazing and farming; THAT, the community occupied the trust land until sometime in 1982 when there was a severe drought that claimed human life and livestock and as a result, the community left the area and relocated to the lowlands near River Lumi; THAT, the community continued using the said trust land as a traditional shrine for prayers and circumcision until sometime in 2022 when they were arrested and harassed by rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on allegations of trespassing; THAT, after negotiations between local political leaders and the KWS, the arrested members of the community were released but on firm instructions that they should not trespass on the trust land on the grounds that the area is part of the Tsavo West National Park and is a protected area; THAT, vide a letter dated 17th August 2023, the community sought information from the Director for Land Administration on the legal status of the trust land, and on 18th August 2023, they were expressly informed that the land is still trust land; THAT, the community forwarded the aforesaid information from the said director to the KWS and requested to be allowed to continue using the trust land as their shrines and grazing area; THAT, the KWS declined and insisted that the trust land is part of the Tsavo West National Park, and that it is a protected area; THAT, in the recent past, the KWS has started fencing off the trust land, completely cordoning it off from the community; THAT, all efforts to have the matter resolved have not been fruitful; and, THAT, the matter presented in this petition is not pending before any tribunal, court of law, or any constitutional or legal body. Therefore, your humble petitioners pray that the National Assembly, through the Public Petitions Committee: 1. Enquire about the legal status of the trust land LR No. 249/1963 and recommend for the settlement of the squatters within Taveta Constituency. 2. Make any other recommendation that it may deem fit in addressing the plight of the petitioners. And your petitioners will ever pray. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Mbogho. Yes, Hon. Mwashako.

Ahsante sana, Mheshimiwa Spika. Hili ni suala nyeti na zito. Kwa miaka mingi, shirika la KWS limeendelea kuongeza mipaka yake na kuwasukuma wananchi kule Taita Taveta. Kando na sehemu hii ambayo Mhe. Bwire ameleta hapa Bungeni, kuna sehemu nyingi ambapo kuna utata na KWS. Ombi langu kwako na kamati itakayofanya kazi hii ni kuwa walizingatie ombi hilo kwa haraka ili mipaka ya KWS 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.

ionekane. Kwa hivyo, wananchi ama watu wa Taita/Taveta wapewe nafasi ya kuchukua sehemu zilizokuwa zao wakati wa mababu zetu. Mheshimiwa Spika, nakushukuru sana kwa swala hili; maanake najua mambo haya ya mashamba na mipaka yanagusia mambo ya usalama. Kwa mfano, Tsavo imefika Taveta na Voi . Mipaka ya Tsavo inasumbua mpaka kule Kishushe upande wa Wudanyi. Tsavo bado inasukuma wananchi sehemu za Mwatate mahali Mheshimiwa Mbogho anatoka. Inakataa mpaka uzio isifanyike, na tunasumbuka sana na wanyama pori kwa sababu hiyo. Asante kwa kutupa hii nafasi. Mambo haya ni nyeti; tunahisi yafanyike kwa haraka.

Hon. Speaker, I rise to present this Public Petition regarding the recognition of the Chuka community as a tribe in the Republic of Kenya. I, the undersigned, on behalf of the Chuka community of Kenya in Tharaka-Nithi County, draw the attention of the House to the following: THAT, the Constitution of Kenya, in its preamble, affirms the national pride in the ethnic, cultural and religious diversity as the bedrock of unity of a sovereign nation; THAT, Article 44 of the Constitution recognises that every person has the right to use the language, and to participate in the cultural life of the person’s choice; and that a person belonging to a cultural or linguistic community has the right, with other members of that community, to enjoy the person’s culture and use the person’s language; THAT, the Chuka community has a population of more than 117,000 people who are primarily located in Tharaka-Nithi County and owing to the historical, cultural, social and economic aspects of the Chuka community, there is need to formally recognise them as a distinct tribe in the Republic of Kenya; THAT, the Chuka community traces their origins to the coastal region of Kenya from where they migrated inland and eventually settled in the south-eastern slopes of Mount Kenya and have a cultural and historical claim to the land known as MagunduMa Chuka, which is now part of the Mount Kenya National Park and Forest Reserve; THAT, although the Chuka community has maintained governance structures, economic activities, and cultural practices that distinguish them from their neighbours, the Chuka community has not been recognised as a tribe in this country; THAT, members of the Chuka community have their own unique language that has unique phonetic characteristics that are substantially distinct from those of its neighbouring tribes, including naming system and circumcision rites that makes it distinct from neighbouring tribes, unique and historical governance and leadership systems comprising of councils of elders such as Kiama gia Nkome and Kiama kiaMugongo that have been and still are, crucial in providing community leadership and direction, and in resolving conflicts involving the Chuka community; THAT, the Chuka community plays a fundamental role in Kenya’s socio- economic growth and the enhancement of Kenya’s economy, primarily through agriculture and trade; 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, efforts to have their matters addressed by relevant authorities have been futile; and, THAT, the matter presented in this Petition is not pending before any court of law or any constitutional or legal body. Therefore, your humble Petitioners pray that the National Assembly, through the Public Petitions Committee: 1. Inquiries into the matter with the view of securing urgent recognition of the Chuka community of Kenya as a tribe of the Republic of Kenya. 2. Makes any other recommendations or actions it deems fit in addressing the plight of the Petitioners. And your petitioners will for ever pray.

Hon. George Murugara.

Thank you very much for allowing me to support this timely Petition by Hon. Patrick Munene Ntwiga of Chuka/ Igambang’ombe. As it has clearly explained, the colonialists did many injustices when they came to Kenya—one of them being lamping many communities together and naming them as one tribe—as a result of which communities almost lost their identity until they were recognised as separate and distinct from one another. A good example is our Tharaka-Nithi County that has four distinct communities: Tharaka, Chuka, Mwimbi and Muthambi. It becomes difficult because of this, especially when the rest of the communities in Tharaka-Nithi are simply termed as the Ameru. Meru is the larger county within the region. The time has come for the Chuka to be recognised as a distinct community in Tharaka- Nithi. The same is going to apply to the Muthambi and Mwimbi. When the time comes, I will appear before the Public Petitions Committees to support this Petition and shed more light on why this recognition is necessary. I will also plead for the Muthambi and the Mwimbi cases that are also in my Tharaka-Nithi County. For Meru, we leave it as it is because it has three distinct communities that are put together as Ameru. That being another county, it is a story for another day. I support this. I will appear before the Public Petitions Committee to render credence to the Petition by Hon. Munene.

Thank you. I commit the Petition to the Public Petitions Committee to respond within 60 days. The next Order is by the Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Karemba. What is it?

Sorry, Hon. Speaker. Hon. Murugara misled me.

Why would Hon. Murugara mislead you? Hon. Murugara, are you in the business of misleading your colleague?

Absolutely not. I have just told him that I have commented on the Petition. We have not reached the Statements, yet he wants to talk about them. I have, however, told him sorry, but he goes ahead and says I have misled him. I have not.

Go on, Leader of the Majority Party.

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

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table: 1. The Fifth Report of the Committee on Appointments on the approval hearing of nominees for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries. 2. The following Legal Notices from the Ministry of Health: (a) Legal Notice No.76 of 2025 relating to the Digital Health (Health Information Management Procedures) Regulations, 2025. (b) Legal Notice No.77 of 2025 relating to the Digital Health (Data Exchange Component) Regulations of 2025 and the following Accompanying Documents: (i) Technical Working Group (TWG) Matrix on Parliament Resolutions. (ii) The Explanatory Memoranda. (iii) The Regulatory Impact Statement. (iv) The consolidated written submissions matrices for the Health Information Management Procedures Regulations of 2025 and the Data Exchange Components Regulations of 2025. (v) The consolidated matrix on the general comments from the public participation exercise on the Regulations. 3. Reports of the Auditor-General on the audited accounts for Chemelil Sugar Company for the 2022/2023 Financial Year from the Office of the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. 4. Reports of the Auditor-General and financial statements for the Years ended 30th June 2021, 30th June 2022, 30th June 2023 and certificates therein in respect of: (a) Cardinal Otunga High School Mosocho. (b) Githurai Mixed Secondary School. (c) Maai Mahiu Boys Secondary School. (d) St. Thomas Aquinas Kalawa Boys Secondary. 5. Reports of the Auditor-General and financial statements of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) for the Year ended 30th June 2024, and the certificates therein in respect of the following Constituencies: (a) Aldai. (b) Alego Usonga. (c) Kabondo Kasipul. (d) Keiyo South. (e) Kilgoris. (f) Mbooni. (g) Muhoroni. (h) Ndhiwa. (i) North Imenti. (j) Pokot South. (k) Saboti. (l) Suna East. (m) Turkana Central. Thank you, Hon. 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.

Member of Committee on Appointments, Leader of the Majority Party.

You already did that? Did you start with that? Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.

Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, I beg to lay the following paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on the approval hearing of Mr Aden Abdi Millah for the appointment as Principal Secretary, State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, Hon. Kiarie. I cannot see him. Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on the approval hearing of: Dr Caroline Wanjiru Karugu, nominee for appointment as Principal Secretary, State Department for East African Community Affairs. Four nominees for appointment as Ambassador, Permanent Representative and Consul General: 1. Eng Peter Tum Kiplagat - Ambassador Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. 2. Mrs Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, EGH, - Permanent Representative to the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN Habitat Nairobi. 3. Mr James Buyekane Muhati, CBS, - Consul General, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China 4. Mr Abdi Dubat Fidhow- Consul General, Arusha, Tanzania. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Education, Hon. Melly.

Hon. Speaker. I shall be laying the paper shortly. It is not ready.

The Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Regional Development. Hon. Lochakapong, go ahead.

Hon. Speaker. I beg to lay the following paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Regional Development on the approval hearing of Mr Michael Loikenu Lenasalon for the appointment as Principal Secretary, State Department for Devolution. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Chairperson, Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following paper on the Table: Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee on its consideration of the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill (Senate Bill No.1 of 2025).

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

Hon. Donya, we have not yet reached the Statements. Chairperson, Committee on Appointments. Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Special Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Committee on Appointments in its Fifth Report on the vetting of the nominees for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries laid on the table of the House on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 152(2) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, Cap 7(f), this House approves the appointment of the following persons as Cabinet Secretaries: 1. Hon. Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku as a Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes 2. Mrs Hanna Wendot Cheptumo as a Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Culture, The Arts and Heritage. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Chair, Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Special Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure in its Report on the approval hearing of a nominee for the appointment as Principal Secretary laid on the table of the House on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, Cap 7(f), this House approves the appointment of Mr Aden Abdi Millah as Principal Secretary, State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs. Thank you,

Chairperson Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Special Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations in its report on the approval hearing of a nominee for appointment as Principal Secretary laid on 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.

Table of the House on Tuesday, 15th April 2025 and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, Cap 7(f), this House approves the appointment of Dr Caroline Wanjiru Karugu as Principal Secretary, State Department of East African Community Affairs . Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Speaker, I have another notice of Motion.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Special Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations in its Report on the approval hearing of four nominees for appointment as ambassador, permanent representative and consul general laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 15th April 2025 and pursuant to the provisions of Article 132(2)(e) of the Constitution, Section 22 of the Foreign Service Act, Cap 185 (e), and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, Cap 7(f), this House approves the appointment of the following persons as permanent representative, ambassadors and consul general. 1. Eng Peter Tum Kiplagat - Ambassador Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. 2. Mrs Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, EGH, - Permanent Representative to the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN Habitat Nairobi. 3. Mr James Buyekane Muhati, CBS, - Consul General, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China 4. Mr Abdi Dubat Fidhow- Consul General, Arusha, Tanzania. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Education. First, go back to Order 5 and lay the document on the Table.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Education on the approval hearing of Prof Abdulrazak Shaukat for appointment as Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation.

Thank you. Under Order 6, you can now give your notice of Motion. Hon. Melly.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Special Motion: 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, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Education in its Report on the approval hearing of a nominee for Appointment as Principal Secretary laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 15th April 2025 and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, Cap (7)(f), this House approves the appointment of Prof Abdulrazak Shaukat as Principal Secretary, State Department for Science, Research and Innovation.

Thank you. The Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Regional Development.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Regional Development in its Report on the approval hearing of a nominee for appointment as Principal Secretary, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 15th April 2025 and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments Parliamentary Approval Act, CAP7F, this House approves the appointment of Mr Michael Loikianu Lenasalon as Principal Secretary, State Department for Devolution. Thank you.

Thank you. Hon. Members, before returning to Order 7 on Questions and Statements, let us dispose of Orders 8, 9 and 10. We will put Questions while we enjoy this phenomenal Quorum in the House. Go ahead, Clerk. Call out Order 8

Order! Hon. Members, on their feet, take your seats.

Mover, the Leader of the Majority Party

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to move that the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 7 of 2025) be now read a Third Time. I want to request Hon. Betty Maina Erick to Second.

Hon. Betty Maina Erick.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I beg to Second the Motion and agree that I have adopted the name Erick. This Bill will lower the cost of electricity, and the people of Murang’a County, for example, Gatanga Constituency, will now be able to access power. I second.

I order all those excess materials to be deleted from t he Hansard.

Hon. Member, freeze!

Put the Question!

Hon. Members, I can confirm that we have a Quorum, and I now put the Question.

Hon. Speaker, I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security regarding the non-payment of dues to the National Police Reservists in Trans Nzoia County. Section 110(3) of the National Police Service Act, CAP 84, provides that the National Police Service Reserve officers may be deployed within the country to aid in enforcing all the relevant laws and regulations falling within the mandate of the National Police Service, including maintenance of law and Order, and preservation of peace. These officers operate in hostile environments and place their lives on the line with limited support and equipment in the performance of their duties. In line with this provision, 410 National Police Reservists – commonly referred to as NPRs – were deployed to Trans Nzoia County in January 2019 to protect the community from insecurity, banditry and to maintain law and Order. However, since January 2019, the National Police Reservists have not received their stipend of Ksh5,000 per month nor the promised stipend increase of Ksh20,000 per month after five months of service. Unfortunately, in February 2024, the National Police Reservists were discharged from service without notice or information regarding the settlement of their outstanding dues. 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.

Currently, the Government owes the National Police Reservists who served in Trans Nzoia County approximately Ksh92,200,000, and there has been no official communication on the status of these payments. It is against this background that I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on the following: 1. Status of the payment of all outstanding dues owed to the National Police Reservists in Trans Nzoia County, including the stipend increment from Ksh5000 to Ksh20,000 from January 2019 to February 2024. 2. Measures put in place by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to ensure that the National Police Reservists across the country receive timely and adequate remuneration and are accorded fair treatment in the performance of their duties; and 3. The policy in place on the welfare and safety of the National Police Reservists, including access to health insurance, life insurance cover and compensation for injuries or fatalities arising during active service. Thank you.

Thank you, Hon, Caleb. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs? Hon. Raso, I am not seeing your Chairman. Can you bring a response in two weeks?

That is in order.

In two weeks, we will probably be gone for recess.

Immediately after recess, Hon. Speaker.

First Sitting after recess.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Julius Taitumu, Member for Igembe North.

Hon. Speaker, I rise to request a statement from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Education regarding the promotion of teachers by the TSC. TSC advertised various promotion vacancies in the Financial Year 2024/2025. Subsequently, the Commission conducted interviews in January and February 2025, leading to the promotion of 25,252 teachers. While the TSC released a report on the outcome, this report only includes the advertisement reference number and the TSC numbers of those promoted. It glaringly omits the names of teachers, their stations, designations, and, most importantly, the criteria used to determine the promotions. The absence of regional, county, or community-level data on the promotion makes it difficult to determine whether the exercise met the constitutional threshold of equity, fairness and inclusivity. Further, there are concerns that a number of recently employed teachers were promoted over more experienced colleagues, raising questions about adherence to the merit and longevity of the service. Article 232 of the Constitution sets out the values and principles of public service, including transparency and promotion to the public of timely, accurate information, fair competition and merit as the basis of appointment, promotion and representation of Kenya's diverse communities. The current report by TSC does not provide sufficient information to assess compliance with these cardinal constitutional provisions. Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I request a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education on the following: 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.

1. The report by the Teacher Service Commission details the number of teachers per county, the names and TSC numbers of the teachers promoted in each county, the positions or cadres to which the teachers were promoted, and the school where each teacher is stationed. 2. An explanation of criteria used in promotion, including the basis for distribution across schools per constituency and county and any affirmative action considerations. 3. Measures put in place by the TSC to ensure that future recruitment and promotion exercises uphold the values and principles of public service as enshrined in the Constitution. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you. Chairman, Departmental Committee on Education. How much time do you need to respond to him?

We will want to expedite this because it is an important statement.

In two weeks, we will be on recess.

I can have it in a week, but I wanted to get enough information. Hon. Speaker, just allow us two weeks because we want to desegregate it.

Bring it on the first day of the Sitting after recess.

After the recess. Thank you.

Hon. Joseph Lekuton, Member of Parliament for Laisamis Constituency.

Hon. Speaker, Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request a statement from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Energy regarding the proposed Kenya Electricity Generating Plant (KenGen) Project in Loiyangalani Mount Kulal Ward in Laisamis Constituency. Hon. Speaker, KenGen plans to develop Kenya's second-largest wind power plant in Loiyangalani, Mount Kulal Ward, in Laisamis Constituency, with an initial capacity of 200 MW. This is part of the country's drive to achieve a fully green national grid by 2030. KenGen has been undertaking public participation with the local communities over the multi-billion dollar plant, whose construction is expected to commence in 2026. However, the residents of Loiyangalani, Mount Kulal Ward, and Laisamis at large, who will be impacted by this significant energy initiative, are concerned about the lack of transparency and accountability exhibited by KenGen in addressing their concerns. As their servant, the community is concerned about the potential diversion of infrastructure improvements, particularly in the construction of roads leading to the wind power project site in Loiyangalani Mount Kulal Ward and the surrounding areas of Laisamis Constituency. The residents have a rightful and legitimate expectation of being the primary beneficiaries of the infrastructural development stemming from the KenGen wind power project located within their community, hence demanding that the road traverse Laisamis Constituency. Access to an improved road will not only facilitate the project but also open up the entire constituency for broader development opportunities. This situation calls for assurances that the community's rights will be safeguarded. Hon. Speaker, it is against this backdrop that I request a statement from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Energy on the following: 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.

1. A comprehensive report detailing the report's implementation metrics from inception, including key milestones, accomplishments over the years, alignment with national energy policies, and the total number of wind turbines that KenGen plans to establish in the project area, specifying the exact number or percentage that will be erected within Loiyangalani Mount Kulal Ward. 2. The total acreage of land within the Loiyangalani Mount Kulal Ward community that KenGen intends to utilise for the installation of its turbines, including any designated buffer zones and evidence of the concessions with the community regarding the land to be ceded to KenGen. 3. The action taken by KenGen to address the concerns raised during public participation by the Loiyangalani Mount Kulal community and Laisamis at large as precedent in the implementation of the project, including the formal agreement between KenGen and the affected communities. 4. Assurance that the planned infrastructure development stemming from KenGen wind and power energy, particularly the construction of the road leading to the project site in Loiyangalani Mount Kulal will traverse Laisamis Constituency. 5. The funding framework for the project, including any international partners or funding agencies collaborating with KenGen on the implementation of the project, details and nature of these partnerships, and the extent of financial commitment from these entities. 6. Modalities on how KenGen intends to implement the project prior to the full acquisition of the community land owned by the Loiyangalani Mount Kulal community, given the potential implications since Marsabit County is currently engaged in community land registration. I, thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Lekuton. Hon. Joshua Kimilu?

Hon. Speaker, I wish to request for a statement from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Social Protection, regarding a vacancy in the Office of Uwezo Fund in Kaiti Constituency. The position of Uwezo Fund Manager in Kaiti became vacant in 2019 following the demise of the then-fund manager. The Uwezo Fund Oversight Board has yet to fill the vacancy, leading to a backlog in disbursing funds to residents. The inordinate delay in filling the vacancy and facilitating the office has negatively affected the local economy.

It is against this background that I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Social Protection on the following: 1. The reason for the delay in filling the vacancy in the Office of the Uwezo Fund Manager in Kaiti following the demise of the then Fund Manager in 2019. 2. A report on immediate measures being taken by the government to ensure residents of Kaiti get access to the Uwezo Fund. I, thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you. Chair, Departmental Committee on Social Protection. Hon. Alice, how long do you need to bring a response?

Hon. Speaker, after we are back from recess. 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.

Bring the response on the second day after recess. I did not give direction on the request by Hon. Joseph Lekuton. Hon. Aramat, can you bring a response by Thursday next week?

Hon. Speaker, please give us two weeks after recess to bring a substantive report. The request is quite extensive, and it requires time to interrogate properly.

You are going on recess for one month. Do you want to bring the statement two weeks after one month?

No, immediately after recess.

Okay. Yes, Hon. Lekuton.

Hon. Speaker, I disagree with my good friend. The request is very clear. There are no shortcuts. KenGen knows what they are doing. It is only a matter of fact-checking. One week should be enough. Projects can start any time from now, and we want to be responsible so that community rights are respected.

Hon. Aramat, bring a response on Thursday next week.

Most obliged, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Karemba.

Hon. Speaker, I rise to request a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding frequent road accidents caused by miraa transporters along the Nairobi-Meru Highway.

Transportation of miraa from Meru to Nairobi has increasingly become associated with reckless driving, excessive speeding and a troubling pattern of fatal accidents involving both pedestrians and motorists. The urgent need to deliver this highly perishable crop to Nairobi markets has fostered a culture of impunity among miraa transporters, who often disregard traffic regulations, speed limits and law enforcement instructions. This conduct is in direct contravention of the Traffic Act (Cap. 403), which governs road safety and driver behaviour. Specifically, section 42 of the Act prohibits driving in a dangerous manner to the public. The Act also grants law-enforcement agencies the authority to arrest and prosecute those who breach traffic laws, authority that seems to be blatantly undermined by operators of miraa vehicles.

What is particularly concerning is that a journey that should typically take approximately four hours is reduced to under two hours by speeding miraa transporters. This practice has caused significant loss of lives and serious injuries, including the tragic death of two people two days ago, with two others sustaining severe injuries. This situation raises serious concerns about commercial interests flourishing at the expense of human life, contrary to Article 26(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life. It is against this background that I seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on the following: 1. Immediate and long-term measures the Ministry is taking to curb frequent accidents caused by miraa transport vehicle along the Nairobi-Meru Highway. 2. Actions being taken to ensure that miraa transport sector complies with the Traffic Act (Cap. 403) and prioritise road safety and human life, in line with Article 26 of the Constitution. 3. Any policy or legislative interventions to regulate the Miraa Transport Sector and hold drivers accountable to the law. I, thank you, Hon. 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. Taitumu.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am perturbed by the statement sought by the Member for Runyenjes. I believe miraa drivers ply the routes within the provisions of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). So, it is not in order to segregate miraa drivers as if they do not follow rules stipulated in NTSA regulations. I think he is referring to muguka, not miraa. They are two different crops. He should differentiate between muguka and miraa drivers.

Hon. Pamela.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for the opportunity. I support Hon. Muchangi Karemba and disagree with the Member from Meru. We have muguka in Mbeere and Embu, and miraa in Meru. Drivers of both crops drive at high speeds. The Ministry of Roads and Transport should ensure that drivers carrying miraa from Embu or muguka from Embu adhere to speed regulations. Strict measures should be taken against speeding drivers. Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Pauline.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I support Hon. Karemba. When travelling from Nairobi through Nanyuki to Samburu, we often encounter miraa vehicles and they force us to move out of the road and give them way. The vehicles are driven carelessly and at high speed. Sometimes, they cause many accidents. I have witnessed accidents while travelling to Samburu along the Nanyuki-Isiolo route. The drivers should adhere to NTSA rules to avoid accidents. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Zamzam.

Asante sana, Bw. Spika, kwa kunipa nafasi hii ili nimuunge mkono Mbunge mwenzangu. Imebainika wazi kuwa wanaendesha magari mbio sana na kusababisha ajali. Hata Mombasa, mtu atakwambia, “mbona unaenda mbio kama gari la miraa?” Hii ni kumaanisha kwamba jambo hili linajulikana, na ni gari zote za miraa. Juzi kuna Mheshimiwa alikuja hapa kusema kuwa Meru kuna ugonjwa wa saratani sana. Nataka kurejelea na kusema kuwa hizi gari zinazopeleka mmea huu mbio, ndizo zinazisindikiza ugonjwa wa saratani sehemu zingine. Kwa yote, nasema kuwa zinaenda kwa kasi sana. Nampongeza Mheshimiwa mwenzangu kwa kupendekeza waweze kupunguza ile kasi ambayo wanaziendesha gari zile. Sijui hukimbia kwenda wapi.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika.

Hon. Raso.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Actually, these

transportation vehicles should not be on Kenyan roads. They should have their special roads. For those of us who use the Nairobi-Isiolo-Marsabit Road, you must give way once you come across Miraa transportation vehicles. They neither obey the traffic rules nor the traffic regulations. When somebody is driving in a high-density traffic area at 250 kilometres per hour, it means they should not be on those roads. Hon. Karemba is not talking about Miraa . He is talking about road safety, which must be enforced. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Oundo.

Hon. Speaker, thank you for this. I also happen to use that road occasionally on some private business. Indeed, sometimes I literally hold my heart in my hands when I see a Miraa transportation vehicle overtaking me or coming head-on. Regardless of our big vehicles, I always worry about what will happen next. 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 few months back, I went to Hon. Dido Raso's Constituency to bury a friend, and I encountered the scary speed of Miraa drivers. We probably need to look at this matter from two fronts. First, there is normally a speed limit on all roads in this country. The failure to enforce the speed limits results from the continuing impunity of the Traffic Police and the general Police in this country. We must, therefore, train our eyes to focus towards the enforcement of speed on our roads. On the flip side, we also need to look at the Department of Education and Research to tell us how long it takes for Miraa to go bad. That will explain the speed at which they need to be moved to Nairobi. Surprisingly, I do not see them putting their products in a fridge when they come to Nairobi. I normally see them sold publicly, meaning they cannot go to waste that fast. I want to urge the Department for Transport to ask the Police to enforce road safety rules on the roads so that we save Kenyans from death and injuries that maim them forever. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Ntwiga

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Protect me from Hon. Karemba; I think he is afraid I will not support him. I rise to support Hon. Karemba. We have lost so many people due to how these cars are driven. Last month in my constituency, we lost two university students to Miraa transportation vehicles. I always wonder if Miraa is more perishable than other products because, on our roads, you find milk and meat being transported in refrigerated trucks. I want to separate issues here. We are not discussing Miraa. We are discussing how the vehicles are driven.

growing is good. It is an economic activity for people in Meru and Embu. We are not discussing Miraa or Muguka, but how those vehicles are driven and saying that they should be driven better. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Ferdinand.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. This is just a pointer. I rise on a very serious concern about the highway. We should do something about driving on these roads. My concern is that from here to Western Kenya, we have even more serious cases where trucks and matatus are driven so badly. I used to take about two hours from Eldoret to Nairobi, but today, I take more than five hours on the road. There is no traffic control on the road. As much as we are talking about Miraa transportation vehicles, let us also look at the highways, particularly the Nairobi-Mombasa and the Nairobi-Uganda border. We have a serious problem. People are dying on the road. I recently lost my Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) because of careless driving. Let us do something about it. This is just a pointer because if you drive from here to Western Kenya, there are many problems on the road. We should look at it as a pointer to this issue and seriously control the deaths on our roads. Thank you.

Thank you. I wanted Hon. Ferdinand to be the last one on this. Hon. Alice, you will be the last.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I just need to add my voice to it. We need to have statistics on how many people have been killed by those vehicles. It is a serious business. Back home, there is even a saying that the vehicle was very fast kama zile za Miraa . Those vehicles are driven fast on our highways. They disregard all rules and procedures on the road. They have killed so many people, not only in Embu but 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.

in Meru and Nairobi. If we get the statistics, you will see they have killed so many people along the way. Just like Hon. Taitumu said, we are not discussing miraa. We are talking about how those vehicles are driven. We need to look into it. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) needs to come out very strongly and tell us how many people have been killed by the miraa vehicles. I support.

Thank you. I wanted to close, but let us have Hon. Melly.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. This is a very weighty matter on almost four issues. Firstly, the number of people killed on these highways is alarming. It is almost becoming a very serious disaster for this country. Secondly, are the vehicles lost: bodaboda, mira a transportation ones, matatus, and lorries. Thirdly, there is a total disregard for traffic rules. This House needs to rise up and bring order to our roads. Additionally, not every bodaboda rider in this country has a helmet, yet it is for his own good and not for other people. If he gets into an accident, he will cause a loss to the family. Also, he will cost the Government in terms of medication. He will cause many issues. This House needs to take the issue raised by Hon. Karemba seriously. It needs to be discussed broadly, not only regarding the miraa transportation vehicles issue but also road accidents and adherence to traffic rules in this country. It is a very serious problem. Hon. Speaker, I support.

Thank you. Hon. KJ, what is it? I want to close there.

Hon. Speaker, this is going to the Committee. As it goes to the Committee, they should task people who are responsible for a number of issues. The Highway Code in Kenya will need to be reviewed to see if it is still sufficient. More importantly, there is a communication element to this. When we were growing up, there used to be a lot of sensitisation on how to use the road. It would start in nursery school. As a nursery school child, you would be taught how to cross the road. Today, as we speak, maybe NTSA does not commit any budget to public communication on road use. That is why you will find that as you drive along the super highway, there is a sign saying there should be no trucks on the highway speeding lane. However, you will see a lorry speeding under that sign. In the same breath, you will see an individual riding a motorcycle, and the pillion passenger is wearing a helmet while the rider is not. Then they will end up calling you for a

after they are involved in an accident due to their own mistake. I think there is a very serious communication and sensitisation campaign component to the issue that Hon. Karemba has brought up so that we can prevent accidents before they happen. As the Committee prepares the report, it should consider whether we can commit budgets to communicating and sensitising the public on road safety issues. Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker.

Member for Kesses.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I do not wish to repeat what my colleagues have said but rather recall the Michuki Rules. Hon. Michuki turned around the matatu sector, and I believe that nothing has stopped the Cabinet Secretary for Transport from coming up with policies that will sanitise our transport sector. There is craziness everywhere, especially in the bodaboda sector. The riders our governors are using, even in our local towns, are causing much havoc because of reckless driving. 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 suggest that we should come up with regulations and rules to guide the transportation of miraa in terms of time and how it is operated. Lastly, I encourage the agencies in the road sector to play their part. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) is mandated to build roads within municipalities and cities. However, the carriageway they provide is very thin, yet it is in those areas that we have massive traffic from bodaboda riders and motor vehicles. I suggest that the Departmental Committee on Roads and Transport dig deeper into this issue and ensure that KURA re-standardises their roadworks to accommodate the carriage volumes that have grown over time. It is possible for Kenya to change just as Rwanda has done. Nothing stops Kenya from changing. We need the right people and the correct thinking from the Cabinet Secretary, and Kenya will be transformed. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hon. Ruku, if I were you, I would not debate anything here. I would be ‘nil by mouth’— completely. Where is the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure? Leader of the Majority Party, can you cause your Chairman to bring a statement in response to this? Can he manage to do so by next week?

I will speak to him. I know he had exams this week, but by next week, he should be able to come. Hon. Didmus is the Vice-Chairman of that Committee, so I will cause that.

Hon. Weytan, are you from that Committee?

Yes.

Make sure you bring a statement by Thursday next week.

I am well guided, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Taitumu should be advised that Hon. Karemba is not debating about miraa's value, quality, or otherwise. He is complaining about the manner in which the commodity is transported. From where I sit, I take judicial notice of the reckless manner in which those vehicles are driven. I have narrowly escaped a head-on collision with them, not once, not twice. So, Hon. Taitumu, as you promote the product, which we have no issue with, you should remember that safety is as important as its marketing. Hon. Donya, Mama Kisii, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am interested in the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure because last week you told them to give me an answer today. I prepared and even combed my hair out of excitement that I would receive a reply today. How am I going home?

You do not need to comb your hair to receive an answer.

No, Hon. Speaker. The state of our roads is bad. I can even imagine pregnant women being driven on those roads. We might be talking about miraa, but what if someone is carrying twins and has to use such pathetic roads? I just needed an answer. You can see I am begging for it.

Hon. Weytan, I directed you last week to bring a response to a statement requested by Hon. Donya. Do you have any idea?

I have an idea, but because of the number of questions asked, we will work hard to bring answers by next week.

No. Bring the answer on Thursday this week.

Well guided, Hon. 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.

Thursday of this week. Hon. Donya, you can comb your hair again on Thursday.

Next Order.

Who is the Mover? Is it the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Hon. Tongoyo?

I am here, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Raso, you are replying, right? Go ahead.

I am Hon. Tongoyo in another capacity. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to take this opportunity to thank all Members who have contributed to this Motion on the State of Security in the Six Counties of the North Rift: Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu and Laikipia, which were declared disturbed. For those of us from Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) or areas that are generally disturbed, this Government has done a lot, although there are still pockets of problems. In the 11th Parliament, when I first came here, and now in the 13th Parliament, the difference is like day and night. Many activities have now resumed normalcy. It is evident that many Members support the recommendations developed in the Report and inquiry. They are also ready to support the legislative and other measures that will enable conflict to cease in these areas. In their contributions, many Members raised pertinent issues, particularly those that threaten the safety and stability of the region, with broader implications for national security. As a way of reply, in February 2023, the then Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration gazetted these areas of the North Rift as disturbed and declared a national emergency. In recognition of this, when the Committee did the inquiry, it came up with a raft of recommendations. Key among them is disarmament, where we must take illicit arms from civilians, initiation of a systematic intelligence-led operation to dismantle criminal networks operating in the region and establishment of strong National Government administrative structures. We noted that many of these areas do not have any form of administrative footprint, which is why they are largely seen as ungoverned. We also recommended adopting and deploying modern security surveillance systems by integrating advanced technologies, such as drones, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPV), armoured personnel carriers, and air surveillance, among others. 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.

There are many other recommendations contained in the Report. Since it is now the property of this House, Members can look through them. The House should follow up on these recommendations for implementation. In particular, the Committee on Implementation should prioritise most of these matters. Once again, as a Committee, we thank you and the Clerk for the support extended to facilitate us in carrying out this task seamlessly. With those remarks, I beg to reply. Thank you.

Thank you, Hon. Raso. Hon. Members, we will put the Question on this tomorrow.

Next Order.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, I beg your indulgence in relation to the business listed as Order No. 17, the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 11 of 2025), and request that I stand down this Bill for today. The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning is yet to finalise its Report. We had agreed with the Chairman of the Committee that they need to establish the exact quantum of what is sought to be exempted and the beneficiaries of those exemptions. We also want to ascertain that they are actual investments that have been made in the country in relation to the exemptions that have been sought through this Bill. Therefore, I beg your indulgence that we step down that business from the Order Paper today until such a time that the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning will finalise that Report.

Thank you. Yes, Leader of the Minority Party.

Hon. Speaker, I agree with the Leader of the Majority Party. I do not want to call this Bill dangerous, but it is very important. It is giving exemptions of Ksh14.9 billion, which is almost Ksh15 billion, yet we are unable to raise money for the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). We have fought over money for the NG-CDF the whole afternoon. Someone has brought a Bill that wants to give exemptions of Ksh15 billion. I agree with the Leader of the Majority Party that this Bill needs to be scrutinised by the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning properly to know whether these investments have happened. If they happened, where are they, and what value do they give Kenyans? The Bill is not only trying to give blanket exemptions but also backdating them to 2024. This House had passed a Bill earlier giving them exemptions, but now they want them backdated to 2024. Why? Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you. Yes, Hon. Atandi.

Hon. Speaker, I would also like to support the standing down of this Bill. I presented a Report on the Floor of this House from the Parliamentary Budget Office on the implications of exemptions on our revenue-raising efforts. It says we lose about Ksh300 billion annually from our ordinary revenues because of exemptions. Therefore, it will be bad for this House if we continue to do the same, knowing very well that we are unable to raise revenues. We are even projecting to raise about Ksh2.8 trillion this coming financial year, but we cannot do it with these exemptions. I beseech the House that, going forward, we should never allow exemptions that cannot be explained. Therefore, I support the Leader of the Majority 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.

Party and Hon. Junet in stating that these exemptions must be thoroughly scrutinised before they can be discussed on the Floor of the House.

We will step down the Bill, Hon. Kimani. We are not debating it. I have given the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning the first chance. I will come to you, Hon. Caroli.

Hon. Speaker, I first thank the Leader of the Majority Party in response to this Bill for agreeing to step it down. It is not the habit of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning to try to slow down any Motion or Bill that comes before the Floor of this House. We constantly endeavour to complete the tasks assigned to our Committee in record time. However, this Bill came to us as a correction of a vellum error that may have happened during the printing of the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024, that we passed in December. When we asked for clarification from the national Treasury on the financial implications of this Bill, we got a Report today that it would lead to exemptions of around Ksh15 billion. Although we have seen the impact of a change of policies and how that has happened in promoting local manufacturing and economic growth, it is important that we balance that particular aspect. In doing so, we must ensure that those particular exemptions spur local manufacturing and economic growth and that there is no possibility of abuse. We ask for more time so that we can scrutinise these particular entities. It is important that we visit them where they are, see what they do and establish whether they have an actual impact on our economy. However, tax policies that enhance local manufacturing have been proven to positively impact local employment, promote local manufacturing, and inspire economic growth. However, it is very important that we scrutinise them so they are not subject to abuse. I thank you, Hon. Speaker.

On a point of information.

Whom do you want to inform?

Hon. Kimani.

He has already left the Floor of the House. You do not inform the House generally. You only inform a Member who is on the Floor of the House. Hon. Caroli.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I wish to draw the attention of the House to Article 210 of the Constitution of Kenya. For the ease of Members, it says: 1. No tax or licensing fee may be imposed, waived or varied except as provided by legislation. 2. If legislation permits the waiver of any tax or licensing fee— (a) A public record of each waiver shall be maintained together with the reason for the waiver. (b) Each waiver and the reason for it shall be reported to the Auditor- General. Basically, when you read this Bill, there is no reference to the constitutional provisions. That is one of the biggest problems I noticed with it. I advise that the next draft of this Bill, or whenever it is tabled, should refer to Article 210 of the Constitution.

Hon. Caroli.

Yes.

What is before the House is very simple. We will step it down. You will have an opportunity to speak when we reach that Order either today, tomorrow or any other day. Then, you will read the Constitution to the House and tell the sponsor of the Bill what ought to be done or not to be done. Do we step it down? We do not even need to debate it. It is just a matter of the Speaker's discretion. 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 view of the inconsistency with the Constitution, we should not only step it down but also withdraw it and bring a new one.

That will come when the Bill is being debated. I now direct that Order No. 17 be stepped down to another date that will be agreed upon in the House Business Committee.

Next Order. Yes, Hon. Murugara.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Order No. 19, the Treaty Making and Ratification (Amendment Bill) (No. 2) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 9 of 2024), is stated under the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. It should be under the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. I remember very well being asked to present my views. I wrote a memorandum on it and presented it to the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations. We may have to re-check that this is not under the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs.

Clerk-at-the-Table, can you correct that? If we reach it and the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations is not here, we will step it down to another date. Let us go to the next Order. Hon. Members, Orders No. 12, 13 and 14 should be run through fairly quickly unless Members have serious contentions so that we go to the Committee of the whole House. Call out the next Order.

Hon. Speaker, Hon. Martha Wangari is one of the leaders I look up to. She is serving her third term, one as a Senator and two terms as an elected Member for Gilgil, so she ranks higher than me in this House. I seek her wisdom as many times as I can. Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Special Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning in its Report on the Vetting of Nominees for Appointment as Principal Secretaries, State Department for Public Investments and Asset Management and the State Department for Economic Planning, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 10th April 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, Cap. 7F, 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.

House approves the appointment of the following persons as Principal Secretaries

Member for Kesses.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As I rise to second the appointment of the two nominees—Mr Cyrell Wagunda Odede and Mr Boniface Makokha—I appreciate the President for establishing an independent State Department for Public Investments and Asset Management for the first time in Kenya's history. We all appreciate the challenges we have experienced, especially during the promulgation of the new Constitution, when the two levels of Government shared assets and liabilities. We are yet to recover some assets that went missing because there were no clear records, procedures, or specific technical persons to address the issue. 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 support Mr Cyrell Wagunda, who demonstrated a great understanding of asset management and revenue-raising measures. His approach will improve the management of our assets and the performance of our institutions, such as universities. Almost all universities in the Republic of Kenya are going down and declaring redundancies. Where did the rain start beating our institutions? This nominee should investigate, establish the challenges and propose mechanisms for protecting our institutions. This is happening not only in our universities but also in our manufacturing sector, like the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries Ltd (New KCC), which is going to waste. Farmers have not been paid. What are the troubles? Nobody can explain. The county governments are losing land left, right, and centre. I come from a county where land grabbing is wanton. In the future, we will lack space to improve service delivery or establish institutions that will focus on people's needs. Mr Boniface Makokha challenged me. He is a teacher. He has a Master's Degree in Physics. He understands the issues of planning very well because he was exposed to an environment of dealing with people. Planning is not about technical science; it is about social science, dealing with people, reasoning with them and identifying projects that will affect and impact their livelihood. If the nominee is supported, he will transform our country. The first planning system started during the regime of the late President Mwai Kibaki when the Ministry of Planning was established. It came up with the Kenya Vision 2030, which has transformed the country. We need such a person to give us a future beyond 2030. Where will Kenya be in 2050 or 2060? Where will Kenya be in a hundred years? This will enable us to align our planning and budgetary processes to ensure we gear towards that. I second the nomination of Mr Boniface Makokha as the Principal Secretary nominee of the State Department for Economic Planning and Mr Cyrell Wagunda Odede as the Principal Secretary nominee for the State Department for Public Investment and Asset Management. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Leader of the Majority Party and the Leader of the Minority Party, consult quietly.

Leader of the Minority Party.

Thank you for this opportunity. I stand to support the Motion by the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. I also thank the Chairman and the Committee for a thorough job because the Report they have brought on those two nominees is factual. Mr Cyrell Wagunda Odede comes from my county, Migori County. I thank His Excellency the President for appointing Mr Wagunda as a Principal Secretary. He is the first

to become a Principal Secretary since Independence. Can you imagine? Jasuna is where I come from. He is the first Jasuna to become a Principal Secretary. In my life and as a sitting Member of Parliament, I cannot be prouder than I am today that a jasuna is now a Principal Secretary. Whether from East or West, both are considered Jasuna. Mr Odede is a distinguished career civil servant. He has served this country at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for nearly 30 years without any problem, matter, or finger raised against him on integrity or obedience. When given a second opportunity to serve the nation, these are the kind of Kenyans who will serve this country diligently, faithfully, and honestly. I 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.

can vouch for this man because I have known him for many years. In his previous capacity, he served this country as a Deputy Commissioner in the KRA. As the Chair of the Committee said, he has all the qualifications. They have checked everywhere and realised or confirmed that he is fit for the position to which he is nominated. The State Department for Public Investment and Asset Management he has been taken to is important and needed by our country. It is one of the newly created state departments. As you are aware, this country has many assets that need to be revived for the benefit of Kenyans. Some of them have malfunctioned, while others have died. We do not even have a proper register of the country's assets. Today, the people Migori I represent in this House are pleased that His Excellency the President has given one of us an opportunity to serve this country. Kenyans will get the services they need through the man called Mr. Cyrell Odede. He is also a social worker. I remember he did much social work in Migori at the KRA. He has been a chair of boards of management of many schools. He has helped the community to the extent that we thought he could do a better job if given another opportunity. I am happy that the appointing authority, in their wisdom, also realised and pointed out that this kind of person will serve the country at a higher level if given an opportunity. Hon. Temporary Speaker, this is how we want to move our country—where people who never thought they would serve this country in positions of Principal Secretaries, Cabinet Secretaries, and other presidential appointments are given an opportunity. I know people like Mr Cyrell who had lost hope. They never thought the national Government would ever see them. They would have been rotting in Migori with the kind of knowledge they possess. The Committee has now confirmed that these people will reform these places. I thank the Leader of the Majority Party because he has played a key role in ensuring this country moves in its current direction. The Leader of the Majority Party has been consulting me as the Leader of the Minority Party and asking how many experts are remaining. We are in thorough consultations with the Leader of the Majority Party anytime he thinks an expert is required. I normally get his phone calls even at 1.00 a.m. or 2.00 a.m. He asks me, "Do you think there is an expert in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) who can help issues in government?" Leader of the Majority Party, continue with that kind of mindset. Who knows? You might become our President in the near future. Who knows? Only God knows. The Leader of the Majority Party has shown leadership in that light. I am happy we as a country are moving in the direction where every Kenyan feels they have a chance to serve their nation. Every Kenyan feels that they can serve in any position in this country. That is where we are not told that we are either shareholders or not. With this kind of appointment, that nonsense has ended in this country. When it came out, the list of the new Principal Secretaries covered the whole Republic. Appointees came from the Coast, Kilifi, Migori, Kisumu, Samburu, Kajiado, Mount Kenya, and all other areas. We are passing a list with faces from all the regions of this country. Going forward, we want that kind of nation. Hon. Temporary Speaker, Suna people are not small. That is where I come from. We have never had a Permanent Secretary since Independence. You know, some communities here speak and say they have been forgotten. I just keep quiet. They do not know that we have also been forgotten. We have been in the trenches of opposition. I think that is why we have been segregated and discriminated for all this time. Finally, things have changed because people who never thought they could serve this country are now being put forward to serve this country. That can only happen under the leadership of a broad-based Government, not previous leaderships. They have forgotten other Kenyans. 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 send the Leader of the Majority Party to convey our message to His Excellency the President that he is going in the right direction regarding bringing Kenyans together. This is the way to go. We will not relent until every Kenyan feels that they are like any other Kenyan, unlike before, when a man would come to his office at 5.00 a.m. to remind us that we are not shareholders. Which shares? When did Kenyan become a company where people buy shares? When did Kenya become a limited liability company where you are judged by the number of shares you have? This is how a nation is built. This is how we can have a united and cohesive nation. I know Kenya is one when I find a Jasuna at the table. We cannot only have a people who speak one language running our Government. That cannot happen anymore. With those few remarks, I thank the Committee. Our side, as the Minority, will support any Kenyan. As long as they can deliver and provide services to Kenyans, we will not mind where they come from, their religion, or their county. I promise on the Floor of this House that we will support them and ensure they are given an opportunity. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Thank you. Leader of the Majority Party.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also rise to support the Motion for the approval of the two Principal Secretaries. They may be Cabinet Secretaries in the future. The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning Chairman has elaborated on how well Mr Cyrell Wagunda Odede and Dr Boniface Makokha qualify for these positions. I also agree with the Leader of the Minority Party that it is important to recognise that when a Government is formed, it is formed on behalf of Kenyans to serve all Kenyans. Anybody within the boundaries of the country who is qualified, and a Kenyan can serve in any position. That is why those of us who are fundis not only believe in the Broad-based Government because it brings us together but because it also harnesses and creates a synergy of expertise from across the political divide. We do not need to discriminate against anybody on the basis of where they come from. You have heard that Mr Cyrell Wagunda Odede is a Jasuna, somebody from Suna. This is the first time since Independence that we have had a Jasuna as a Principal Secretary. That tells us that the country is moving in the right direction. We have had principal secretaries from Kikuyu Constituency and some from Gachie in Kiambu, and I look forward to a time in the near future when we will have a Cabinet Secretary from Gachie in Kiambaa Constituency, Kiambu County. Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to address the new State Department for Public Investments and Asset Management. I want to tell Mr. Odede that he is coming to a state department where he has been appointed at the right time. I say at the right time because this is coming from a backdrop where the country is implementing International Monetary Fund (IMF) led reforms that were more tax-based. Following the events of last year, we now have to cautiously move away from tax-based reforms in the country and balance this with investments, and more so investments where we can raise money to carry out public investments without necessarily going back to tax Kenyans. The Public-Private Partnerships Act, 2021, that we enacted in this House almost three years ago, has existed in our books. However, we have been extremely slow in rolling out Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in this country. Hon. Temporary Speaker, where you come from in Gilgil, on a Friday or a long weekend like this one, people take hours to get to Nakuru, a distance of less than 200 kilometres that should take less than an hour.

Some actually spend the night there. 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.

People have slept on the road between Kinale and Gilgil. Over Christmas, some of those going to the western parts of Kenya who could not afford to fly or use the train had to turn and come back to Nairobi because they could not make it, yet they had planned to travel upcountry. This is because we have had challenges doing these roads and expanding our infrastructure in a way that we can without necessarily hurting Kenyans. An opportunity lies, and Mr Cyrell must know he has a golden opportunity to unlock our enormous potential to implement public investments using PPPs. I am not just talking about the planned dual carriage Nakuru-Rironi-Mau Summit Road that probably goes all the way to Malaba, but also about making it an expressway like the Nairobi Expressway. There are many opportunities, such as the investment we see at Bomas of Kenya through PPP. There are many opportunities to implement such projects and position our country in a way that will attract tourists coming for conferencing, not just going to the game reserves. Let me not use the word I was going to use. However, our neighbouring countries, such as Rwanda, which has a much smaller economy than ours and is not as well connected to the rest of the world as Nairobi, will overtake Nairobi in terms of conferencing and conventions. The investment we see at the Bomas of Kenya will unlock this potential and attract more people and businesses to Nairobi for conferencing, conventions, and investments in the country. Mr Cyrell has his job well cut out for him. We expect that this new state department will make a paradigm shift from the current tax-based reforms to investment-based reforms, raising resources from the private sector and unlocking our potential in terms of infrastructure investments. This includes the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Many people do not believe it, but JKIA remains an embarrassment to this country to a large extent. The Leader of the Minority Party says it looks like Machakos Country Bus Station in Nairobi. It is an embarrassment because those who have travelled out of this country have seen the level of investment, even within our region, in international airports. Countries we were priding ourselves to be ahead of them, such as Rwanda and Tanzania, have been overtaking us in public investments. I was shocked the last time I travelled to Istanbul, what used to be Ataturk Airport. I was told it had been decommissioned, and they had built a brand- new airport within a period of two years under PPP by a Turkish company. It is also possible here to build brand new international airports, not just JKIA. It is possible to have an international airport in the Mara where tourists can fly directly from their home countries or to Samburu County. I see Hon. Naisula smiling broadly when she hears Mara and Samburu because she knows the potential that Samburu or the Mara can be unlocked by taking tourists directly there. However, we cannot do this if we depend on taxes and raising taxes from Kenyans to implement these public investments. Mr Cyrell and the officers at the National Treasury who will come into this new state department have the opportunity to unlock that potential for us. I encourage him not to get into the national Treasury and get sucked into the ordinary bureaucracy that we have seen over the years. There are people who have served in this PPP directorate over the years but have not been able to implement a single PPP project. We have been speaking about privatising our sugar companies. This is the opportunity to unlock the huge potential in Western Kenya, other parts of Nyanza, and the Coast that do sugarcane farming using PPPs and privatisation of these companies. This is work that is very well cut out for Mr Cyrell Wagunda Odede. For Dr Boniface Makokha in the State Department for Economic Planning, this is where the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) that we discussed resides. I have seen a former Speaker of this House tweeting that the NG-CDF is illegal. Let me read it because some things are shameful and embarrassing. I would hate to spend time The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

castigating a former Speaker because you are also there as a Temporary Speaker today. He says that NG-CDF is a corrupt, illegal and unconstitutional slush fund to enrich Members of Parliament, their families and cronies unjustly. He says it should, therefore, be scrapped, yet he served in this House as a Speaker, presiding over 349 Members, and also strongly defended that Fund while he served in this House. Today, he is annoyed that we have given a Notice of Motion to appoint a Member of Parliament for Mbeere North as the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service and Human Capital Development. If you are annoyed with that, please spare the rest of the country from your anger and bile. You sat here as a Speaker for 10 years and justified the existence of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF). However, simply because today you are not a Cabinet Secretary and your Member of Parliament has been promoted to a Cabinet Secretary, you have started taking your bile to the rest of the country and this House. It is embarrassing, shameful, and uncalled for. I advise the culprits to cool down and relax. There is life beyond public service. The day any one of us is not a Member of Parliament here or not in a position as a Cabinet Secretary, Speaker, or even chief, there is life beyond that. You can graze your goats and cattle and rear your pigs like me. Those doing poultry, like His Excellency Hon. William Ruto, can also do it, and all will be happy. You do not have to be bitter with your son. From one end of the mouth, you seem to be speaking for your son, who is, I think, 50 years old. From the other end of the mouth, you are so bitter with another one of your sons from Mbeere North who has been appointed as a Cabinet Secretary that you are now deriding the entire House in a system of NG-CDF that has worked for the last almost 25 years. In this affront against NG- CDF, Dr Boniface Makokha must ensure that NG-CDF not only continues to exist but is well- resourced. NG-CDF is not for Members of Parliament. I can do my representation, oversight, and legislative work very well as a Member of Parliament without NG-CDF. But I know some children in my Kikuyu Constituency would otherwise not be in school today were it not for NG-CDF.

I know there were children from Kanyanjara Primary School, where I was elected a Member of Parliament in 2013, who had mud walls and timber classrooms in their schools that had no floors. Children in Kikuyu today pride themselves on being in better public schools than private academies because of investments made by NG-CDF. It is not because of their Member of Parliament but because of NG-CDF. The Act gave very clear guidelines on how procurement is done, how projects are implemented using an independent NG-CDF committee elected at the local level with representation and having project implementation committees at the local level. How I wish Kenyans would see the work of devolution in the last 10 years of implementation as they see the work of NG-CDF at their localities. How I wish that the County Governments Act was as elaborate as the NG-CDF Act. Therefore, I want to encourage Dr Boniface Makokha to serve Kenyans with diligence, look at the workings of NG-CDF, see how we can further improve it, and propose amendments for us to be able to legislate so that it continues to serve the people of Kenya as it has served them over the last past 20 years. With those many remarks, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to support and wish Mr Cyrell Wagunda Odede and Dr Boniface Makokha all the best in their service to the nation. They should go forth to serve the people of Kenya.

Very well, Dr Oundo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate the two gentlemen appointed to The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

serve in the two State Departments at the National Treasury. I also sincerely thank the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning for vetting the nominees and approving their appointments. For the very first time, I want the Leader of the Minority Party to listen. Let me also applaud the move to broaden the inclusion of all spheres of people in the Government of today. In the election of 2022, very many of us were so apprehensive that we thought Kenya belonged to only a few people and that the rest of us were spectators. Yes, we might never have signed the shareholding agreement, but nevertheless, we pay taxes, so we deserve to be considered for all that is there to be done. It is also a big lesson to any incoming administration. At times, not all the political supporters or those you hang around with during campaigns have the competence to allow and enable you to deliver on your mandate. I believe that President Ruto was let down by his first cabinet and administration, which led to the Gen Z riots because of poor decision-making and advice. I just hope that the new team that comes in will be able to see Kenya holistically and develop policies and measures to ensure that this economy takes off. Hon. Temporary Speaker, in a typical working arrangement, the State Department for Economic Planning is the engine for economic development and social progress. They are the people who think, burn the midnight oil, and plan. At the same time, whatever they plan is what goes to be implemented by the National Treasury and all other departments. We just hope and pray that the current administration will allow this Department to play its role. We have nostalgic memories of some of the best brains in this country: Tom Mboya and Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, who headed this Department. It was during those times when the country recorded tremendous economic growth and development. It is high time the National Treasury mandarins, as the Leader of the Majority Party has said, allowed the new team to infuse new energy and thinking in the way things are done in the National Treasury. We all know that the bottom-up economic programme is flailing and is not meeting the targets it was supposed to meet. It is high time the State Department for Economic Planning and the entire Government looked at the value chain they have talked about passionately. Without funding, innovation, and invention, we will not get anywhere. I, therefore, call upon these two gentlemen to work very well. It is agreed that the Government alone will not be able to undertake some of the major infrastructure projects we want in this country to spur economic growth. It is therefore important that we embrace the Public Private Partnership (PPP) that the law has been regularly amended to align with modern thinking. I would even ask that they probably put in a performance contract. Tell whoever is in that department that if they do not properly and successfully deliver PPP within one year, then they have no business sitting there. For example, if you are employed as a transaction advisor and you cannot advise for transactions to succeed, then you have no business at that particular point. I just want to tell Cyrell that that is where the problem lies. Yes, PPP is good, but I want to urge him to avoid the temptation to allow for private solicitation to guide decisions on whom to award a PPP contract. The improvement of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) is a welcome idea. However, the Adani Deal was stinking from the word go to the end. We must follow the law when procuring the process. Allow me to sincerely thank the Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga because when there was a chance to broaden, deepen, and tighten the government, he reached out to all parts of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) stronghold and said, ‘Give us names of experts.’ I can tell you that Busia produces the best. It has never failed to produce the best. If you want to have the best minds in this country to help you run any government or institution, they are in from Busia. For example, if you come to Funyula Constituency, which has trended all over this country, and you throw a stone, most likely, the stone will land on the head of either a Master's or PhD holder. That is Busia for you. That is why I am 100 per cent 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.

confident that Dr Makokha will deliver if given the space, latitude, wherewithal, and resources to deliver. As I conclude, Kenya needs to take off. We have stagnated. We have stalled. We hope the new blood we are injecting will not be poisoned to become ruthless, leaderless and clueless to deliver. As the people of Busia, we have our share. But we still demand more. I beseech the Leader of the Minority Party not to forget the people of Busia when anything else comes up. They are the most ardent supporters of Baba Raila Amolo Odinga. We will deliver much more to this cause if you give us what we want. I wish the nominees the best. Let them deliver to the people of Kenya. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Let us remain in Busia for a while. Hon. Omanyo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Indeed, Busia produces the best, and we will prove that. I am so proud of the nominees whose names have been tabled. Who could have known that anybody from a village called Siera, in a location called Lupida, in a ward called Bukhayo North, in Nambale Sub-County, in Matayos would hold a Master’s Degree in Physics, Bachelor of Science, pursuing a doctorate and with theology training? This combination has really mesmerised me. I could not sit. Thank you for a chance to air my pride as a daughter of the soil from Busia. I know that Dr Makokha will do this country justice. Most of the time, it is politicians who are nominated, elected or appointed. Looking at the CV of Dr Makokha, he is a professional with vast experience internationally and nationally. We pride ourselves in him. Where he comes from, he has a very strong community bond at the boundary of Teso South and the Bakhayo. If you know the history of this country, we had the longest-serving Attorney- General from that same tribe. The former Finance Minister, Chris Okemo, also comes from that tribe. Both the Teso and the Luhya in Busia live as one community. A nominee like Dr Boniface Makokha unites Kenyans more. At the boundary, there are many intermarriages. So, he will not think of his or any other tribe but the Kenyan tribe. He will ensure that even the small village - where Google Maps will get to because of him - gets development. I fully support his nomination. We should continue having people like him in the limelight. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Members, remember we still have two more Special Motions on nominees for appointment as Principal Secretaries.

Mover to reply.

Mover to reply.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I have really enjoyed the contributions of various Members who have supported the nominations. I urge these two very dedicated Kenyans, when given a chance, to live up to their oath and to the expectations of Members. They will hold two very critical dockets: the State Department for Public Investments and the State Department for Economic Planning. With those few remarks, I beg to reply.

Thank you. For obvious reasons, we defer the Question.

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Next Order.

(Hon. Martha Wangari) Hon. Raso.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs in its Report on the vetting of a nominee for appointment as Principal Secretary, State Department for National Government Coordination, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 10th April 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution and sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), this House approves the appointment of Hon. Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim as Principal Secretary, State Department for National Government Co-ordination. As you are aware, pursuant to Article 155(3) of the Constitution, and Section 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, His Excellency the President submitted the name of Hon. Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim as the nominee for appointment to the position of Principal Secretary, State Department for National Government Co-ordination in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary. On Wednesday, 26th March 2025, the Speaker conveyed to the House the message from His Excellency the President and subsequently referred the nominee’s name, curriculum vitae, and the report from the Public Service Commission to the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs for approval hearing. In compliance with Article 118(b) of the Constitution and Section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, the Clerk of the National Assembly placed an advertisement in the print media on Thursday, 27th March 2025, informing the public of the nomination as well as the date, time and place of the approval hearing. The public was invited to submit written memoranda under oath, that is, affidavit, regarding the suitability of the nominee. Following this notification, a letter was sent to the nominee inviting him to attend the approval hearing and requesting him to submit a file questionnaire set out in the Schedule of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act. The nominee obtained duly signed certificates from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Office of Registrar of Political Parties. During the approval hearing on 4th April 2025, in accordance with the provision of the Constitution, the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, and the National Assembly Standing Orders, the Committee observed as follows: 1. No memoranda were received from the public regarding the nominee other than those supporting his nomination. 2. The nominee complied with Articles 78(1) and (2) of the Constitution, as he is a Kenyan citizen and does not hold dual citizenship. 3. The nominee possesses a Bachelor of Science in Information Science and a Diploma in Library Sciences and Information Studies. 4. The nominee meets the requirements of Chapter 6 of the Constitution on leadership and integrity. 5. The nominee demonstrated a strong capacity for managing complex administrative duties, supported by extensive experience in coordination at various levels. His leadership, training, and experience as a Member 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.

Parliament on various Committees position him well to lead teams effectively and address intricate challenges as Principal Secretary. The nominee demonstrated a sound understanding of administrative and technical issues related to governance. He possesses the necessary qualifications, abilities, and experience for the position.

For the information of the House, the nominee is the immediate former Member of Parliament for Wajir North. He has worked extensively in cross-cutting areas, including serving as a Regional Manager for the Kenya Red Cross. It is interesting to note that he is the first member of the Ajuran community to be appointed as a Principal Secretary and also the first from Wajir North, an expansive pastoralist region. Hon. Temporary Speaker, having sat through the approval hearing, the Committee concluded that this new State Department for the National Government Coordination will highlight capable people normally left out of such positions. Mr Abdisalan is one of them. With those many remarks, I beg the House to approve this nomination. I request Hon. Weytan, a Member of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, to second. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Thank you. Hon. Weytan, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I can confirm that the nominee, Hon. Ahmed Abdisalan, demonstrated high professionalism, integrity, and skills for the job for which he has been nominated as Principal Secretary, State Department for National Government Coordination. He demonstrated the skills required for the position. Hon. Ahmed, the immediate former Member of Parliament for Wajir North and also a former senior person at the Kenya Red Cross, has really shown and demonstrated that he can coordinate Government departments across ministries. I can confirm that after his nomination, there were celebrations across Wajir North, the Ajuran community, and the larger North Eastern Province, including all Northern Frontier counties. This is because Hon. Ahmed Abdisalan is the first Ajuran to be appointed as a Principal Secretary. I thank the President of the Republic of Kenya for equalising Kenya. The President and the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister are looking at clan, tribal, and regional balancing across this country. That is something that brings Kenya together and unifies it. That is exactly what is required in Kenya now. However, the Murule and the Kona tribes in Mandera are among the communities not yet considered for senior positions. The Murule community is entrepreneurial, and they do business across the country, yet they have never tested any senior positions such as cabinet secretary, principal secretary, chief executive officer, director-general, managing director or ambassador. I request the appointing authorities now to consider the Murule and Kona communities in Mandera. The Kona tribe is a combination of several small clans that came together, while the Murule community represents two large constituencies in Mandera. Despite that, they have never tasted these positions. After the Ajurans have celebrated and got the first Principal Secretary, the next ones in line are the Murule and Kona tribes. Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I beg to second.

Put the Question.

Before I put the Question, it is only fair to give a chance to his Member of Parliament, Member for Wajir 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.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, there is no better afternoon to be in this Parliament than today. There is no better Parliament to be than the 13th Parliament. Why am I saying this? The words of the Mover of this Motion, Hon. Raso, still echo that this is the first person from the Ajuran community to be appointed as a Principal Secretary, the first from Wajir North Constituency. That is history in the making. I am privileged to be in this Parliament this afternoon. There is nothing much to say about this person, Hon. Ahmed Abdisalan. I am his Member of Parliament, and he was my Member of Parliament in the 12th Parliament.

We went into the field in the 2022 election, and I took over. I am privileged to oversee his appointment as a Principal Secretary. His qualifications speak loudly. He has all it takes in terms of attitude. He has the gravitas to be the Principal Secretary in the State Department he has been appointed to. That aside, we have values and principles in the Constitution 2010 that we have never fully realised. I believe we are moving slowly yet closer to the progressive realisation of those values. Of significance to me this afternoon is the fact that our values speak of national unity. It is in the face of our diversity, the multitude of communities and tribes in Kenya. As much as we have that diversity and differences, we must be united. That means power—in as much as it is vertical in some way—we have one head of the Executive, the President. The rest of the power should at least permeate across these communities. We shall be one nation together, and power shall be distributed and shared among all tribes.

We should have values of inclusion, equality, human rights, non-discrimination and protection of vulnerable communities. Hon. Junet spoke about the first person to be appointed from Suna this afternoon. I also speak on behalf of the first Ajuran to be appointed as Principal Secretary to serve in the Government. We are moving closer to the realisation of these good values that are implemented slowly. There is a slow progression to make sure that there is life in them. These values are anchored in human rights, fairness, and the protection of the less privileged. Being an Ajuran and the only Member of Parliament from that community, when we talk of Somalis, people think that this is one community. There is so much diversity in the Somali community.

I represent the Ajuran community. As the only Member from this community today, I am elated that one of us, in realising our values, has become a Principal Secretary. I congratulate the Executive, more so the President and the Prime Cabinet Secretary, for being part of that appointment in some way. This House considered his skills and approved them in equal measure. I support the Special Motion.

Hon. Atandi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support this Motion. Hon. Abdisalan was with us in the last Parliament. He is a solid Member of Parliament.

He was diligent and worked well with his colleagues. We celebrate his appointment to the Executive as Members of the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) Party. As you are aware, he was formerly the Organising Secretary of the ODM Party. These appointments are a testament that the broad-based Government is working. Unfortunately, some Members of ODM do not understand the relevance and significance of the broad-based movement. I want to take this opportunity to tell those Members, especially those from my county, that the broad-based Government is the best thing that has happened to Kenya. President William Ruto means well for this country. 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 take credit for being one of the first Members of Parliament to prod the President to consider embracing a broad-based approach to running the country's affairs. The President has done well, and we assure him that these appointments are not in vain. Members of the ODM Party in this country are taking note of these appointments. Wherever we are, we know that we are in the Government. We are participating in creating policies for this Government. We support this Government inside and outside Parliament.

Last weekend, I was at a funeral in Siaya when the President came to condole with us. My Governor, James Orengo, made certain distasteful remarks. I want to tell Governor Orengo that Luos were not created to stay in the Opposition. He has been in the Opposition since he was born, and there is nothing else he understands other than Opposition. He is a poor manager. The county that he is supposed to run is doing badly. We urge him to focus on running Siaya County. That is the job he has been given to do. The President is doing well in running the affairs of the country. He is in charge. Some of us are also holding positions that are assisting the country in moving forward. Governor Orengo should focus on Siaya affairs. He should stop poking his nose in the affairs of the national Government, which he is interested in. He is always begging President Ruto to help him finish his projects. I am aware that he is begging the President to help him…

Hon. Atandi, be careful because the Governor is not here.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, in conclusion, I plead with our Members to realise that we have an opportunity to transform the country. President Ruto's appointment of ODM Members, especially the former Organising Secretary of the ODM Party, Hon. Abdisalan, who has been appointed Principal Secretary, will help the country solidify, stabilise, and prosper. It will be good for all citizens if our country prospers. I support the Motion.

Member for Moiben.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for also giving me the opportunity to add my voice to the appointment of the three nominees who have been presented by various committees. I thank President (Dr) William Samoei Ruto for seeing it fit to bring the country together and to open up the Government through a broad-based approach. That is why we are currently experiencing a first of firsts. My colleagues who have spoken before me have praised the nominees who have been appointed. We heard Hon. Junet talk about Jasuna. He said it was the first time somebody of that calibre had been appointed to serve in the Government. We had another nominee from Busia. Hon. Omanyo talked about Dr Makokha. These are people of impeccable academic prowess. I mean progress. They have made names in the dockets they were serving. This is going to inject fresh blood into the different ministries they are going to serve. We wish the nominees the best. We know they have the capability and competence to serve in the various dockets. Different committees vetted these candidates, their papers were scrutinised, and the public was involved. They have emerged the best. We thank the President and his government. We urge our nominees to change Kenya and transform the different dockets as they take up these positions. Let them go in and work for Kenyans in the positions they have been given on behalf of Kenya. We have two nominees for the National Treasury: one for planning and another for asset management. I want to speak on the State Department of Economic Planning nominee.

That Motion is already gone. We are now on the internal security.

Thank you for the guidance. 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 was just tempted to talk about the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) because somebody mentioned it this morning. I was sitting back, imagining how a whole former Speaker and Cabinet Secretary (CS) can talk about Members of Parliament embedding funds in the Constitution yet there is nowhere in that docket where a Member of Parliament signs. We do not play any role. We only do oversight. That is why I got carried away and tempted. It was a burning issue. Anyway, I support the nominee. The Member of Parliament from that region has said he is the very first from that village to serve in that government position. It is also good progress for this broad-based Government. It is now going deeper in looking at marginalised regions and picking up Kenyans from those regions to serve in government. The credentials show somebody who is well-schooled, tested and proven. Indeed, I can attest to the fact that education equalises. Through education, we are sitting here in the 13th Parliament today and praising the nominees who decided to go to school. Somewhere on the way, the President picked them up to come and serve Kenya in different capacities. I wish them well. I look forward to good working relationships in their different dockets. If we, Members of Parliament, work together with the Executive, we will take Kenya to the next level. I rest my case, and I congratulate them. I wish them the very best in their new assignments.

Put the Question.

Hon. Members, you have the final say. I will, therefore, put the Question that the Mover be called to reply.

Mover.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. It was really the thing when Hon. Saney talked very passionately about the Ajuran and the people of the North. Inclusivity is the solution to Kenya's problems. We will marginalise others when we live in exclusivity. I must thank His Excellency the President and His Excellency the former Prime Minister because, for the first time, I think people have gone out of their way to identify individuals never looked at or considered by many others. I think this is the value of the broad- based Government. As Hon. Atandi there said, he is today the man in charge of the Budget in this House. Many years later, incoming people will wonder what somebody from this far area was doing in this office. We must begin to smell the coffee that Kenya is changing for good. We must all rise and support the leadership of the time. With those remarks, I beg to reply. Thank you.

Next Order.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I beg to move the following Special Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Social Protection in its Report on the Vetting of Nominees for Appointment as Principal Secretaries, State Department for Children Welfare Services and State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 10th April 2025, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, CAP 7F, this House approves the appointment of the following persons as Principal Secretaries: (a) CPA Carren Achieng Ageng’o – State Department for Children Welfare Services; and (b) Mr Fikirini Jacobs Katoi Kahindi – State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy.

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution, Sections 5 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, CAP 7F and Standing Order 45(1), His Excellency the President notified the National Assembly of the nomination of the 14 Principal Secretaries to various State Departments, vide date 20th March 2025. The Hon. Speaker, through a communication made on Wednesday, 26th March 2025, conveyed to the House the message from H.E the President and subsequently referred the names of the nominees, their curriculum vitae and the Report of the Public Service Commission on their recruitment to various Departmental Committees for approval hearings. While referring the matter to the committees, the Speaker directed the committees to undertake the vetting exercise within 28 days pursuant to Section 8 of the Public Appointment Parliamentary Approval Act, CAP 7F. In compliance with Article 118(b) of the Constitution and Section 6(4) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, CAP 7F, the Clerk of the National Assembly placed an advert in the print media on 27th March 2025 informing the public of the nominee's date, time and place of the approval hearings. The memoranda were to be received on or before 3rd April 2025 at 5 p.m., East African time. At the closure of the submission deadline, the Committee had not received any memorandum for or against the nominees. The Clerk of the National Assembly also wrote to the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Higher Education Loans Board, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, the Commission for University Education, and the relevant universities seeking references and background checks regarding the suitability of the nominees. The Committee, having undertaken extensive and thorough vetting of the nominees, recommended that the National Assembly approve the nomination of CPA Carren Achieng Ageng'o for appointment as the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Children's Welfare Services and Mr Fikirini Jacobs Katoi Kahindi for appointment as the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy. With regard to CPA Carren Achieng Ageng'o, the nominee stated she holds a Diploma in Organisation Leadership from Harvard University, a Master's Degree from Moi University and a Bachelor of Education, Mathematics and Accounting from the University of Nairobi. The nominee further stated that she has worked in the public sector with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). The Committee confirmed that the nominee had been cleared by the KRA, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Director of Criminal Investigations, 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.

Higher Education Loans Board, and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties – having obtained a clearance certificate to that effect. The nominee stated that she has a longstanding passion in matters concerning children and noted that children need protection, love, and care. If approved, she undertook to ensure that the rights of Kenyan children, as provided for in the Constitution, are protected and adhered to. She further undertook to utilise her network to entrench the welfare and rights of children. She stated that she would collaborate with other employees and resource persons in the State Department to ensure that children's matters are addressed effectively. The nominee indicated that she had prior engagement with the Children Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK) and accessed areas where she could bring support to the society, which was supporting 1000 children countrywide.

CPA Carren Achieng added that if approved she will ensure that access to education as a right under the Children Act is implemented. She noted that in marginalised communities, many children engage in child labour and early marriages. She proposed to undertake an intensive awareness campaign in these communities to ensure children get access to education. In addition, she would create awareness on the channels available to expose such vices and retrogressive practices, including the utility of the 611 hotline number used to report cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and utilise the resource centres in constituencies to support the victims and give them a chance to continue with their education.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, with regard to Mr Fikirini Jacobs Katoi Kahindi, the nominee stated that he was born in Kilifi County on 27th June 1994. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Pwani University. The Committee obtained verification of this documentation from Pwani University. Additionally, it confirmed that the nominee had been cleared by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), having obtained clearance certificates to this effect.

In addition, the nominee is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy degree at Pwani University and is at the research proposal writing stage of the course. He has previously served as director of the Governor's Delivery Unit in the County Government of Kilifi and as a coordinator, Ganze Sub-County, Office of the Senate, Kilifi County, under the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), among other areas of responsibility. If approved, the nominee indicated that he would seek to create a safe space for young people to ventilate their views and ensure participation of the youth in addressing their concerns. On drugs and substance abuse, the nominee acknowledged that drug abuse…

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Alice, there is a point of order. Hon. Kaluma, what is your point of order? Give Hon. Kaluma the right microphone. Use the next one. It has now disappeared.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I think, together with all the other Members, we have looked at a very detailed Report from the Departmental Committee on Social Protection, which discusses what they did during the vetting of these nominees. Would I be in order to propose for your direction that, looking at the time and the other business that we have to transact, and considering that we already have the reports, and to allow Hon. Members to debate upon moving, the Mover takes us straightaway to the recommendations of the Committee in respect of these nominees? These details she has ably highlighted are in the Report. 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. Kaluma. Hon. Alice, I think you are doing well, but could you hasten your presentation on Mr Fikirini?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me finish these important points, Hon. Kaluma. On drugs and substance abuse, the nominee acknowledged that the drugs abuse among the youths was a menace that was contributing to unproductivity among the youth. He proposed that if approved, he would implement a two-way approach combining preventive and rehabilitative measures. On rehabilitation, Mr Fikirini plans to partner with NACADA and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to make rehabilitation programmes more accessible. He also plans to keep young people engaged in productive activities by establishing Youth Empowerment Centres in every constituency.

The Departmental Committee on Social Protection forwards these two nominees for approval by this House, with the primary objective of ensuring that the rights and welfare of children and youth in this country are accorded sufficient attention and priority they deserve, with posterity in mind. Without any doubt, a nation’s future and greatness are determined by its present investment in its children and young people.

I, therefore, urge this House to approve the nomination of CPA Carren Achieng Ageng’o for appointment as Principal Secretary for the State Department for Children Welfare Services, and Mr Fikirini Jacobs Katoi Kahindi for appointment as Principal Secretary for the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy. I request Hon. Zamzam to second the Motion.

Hon. Alice, just for the record, it is the Children Welfare Services, not the Children Welfare Society.

Children Welfare Services. Thank you.

Thank you. Let us have Hon. Zamzam.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Ningependa kumuunga mkono kwa haraka Mwenyekiti wangu, Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a. Siku ya Ijumaa tuliweza kuwahoji hawa wawili walioteuliwa, CPA Carren Achieng Ageng’o, ambaye ameteuliwa kusimamia Idara ya Ustawi wa Watoto; na Fikirini Jacobs, aliyependekezwa kama Katibu Mkuu katika Idara ya Masuala ya Vijana na Ustawi wa Uchumi Bunifu.

Carren alionyesha weledi wa kuweza kuangalia masuala ya watoto. Kama tunavyofahamu katika taifa hili, masuala ya watoto yameachwa kando na hayajazingatiwa vizuri. Kwa hivyo, tulimpiga msasa kwa kuuliza maswali, na aliweza kuyajibu kwa uweledi. Nina imani kuwa wale maofisa watakaofanya kazi chini yake, pamoja na elimu yake, watamuwezesha kufanya juhudi zaidi ili kusaidia watoto. Ni msomi, mjasiri na nampongeza kwa kuteuliwa katika Idara hii.

Kuhusu kijana Fikirini Jacobs, tunajua vijana katika taifa hili wamekua na matatizo mengi, mpaka wengi wao wakatoka kuandamana barabarani. Tuliweza kumuuliza na akatueleza kuwa atahakikisha kuwa ataangalia masuala ya vijana. Alituhakikishia kwamba atafanya ubunifu wa nafasi za kazi, na pia kuwaelekeza vijana wote kwenye sekta ambazo watapata huduma katika Idara yake ya Masuala ya Vijana.

Pia, Fikirini amekuwa kijana jasiri. Kama mama yake kutoka Kaunti ya Mombasa, ningependa kusema kuwa ni mtoto ambaye ametuinua kichwa juu. Hatukutegemea kuwa anajua masuala ya vijana kwa uweledi. Lakini alivyokuwa akieleza kwa ukakamavu, alitushika nyoyo zetu, kwa sababu tulijua kwamba vijana katika taifa hili wana mtihani mkubwa. Wengi walitoka na kulaumiwa, lakini vijana wamesoma katika idara mbalimbali na kubobea katika 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.

masuala tofauti kama uchumi samawati. Hata hivyo, hawajapata mwanya wa kupata ajira wala mtu wa kuwaelekeza.

Huyu kijana amefanya mabadiliko makubwa sana ndani ya Kaunti ya Kilifi. Wale vijana wa bodaboda, ambao siku zote wanachukuliwa kama watu wabaya, amewachukua na kuwaweka kwenye Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation ( SACCO ). Akawaletea

waliokuja na kuwapa mbinu za kuwekeza. Kwa sasa, SACCO hiyo ya Kilifi imebobea katika sekta ya bodaboda Kenya nzima kwa sababu ya akili ya kijana mdogo, Fikirini Jacobs. Yale maneno aliyokuwa anazungumza na Chairman wangu aweze kukubali, tulikuwa na raha mpaka tulikuwa twaonelea kumwambia kuwa awache maswali mengine, isipokuwa ni ule mwelekeo ambao tulikuwa nao kuwa lazima tuyamalize maswali yote. Nampongeza sana Bw. Fikirini Jacobs. Nakuombea Mungu akuelekeze katika kazi hii ili uinue vijana wa Kenya. Na si yeye pekee yake, niliona pia yule Bw Makokha, ambaye amepewa State Department for Economic Planning, The National Treasury and EconomicPlanning amesoma na kubobea. Amesema kuwa atahakikisha kuwa ataweka sheria ambazo zitahakikisha madeni ambayo Kenya imekopa yanalipwa kwa wepesi. Nikimalizia, nachukuwa fursa hii kumshukuru Rais wa taifa hili, Dr William Samoei Ruto, kwa kutoa mwanya wa Broad-Based Government ili waweze kuleta akili ambazo zimebobea na zinazoweza kuendeleza hili taifa mbele. Nampongeza sana kwa kuchukua kijana wetu wa Kigiriama. Tulikuwa tumeachwa nyuma, lakini mara hii, Mama Zamzam ninatabasamu na kusema Bw. Fikirini atainua Wagiriama, Pwani na vile vile Kenya nzima. Asante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Nawatakia kila la heri.

Mhe. Zamzam, haujamalizia.

Mhe. Spika wa Muda, nimekuwa na furaha sana, hata nikashindwa kumalizia. Nikimalizia, nataka niseme naunga mkono uteuzi wa wote wawili kutokana na Kamati ambayo mimi ni Member. Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Hon. Members, please take your time to look at the Standing Orders and get the proper Swahili statement for seconding. It is not “kuunga mkono” bali ni “kuafiki.”

The first chance will go to Hon. Mayaka.

Shukrani sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi hii ili niweze kuchangia Hoja hii Maalum ya kuwaunga mkono walioteuliwa kama Principal Secretary, Bi. CPA Carren na Bw Fikirini. Nimeangalia ripoti ambayo tumepewa kutoka kwa Kamati hii kikamilifu, na nafurahi sana. Hata wakati ambapo walikuwa wanahojiwa, niliweza kuwatazama kwa runinga, na vijana hawa wawili waliweza kujieleza vizuri kabisa. Bi. CPA Carren amehitimu kimasomo, na vile vile alijieleza vizuri sana kuwa ana

katika kuendeleza mambo yanayowahusu watoto na huduma yao. Vile vile, Bw. Fikirini ni kijana ambaye namjua vizuri sana. Tumekuwa pamoja kwenye Chama cha ODM kama vijana. Bw. Fikirini amekuzwa na Baba Raila Amollo Odinga, sawa na wengine wetu. Amehitimu kimasomo, ni kijana mchapa kazi atakayewatetea vijana. Hili amelionyesha katika kazi ambayo amekuwa akifanya, na amewasaidia vijana sana. Tunashukuru Kamati hii kwa kutupatia Ripoti ambayo inaonyesha kuwa vijana hawa wawili wamehitimu. Ningetaka niwaambie vijana wa hii nchi kuwa hiki ni kielelezo wazi 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.

kuwa kijana yeyote anaweza kupata kazi kubwa kama hii. Bw. Fikirini ametoka huko Kilifi, na hakuna mtu ambaye angedhani yakuwa aliweza kuhitimu vile, lakini yeye mwenyewe alijieleza kinaga ubaga. Wenzangu na Wakenya wote tumeona kweli kabisa kuwa Serikali ya msingi mpana inaunga mkono sana watu ambao wamehitimu kufanya kazi. Mhe. Spika wa Muda, namshukuru sana Baba Raila Amolo Odinga kwa kutupa wateule ambao wamehitimu, kama Bw Fikirini, Bi. CPA Carren, Daktari Makokha, Bw Cyrell na Mhe. Ahmed. Wote wameonyesha kwamba wamehitimu na ni watachapa kazi. Nachukua fursa hii kumshukuru Rais wa nchi hii kwa sababu ameona ni vizuri tuwe na watu ambao wametoka katika maeneo mbalimbali ya nchi hii, ambao wanaweza kutumikia Serikali katika hali ya juu. Kwa hayo mafupi, naomba Jumba hili liwapitishe hawa vijana. Pia, nawahimiza wenzangu tukiwa huko nje, lazima tuzidi kuwaambia watu wapatie Serikali fursa ya kufanya kazi katika nchi hii. Watu ambao wamehitimu watumikie nchi hii, ili tuonyeshe kweli Serikali ya msingi mpana inaweza kufanya kazi nzuri. Kwa hayo machache, naunga mkono Hoja hii maalum. Asante sana.

Asante sana, Mhe. Mayaka. Nafikiri uongozi wa Kamati ambayo inaleta utangamano wa Afrika Mashariki imekutia motisha kutumia Kiswahili kwenye Bunge hili. Nitampa nafasi hii Mbunge wa Kilifi, Mhe. Gertrude Mbeyu.

Asante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Nachukua fursa hii nikushukuru kwa kunipa nafasi hii. Pia, nashukuru Kamati ambayo imeongoza kukaguliwa kwa hawa wawili chini ya uongozi wa Mwenyekiti, Mhe. Alice Ng’ang’a. Namshukuru zaidi kwa sababu ya kuweza kunakili kwa utaratibu na uzoefu, na kueleza vizuri kuhusu hawa wateule wawili. Kutoka Kilifi, nataka kuzungumzia kuhusu kijana Fikirini Jacobs Katoi Kahindi, anayetoka kule Ganze, ambapo ni reserve ya Kilifi kabisa. Ukitajiwa Ganze ndani ya Kenya hii, unafikiri ni mahali hakuna maji wala chakula. Wakipata chakula, huwa tunakiita ni cha msolo. Chakula cha msaada kinapelekwa kule. Hapa tumepata kijana Fikirini Jacobs, ambaye amesoma kwa bidii na michango. Anaongoza vijana na ana sauti kubwa ndani ya Kilifi. Kwa uweledi wa kupenda masomo, kijana huyu amehitimu kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Pwani, ambao ni mwelekeo mzuri. Vijana wengi hutaka waje Nairobi wapate shahada zao. Lakini huyu alianza huko bara, na mwisho amepata shahada katika Chuo Kikuu cha Pwani. Nawapongeza wahadhiri wote wa Chuo Kikuu cha Pwani kwa kumshikilia huyu kijana mkakamavu.

Member for Kilifi County, please take your seat for a minute. Your time is still there. I will hold it. We will interrupt you because of our Standing Orders and give Hon. Waqo one minute to move a Procedural Motion.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Procedural Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 30(3)(a), this House orders that should the time appointed for adjournment of the House be reached before conclusion 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.

business appearing as Order 15 in today’s Order Paper, the sitting of the House shall stand extended until the conclusion of the said business. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Who is the seconder?

I request Hon. Mutuse to second.

Hon. Mutuse, proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to second the Motion as moved by Hon. Naomi Waqo. As you notice in the Order Paper, there are very important issues that this House needs to consider this evening. Therefore, we are justified in extending the sitting time. Therefore, I second the Motion.

Continue, Hon. Mbeyu. Give her the microphone.

Ahsante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Nilikuwa nazungumzia kuhusu kijana Fikirini Jacobs Katoi Kahindi kutoka Ganze, Kilifi. Namshukuru Mhe. Rais William Samoei Ruto kwa kumteua katika Wizara ya Maswala ya Vijana na Uchumi Bunifu. Katika nguvu zake na umri wake wa miaka thelathini, kijana huyu ni kielelezo kizuri sana kwa vijana wenzake wanaotafuta kazi. Kwa hivyo, namshukuru Rais kwa kumteua kijana kutoka Kilifi ambaye atawapa vijana wa Kilifi mwelekeo. Mihadarati inawaathiri vijana Kenya nzima, haswa pale Kilifi. Fikirini ni kijana aliye na mvuto mzuri kwa vijana wenzake. Najua akiwaita vijana katika mkutano awazungumzie kuhusu mihadarati kule Pwani na Kenya nzima, vijana watafuatiliza maelezo yake. Kijana huyu amekuwa mzuri sana katika Ofisi ya Gavana wa Kilifi, Mhe. Gideon Maitha Mun’garo, akiwa katika kitengo cha utoaji wa huduma. Ni kijana mwenye maarifa. Angetoa taarifa katika mikutano bila kuangalia karatasi na kuangazia kazi zote za Mhe. Gavana Mun’garo. Kwa hivyo, namshukuru Rais na Kamati hii inayoongozwa na dadangu, Alice Ng’ang’a, kwa kumpitisha kijana huyu. Tunajua atakuwa muhimu sana katika kuzingatia masuala ya vijana na uchumi bunifu Kenya nzima. Tunamshukuru Rais kama watu wa Kilifi. Nimeipinga sana Serikali hii, lakini katika jambo hili, namshukuru Mhe. Rais, kwa niaba ya viongozi wa Kilifi katika Bunge hili. Amchukue kijana huyu atakayefanya kazi Kenya nzima. Namshukuru babangu, Raila Amolo Odinga, kwa kukubali kijana huyu ateuliwe. Ni kijana wake mwenye sauti kubwa sana, ambaye angesimama katika mkutano kumtetea Raila. Lakini Raila amemruhusu afanye kazi ya Serikali. Sisi kama viongozi wa Kilifi tunalikubali jambo hilo. Ahsante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Hon. Members, I do not see much interest from Members in contributing to this Motion. Can I call the Mover to reply? Hon. Members, you have the final say.

Mover.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency the President for giving us these very important people to serve in this Government, namely, CPA Carren as well as Mr Fikirini Jacobs. 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 also want to thank this House. If approved, we will have two very dedicated principal secretaries who will serve this country very well. I can assure this House that the two nominees are very dedicated. CPA Carren is very dedicated to serving the children of this nation. At the same time, Mr Fikirini is very dedicated to serving the youth of this nation. I know they will do a very good job. We wish them all the best in their work.

Thank you. We shall defer the putting of the question.

Before we go to the next Order, allow me to indulge Hon. KJ, who has a Paper to lay and immediately give notice of Motion. Give the microphone to Hon. KJ.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, beg to lay the following Paper on the Table: Report of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation on the approval hearing of Mr Stephen Motari Isaboke for appointment as Principal Secretary in the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunication.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation in its Report on the approval hearing of a nominee for appointment as Principal Secretary, State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 15th April 2025; and pursuant to the provisions of Article 155(3)(b) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, CAP 7F, this House approves the appointment of Mr Stephen Motari Isaboke as Principal Secretary in the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications subject to the following condition – THAT, in order to avert any potential conflict of interest with respect to the claims made relating to part ownership of GOtv Limited, the appointing authority reassigns the nominee a different State Department upon taking Oath of Office. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Very well. Next Order.

Hon. Members, we are in the Committee of the whole House to consider the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.5 of 2025).

It has an amendment.

Mover.

Is that Clause 2?

It is Section 2.

Which one is Section 2? I have Clause 2. Let us get it right. Is it Clause 1?

No. It is Section 2.

Hon. Shakeel, I hear you. Hon. Members, I know that we have to follow the procedure. If I am not wrong, Clause 1 will come at the end. We will start with the Schedule.

Mover, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. I beg to move: THAT, the Schedule to the Bill be amended— (a) in the proposed amendments to section 2 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (Cap. 59A) by— (i) deleting paragraph (a) in the proposed insertion of the definition of the term “dealer in precious stones or metals” and substituting therefor the following new paragraph— “(a) mining operations;” (ii) deleting the proposed insertion of the definition of the term “Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority”;

The justification for this amendment is that the term “mining operations” as used in the Mining Act covers the extraction or production of precious metals and stones. Secondly, the amendment to the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act seeks to remove the non-governmental organisations referred to as “Public Benefit Organisations” from the ambit of regulations and supervision for anti-money laundering and the combating of terrorism. Therefore, there is no need to define the term.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady.

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. Members, if you intend to speak on this one, kindly use the intervention button. If you are not interested, remove your card from the gadget.

Hon. Mbeyu, are you on this one? She is not even hearing me.

Proceed, Hon. Shakeel.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The proposed Section 2 is doing a very good thing because it has extended the regulatory scope of this very important Act. As we understand, mining operations have been the bane of illicit financial flows and have also greatly affected the economy of this country. Mining operations have put us back on the grey list of the financial market. Therefore, I recommend and approve part (i) of the proposed amendment to Section 2. Furthermore, I support the deletion of the proposed definition of ‘Public Benefit Organisations Regulatory Authority.’ It is the view of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) that this particular amendment will strengthen the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism laws and take us off that grey list that we are presently in. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Shakeel. I know you have also spoken to another amendment that we will get to. We are not yet there.

There is an amendment to Section 55A. Proceed and move it, Chair of Departmental Committee.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, the Schedule to the Bill be amended—

(b) by deleting the proposed amendments to section 55A of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (Cap. 59A) and substituting therefor the following new amendments—

s. 55A Delete the head note and substitute it with the following new head note—

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.

(c) deleting the proposed amendment to section 55A(1) of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti- Money Laundering Act (Cap. 59A) and substituting therefor the following new amendment—

s. 55A(1) Delete the opening statement of subsection (1) and substitute therefor the following new opening statement—

(1) There is established an advisory board to be known as the Assets Recovery Agency Advisory Board which shall consist of—

Hon. Temporary Chair, the justification to this amendment is to correct the error in the name of the advisory board, which used to be called the ‘Assets Recovery Advisory Board’ instead of the Assets Recovery Agency Advisory Board.

Hon. Shakeel.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I support the amendment. This was causing a very big problem when we were dealing with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Initially, this was called the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) initiative. I recall working in it in Panama over 12 years ago. This has now strengthened this particular thing and sorted out our problem. I recommend.

Thank you.

Departmental Committee Chair, move the new section.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move: THAT, the Schedule to the Bill be amended – 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.

(d) in the proposed amendments to the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (Cap. 59A) by inserting the following new amendments in proper chronological sequence—

s. 25(5) Delete paragraph (a) and substitute therefor the following new paragraph—

(a) for a single term of six years and is not eligible for re-appointment; and

Departmental Committee Chair, move for Second Reading.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move that the new amendment be read a Second Time. The justification is that we have to align the term limit of the Director-General of the Financial Reporting Centre with the term limit of heads of counterpart agencies such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, whose Secretary and Chief Executive Officer has a one six-year non-renewable term. The amendment also seeks to clean up the paragraph. I call upon Hon. Mutuse to second.

You do not need a seconder on this amendment.

Departmental Committee Chair, I know that you have also dealt with Section 25(6), but just go on record again for purposes of clarity.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move: THAT, the Schedule to the Bill be amended – (d) in the proposed amendments to the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (Cap. 59A) by inserting the following new amendments in proper chronological sequence— s. 25(6) Delete. The purpose of this amendment is to align it with the New Section 25(5) regarding the term of office of the Director-General of the Financial Reporting Centre and ensure that the section is cleaned up. 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.

Mover, there is a proposed amendment.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move: THAT, the Schedule to the Bill be amended— 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.

(e) in the proposed amendments to the Mining Act (Cap. 306), by deleting the word “regulations” appearing immediately after the word “issue” in the proposed New Section 16A(2)(g); The rationale is that under the Mining Act, regulations are made by the Cabinet Secretary and not the Director of Mines as proposed in the proposed amendment.

THAT, the Schedule to the Bill be amended— (f) (f) In the proposed amendments to the Estate Agents Act (Cap. 533) by inserting the following amendment in proper chronological sequence—

s.18(2) Delete and substitute therefore the following subsection—

(2) A person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be liable, upon conviction—

(a) in case of a legal person, to a fine not exceeding five million shillings; and

(b) in the case of a natural person, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings. 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.

Mover, move the Second Reading of the New Section 18(2).

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move that the New Section 18(2) of the Estate Agents Registration Act (Cap. 533) be now read a Second Time.

The justification and rationale for the amendment are that we have to enhance the penalties applicable to unregistered persons who act as estate agents. That will curb the menace in this profession where quacks pose as estate agents with a view to making money when they are not qualified to do such work.

Hon. Shakeel.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. This omnibus proposal overlooks the fact that the Estate Agents Act has been used many times for money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. It was heavily used in Mombasa to launder the proceeds of piracy, and you know what the effects were. As much as I agree that the penalties should be upgraded, I do not agree that the fines should not exceed Ksh5 million for a legal person, and Ksh1 million for a natural person. I propose that it should read, “Not less than Ksh5 million for a legal person and not less than Ksh1 million for a natural person.” Estate agents fueled illicit funding and money laundering at the Coast. They would take the proceeds of piracy and buy properties at ten times their value. If we make the penalties severe enough…

On a point of information, Hon. Temporary Chairlady.

Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, while I agree with Hon. Shakeel, in legislation-making, we usually say, “Not more than a certain amount” in terms of fines and penalties. If we say, “Not less than Ksh1 million”, it means that you could even be fined a trillion shillings. You never know the judge or magistrate that one may appear before. Therefore, it is only right that we set an upper limit to prohibit exploitation. One may be subjected to other penalties in the statute if they are involved in money laundering. It is done that way as a deterrent. The Chairperson of the Committee was right in indicating it as “Not more than…” If we say, “Not less than…”, it will mean that the stated amount is the lower limit, and that provision can be misused. You can be fined Ksh100 million, Ksh200 million or even Ksh1 billion.

You have made your point. Hon. Shakeel, contribute for one minute.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. As I said, we have been grey-listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the international community. They will view it as a lack of commitment if we set the penalties at “Not exceeding Ksh5 million”. The culprits have been laundering hundreds of billions of shillings. For such persons, an amount of Ksh5 million is just a drop in the ocean. This Bill, which has been proposed by the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, is trying to remove us from the grey list. We do not want small things like this to keep us on the grey list. 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 agree with the Leader of the Majority Party that we should not say, “Not less than…” We can also put a top limit of not less than Ksh5 million and not more than Ksh10 million. I think these are very important points not only for our country, but also for the international community, where even the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) represents Kenya. We hear all the criticisms that we are not doing the right thing. Uganda and Tanzania are doing it. We seem to be the ones who have been very lenient on this matter from a Pan-African perspective.

You have made your point.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Chairperson. As said by the Leader of the Majority Party, legislation has to leave room for what is known as judicial discretion. We cannot tie a judge to less minimums. We usually give discretion of up to a maximum amount so that, from case to case, the exercise is undertaken in accordance with the facts of each peculiar case.

Allow me to put the question so that we make progress.

, put and agreed to)

Hold on, we have to read out the sections.

Leader of the Majority Party.

I wanted to say that it is critical that we bring Public Benefit Organisations under the ambit of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Laws Act. As Hon. Shakeel was contributing on the need to also bring estate agents under the ambit of this Act, the Public Benefit Organisations Act, as enacted, allowed very many NGOs and non-profit making organisations to attract funding even from outside the country. Many of them have been involved in money laundering. Nowadays people register Public Benefit Organisations or NGOs with the sole intent of laundering money either for financing terrorism or just laundering to clean up money stolen from elsewhere. It is imperative, especially for the very unstable countries 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.

neighbourhood, where we have seen many people from those unstable countries and governments laundering money from their countries and bringing it to the country. They use what are billed as NGOS, non-profit making organisations or PBOS. It is, therefore, important that we support these amendments and bring such organisations under the ambit of the Anti- Money Laundering and terrorism financing laws. I support.

Hon. Shakeel.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. I thank the Leader of the Majority Party. It shows that his eyes are on the ball. As much as I dislike Trumps policies, there are certain things he said that make great sense, like on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) support. Money was being misused to lead us in the wrong direction. The Public Benefits Organisations talked about here include the International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs). Therefore, I strongly propose that the recommendations and comments that the Leader of the Majority Party has given be acknowledged and included in the preamble of this particular discussion. Thank you.

THAT, the Bill be amended by inserting the following new Clause immediately after Clause 2— Saving and 3. (1) A person who, immediately before the commencement transition. of this Act, held office as the Director General of the Financial

Cap. 59A. Reporting Centre shall continue to hold that office as if appointed under section 25 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

(2) The term of a person who continues in office under subsection (1) shall not exceed six years from the date of the second appointment.

Departmental Committee Chair, move Second Reading.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. I beg to move that the New Clause 3 of the Bill be read a Second Time. What we propose to do is to make a provision on the limitation to the state so that a person who, immediately before the commencement of this Act, held office as the Director General of the Financial Reporting Centre shall continue to hold that office as if he has been appointed under Section 25 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act. We are also introducing a new subsection (2) so that the term of a person who continues in office under subsection (1) shall not exceed six years from the date of the second appointment. This is purely to align this sub-section with the subsection (1). The rationale is to provide for the transition of the current Director General of the FRC in light of the amendment that we have made regarding the term of office so that we do not actually dismiss this person by virtue of legislation. Thank you. 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.

Yes, Majority Leader.

Hon. Chair, I rise to support this amendment. The Committee has also proposed to align the term of the Director-General of the FRC with that of similar offices – like that of the Director of EACC. What happens in countries like ours is that if you are serving a two term or a term that is renewable, for example, serving a term of four years that is renewable, you get compromised in your first term because you want to be in the business of pleasing people and not doing what you ought to do. That was the basis for the decision that the CEO of the EACC should serve for one term of six years so that when one is given that office, he will work impartially without the need to please anybody for renewal of his term. Because of this office's sensitivity, it is also important that we do not abruptly end the current Director-General's term by operationalising this law. He should be allowed a two-year transition period to finish his six-year term before we embark on recruiting a new Director- General. I support that transitional clause.

Very quickly, Hon. Mutuse. Where is your card, Hon. Mutuse? Move to the microphone close to you. It is on.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. I support the amendment. Hon. Shakeel has ably articulated that we are at a precarious position with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). We are greylisted. Uganda’s grey listing has been lifted, and Tanzania’s is just about to be lifted. Therefore, we did a smooth transition so that what we are doing in terms of lifting our country from the grey listing continues. That is why the Committee thought it was important for the current Director-General to be given ample time to complete the process. We should not bring his term to an abrupt end and, therefore, affect the efforts that the country is making in terms of its international financial obligations.

Mover.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move: THAT, Clause 1 of the Bill be amended by inserting the words “and shall commence upon publication in the Gazette” immediately after the expression “2025”.

We are changing and inserting a commencement date. That date will be the date of publication in the Kenya Gazette as soon as the Bill is assented to. Therefore, we will have that immediately after the expression “2025.” The justification is to state when this will come into force, the commencement date of the amended 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.

Hon. Shakeel.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move: THAT, Clause 1 of the Bill be further amended by inserting the words “immediately upon assent by the President.” immediately after the words “upon publication in the Gazette” I agree with most of the amendments. The Hon. Chairman has made clear that they should commence upon publication in the gazette, adding, “upon assent.”

The biggest problem that we have had is implementation. If we are not very clear, these people who understand English only in their own terms and not in the terms that we have understood, will now start creating mountains out of mole hills. They will say that it shall commence upon publication in the Kenya Gazette. There has been a history of delaying the publication in the Kenya Gazette. Therefore, I was hoping and praying that Hon. Chairman could add additional words, ‘immediately upon assent by the President,” so that we are clear. However, since you are the legal mind, you will tell me what you think. If he can put a specific date, for example, in two or three months, it will be really beneficial.

I want to bring to your attention the fact that we have a very tough time with the financial regulatory authorities in other countries. Therefore, what this Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Bill is doing is a positive step. Every time I hear the statements that we do not have a strong political will to combat financial crime, we do not have adequate resources, and we do not have clear guidelines. Those are the things we hear at all international conferences, but we cannot say much. I am pleading with the Hon Chairman to improve it so that we know exactly when it is going to be gazetted and implemented.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady.

Thank you. Hon. Chairman.

Leader of the Majority Party, you are out of order. Chair, Departmental Committee of Justice and Legal Affairs, proceed.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. There is always uncertainty when it comes to dates on when Acts of Parliament will commence. Where we have sometimes put dates, those dates have been overtaken by when the Acts are assented to. But we know for sure that once it is assented to, there will be no delay in gazetting it. Once it is gazetted, it becomes a part of our laws. That is how the public is notified that an Act has been assented to, and it has come into force. Usually, there is no delay. Let us not speculate. As soon as it is assented to, it will find itself in the Gazette . This is because we also have to cure the mischief which Hon. Shakeel is repeatedly saying, that we are in the grey book. We have to come out of that grey book.

Leader of the Majority Party.

Chair, just for information and clarity, when he says, “shall commence upon publication in the Gazette, ” it is common knowledge that it goes to the Gazette after assent. It is also common knowledge that when the President is assenting to Bills, the Attorney-General is usually there and gets a copy of the vellum for immediate publication in the Gazette. So you do not need to put a date. The day the President assents to it, the same minute, the Attorney-General is given a vellum copy for gazettal. Therefore, it will commence immediately. The danger would have been if we left it at just 2025 or a certain date in 2025. That way, the fears you are expressing would suffice. 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. Shakeel.

No. The President of this country has made a positive direction on this particular thing, bearing in mind where we are on the grey list. I want to thank the President for doing this, because we have been writing to the Office of the President for some time. We are very pleased that the President has seen it fit to ensure that this Bill, through the Leader of the Majority Party, comes through in a diligent way and fast.

Thank you very much.

You have been very keen since last term as the Chair of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC). I think you are happy, and you have said so.

Hon. Members, we have come to the end. I now call upon the Mover to move reporting.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move that the Committee do report to the House its consideration of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 5 of 2025), and its approval thereof with amendments.

( The House resumed )

The Chairperson to report to the House.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the Whole House has considered the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 5 of 2025), and approved the same with amendments.

The mover to move agreement with the Report.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Committee in the said report. I also request Hon. Rindikiri, the Member for Buuri, to second the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the whole 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.

Hon. Rindikiri, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I second this Motion. Before I sit down, this is a very important Bill. It is not only going to combat money laundering and terrorism, but also corruption. We have seen many governors putting up very big buildings, mansions, buying aircraft, and driving top-of-the-range vehicles. In the recent event, a governor was arrested with Ksh12 million in cash and some dollars totalling Ksh14 million. He is the Governor of Kiambu. If we take this as an example, it means we have a very latent system in terms of some of these people holding serious offices. This Bill will now educate people on the best ways to combat money laundering. Terrorism and corruption are diseases. Anyone carrying money without any justification will be answerable. We have also seen many people engage in extortion. This Bill has come at the right time. We want to call upon the responsible institutions of government to start a trial and continuously monitor, word by word, the implementation of this Bill. We have seen and heard many Kenyans suffering because they cannot see where their money goes. Salaries are not being paid, hospitals do not have drugs, doctors are not being paid, and bills are pending, yet we are seeing a Governor with Ksh12 million in cash. There are no other words we can use apart from telling these kinds of people that Kenya is now under able leadership, and we are going to fight corruption head-on. I thank His Excellency the President and the Members who brought this Bill. This is what has led Kenya to be where it is. I am more confident because I know His Excellency, the President, was given the green light to implement this amendment to the Bill to take effect. I am sure we are moving in the right direction. I second.

Is Hon. Makali Mulu in the House? Hon. Eckomas Mutuse, do you have something to say? I can see your request. Hon. Nabii Nabwera and Hon. Gertrude Mbeyu have stepped out on other state duties. Hon. Members, there being no more interest, the putting of the Question for the adoption of the Bill shall be done the next time this particular matter is shared.

Hon. Members, let us be upstanding. The time being 7.34 p.m., the House stands adjourned until tomorrow, 16th April 2025 at 9.30 a.m.

The House rose at 7.34 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.

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.