Serjeant-at-Arms, kindly ring the Bell for 10 minutes.

Serjeant-at-Arms, you may stop the Bell. Hon. Members, allow me to reorganise the Order Paper. Leader of the Majority Party, I suggest that we skip Order No. 5, Papers, and proceed to Order Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11, then come back to Order No. 5. Clerk-at-the-Table, you can read the Orders starting with Order NO. 8

Hon. Owen Baya.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for that indulgence to allow us to rearrange the Order Paper a little bit. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, this House resolves to exempt the business appearing as Order Nos. 10, 11 and 12 in today’s Order Paper from the provisions of Standing Order 40(3), being a Wednesday Morning, a day allocated for Business not sponsored by the Majority or Minority Party or Business sponsored by a committee. As you are aware, Wednesday mornings are meant for Business by private Members. However, because of the urgency of the matter, we wish to ride on Standing Order No.40 to seek exemption and allow for consideration of the Finance Bill, the Nominees for Appointment to the National Police Service, and the County Public Finance Laws Bill. We propose that these items be considered now, so that we can meet the timelines provided under the Public Finance Act and ensure these laws are enacted within the framework of the budgetary deadlines. Therefore, having said that, I urge Members to support this procedural Motion. It is a simple and straightforward procedural Motion. I request Hon. Sylvanus Osoro to second. Thank you.

Hon. Osoro.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. For clarity, my name is Osoro, not Papa Osoro, as one of my Deputy Leaders of the Majority Party alluded 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.

The purpose of seeking exemption from the provisions of Standing Order No. 43, as the Mover has clearly stated, is to enable us to dispense with government business and temporarily set aside business meant for private Members. Looking at the calendar of this House, we are set to proceed on recess next week, on the 27th. This House also received the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, who, of course, submitted the estimates sometime last week. It is important that, as we approach the end of this financial year and enter the next, we prioritise the business listed under Order No. 10. That includes the Finance Bill, the special motion we discussed yesterday, and the County Public Finance Laws, since we are heading into a new financial year. With that, I beg to second.

Put the Question.

Hon. Members, allow me to recognise a school that is seated in the Public Gallery, Logorate Comprehensive School from Samburu West Constituency, Samburu County. Next order.

Next Order.

THE FINANCE BILL (National Assembly Bill No. 19 of 2025)

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Next Order.

Hon. Members, I think you'll allow us now to go back to Order No. 5. Thank you for your indulgence. Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table: 1. Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the year ended 30th June 2024 and the certificates therein in respect of the following Technical and Vocational Colleges: (a) Msambweni. (b) Kibwezi West. (c) Mulango. (d) Machakos town. (e) Kitui East. (f) Yatta. 2. Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the year ended 30th June 2024 and the certificates therein in respect of the following secondary schools: (a) St. Alphonsa Kisau Girls –Makueni. (b) Kitondo – Makueni. (c) Baricho Boys. (d) Kabare Girls. 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) Shimba Hills. (f) Mukaa Boys – Makueni. 3. Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the year ended 30th June 2024, and the certificates therein in respect of the following Technical Training Institutes: (a) Wote; (b) Machakos Technical Institute for the Blind; and (c) Katine. 4. Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the year ended 30th June, 2024 and the certificates therein in respect of: (a) Malindi Integrated Social Health Development Programme Phase II (MISHDP-II)-Coastal Development Authority. (b) Horn Africa Groundwater for Resilience Project (IDA CREDIT NO.7082-KE, PROJECT ID P174867)-State Department for Water and Sanitation). (c) Nambale-Mjini-Mayenje water project Grant /Credit Number 08W/BUSIA/97. (d) Rwabura Irrigation Development Project No.1109118900-National Irrigation Authority. (e) Multimedia University of Kenya. (f) Mama Ngina University College. 5. Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the year ended 30th June, 2023 and the certificates therein in respect of: (a) Kenya Primary Education Equity in learning Program IDA Grant No. D991-KE and Credit No.7067-KE and Grants NOS.TF C306-KE and TF C307-KE-State Department for Basic Education. (b) Hybrid Generation of off-grid Power System Credit No. CKE 1066 011-Kenya Power and Lighting Company PLC. 6. Report of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for Tseikuru National Polytechnic year ended 30th June 2024 and the certificate therein. Thank you, I beg to lay.

Thank you. Next order. On order No. 6, there was a Notice of Motion by Hon. Gikaria.

Oh, I am told that it is by Hon. Gonzi Rai. Are you ready with your Notice of Motion? Just hold on. Let us agree that Hon. Gikaria is on the Order Paper to give a Notice of Motion, but we will skip that. Let us move to Order No. 7 which is Statements. Member for Kinango, Hon. Gonzi Rai you may proceed.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to request for a Statement regarding the safety of a Kenyan in Saudi Arabia. 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.

Pursuant to the provision of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, regarding the safety of Ms Riziki Luvuno Mambo, holder of passport number AK1325501, who went missing in Saudi Arabia in March 2024. Ms. Riziki Luvuno Mambo has been residing in Saudi Arabia since July 2023, when she moved there for employment. However, her family with whom she maintained regular communication claims to have lost contact with her on 12th March 2024, raising concerns about her safety and whereabouts. Following her lack of communication, the family received reports on 23rd April 2024 that she had been arrested and was being held at Jeddah Sawari Police Station in Saudi Arabia. It is alleged that she was found in a state of distress wandering the streets, and appeared to be suffering from a mental health condition. Efforts by the family to secure her repatriation to Kenya have been unsuccessful. It is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on the following: 1. The circumstance surrounding the arrest of Ms. Riziki Luvuno Mambo by the Saudi Arabian Police. 2. Steps that the relevant government agencies have taken to ascertain her whereabouts, and secure her expediated release from custody and repatriation to Kenya for proper physical and mental care. 3. The measures that the government has taken to guarantee the safety of all Kenyans living and working abroad, to ensure that they receive timely government assistance in cases of distress. Thank you.

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. Is there a Member of that Committee in the House to give an undertaking on behalf of the Committee. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, can you give the undertaking on their behalf.

I hear the Vice-Chairman is here. Hon. Captain Major Bashir is here. He can do the undertaking.

Okay, Hon. Bashir. Give him the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I have listened to the Request for Statement. I inform the Member that we will have a response to the questions in two weeks’ time. Including all others that he has mentioned like the distress calls from the people in the diaspora. Two weeks will be appropriate.

Thank you. Next Order.

Mover. Who is the mover of the Bill?

The mover of this Bill is the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, but it seems he is not here. I do not think there is any Member of that The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

Committee here. I am told they were having a meeting. I think we can skip Order No.12. Stand it down and bring it back at a later time today.

Let us move to Order No.13.

Mover of this Bill. Is that the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure? Leader of the Majority Party, who is it? Oh, it is Hon. Gikaria?

Yes.

Proceed.

Hon. Deputy Speaker. I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, the Senate amendments to the National Construction Authority (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 59 of 2022) be now considered.

I had brought this to effectively operationalise the 30 per cent under the procurement for special groups; that is the women, youth and people with disability (PWD). In that amendment, I had proposed that we exempt class 8, 7 and 6, but we agreed with the Committee that we only exempt class 8. The Senate has since rejected our proposal of exempting only class 8, and reverted to my proposal of class 6, 7 and 8.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I agree with the Committee that we should just exempt Clause 8 and nothing more. That is only for start-ups so that we help the youth, women and people with disability venture into business to give us opportunities. In my view, I agree with the Committee and reject the Senate proposal. I ask Hon. Rutto to second.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): May I have a seconder? Is Hon. Rutto, Member of Kesses, the seconder? Please, proceed.

Thank you so much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. True to what the proposer said, the essence of this intervention is to encourage young members of the country and the special groups of women and people living with disability to participate in such business entities and grow the economy. Therefore, I stand to support the rejection of the proposals of the Senate. We only should approve the removal of Clause 8 under NCA. That way, we will encourage new people not to misuse other conditions provided by the NCA. We have seen that qualified and able people can misuse the provisions. Thank you so much. I support the proposal of rejection.

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Put the question.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): May I go ahead and put the question?

Yes.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Well, Hon. Members. The fact that the Noes have it means that, in Order No. 14, the Committee of the Whole House will not consider Senate amendments to the National Construction Authority (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 59 of 2022). Thank you, Hon. Members.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, there is a growing trend in this House. If not tamed, it will mess the integrity of this House. Nobody should be seen walking or moving around when the Temporary Speaker is on her feet. Hon. Wamboka is out of order. He has been walking around picking up water or something.

I apologise, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I am sincerely sorry. That will not happen again.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Members, let us proceed. I did not notice that the Hon. Wamboka was moving around. If that happened, let it not happen any other time. Next Order.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Members, I would like to call the meeting to order. We are in the Committee of the Whole House. We are considering the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 3 of 2023)

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(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Ruweida, Member of Lamu East, I can see you are in the House. Please get settled. Hon. Members, please take your seats. Hon. Members, the Deputy Speaker is the only person I will not address. The rest other Members, the Deputy Speaker, please take your seats.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Mover. Hon. Ruweida, Member for Lamu East.

Mhe. Mwenyekiti wa Muda, naomba kutoa hoja kwamba Kamati ya Bunge Zima iripoti kwa Bunge la Taifa kuhusu kushughulikiwa kwa Mswada wa Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Wanyamapori (Marekebisho) (Mswada wa Bunge la Taifa Namba 3 wa Mwaka 2023) na kuridhiwa kwake bila marekebisho. Asante, Mhe. Mwenyekiti wa Muda.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Asante sana, Mhe. Ruweida.

Chairperson to report to the House.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 3 of 2023) and approved the same without amendments.

The Mover to move agreement with the report.

Mhe. Spika wa Muda, naomba kutoa hoja kwamba Bunge hili likubaliane na kamati ya Bunge zima kuhusu ripoti hiyo. Ninamuomba Mhe. Owen Baya aunge kuafiki Hoja ya kukubaliwa kwa ripoti ya Kamati ya Bunge zima.

Hon. Owen Baya.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Just a minute.

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Asante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipatia nafasi kuunga hoja ya makubaliano ya Bunge kuhusu Mswada huu. Niseme kwamba huu ni Mswada muhimu sana. Ninampongeza Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed kwa kujali watu wake wa Lamu na Pwani. Hawa wanyama tunaowaweka katika ratiba ya wale ambao wakiumiza watu watalipwa fidia ni viumbe walioko baharini. Viumbe hawa wamekuwa wakiwadhuru sana watu wa Lamu, kwani wengi wao hupata chakula chao cha kila siku kupitia Bahari ya Hindi.

Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed, ningependa kusema kwamba umefanya kazi nzuri sana. Watu wa Pwani na Lamu watakukumbuka maisha yao yote kwa kazi hii nzuri uliowafanyia kupata fidia wanapopata hasara ndani ya bahari.

Naunga mkono makubaliano na hoja hii ambayo Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed amewasilisha.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Hon. Rachael Nyamai, in terms of procedure, the Question has to first be put.

Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai.

Mhe. Spika wa Muda, ningependa kuchukua fursa hii kumpa kongole Mheshimiwa wa Lamu Mashariki, Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed. Amefanya kazi nyingi sana. Kwa kawaida, Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed anajali watu wake wa Lamu, hususan kuhusu mambo yanayohusu bahari na umbali kutoka Nairobi. Tumemsikia akiwa Bungeni akisisitiza jinsi anavyopenda kuhakikisha kuwa watu wake wanapewa fidia, hasa kwa mambo yanayohusu bahari.

Ningependa pia kumpongeza Mhe. Owen Baya, na nimwambie kuwa nimeona Kiswahili kimeanza kumshinda. Sijui ni kwa sababu gani, au labda kutokana na kukaa sana na Mhe. Kimani Ichung’wah, Mhe. Silvanus Osoro na Mhe. Naomi Waqo. Huwa wanamwongelesha Kiingereza mingi hadi siku hizi ameanza kusahau Kiswahili.

Kwa hivyo, ningependa kuwapongeza wote wawili. Ningependa kuomba Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed ajaribu kuketi sana na Mhe. Owen Baya ili amfundishe Kiswahili. Asante sana.

Hoja ya nidhamu.

Mhe. Rachael Nyamai, ungependa kufahamishwa jambo na Mhe. Silvanus Osoro?

Ningependa kufahamishwa na Mhe. Silvanus Osoro. Naomba anifahamishe kwa Kiswahili.

Mhe. Silvanus Osoro, mfahamishe kwa Kiswahili.

Mhe. Spika wa Muda, ningependa kufahamisha Mhe. Rachael kwamba hatusemi “Kiingereza mingi,” tunasema “Kiingereza kingi.” Hatusemi kwamba Kiswahili kimemshinda, bali lugha ya Kiswahili imemlemea. Kwa hivyo, ni muhimu kuzingatia matamshi sahihi katika ngeli unapozungumza kwa lugha ya Kiswahili. Ni lazima uelewe kwamba kuna ngeli na muktadha wa kufuata, ndipo utaweza kuelewa Kiswahili vile inavyofaa.

Mhe. Rachael Nyamai, umefahamishwa. Umemaliza au unaendelea? 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.

Ningependa kufunga kwa kushukuru Mhe. Silvanus Osoro. Lakini pia ni vizuri ajue kwamba kuna misamiati ya lugha ya Kiswahili ambayo anafaa aielewe vizuri. Kwa hivyo, tunapompongeza Mheshimiwa wa Lamu, tunafaa tupange maneno kama yeye. Vile vile kama namna Mheshimiwa wa Mombasa anavyopanga maneno yake. Anaporomosha Kiswahili vizuri sana. Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Mhe. Silvanus Osoro, hoja ya nidhamu au ya ufahamisho? Lazima pia mzingatie kwamba Waheshimiwa wamemchanganya Spika kwa kuzungumza Kiswahili.

Hoja ya kufahamisha.

Mheshimiwa Spika haelewi misamiati, ngeli na hayo mambo yote.

Kweli kabisa. Nikiendelea kufahamisha Mhe. Rachael Nyamai, nimwambie kwamba hata katika lugha ya Kiswahili, pia kuna kumsahihisha mtu. Kisha baadaye, kama hupendi kusikiliza ama kidogo una maoni tofauti na aliyoyasema, unakanusha. Kwa mfano, unaposema kwamba “mama alinikimbiza” katika lugha sanifu, wengine husema kuwa “mama hakunikimbiza.” Lakini hicho si Kiswahili sanifu. Unapokanusha, unasema kuwa “mama alinikimbiza.” Kwa hivyo, ukijibu, unasema kuwa “aaaa.” Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Huyo ni Mhe. Sitienei?

Mheshimiwa wa Turbo, ungependa pia kunena kwa lugha ya Kiswahili?

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Ningependa kumfahamisha Mhe. Silvanus Osoro kwamba amezungumza Kiswahili sanifu, na wala si Kiswahili mufti. Ningependa azungumze Kiswahili mufti, ndiyo tujue anaweza kuporomosha Kiswahili vizuri.

Mhe. Silvanus Osoro ametumia kile Kiswahili tunachosema kimebuniwa upande wa Nyanza. Yuko na tajriba kuu ukimlinganisha na Mhe. Spika.

Mhe. Gikaria.

Asante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Ninamshukuru Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed kwa kuwasilisha Mswada huu Bungeni, ambao unalenga kuwajali watu wa maeneo ya Pwani, ambako kuna bahari, na ambapo watu hupoteza maisha au hujeruhiwa kutokana na wanyama walioko baharini. Hili ni jambo muhimu sana kuliangazia. Kuna wakati nilijaribu kuleta Mswada hapa Bungeni kwa sababu kule kwangu, watu wengi hujeruhiwa n ahata kufariki kutokana na mashambulizi ya nyani. Nilijaribu kupendekeza kwamba nyani waorodheshwe kama wanyama wa porini ili waathiriwa waweze kulipwa fidia, lakini haikuwezekana. Namshukuru sana Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed kwa Mswada huu. Natumai kwamba hata sisi, siku za baadaye, tutaangaliwa kwa sababu ya nyani ambao wanasababisha madhara mengi sana katika miji mikuu, hasa iliyo karibu na Hifadhi ya Taifa ya Nakuru, ambapo watu wengi huathirika. Kwa hivyo, niseme kwa mara nyingine tena, pongezi Mhe. Ruweida Mohamed kwa kuwasilisha Mswada huu Asante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. 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.

Mhe. Spika wa Muda, naomba kutoa hoja kwamba Mswada wa Hifadhi na Usimamizi wa Wanyama Pori (Marekebisho) (Mswada wa Bunge wa la Kitaifa, nambari tatu wa mwaka elfu mbili ishiri na tatu), sasa usomwe mara ya Tatu. Pia, naomba Mhe. Owen Baya kuafiki Mswada huu. Nachukua nafasi hii kuwashukuru Wabunge wenzangu kwa kuungana pamoja na kupitisha Mswada huu. Pia nashukuru uongozi wa Bunge kwa kuhakikisha kwamba hivi leo tumefika hiki kipindi cha Kusomwa Mara ya Tatu. Hili ni jambo kubwa sana kwetu kwa sababu tuliona madhara mengi wakati Kamati ilipoenda Faza, kama vile, watu walikuwa wamekatwa miguu. Sasa hivi, kila mwezi lazima angalau mtu mmoja atakuwa amepigwa na huu mnyama anayeitwa Nyenga, kwa kizungu Stingray . Pia kuna watu wengi walioathiriwa. Hii itasaidia watu wetu na pia watalii. Kuna mtalii alienda kupigia picha kisha akaumwa na papa. Pale ferry, watu wengi wanaathirika na papa kwa sabu meli zikija zinapita na papa, ikiwa pengine bahati mbaya mtu ameingia chini ya ferry kutengeneza, anaumwa na papa na hawapati malipo. Mswada huu utasaidia hata hawa Wabunge wanapoenda kujivinjari kule Mombasa wakienda na zile boti bahati mbaya ukianguka kwa maji au ukiogelea, mara nyingine hatari yaweza tokea, pia hao watakuwa wamesaidika. Sitaki kuchukua muda mwingi zaidi lakin nashukuru sana hata nimeshikwa na shaki. Kwangu hili ni jambo kubwa sana. Watu wa Pwani sasa watajihisi kwamba ni Wakenya na wao hawatengwi kwa sheria, kwa maana sheria mwanzo ilikuwa imenufaisha watu kwa ardhi wala sio sisi ambao tunazingirwa na maji ilikuwa hatuonekani. Bunge hili sasa limefanya kwamba watu wanaokaa kwa visiwa vya bahari ama mazingira ya maji, nao pia wamewekwa kwa mpangilio wa serikali. Mara mingi walikuwa wameona kwamba wametengwa. Hii itafanya tuweze kuhifadhi zaidi wanyama wetu wa pori. Ahsante sana, nisije nikalia.

Mhe. Owen Baya.

Ahsante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Naafiki Mswada huu uweze Kusomwa kwa Mara ya Tatu. Kama vile Wabunge wenzangu na Mhe. Ruweida walivyosema, huu ni Mswada nzuri sana ambao utasaidia watu wa pwani. Kilifi ni kati ya zile kaunti zilizona ufuo wa bahari mrefu sana na watu wengi kazi yao ni ya ubaharia. Mswada huu umekuja kwa wakati wake ambapo watu wengi waliokuwa wamesahaulika katika maneno ya kufidiwa katika zile ajali zinazofanyika ndani ya bahari sasa pia wamepata nafasi. Naomba uongozi wa Bunge kwamba Mswada huu upelekwe kwa haraka sana ili iwekwe sahihi na Rais, ili usikae. Nimeona Miswada mengine tumepitisha hapa imekaa sana bila kupelekwa kutiwa sahihi. Mswada huu ambao Mhe. Ruweida ameufanyia kazi sana na kuweka matumaini kwa watu wa Lamu na Pwani, ufikishwe kwa haraka sana kwa Rais ili aweke sahihi iliwanaoumia kwa sababu ya hii maneno inayofanyika wapate fidia kwa haraka. Naunga mkono. Ahsante sana.

Hon. Charles Nguna Ngusya.

Asante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi hii. 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. Charles Nguna Ngusya, kindly take back your seat. I have not proposed the question for debate.

Hon. Charles Nguna Ngusya, you can now contribute.

Ahsante sana Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Nilikuwa nimeharakisha sana kuchangia Mswada huu lakini nimepata kwamba umekamilika. Ningependa kuongeza maoni yangu kwa kuunga mkono kabisa, kisha itiwe sahihi haraka iwezekanavyo. Ilivyo desturi yetu, naomba upee dada yangu Mhe. Rachael Kaki nafasi, kuna kitu alikuwa anataka kuongeza kwa hii Mswada. Ahsante sana.

Hon. Charles Nguna Ngusya, I have not seen any request from Hon. Rachael Nyamai to either contribute or inform you. Hon. Rachael Nyamai, you wanted to contribute?

Yes.

I want to put the question.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I thank you very much for your indulgence. The Bill that has just passed is extremely important. I am aware that the Committee has been seeking to amend the same Act, though I know this will take time because after being assented to, it needs to take about six months. The issue of snake bites is a big issue that must be discussed now by this House. We have cases of snake bites all over the country, starting with Baringo, Marsabit and Mandera. Kitui has the most poisonous snakes. We realised that when this amendment was being done, snake bites seemed to have been left out. I remember it was also removed in the 12th Parliament. I request the Chairman of this Committee, that after the passage of six months, we will bring an amendment so that we also consider snake bites, because they are killing too many people. The Ministry was in my constituency about three weeks ago and the issue of snake bites was raised by my constituents and so many people are calling for inclusion of snake bites as part of the compensation we are discussing today. Thank you very much for your indulgence. I support.

Hon. Rachael, you raise a very important issue. I never saw my paternal grandmother, she died of a snake bite. Do not wait for six months, you can enjoin the Committee in pursuing that endeavour. Hon. Members, because of other businesses, let me put the question. I have confirmed that we have the requisite quorum in the House for purposes of making a decision.

Next Order.

Is that for resumption of debate? Hon. Osoro.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support Hon. Faith Gitau’s Motion on the Expansion of Major Roads to dual carriageways. The roads issue is a thorn in the flesh of many Kenyans. Those of us who have had the privilege of travelling across the world will agree with me that we are behind, in terms of the road network, as a country. Hon. Faith Gitau’s Motion brings to the attention of everybody the need for expanding major roads. If you have had the opportunity to travel along the Nairobi-Nakuru-Kericho route, you will agree with me that it is extremely busy over the weekends. Unlike the traditional holiday destinations like Mombasa, South and North Coast, other Kenyans opt to drive from Nairobi to Naivasha for staycations. This is because the area has become a common holiday destination, especially for those who are unable to raise enough money for the traditional destinations. There are also very good hotels in Nakuru and Naivasha areas these days. Unfortunately, there is a challenge. You drive from Nairobi to Westlands, but when you get to Limuru, there is a challenge of road network because of so many vehicles on the way. If there is something that we need to think of as a country, it is expanding such highways. The roads that go all the way to Malava and the others from Sotik to Kaplong resemble the ones constructed when the population was hardly two or three million people in this country. They are not roads that people should be talking about. Hon. Osero is looking at me because that is his home. He knows very well that there is a challenge at Sotik-Keroka-Kisii route that goes all the way to Sirare. It is a really big 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.

challenge given that there are so many vehicles on the road. The engineers who came up with these roads did not envision a time when it will be densely populated or with many people on the road. That is why this Motion is timely.

It is not everybody who can afford a flight to Mombasa. Immediately you get to Makutano at the junction of Machakos towards Mombasa, the road becomes narrow. It was constructed over 30 or 50 years ago and it is not well maintained. There are potholes on the road, as well as irregular bumps that are erected by people because of the accidents that occur. We even squeeze ourselves with the trailers when we are driving on those roads. It is about time that we start having this discussion on how we can expand every major road to a dual carriageway. Even as we get to that, we need to ask ourselves these questions: Is it possible for the country's Budget to meet these needs? Can all our major roads be expanded to dual carriageways within our Budget? When we ask ourselves these questions, the answer will be for us to think on how we can engage investors on Public Private Partnership (PPP) terms. If the Government is unable to construct these roads because of the budgetary constraints and several needs, we need to embrace PPPs across the country. It is about time that we start thinking about this. For instance, if we are constructing a road towards Malava from Nairobi, we can have an investor who will construct an eight-lane carriageway on each side, with the exclusion of a free one. Then we toll so that we recover the money. If you want to travel express to Malava, use the dual carriageway and then you pay the toll fees. If you do not want to pay at the toll station, then you do not use it. This is a similar model with the current Nairobi Expressway where travellers have a choice. They are left with the old narrow road, so that you can use it and remain in traffic as you want. As leaders, we need to embrace PPPs and tell Kenyans to do the same because such infrastructural development is not tenable through our budget. Waiting for the Exchequer to fund the expansion and dualling of all our roads like Thika Super Highway is not possible. Kenyans should embrace PPPs. This happens with the Nairobi Expressway where one chooses to use it or the underpass which is free on your way to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The difference is that one will save time and the other one will save the cost of not paying the toll fees. These are the things we need to embrace because they are timely. We are also behind in our country’s planning. I was engaging one of my colleagues when we visited Zambia the other day. The city planning in Lusaka has envisioned a time when the country will have a population of 50 or 60 million. Although Zambia is double our size, in terms of the land mass, their population is barely 20 million. Their city planning leaves spaces for the cyclists and pedestrians which are very safe. However, look at our country. The cyclists and motorcyclists ride their bicycles and motorcycles beside the vehicles, pedestrians and joggers. This is quite risky. That is why we have so many hit-and-run cases in Kenya. When I started practising law, the very first thing I started doing was going through the morgues for ambulance chasing. That is what most people who start out their legal practice do because hit-and-run cases are very common. People die on the road through hit-and-run accidents daily. Because of the nature of our laws, when a person is hit at the roadside, you can hardly stop to help him, even if he is still alive. You will fear because when you take him to the hospital, you will be asked whether you are the one who hit him. The police officers will be after you. This is why our country is turning to be one of each person for himself and God for us all which is quite unfortunate. Generally, it is about time that we start thinking about PPPs and look for viable and quality investors to help us to construct dual carriageways who 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.

will recover their money through tolls. We will still leave the older roads to be accessed free of charge, so that travellers can have both options. This should go deep into the villages so that we can open up the economic channels in this country. I am very impressed by Hon. Faith Gitau's Motion. I suggest that it does not end here. We need to think through the PPPs to achieve infrastructural development because it is not possible to do this through the Exchequer. I beg to support the Motion, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Thank you very much.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Before we proceed, Hon. Members, I would like to welcome students who are seated in the Public Gallery this morning. We have students from Kivuthini Secondary School, Kibwezi East Constituency, Makueni County. Let us welcome them to the National Assembly. You are welcome to observe the proceedings of the House.

Hon. Eckomas Mutuse, you may proceed. I would like to request you to use the chance to also welcome the students from Kibwezi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. In welcoming the students from Kivuthini Primary School in Kibwezi East, which is my neighbouring constituency, I urge them and their teachers to feel welcome to the House of Parliament. This is where decisions in terms of laws, budgeting and oversight of expenditures of the national government are taken. This is a House of record and order. You are among the privileged few who have had the opportunity to come here. Therefore, I congratulate and your teachers for making it to the House of Parliament. We wish you all the best in your academic journey, so that all of you may grow up to be professionals who this country will look up to in terms of transformation. Some of you may also become leaders and lead your people at your time. And I say that on behalf of Hon. Jessica Mbalu, because that is her constituency.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to comment on the Motion on expansion of major roads in the country to dual carriageways, moved by Hon. Faith Gitau. This is a Motion that is not only timely but should have been done by the country many, many years ago. You are aware that the World Bank classified Kenya as the sixth-largest economy in Africa by virtue of the size of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). We have now overtaken Ethiopia and Angola. That means that our infrastructure needs to reflect the size of our economy. For the infrastructure to reflect the size of our economy, our road and railway systems need to be modernised to reflect the sixth-largest economy in Africa in the 21st century. If you compare our infrastructure with that of South Africa, from Cape Town to Pretoria is a dual carriageway. It is a long distance. The same is found in many cities in our continent that are smaller economies than us. I congratulate Hon. Faith Gitau for reminding us in this House and those in the Executive that the time has come for our roads to be dual carriageways.

I represent a constituency on the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway, Kibwezi West Constituency. From Kibwezi town through Makindu to Emali is a distance of about 70 kilometres on the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway. And there are many accidents. It is the situation same in Kibwezi East and Kilome constituencies. Many accidents happen because the road is a single carriageway. With the promise that the Americans want to construct an expressway from Nairobi to Mombasa, the one they have nicknamed Usahihi, we expect the project to come to pass to reduce the number of accidents. One life lost through a road accident is too many lives for us. We have also heard about plans to dual the road from Chumvi through Konza Technopolis all the way to Emali, under the funding of the South Korean Government. I request the Executive to fast-track such plans, The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

so that my people living along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway may stop losing their lives because of avoidable accidents.

As for funding, everything starts with an idea. We cannot fear to propose ideas of dualling our roads because we do not have money. Therefore, I urge the State Department for Roads to come up with a plan on how we can dual our roads, and to engage Parliament to pass the necessary policy and legislative framework to facilitate the dualling of all the roads in the Republic of Kenya. If we do that, we will reflect the economy that we are and become attractive to foreign investment. An attractive road network is important for the image of our country to the people who visit. I beg to support the Motion and urge that it does not end at mere debate. The Committee on Implementation should pick it up so that we may have a concrete plan with clear timelines on how this proposal will be achieved. I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you very much. Hon. Mutuse. Hon. Naomi Waqo, Member for Marsabit County.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for allowing me to add my contribution to this very important Motion brought by Hon. Faith Gitau, one of our very diligent commissioners and Member of Parliament. I support this Motion because it touches on one of the most important things that we depend on as a country. I fully support the proposal that this House resolves that the Government, through the Ministry of Roads and Transport, undertake an expansion programme of national trunk roads with a view to upgrading all Classes A, B, and C roads in the country from two-way lanes to dual carriageway, one-way roads, with the necessary infrastructure that includes footbridges and safe crossing zones at regular intervals. So many innocent lives have been lost. We have even lost tourists due to road carnage. We have lost young people and students going for school trips or to school. By expanding our roads, we will be sure that accidents will be reduced. Even as we propose this, discipline must be observed in terms of time and how drivers conduct themselves. Having driving licence and observing all the due diligence will add a lot of value to the suggestion we are making.

Expanding our roads will be profitable to our country. Our economy will grow because many of our neighbouring countries depend on us. We are at the frontline and leading from there. We would not want to cause chaos or accidents in the country. We also know very well that road transport is still the preferred mode of travel and transport for many Kenyans, simply because it is affordable. Many of us prefer it because it is safe enough unless something you are not aware of happens. You know that you will reach your destination safely. But if we are not able to manage and control it well, we will continue losing a lot of people.

We depend on roads for service delivery. These days, the boda boda support us. What the Motion proposes will help us a lot. Safe crossing zones at regular intervals, proper drainage systems and other requisite infrastructure will ensure optimal operation on roads. Even the

people will have their own path for safety. Everybody is trying to compete for space on our roads, which is not safe. We end up not saving time. We should expand our roads to save time, be effective and achieve what we want to.

Roads are the suitable means of transport for short distances. You cannot fly to some places, but you need proper roads to get to your destination on time. This is the only way we can achieve all our goals. It is my prayer that we will accomplish this since we already have many challenges in our country. Many people blame the Government for not doing certain things, Kenyans are crying because of the poor economy and businesses are not doing well. Therefore, if we can The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

ease traffic congestion and help our people to, at least, have a safe means of travelling to their destinations, their businesses will pick up and we will be able to do a lot.

With those few remarks, I support the Motion and request other Members to also support it.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you very much, Hon. Naomi Waqo, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party. Hon. Gideon Ochanda, Member for Bondo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. If the Government does not do certain things, we will continue experiencing many problems. One thing they should do is use data in planning. Each successive government has been well aware that the number of vehicles on the roads increases each year. What measures are we putting in place to accommodate this increase in the volume of traffic in terms of road infrastructure? Each successive government has not dealt with certain basic things. They are well aware that vehicles are registered every day and the number of vehicles keeps increasing, but the road infrastructure is not developed. We have a similar problem in regard to housing in Nairobi County. One building is brought down and replaced by a massive apartment building accommodating more than 40 households. Such developments do not plan for sewerage systems or parking facilities, which creates a mess. We have data on the mess on our roads and other infrastructure due to poor planning. I do not want to say that the planning is bad, but somebody is ignoring the more serious issues. These are basic facts. Provisions must be put in place to cater to the increase in population, even in terms of water resources. Nairobi County does not have the same number of people it did 20 years ago. We must look forward so that we can cater to some of these things.

We are well aware that in addition to the formal ways of raising taxes or revenue, the transport sector is one of the biggest sectors that helps the Government to raise money. Why ignore a sector that generates revenue? An ordinary person would invest more where they generate more. We previously had a policy in the country to allocate more money to sectors that generate more revenue. I do not know what happened to it. We plan in five-year cycles with politics in mind. That is the big problem. Some major roads cannot be fixed within a five-year period. We should spread out those projects for purposes of planning and investment. We are currently experiencing problems that we could have avoided many years ago. It has been 60 years since Independence and we have only managed to construct the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which we do not even completely own. We have not constructed any railway line, and yet it would have been the best alternative to the roads. The colonial government constructed a railway line from Mombasa to Uganda in less than a decade, from 1896 to 1903. That was ages ago. We have not constructed a kilometre of rail since Independence aside from the SGR. Attempts have been made but many of them still focus on doing those projects within a five-year period. It cannot work. For planning purposes, we should have determined the period of time for construction of the roads from Mombasa to Nairobi, Nairobi to Busia or Malaba, Nairobi to Garissa and Nairobi to Kisumu. That is what helped Tanzania. Tanzania has constructed five major bridges across their big rivers within the term of each successive government. They have constructed major roads and bridges. They have bigger bridges than those in Kenya apart from the Nyali Bridge. The other bridges are big because they cross big rivers. They have accomplished all that because their projects are not tied to electoral periods. Those are some of the things that we need to look at so that we make use of data as we plan. Next is the issue of quality. Highways are constructed like village roads. The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has constructed a road from Kisian to Osieko in my 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.

constituency. However, the road cannot withhold the traffic volume because it was poorly done. The worst section is the one between Bondo and Osieko. The maintenance arrangement does not work. A contractor is always in place. The road surface currently looks like a small village road. Therefore, the quality of works done on highways must also be looked at so that we do not dwell on one road each year. We should properly construct major roads so that they last. However, if we construct our roads poorly, maintenance issues will keep popping up. Contractors are always in place on the Kisian-Osieko Road but the road does not work. The road is currently in horrible condition. You wonder why funds were spent to construct it. Those funds should have been used on a village road instead of the highway.

We must look into issues of planning, raising revenue, construction of better-quality roads and alternative means of transport. Railways cannot be the only alternative to roads. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you very much, Hon. (Dr) Ochanda. Hon. Jackson Lekumontare, Member for Samburu East.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this very good Motion. Some roads are just a waste of time. You can spend a long time on the roads. As other Members have said, it is time to expand our roads. This is a very good discussion. Some parts of this country do not even have single line roads. We are discussing about expanding roads but some parts of the country like Samburu East Constituency, which I represent, do not have roads. Equity is important to every part of this country. You find that a road serving a population is not there. Even getting some services becomes a problem. If we are indeed one country, then it is both advisable and crucial that those implementing development projects consider all regions equally. Ideally, every constituency should have at least one tarmac road. Yet, in some parts of this country, children only saw a tarmac road more than 60 years after independence. As we speak of expanding existing roads, the timelines for such expansions must also be questioned. Take, for example, the road that passes through Karatina. I regularly use that road. This is my second term since I joined this Parliament, and contractors have been there since. Even before, when I was still a teacher, I used to pass by there. I do not know when that road will ever be completed. Those responsible are not taking their work seriously. For more than ten years, the project has dragged on, with no meaningful progress. It is commendable to bring such a Motion to the House. It is a valuable discussion, but it must result in implementation. We lack good roads in many areas of this country. I also disagree with the notion that there are insufficient resources, because in some areas, resources are more than sufficient. The problem lies in the lack of fairness in national planning. Some regions receive significant funding, while when we look at other parts, there are no funds. That is the usual song people sing now and then. It is now high time the Government adopted a more equitable approach to development. If the budget is limited, let it be limited equally for all. Yet we see some places receiving a lot of money, while others have no roads at all, and we are in the same country. We must seriously consider how to raise and allocate funds more equitably to benefit all Kenyans. Even the cost of basic commodities varies significantly between regions, largely because of poor infrastructure. In some places, food prices are extremely high due to poor roads. When others say; ‘ unga has become cheaper,’ in our places, we do not even talk. The worsening roads make food and essential goods unaffordable. This is an important and timely Motion. It is important to note that other regions still lack proper roads. If we are to be just and equitable, we must address every corner of this country. I support the expansion of road networks to all regions. 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.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you, Member for Samburu East. Hon. Wilberforce Oundo, Member for Funyula. Hon. Professor, you have only four minutes. The time for this Motion is coming to an end.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me also join my colleagues in supporting the Motion by Hon. Faith Gitau on the expansion of major roads in the country into dual carriageways. Transport is essential to industrialisation and economic growth. Its importance cannot be gainsaid. Many of our so- called trunk roads, international roads that link various regions and towns across the country, cannot be considered to be true roads in the true sense, as we see in other countries. It is a shame that the road from Kisumu to the border at Busia is not a road but a track. Yet, we speak proudly of it as a major gateway to the Great Lakes Region and all of East and Central Africa. The same applies to the large chunks of the road between Eldoret and Malaba. It is important, as Hon. Faith has stated, that all planners and implementers move with speed, and through whatever means available, ensure that these roads are upgraded into dual carriageways. If you travel to other parts of the world, including even smaller African nations, you will find that all their major trunk roads are dual carriageways, designed to move traffic and goods efficiently. While the focus today is on roads, I must also echo sentiments shared earlier by Dr Ochanda. In many parts of the country, railways could supplement or even replace road transport. We have a largely untapped opportunity in railway infrastructure. A robust railway network could move more goods and people faster and more safely. The last significant railway construction took place during the colonial period. The only recent development occurred during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure. Honestly speaking, if we could find a way, it would be better. I once had the opportunity to travel to South Korea. There, a distance of nearly 1,000 kilometres is covered quickly and efficiently by a high-speed train, far faster and with more passengers than any road transport system could manage. Unfortunately, for Hon. Faith, this remains a mere Motion. Our country has a poor track record when it comes to implementing Motions. We may just end up being a church-show here, without much impact or effort. With those few remarks, and in the interest of saving time, I support.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you very much. Hon. Members, the balance of time, 48 minutes, has expired. This Motion, I am afraid, comes to an end. I know a few of you had hoped to speak, such as Hon. Dr Mutunga and Hon. Dick Maungu. Apologies, but you will not be able to contribute at this time. I now call upon the Mover to reply. Is the Mover in the House? I understand that the Mover, Commissioner Faith Gitau, is currently attending another meeting. This matter will be scheduled at a later date by the House Business Committee.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Sabina Chege, Nominated Member. This matter will be scheduled at another time.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): This Motion is by Hon. Marianne Kitany. Let us try to trace her. She was just seen in the precincts. Hon. Members, I would like to welcome, seated in the Speaker’s Gallery this morning, students from Olkejuado High School, Kajiado Constituency, in Kajiado County. You are welcome to the National Assembly to continue observing the proceedings of this House. Hon. Members, let us welcome them in the usual way.

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Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Members, in the absence of Hon. Marianne Kitany, I order that this Motion be scheduled at another time by the House Business Committee.

Next Order. LAND USE POLICY ON ZONING OF LAND FOR AGRICULTURE AND BUILT DEVELOPMENT

THAT aware that land is a critical but limited factor of production that supports human habitation and food production; noting that, agriculture is Kenya’s main economic mainstay; appreciating that, that the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Monetary Policy Committee Agriculture Sector Survey 2022 estimated the contribution of the agriculture sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to be 22% directly and 27% indirectly, through its linkages with other sectors; further appreciating that, the Survey showed that the sector employs over 40% of the Kenya’s total population; concerned that, in the Land Reform, Vol. 3 publication, the Kenya Land Alliance Land estimated that only 17% of the country’s land mass is classified as suitable for rain-fed agriculture land while the remainder is either semiarid or arid; further concerned that, the country’s agricultural productivity has been decreasing over the years; cognizant of the fact that, the decline in agricultural productivity is partly attributable to the shrinking agricultural land due to unplanned settlements that encroach on agricultural lands; further concerned that, agricultural lands in rural areas are continually being subdivided into small portions for built development, thereby diminishing the size of land available for agriculture; noting that, there is need to put in place measures for effective land use in the country in order to guarantee optimal use of agriculture; now therefore, this House resolves that, the Government, through the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development puts in place a policy framework for effective land use in rural areas by consolidating and designating zones for built development for commercial and residential developments with shared public utilities and separate zones for agricultural use in order to arrest further diminishing of agricultural land and steady the country’s agricultural productivity.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Members, this is a Motion by the Member for Westlands, Hon. Timothy Wanyonyi.

It is also deferred.

Hon. Members, I would like to inquire from Hon. Kitany and Hon. Sabina Chege. Please approach the Speaker’s table.

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I now request the Clerk-at-the-Table to call Order No. 17.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Marianne Kitany, please proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I beg to move: THAT, aware that the world is rapidly embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is the use of a digital computer or computer-controlled robots to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings; acknowledging that, the 2022 Government Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index report ranked Kenya fifth in Africa and 90th globally in readiness to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI); further acknowledging that the Oxford Insights Survey 2022 pegged Kenya’s readiness to adopt AI at 40.3 per cent; appreciating that AI has brought forth positive benefits that have increased efficiency in different sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing and robotics; concerned that, the exponential rate at which Artificial Intelligence is being embraced in the society without proper regulatory mechanisms has caused various negative consequences such as rising cases of disinformation and fake news; noting that there is need to protect Kenyans from the potential AI-instigated harms such as privacy breaches, AI-powered fake technology algorithms, algorithmic discrimination, autonomous weapons, job displacement and economic inequality, social manipulation and misinformation, financial market manipulation, and privacy invasion; now therefore, this House urges the Government, through the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy to: 1. formulate a regulatory framework and ethical guidelines for implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country to control its potential misuse; and, 2. develop and execute a public awareness programme on Artificial Intelligence to raise understanding of AI, foster transparency and promote responsible use of AI for the benefit of all.

Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): You need to move the Motion. Do you have a seconder?

Sorry, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the Motion for the formulation of a regulatory framework on Artificial Intelligence in the country and ask Hon. Maungu to second.

Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Proceed to second the Motion.

I have been given two microphones. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. First and foremost, allow me to acknowledge that Hon. Marianne has just proposed a very important and significant Motion at a time when artificial intelligence is a thing of the day. As well captured, regulatory framework may be the most important thing to do now because there are several benefits that accrue to the country, citizens and the community at large by using artificial intelligence.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, we have seen what artificial intelligence can do. We live in a society that is a global village and if we do not have a regulatory framework within which artificial intelligence will be used, members of the public and the country at large is likely 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.

suffer some consequences. Therefore, having a framework within which the public can use AI would be the way to go.

I, therefore, second.

Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you, Member for Luanda.

Hon. Gideon Ochanda.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Karemba, is anything out of order?

I am not on a point of order.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Do you wish to contribute?

Yes.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): In that case, let me give the first opportunity to Hon. Gideon Ochanda. You may proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The world is moving very fast. In the study of political science, the animals that move slowly are governments. Governments are very slow; they cannot move at the speed at which the world is advancing. The world is progressing rapidly because it is driven by individuals and minds focused on making things easier to do, easier to deliver, easier to understand, and effortlessly ensuring that tasks are accomplished. If one examines the last 20 years, one can see how we have transitioned even in the space of telecommunication. In the past, when one wanted to make an international call, one had to book an appointment at Ex-Telecom here in Nairobi and wait for several weeks before being connected to the United States. This situation is quite recent in our history. We have witnessed such structures rise and fall. Today, one of the greatest challenges that states face is the issue of insecurity related to the advancements in technology. The police, intelligence agencies, and governments are at risk because individuals often stay ahead of them. Citizens are outpacing them. This is why there is a widespread outcry; governments are struggling to adapt and adjust at a pace they cannot manage. This is why, one day, one hears about a person operating a completely different parallel press that the government and mainstream media are unaware of, and the next day it raises critical issues. Thus, we see that governments are slow. In terms of inertia, governments take too long to turn. By the time they do manage to turn, they find that individuals have already moved much further ahead. This is the reality we face with technology today. Therefore, if our governments wish to catch up, it is essential that clear-cut departments are established, and staffed with smart personnel. Some of the people we are trying to chase out there need to be in government. The people running away with computers and doing certain things beyond us should be working for the government. Otherwise, if we leave them unregulated, we cannot classify their actions as illegal if there is no law against them. Thus, when someone commits an act that is deemed wrong, there is no way to prosecute them. This is the situation we currently face in our nation. Individuals possess a greater understanding and capability in terms of intelligence and technology than the government does. The best response for the government is to recruit these talented individuals and integrate them into government operations. Many governments have done that. Failing to act could lead to disastrous consequences as they continue to stay ahead. 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.

Secondly, Hon. Temporary Speaker, we must discuss unemployment. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) directly relates to labour issues. What is going to happen as AI advances? I would like to provide a small example. I have visited a large high school with eight streams of classes. In comparison to another school in my constituency that employs 98 teachers, this institution manages with only 18 teachers. They achieve this by having one teacher in a small corner of a computer room handle eight classes simultaneously. If we continue down this path, what will happen to the many teachers we are training? This presents a real contradiction. What will become of the thousands of individuals we are preparing for the workforce? This Government has done very well, particularly in terms of recruitment of teachers. We have more than 70,000 teachers currently hired, with thousands still awaiting recruitment. Those in teacher training colleges also number in the thousands. Universities are producing no fewer than 100,000 graduates each year. When I completed my degree, there were only 2,019 graduates across the entire country, and this was not long ago. Now, we are generating over 100,000 graduates annually. Where are they going? Therefore, while we consider the volume of labour we are producing for employment, it is crucial to compare this with the trends in AI. Many individuals have yet to grasp the implications of this, and we could be facing significant challenges. This is why Hon. Kitany raised the issue of awareness. What do we need to prioritise as a government and as a people? Are we prepared to inform our people about these changes instead of allowing them to seek opportunities elsewhere? There is a strong likelihood that they will find themselves without jobs. Why? Because of AI. AI is an inevitable progression, and the world is leaning towards it. Therefore, we risk having a bulk of our workforce stranded, creating another problem. We need to strike a balance. Let us not forget when our people resisted the introduction of tea-picking machines. I wonder how many people recall that period. Eventually, those machines were widely adopted and are functioning effectively. What happened to the workers who were previously employed to handpick tea? They are no longer complaining, but the benefits of automation are to the investors. The cost of labour is one of those production expenses that is incredibly high, particularly in many countries, including ours. Workers often approach their jobs not with the attitude of contributing to a collective benefit, but rather with the singular goal of earning a pay check. Their primary concern is earning at the end of the month, regardless of the nature of their work. As a result, if employers elsewhere recognise they have alternatives to local labour, they are likely to opt for those options. As a nation, we need to tread carefully moving forward. AI is here to stay. Embracing and regulating artificial intelligence (AI) is imperative; if we do not, it will outpace us. Individuals are already experimenting with AI, and some countries are even employing robots to deliver essential services such as blood. Imagine a scenario where places like Lamu and Busia deploy robots without any form of oversight or regulatory framework. It could lead to chaos. I believe this Motion is apt, and the government must take it seriously. Regardless of the practicality of implementing various measures, this serves as a warning that something must be done. Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Please give, Hon. Karemba Muchangi the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Karemba is also my name, and I feel quite comfortable using it. It is my official name. 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 rise to support this Motion by the Member for Aldai. It is a very timely Motion, given that the world advancing fast in terms of technology. There is no better time to introduce this conversation in this country than now. While artificial intelligence holds incredible potential for positive impact in various sectors, it also carries significant risks, especially regarding the distortion of information. It should be in our interest to regulate the Artificial Intelligence (AI) space so that we ensure that information is not distorted. In the recent past, this country has been a victim of information distortion, which has the potential to bring about conflict. I imagine that our Government must move fast and regulate the AI space, owing to the fact that nowadays it is even being used in healthcare, manufacturing and education sectors. How can we, in a world that is moving very fast, be reluctant to regulate this space? I believe that many Kenyans, if not all, have embraced it. Before other countries embrace it, we need to be among the very first countries in Africa to regulate this space so that we can provide a platform and a space that is regulated for the generations to come. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support this Motion. Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you. Hon. Stephen Mogaka, Member for West Mugirango.

Thank you so much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this overdue Motion. I want to thank Hon. Marianne Kitany for this forethought and for waking up the country to the reality of life now and going forward. We all know that technology drives everything at the moment. AI is the latest entrant into the toolkit in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that has made work extremely easy, increased efficiency, and improved productivity. Also, it has come with equal dangers. Technology, like anything good, is a double- edged sword. As much as it is very helpful and drives serious economies of this globe, it is also having equal damage. For instance, when you employ AI in warfare, as is happening elsewhere in the world today, you can see the havoc that is being created by military people who are not at the warfront but are remotely attacking their perceived enemies and causing a lot of harm. Kenya has invested heavily in technical training institutes, but we have supplied them with very basic ICT support material. I urge this country, and this House in particular, to incorporate AI training and infrastructure in all our technical training institutes so that we equip our learners with the latest toolkit in the technological world. I am aware that with AI, the practice of all professions, be it medicine, law or architecture, has been completely revolutionised. I do remember that courtesy of the COVID-19, as a practicing lawyer, we did not know where we would have gone if our judicial system had not automated to enable us to practise law from our homes and present witnesses from where they are rather than having to transport them to courts and expose them to COVID-19. I am happy that we did those basic steps out of total necessity. Now, we are aware that it is either you embrace AI or you are aged out of whatever market or business that you are in. It is my humble prayer that going forward, we budget for a policy framework of how to embrace AI and maximize its utility so that we release a lot of man-hours of people travelling on the roads to workplaces, or sitting in the offices waiting for a colleague to bring a key to open so that you access your working material. That way, we will release as many man-hours as possible to alternative economic employment. In other words, what I am saying is that what machines can do, let man not bother to struggle to do. Machines are efficient, impossible to interfere with, incorruptible, and therefore, this is the direction this country should go. Additionally, despite having the budget we have in the education sector, some children in this country still learn under trees. We need so much investment in physical infrastructure. Going forward, we do not need to have our children in schools. They can learn from home so The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

that we can improve parental care and be able to reduce the rate of inclination into criminal conduct of our young persons due to a lack of parental care and guidance wherever they are. I plead with our ICT Ministry to level up and draw a policy framework for this House to debate, discuss, approve, inculcate and create a very deliberate learning programme for all sectors, both private and public sector, so that as a country, we embrace AI and exploit its advantages and emerge as industrial giant in a very short while. As we do that, we urge engineers in this sector to be very candid with the country on the dangers associated with the use of that technology so that we build up firewalls and regulatory mechanisms to ensure that what is so good, when used badly, does not become extremely destructive. With that, I support. I thank the people of West Mugirango all the time for making me their Member of Parliament. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I invite you there to confirm that I attend Parliament every other day and make contributions whenever asked to do so. Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you. When you were speaking, I noticed that you seemed to be very happy today. You are also bringing the same happiness to the House. Thank you for your invitation. Hon. Geoffrey Mulanya, Member for Nambale.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to speak on this Motion. As my colleagues have said, it is very important that we get a proper regulatory framework to control the use of AI in this country. We know that society is moving very fast. Each day, children are born in society, and their minds are racing ahead of that of their parents, courtesy of Information Technology (IT) that is being availed. Today, you buy a new phone, and there is new technology that is being advanced daily. Sadly, the Government is not moving at the same pace within this particular space. Currently, AI is being used by most doctors in prescribing medicine, which is dangerous. AI is also being used in education by teachers who are preparing learning lessons to teach in schools. Additionally, it is being used even in the legal fraternity. The other day I had a complaint from a judge that young advocates are now using AI to prepare submissions to forward in court. They are quoting non-existing laws and non- existing judicial precedence that we rely on in our courts. This can easily mislead a court to arrive at a wrong decision. We rely heavily on previously decided cases in our legal circles so that we have a sequence. We do not want to have contradictions. A judge presiding over a case may be misled easily when someone comes in to use AI to prepare submissions and quote non- existing cases. We also have architects using AI to draw houses. It is becoming very dangerous. As said, lack of a regulatory framework has led to all these things happening in our society. It is very important that we formulate a regulatory framework and ethical guidelines to implement AI in the country to control its potential misuse. We have had cases of fake news appearing in our social media. Young intelligent people come up with screaming newspaper headlines with fake news. All this information is distorting society. It is a potential risk to conflicts. I support the Motion. It is extremely timely. I support Hon. Marianne Kitany. I thank her for bringing it up.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you very much, Member of Nambale. Hon. (Dr) John Mutunga, Member of Tigania West and Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock Development.

Thank you very much for the opportunity also to add my voice to Hon. Marianne Kitany’s Motion on the need for a regulatory framework on using AI. The technological stage we are in gives Kenya no choice other than to embrace AI. We already have it in various sectors. The process is ongoing. The important thing the Hon. 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 is speaking loudly about is need for a regulatory framework to guide how we use AI. Especially in the advent of potential job losses, need for further and more intensive and complicated industrialisation, and the growth stage that we are currently in. We witness how artificial intelligence plays a role in movies and sometimes in news cast. Especially in collecting intelligence from various places or mapping an area using drones. Even determining where to spray for pest and disease control in agriculture, AI has become important. In modern warfare, drones have been used quite much. I believe one of the advancements we need today is AI enabling us identify the powers of the enemy, the placement and distribution of their economy, their warfare strategies, and investments in various areas. In the service sector, we have also seen that AI has become very important. It is key for us to embrace AI as a country. I participated in a convention on coffee marketing in Houston, America, two months ago. We were amazed by the level certain countries have reached in coffee service itself. Robots take orders from a human being, prepare the coffee, serve it in specific amounts, ensure payment, and that the combinations are correct. How do we embrace AI even as this knowledge permeates across the board? The country must embrace AI but in a systematic manner where we can control its users. Regulation is important. We need to discern the measures of control to take when it comes to using AI. It is important to focus on areas that could be dangerous to human beings so that we promote AI prudently, especially in areas like manufacturing. Most manufacturing sectors in other countries have embraced AI. This country also has investments in this area. We need a policy as we look at how to invest and what levels of control we should exercise. This policy direction will help us to manage this process as a country. Kenya is noted as one of the countries in Africa that has advanced in ICT. Investment in ICT is a deliberate decision by the current government. A ministry is exploring possibilities in the digital divide. How we can exploit the opportunities therein and even how we can employ our youth. Let us discern the sections or parts of the investment structure we should integrate AI as we explore these possibilities. Every sector is undergoing digitisation. As we look at it, we must accept that it is not possible for us to control learners fully. Research has to go on in various areas of ICT. Our learners must try out options and explore possibilities. We know innovations have been born in this country in that process. They have borne fruit and created a lot of employment. The M- Pesa innovation is an example. They may be the innovations that replace lost jobs. We need to allow contained research to continue so that we monitor the areas to focus on and the possible outcomes being discovered. Hon. Temporary Speaker, there is much disinformation. Especially through media and social media. Social media has extensively established the use of ICT. The question is on how to use AI to enhance verification of information that goes out. In court cases, the burden of proof must remain. However, we are looking at a future where someone might say, “We were able to collect certain information using drones”. We need to control this kind of using AI. What we input in AI determines the output. We must control how we use this tool. There are several important possibilities for us to consider. First is containment of news and news content. It is critical to know the kind of AI used to collect or produce certain news even before release. We will find ourselves in situations without proper proof if we do not contain this. News will already be widely circulated, potentially misleading Kenyans. Another issue is the control of associated onslaughts in sectors where we have embraced AI. We need a verification mechanism to confirm exactly how this technology generates credible, reliable, and verifiable information. We must have mechanisms to remove unverifiable information from circulation. 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.

AI is likely to lead to job losses yet we are a country that needs to employ a majority of its people. However, it is also possible that AI will create employment in new areas. As we adopt and advance this technology, we should look at how to align it with productivity in our productive sectors so that we are creating more jobs. We should wean off difficult and risky tasks and those that require heavy machinery. We may assign tasks that require intensive scrutiny to human beings. Public awareness is also very important. Awareness levels are high in our country. Unfortunately, much of the information circulating is neither credible nor verifiable. How can we use AI to ensure that we develop sufficient understanding to our people on how to cross- check information they are given? We need to foster transparency and the responsible use of AI. It is possible for us to do that through an elaborate policy framework, which is why I believe this Motion has come at the right time. We must distinguish the sectors that can embrace AI. We must also identify functions within those sectors that can embrace AI, and to what extent. We need a mechanism to measure and establish the level of AI usage that we are talking about. Hon. Temporary Speaker, there is the issue of ethical standards and the ethics of transmitted information. That also needs to be focused on and can only be achieved through a policy guideline. With those few remarks, I wish to support this Motion. Thank you, very much.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you. Hon. Cecilia Ngitit, Member for Turkana County.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this good Motion by my colleague, Hon. Kitany. Looking at its definition, AI is the technology that enables computers to perform functions that humans have been performing, including making decisions, the ability to see, understand and translate spoken and written language, and analyse data, among other functions. There are ethical concerns that come as a result of this. If we do not regulate that space, how safe are we in terms of our privacy, the safety of our data, security and the potential impact on human autonomy necessitating responsible governance and regulation? AI has both advantages and disadvantages. When regulating the use of AI, we need to focus on the disadvantages so that it gives us more benefits than harm. Currently, in Kenya, our young people are looking for jobs. If AI is fully embraced, our people will lose jobs, and those seeking employment will have no future of getting jobs. Therefore, there is a need for regulation to ensure that only some percentage of AI is being embraced, and not fully, to prevent our people from losing jobs. There is a security risk from cyberattacks. AI depends on the researched data. If we do not regulate the space, our data can be at risk. Before we embrace AI as a country, we need to have serious regulations to address ethical concerns like bias, discrimination, security risks and high development and implementation costs. This needs massive and serious investment in terms of infrastructure and research. It is not something we can rush into without serious regulations. There is also the risk of overreliance on AI by humans, which highlights the need for regulation. For example, if students are presented with questions in school and they immediately turn to AI for information and data, then it may undermine their ability to reason and expound on things that are meant to test their intelligence. They will become dependent on AI. Therefore, AI-generated information must be regulated to ensure that only a certain amount is accessible through the cyber systems, not everything. If we let everything to run in the AI perspective, we may have the advantages, but the disadvantages will be enormous. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor.

I thank my honourable colleague who brought this Motion. There is a need to regulate this space before embracing it. We need to dig deeper into its advantages and disadvantages, then regulate the disadvantages to ensure that the impact is positive and not negative. Thank you. I submit.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Hon. Joseph Denar, Nominated Member. He is on my right.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to support my colleague. I call her Marie Antoinette. We cannot stop an idea whose time has come. AI is here now and will not stop. This is similar to what happened when the mobile phones came, and we have seen the revolution they brought. I would like to state three aspects of AI. First is education. On Friday, we were with the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy in Mazeras Vocational Training Centre (Mazeras, VTC) during the launch of the Jitume Digital Hub. We observed that they were already using AI. By seven o’clock, someone had earned Ksh10,000. So, it is about wealth creation. Secondly, AI is being used in the health sector. They can tell your blood sample and everything about you using AI, even without your knowledge. That is why I support its regulation. The advantages are there, the time has come; however, we must have regulations to guide us. Thirdly, there is the issue of security, which is key. We can see what is happening in Iran and Israel. You cannot see the face, hear the voice, or even see a plane, only the use of a drone. Security is a key component in any country. If we do not regularise the AI policy, then we are going to fall into a big problem. In the agriculture sector, there are drones used for feeding. They can also tell the amount of fertiliser required and acreage production, which would help determine the food production of a country. These issues are key components of the future of a country. Therefore, I support this Motion because it is a key component of our lives. As much as AI is good, we have to create a framework to guide its use in this country. I support the Motion, and thank my colleague for bringing it up. Thank you.

(Hon. (Dr) Rachael Nyamai): Thank you. Hon. Joseph Cherorot, Member for Kipkelion East.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this chance to support the Motion brought by the Member of Parliament for Aldai, Hon. Marianne. This Motion has actually delayed considering everything that is going on in our country. The other day, we were talking about analogue and digital. When the computer came into our space, we witnessed many developments in the country. Regulating the use of AI will greatly help us. I know this is an area that has been embraced by our Kenyan youth and almost all Kenyans. Most of our youth are aware of what is going on around the world. So, having regulations will help us guide, even though I know the world has become a global village. We have seen a lot of content creation, which means that AI has undergone a transformative shift in this country. Hon. Temporary Speaker, if we want our ministries to progress, AI should be embraced. Like in the Ministry of Health, we had to change to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) because NHIF was analogue. Social Health Authority (SHA) is digitalised, which means the Ministry of Health or the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) can use AI to develop economically. 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 we also want to prosper in our businesses, AI is the way to go. You find yourself seated in the house, you do some orders and within a short time, deliveries are dropped at your house because of AI. So, I am supporting what the Member of Parliament, Hon. Marianne Kitany, has brought on the Regulation of AI. If we also want to, especially in terms of agriculture, there are a lot of things that you cannot just use the common sense that you have. You have to apply AI. It also helps a lot in cybersecurity What is going on around the world, like what a colleague has mentioned about the war that is going on now in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, is because of AI: The use of drones and all. So, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support the Motion. Thank you.

Thank you. The Hon. Patrick Ntwiga, Member for Chuka/Igambang'ombe.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. From the outset, I support this important business and I would like to say the following: When we discuss AI, we are not discussing Kenya as secluded from the rest of the world. So, if we continue saying as a country that we want to avoid AI to protect the jobs of our children, we need to know that it is not we who will use AI. AI will be used by the same children. And we will not prevent the rest of the world from evolving in AI because Kenya is not prepared. Our lack of preparedness does not tell what the world will do. So, we need a Regulation because we have a young generation. I like what one of our colleagues from the Ugandan Parliament said. That being born in Kenya is like being in Form 6 in Uganda. We have a generation that is so quick to learn. Yesterday, I looked at the news and I wish to first say sorry for what happened yesterday about the man who was shot. We cannot even tell you who the man is, because within a few minutes, they had created so many faces. They would say, this one who has been shot is from here. So, we had like 10 or 20 images of people that had already been created online, of those who had been shot. This can bring chaos and confusion. About the policeman who did what, we had a face immediately. After two minutes, we had another one. So, we need a Regulation because you cannot control that. We cannot say that we can prevent young people from using AI because it is the next frontier of development in the world. We cannot close ourselves inside the country and be afraid of what is coming because AI is here with us and the most important thing for a country is to be prepared. The best preparedness for this House that makes laws, is to have a law that will guide AI and its use in the country. Thank you. I support.

Thank you very much. The Hon. Keynan, Member for Eldas.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I do not know why I left my card.

Yes, it is unusual.

I hardly forget.

And you know that because of the length of time you have been in this House, we have to indulge you. Please proceed.

It is a very rare thing. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This Motion is timely. I want to thank the Hon. Marianne Kitany. You know, she is a distinguished Member of this House. People know her as a first-term Member.

I do not know whether you will...

Yes, I am saying people know her as a--- 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.

Bend over because of your height…

Yes, people know her as a first-timer, but she is an all-around, efficient, highly mobilised, former Chief of Staff. I am sure the people of Aldai will not regret having her as their Member of Parliament. But that does not mean I am in any way trying to influence how the people of Aldai are likely to think of her and behave. Having said this, this Motion is timely. It is one of the things that we must think out of the box as a country. Kenya is a very responsible member of the global village. Let me call it the global village. Equally, Kenya is a very resourceful, committed member of the African continent. Kenya is a country with a very diverse population. One of the things that we must be proud of is that recently, we were voted as the best in human resource capital by the United Nations (UN). That tag is so important, not only to our diaspora community, but it also takes our education system to another level. This is why, notwithstanding the different provisions in the current progressive Constitution, we must also think outside the box. How do we think outside the box? The right to privacy, the right to associate with whoever you want, the right of your neighbour and the right to you as an individual are all enshrined in the Constitution. John McCarthy, who is considered as the father of AI, participated in something called The Dartmouth Workshop in 1956. You can imagine where the world was at that particular time. And what he thought of in that particular conference is what is now making everybody sleepless. As a country…I can see there is a serious change in guard. I like the way it is organised. Very organised. I am sure that is one thing that other institutions should emulate. Its well-structured.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, those who invented the use of computers were not competing with the Almighty. The Almighty God has created human beings, animals and the angels. In my religion, the human being has been given two distinctive abilities. The right to think, that is why God says he allows you to discern what is good and what is right. And you, as an individual, are in a position to either go astray and follow the wrong or follow the right. One of the things that mankind has done is to be innovative enough, to be creative enough and use computers. What this Motion attempts to do first of all, is acknowledge that we are in the era of AI. The second thing that this Motion attempts to acknowledge is that there is a need to have a friendly, institutional-driven framework that will allow the user of the AI not to infringe on the rights of others. This is why all of us are believers in our Constitution. We accept that we have a Constitution and that is our supreme law in the Republic of Kenya. Within that Constitution, people are allowed the right to belong to the religion of their choice, the right to associate with whoever they want, as long as they do not infringe the rights of other persons. So, what this Motion is trying to do is, first of all, to create public awareness. Are Kenyans aware of the AI presence in their midst? Are Kenyans aware of both the advantages and the disadvantages of AI? In our modern-day Kenya, the unregulated use of AI has greatly caused public disturbances, serious security challenges and to some extent infringement of our sovereign rights as citizens and country. While we accept that AI must foster an efficient and effective use of computers instead of a manual application by mind, we, as a country, must also be prepared that certain shortcuts in the use of AI and what we have seen recently, can greatly endanger the lives and properties of 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.

There are different types of AI. One can be reactive. One can use a limited memory of the computer. Another one can also apply the theory of mind and play with the mindsets of different people. You can also use self-awareness. That is why you see different images, but you do not understand some of them. People of my age do not understand them, but the youngsters understand them. They have their own ways of doing things. Because of this, as a country and citizens, we must be prepared to use AI efficiently to reduce operational costs used to interpret data. First of all, its use will cause serious loss of jobs. It will contribute to the violation of individual right to privacy. You have seen it all being applied. Look at the headlines. Just open your social media accounts and you see the kind of things that go on. The youngsters also use their social media accounts to manipulate certain realities to suit certain circumstances, which may not be in the national interest and their long- term interest. There is also an abuse of algorithm in the application of this. Certain shortcuts are taken. It is also very difficult because you can see countries that have plunged into civil war or some global events that are happening right now because of social media. If you follow the social media accounts, you feel like the world is coming to an end, and we are almost on the verge of a third world war. You feel like Kenya is beginning to end, and there will be a civil war. You also feel like we do not have institutions. I hope my good friend, Hon. Marianne, will take this Motion to the next level. I know she will be criticised, but it will be positive criticism. You will be remembered later on. That is why I said we must think out of the box. Please translate this Motion and take it to the next level. Make it a Bill and allow the public to participate. Ultimately, we will come up with a Bill that stands the test of time and meets the sovereign interest of Kenyans. It will protect the rights of any individual, and contribute to the development of this great Republic. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support this Motion because it is very progressive. Please do not get tired. Go on and bring the Bill as soon as possible.

The Member for Taita Taveta County, followed by Hon. Geoffrey Odanga.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me a chance to contribute to this Motion briefly. I begin by congratulating my colleague, Hon. Marianne, for bringing this Motion on AI. At the outset, the world is evolving and it continues to do so. AI is an idea that time has come. There is nothing we can do about it. We have to embrace it. It has its benefits and challenges. It is already in practice. The only way that we can enjoy or benefit from AI is to regulate it. We have to control it, so that we benefit from it. A lot is being done by AI. When you go shopping, you get surprised at times. You have your visa card in the pocket and you just get close to the counter and tap it, and then everything is sorted. Money is removed from your card and you settle your bills. That is the work of AI. You pay for parking at times, and then you start driving your car. Before you get to the gate, it opens which is use of AI. Before it gets to security matters and many things on the wrong side, I agree it is time that we regulate it as quickly as possible so that we enjoy it. I congratulate my colleague and support this Motion. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Geoffrey Odanga.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary speaker. Let me also add my voice to those who support AI. I thank the sponsor of the Motion, Hon. Marianne. First of all, let me note that AI is very dangerous, if it is left to run and control itself. We see this on WhatsApp and Facebook. People abuse the opportunity to use the social media. We need to take up AI very quickly or fast enough so that it is regulated and controlled. The truth is that AI has already taken the world by storm. It exists and we are already using it. If we do not control it, it will damage and threaten the education system, in terms 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.

research. For those who do research at Masters and PhD levels, and for other purposes, AI threatens innovation and creativity in our educational institutions. It will also be very dangerous in security areas. So, there is a very important need to have it regulated and controlled. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support the Motion.

Member for Turkana North, Hon. Paul Ekwom, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support this Motion by Hon. Marianne. Whereas we celebrate AI, it comes with serious challenges, especially with the young people in this country. If it will not be regulated, it will spoil our generations and create very serious issues in this country. We have so many experiences. This Motion intends to allow the ministry concerned to formulate a regulatory framework that will guide use of AI, and also create public awareness in our communities. It has come at a good time. We also need to have infrastructure that will regulate the information that goes to the public. We also need to benchmark with many other countries, especially in the West, that have had AI for a long time. As we celebrate the benefits of AI, we should use it well. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support the Motion.

Is the Member for Samburu West in the House? Is the Member for Samburu East in the House? Any other Member who intends to contribute? Hon. Saney, Member for Wajir North, proceed. The microphone is there. What did you do to the microphone? It was on. Use another one. You can use the one right in front of you.

(Wajir North, UDA

There being no Members willing to weigh in on this, I call upon the mover to reply. Hon. Marianne Kitany.

(Aldai, UDA)

Fair enough. The question will be put at an appropriate time.

Next Order.

Is Hon. Tim Wanyonyi in the House to move this Motion? He is not. I defer the Motion to another date when he will be around to move it.

Next Order.

Where is Hon. Charles Ngusya to move this Motion? He is not in the House. I direct that this Motion be put in the Order Paper on an appropriate Wednesday when the Hon. Ngusya can move it.

Next Order.

Hon. Shurie was around this morning. He is not in the House now. I am sure he assumed that the other Motions were going to take time up to one o'clock. Under the circumstances and there being nobody to move the Motion on his behalf, I direct that the Motion be put in the Order Paper at an appropriate date in the future.

Next Order.

The co-sponsor is Hon. Wamboka. He is not in the House to move the Bill. Under the circumstances, I direct that the Bill be put in the Order Paper at an appropriate date in the future. Next Order.

THE BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS BILL (National Assembly Bill No.8 of 2024)

Hon. Sabina Chege to move the Second Reading of this Bill. Is Hon. Chege Sabina the Member for Murang’a County? No, she is a Nominated Member of Parliament. She is not in the House. I direct that this Bill be put on the Order Paper for consideration at an appropriate date in future.

Next Order.

THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL (Senate Bill No.25 of 2023)

Hon. Timothy Toroitich is not in the House to move this Bill as the co-sponsor. I direct that this Bill be put on the Order Paper for consideration at an appropriate date in future when the Member will be in a position to move it.

Under the circumstances, there being no other matter for consideration on the Order Paper, we must adjourn.

Hon. Members, the time being 12.31 p.m., the House stands adjourned until this afternoon, at 2.30 p.m.

The House rose at 12.31 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.