NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

PAPERS LAID  

The following papers were laid at the Table of the House among others:

• The Petroleum Development Levy Amendment Order of 2020 and explanatory Memorandum from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining.
• The list of nominees to the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Committee for Bonchari Constituency
• The 10th report of the Special Funds Accounts Committee on its consideration of audited financial statements for the Local Authorities’ Profit and Funds, the Unclaimed Assets Trust Fund, the National Environment Trust Fund, the Land Settlement Fund and the Petroleum Development Fund
• Reports of the Select Committee on the National Government Constituency development fund on:

1. Stalled or incomplete projects initiated through the NGCDF but falling under the County Government Function.
2. Electrification of schools in constituencies.

• Report of the Committee on delegated legislation on its consideration of the Draft Election Campaign Finance Regulations
• The Fourth Quarterly economic and budgetary review report for the financial year 2020/2021 from the National Treasury
• Report of the Departmental Committee on the Justice and Legal Affairs on its consideration of the Public Participation Bill, NA Assembly Bill No. 71 of 2019.
• Report of the Departmental Committee on Transport Public Works and Housing on its consideration of:

1. The Landlord and Tenant Bill, National Assembly Bill No.3 of 2021
2. Ratification of the agreement amending the Air Transport Agreement between Kenya and the United States of America.

• The proposed budget ceilings for each constituency for the FY 2021/2022 from the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Board.
• Report of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation on its consideration of the Information, Communications technology Practitioners Bill, NA Bill No. 38 of 2020. 

COMMUNICATION OF THE CHAIR

Demise of Senator victor Prengei

The House was informed of the untimely demise of nominate Senator the Hon. Victor Orengei, who passed on Monday 16th August, 2021 after being involved in a fatal road accident in Nakuru. 

MOTIONS

The House was given Notice to adapt the following Motions;

• The 10th Report of the Special Funds Accounts Committee on audited financial statements for the Local Authorities Profit and Funds, the Unclaimed Assets Trust Fund, the National Environment Trust Fund, the Land Settlement Fund and the Petroleum Development Fund laid on the table of the house on Tuesday 17th August, 2021.
• The Report of the Select Committee on the National Government Constituency development fund on: Stalled or incomplete projects initiated through the NGCDF but falling under the County Government Function and electrification of schools in constituencies laid on the table of the house on Tuesday 17th August, 2021.
• The Report of the Departmental Committee on National Security and Administration on its consideration of public petition regarding insecurity in Saku Constituency and the Larger Marsabit County laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday 11th August, 2021.
• The Report of the Departmental Committee on National Security and Administration on its consideration of Public Petition by Residents of Wajir and Garissa Counties regarding lack of access to Citizen Registration Services laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday 11th August, 2021.
• The Report of the Departmental Committee on National Security and Administration on its consideration of Public Petition regarding Recognition of the Pemba People of Kenya as Citizens of the Republic of Kenya laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday 11th August, 2021.
• The Report of the Departmental Committee on Transport Public Works and Housing on its consideration of the eRatification of the agreement amending the Air Transport Agreement between Kenya and the United States of America laid on the Table of the house on Wednesday 18th August, 2021 and pursuant to provisions of Section 7 and Section 8 of the Treaty making and Ratification Act, 2012 approves ratification of the agreement amending the air transport agreement.
• Report of the Committee on Delegated Legislation on its consideration of the draft Elections Campaign Financing Regulations submitted by the IEBC on 5th August, 2021 laid on the table of the house on Tuesday 17th August, 2021.  
• Report of the Departmental Committee on Trade Industry and Co-operatives on its consideration of Sessional Paper No. 4 of 2020 on the National Co-operative Policy laid on the Table of the House on Thursday 19th August, 2021 and further approves Sessional Paper No. 4 of 2020. 

Procedural Motion – Exemption of Business from Provisions of the Standing Orders

The House resolved to exempt the Reports of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security on the Public Petitions listed below, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, from the provisions of Standing Order 227(2) (Committal of Petitions) with respect to debate–

1. Public Petition regarding insecurity in Saku Constituency and the Larger Marsabit County;
2. Public Petition by Residents of Wajir and Garissa Counties regarding lack of access to Citizen Registration Services; and,
3. Public Petition regarding Recognition of the Pemba People of Kenya as Citizens of the Republic of Kenya.

Procedural Motion- Consideration of Certain Business Received During the Recess Period

The House resolved that upon Publication and First Reading of Bills and Standing Order 210(2) relating to Tabling of Statutory Instruments  during the period of the August Long Recess (20th August to 20th September, 2021) –

1. should a Bill be published during the said period, or a published Bill become due for First Reading during the period, the Speaker shall, upon lapse of at least seven days following the publication of the Bill, the fulfillment of the provisions of Article 110(3) of the Constitution and following a determination that such Bill is of priority, forthwith refer the Bill to the relevant Committee for consideration pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 127 (Committal of Bills to Committees and public participation) and upon resumption of the House, cause the Bill to be read a First Time and the Second Reading may be taken forthwith, or on such other day as the House Business Committee may determine;
2. should any statutory instrument be transmitted for tabling before the House during the period, the Speaker shall, following a determination that the statutory instrument is of priority, forthwith refer the statutory instrument to the relevant Committee for consideration and cause the statutory instrument to be tabled in the House during its next Sitting in accordance with the provisions of section 11 of the Statutory Instruments Act (No. 3 of 2013);
3. should any Paper be transmitted for tabling before the House during the period, the Speaker shall, following a determination that the Paper is of priority, forthwith refer the Paper to the relevant Committee for consideration and cause the Paper to be tabled in the House during its next Sitting; and,
4. upon the submission and approval of the Reports of the relevant Committees on the Vetting of nominees for appointment to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Vetting of nominees for appointment to the Teachers Service Commission, the Speaker shall forthwith cause the Reports to be circulated to all Members (in electronic form) ahead of any Special Sittings of the House convened pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 29 to consider the said business so as to accord Members time to apprise themselves with the contents of the reports.

PETITIONS

The following Petitions were presented on the Floor of the House among others:

• The Speaker reported a Petition on behalf of several citizens led by one Ms. Susan W. Gachango in regards to the abolition of police clearance certificates required of citizens seeking jobs. The Petition will be considered by the Departmental Committee (DC) on Justice and Legal Affairs.
• Hon. Said Hiribae, MP (Galole) presented a Petition on behalf of the residents of Galole Constituency in regards to the degazettement of 2,000 acres of Hola irrigation scheme land for expansion of Hola Town. The Petition will be considered by the D.C. on Lands.
• The Speaker reported a Petition on behalf of Messrs David O. Olumasai, Ian N. Gicobi and Elvin O. Mangeni, with regards to the violation of the right to relevant education and training by Egerton University. The Petition will be considered by the D.C. on Education and Research.
• The Speaker reported a Petition on behalf of one Mr. Taratisio Ireri Kawe concerning the zero rating on taxation of water tanks, farming equipment and tools as laid out in the Finance Act and other relevant legislation. The Petition will be considered by the D.C. on Finance and National Planning.
• The Speaker reported a Petition on behalf of persons identifying themselves as contractors and suppliers of goods & services to NYS concerning the payment of pending bills owed to suppliers of the National Youth Service (NYS) for the period 2013-201. The Petition will be considered by the D.C. on Finance and National Planning.

BILLS

The following Bill came up for the Committee of the Whole House

• The Foreign Service Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 8 of 2021) by the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations. The Committee considered the Bill and approved it. As such, the Bill was read for the Third Time and passed.

The following Bills were coming up for a Second Reading;

• The Irrigation (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 12 of 2021) By the Leader of the Majority Party.
• The National Hospital Insurance Fund (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 21 of 2021 by the Leader of the Majority Party. The Bill was accordingly read the Second Time.
• The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 19 of 2019) by the Hon. Florence Mutua, M.P.
• The Alcoholic Drinks Control (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 70 of 2019) by the Hon. Silvanus Osoro, M.P. The Bill was accordingly read the Second Time.
• The Kenya Deposit Insurance (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 43 of 2020) by the Hon. Abdul Rahim Dawood, M.P.
• The Central Bank of Kenya (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 10 of 2021) by the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. 

STATEMENTS

The following Statements were raised on the floor of the House among others:

• Gender Based Violence cases

The Member for Kisii County (Hon. Janet Ongera, MP) asked the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Gender: –

1. What steps is the Ministry taking to end Gender Based Violence cases, which have significantly increased during the period of the COVID-19 Pandemic, despite a Presidential directive to stem the vice?
2. What steps is the Ministry taking to ensure that victims of Gender-Based Violence are protected and that they have access to counseling and other support services particularly during the period of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
3. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide details of the Gender Based Violence protection centers available in the country and indicate whether there are plans to establish more such centers, at least in every constituency?

The Question will be replied before the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare

• Allocation and Disbursement of Monies

The Member for Subukia (Hon. Samuel Gachobe, MP) asked the Cabinet Secretary for Education: –

1. Could the Cabinet Secretary explain the criteria used in allocation and disbursement of monies under the School Infrastructure Fund in the country?
2. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a breakdown of the disbursement of the funds to primary and secondary schools in Subukia Constituency during the period June 2017 to June 2021?
3. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide the timelines for the disbursement of the funds for the current financial year (2021/2022) in Subukia Constituency?

The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Education and Research.

• Cost of Uniforms

The Member for Teso North (Hon. Oku Kaunya, MP) asked the Cabinet Secretary for Education: –

1. Considering the high cost of school uniforms in the country, which has in turn significantly led to the increased cost of learning in schools, could the Ministry consider regulating and standardizing the cost of school uniforms to make them affordable?
2. What measures is the Ministry putting in place to ensure that children are not denied an opportunity to join school, learn and complete their education for lack of uniform?
3. Could the Cabinet Secretary consider the use of existing institutions such as National Youth Service, Rivatex East Africa Limited, Kenya Prisons Service workshops or such other established institutions for production of school uniforms at subsidized prices that the majority of parents can afford?
4. What is the Ministry’s policy regarding the provision of other items required of pupils and students as part of tuition, boarding and core curriculum materials?

The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Education and Research.

• List of Licensed Alcohol Manufacturer

The Nominated Member (Hon. Godfrey Osotsi, MP) asked the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Planning:

1. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a detailed list of licensed alcoholic drinks manufacturers in Kenya, indicating the names of the firms or persons, respective production costs, selling price, Excise Duty payable, Value-Added Tax (VAT) payable and recommended retail price of all liquor brands of 250 ml?
2. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide details on the amount of Excise Duty and VAT collected from the said products in the financial years 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021?
3. Could the Cabinet Secretary indicate the total number of Excise Duty Stamps sold by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to each of the licensed alcoholic drinks manufacturers during the period 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021?
4. What measures has the Ministry taken to deal with manufacturers and distributors of illegal alcoholic drinks who continue to engage in illicit and uncompetitive business practices leading to loss of tax revenue and putting consumers at risk?
5. What measures has KRA taken to deal with its staff who are involved in abetting the illicit trade by aiding and protecting illegitimate manufacturers and distributors of alcoholic drinks?

The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.

• Health Workforce Collaboration

The Member for Sigowet/Soin (Hon. Kipsengeret Koros, MP.) asked the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection: –

1. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide the status of the recent Bilateral Agreement regarding Health Workforce Collaboration signed between the Republic of Kenya and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland which was signed during the latest official visit by H. E. the President to the United Kingdom?
2. Could the Cabinet Secretary also provide details of the exchange programme between the two countries as per the signed Agreement highlighting the specific cadres of Kenyan Healthcare Workers to be involved in the exchange programme, the selection criteria to be applied, the Ministry or Agency to be responsible for the recruitment, and whether it will be a one-off programme?

The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare.

• Youth Empowerment Centres

The Member for Saboti (Hon. Caleb Amisi, MP) asked the Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs: –

1. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide a list of all Youth Empowerment Centres that have been constructed across the country in the past four (4) years, indicating their locations and their completion status?
2. Could the Cabinet Secretary indicate the number of the Centres projected for construction in the current financial year, and specify constituencies where they will be located?
3. Could the Cabinet Secretary outline the measures that the Ministry has put in place to ensure that the said Centres are constructed to the required standards, well equipped and operationalized in all the 290 Constituencies?

The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation.

• Utilization of the Eldoret International Airport

The Member for Baringo Central (Hon. Joshua Kandie, MP) asked the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure Housing, Urban Development and Public Works: –

1. Could the Cabinet Secretary explain the measures in place to ensure maximum utilization of Eldoret International Airport for both passengers and cargo?
2. Could the Ministry consider enhancing the Airport’s cargo handling capacity?
3. Could the Ministry also consider expanding the Airport’s runway to accommodate bigger capacity planes and thus promote the entry of more cargo?

The Question will be replied to before the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing.

•  Alcohol, Drug and Other Substance Abuse

The Member for Kiambaa (Hon. John Njuguna, MP) asked the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government: –

1. Could the Cabinet Secretary explain the measures that the Ministry has taken to curb alcohol, drug and other substance abuse in the country, and particularly in Kiambaa Constituency?
2. Could the Cabinet Secretary further explain the high influx of non-Kenyan nationals in certain parts of Kiambaa Constituency, particularly in Ruaka area, and indicate whether there is a correlation between the said influx of non-kenyan nationals and the increased cases of drug trafficking in the area?
3. Could the Cabinet Secretary also explain the steps the Ministry is taking to eradicate the menace of drug trafficking?
4. Could the Cabinet Secretary provide statistics of the foreign nationalities residing in Kiambaa Constituency?

The Question will be replied before the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. 

The following Statements were requested on the floor of the House among others:

• The Hon. Bady Twalib, MP (Jomvu) requested a statement regarding water provision crisis in Jomvu Constituency from the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
• The Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah, M.P. (Kikuyu) requested a statement regarding the issuance of visas to Kenyans travelling to the People’s Republic of China from the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations
• The Hon. Gideon Keter, MP (Nominated) requested a statement on the increased killings of young people in the country from the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security.  
• Hon. Benjamin Washiali, MP (Mumias East) requested a statement regarding the dangers posed by open quarries abandoned by contractors in the country from the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works and Housing. 

SENATE

On recess until 07th September 2021