Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell. (The Quorum Bell was rung)

Order, Hon. Members! We now have quorum to transact business. Clerk-at-the-Table. (Several Members were upstanding) Members on their feet, take your seats.

Hon. Members, I have a Petition to convey to the House regarding the unfair lending and asset financing practises by MOGO Auto Limited. Article 119 of the Constitution accords any person the right to Petition Parliament to consider any matter within its authority. Further, Standing Order 225(2)(b) requires the Speaker to report to the House any Petition other than that presented by a Member.

Hon. Members, I wish to report to the House that my office has received a Petition from Mr Charles Gishira, the National Executive Chairperson of the Kenya Bodaboda Riders and Owners Association, representing bodaboda riders, owners, operators and other key road safety stakeholders across the country. The petitioner seeks the intervention of the National Assembly regarding persistent complaints and grievances raised by members of the Association against MOGO Auto Limited, a company operating in Kenya and engaged in the provision of asset financing and lending services.

Hon. Members, the petitioner raises concerns regarding MOGO Auto Limited’s compliance with the regulatory framework governing lending and asset financing, including whether the interest rates and charges levied align with the requirements administered by the Central Bank of Kenya. The petitioner alleges that the company imposes excessively high interest rates and other charges exposing borrowers to financial hardship and exploitation. He cites inadequate disclosure of loan terms, repayment obligations, and associated charges thereby limiting borrowers' ability to make informed financial decisions and undermining consumer rights guaranteed under Article 46 of the Constitution.

The petitioner claims that borrowers are not provided with logbooks despite making substantial repayments towards the financed motorcycles, and that recovery practices against defaulting borrowers are unfair and oppressive. The petitioner also raises concerns regarding the protection and handling of customers' personal data, in breach of data protection laws,

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, and let me thank the individual who has brought that Petition to this House. The space for bodaboda and the lending and asset-financing arrangements for motorcycles are not good. Indeed, currently, the bodaboda riders who have been given motorcycles are at risk. Their lives are at risk.

It is not only MOGO. There is another one called Watu. I would want to ask you, Hon. Speaker, kindly, that you order that the Committee prioritises this matter because they do not only lose the motorcycles, but sometimes they are even killed and the motorcycle just disappears. The tracking system does not work completely, so that not a single motorcycle can be found!

In my own area, Emuhaya, that has been very common. Above all, no bodaboda rider who is given a motorcycle through asset financing is assured that they will finally own the motorcycle. Somehow, when they finish paying for the motorcycle, something happens and you find that the bodaboda rider is either killed, the motorcycle is stolen, or something else happens so that the motorcycle is actually taken away. So, the organisations or agencies involved in this asset financing, including MOGO, Watu and others, are actually exploiting that space, and I would like the Committee to go beyond what has been asked so that they regulate that sector very well and ensure we do not have exploitation.

Hon. Pukose.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I stand to support the Petition and I ask the Public Petitions Committee to prioritise this issue because it is affecting many of the bodaboda operators. You will find that a bodaboda rider has paid almost everything and is only left with, perhaps, a little interest, but these people come when he defaults towards the end, and they take the motorcycle, leaving the bodaboda person to

Yes, Hon. Wanjala.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I also want to add my voice and support to that Petition.

For the record, the petitioner is called Charles Gichira.

Yes, Charles Gichira. These companies, again, collude. Their technicians put some security gadgets in those motorcycles. They organise with them and follow up on the person who has taken the motorcycle. They go and steal the motorcycle and remove the gadget so that the motorcycle is never seen again. This has really impoverished our bodaboda riders on the ground. Even when the borrower is still paying, and he has paid a lot of money and very little remains, they go ahead to repossess the motorcycle. The worst thing is that when they remove these gadgets from the motorcycle, they still force the motorcycle owners to pay them, yet the motorcycle had insurance.

I support the Petition.

Thank you, Hon. Wanjala. Hon. Cherorot.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I stand to support the Petition by Charles Gichira. This issue of bodaboda is everywhere in the Republic. The biggest problem that is going on now in our country, especially in my constituency, is that these lending companies are taking advantage of this vulnerable group of bodaboda riders. In my area, I had to intervene at some point because of one bodaboda rider whose motorcycle they repossessed, and that motorcycle disappeared completely. This matter has to be addressed, and the Public Petitions Committee has to make sure that justice is done, especially for this group of bodaboda riders. It is not only about MOGO. Even the other lending companies that are taking advantage of wananchi should be dealt with accordingly. Otherwise, I support.

Hon. Oundo.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I support the Petition. It is timely. Bodaboda riders seem to be the backbone of most economies in rural Kenya, and the amount of trouble they go through is very worrying and annoying. Many times, these lenders actually wait until the borrower has less than Ksh10,000 to complete the payment. Then they come and repossess the motorcycle, and it disappears. We really need the Public Petitions Committee to have a thorough review of this matter, covering the entire sector and the entire value chain, so that we can save our bodaboda riders. They are very important. They saved most of us on Sunday in Homa Bay when we were attacked by terrorists. So, we must always support them all the time.

Hon. Ariko. There is a microphone over there.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I stand to support this Motion.

There is no Motion before the House.

I stand to support this Petition by Hon... I cannot read that.

It is a citizen called Charles Gichira.

Bodabodas constitute a large percentage of the modes of transport in Kenya. The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning had a session with MOGO Auto Limited to discuss this matter that was raised by

Hon. George Best.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I also wish to lend a word to this Petition by a studious Kenyan, Mr. Charles Gichira.

There are shylocks and unscrupulous moneylenders out there who prey on impecunious Kenyans purely because they do not have money. It appears that they are changing their modus operandi every day. They are now targeting the bodaboda industry whereby they are getting individuals into some unconscionable and unlawful contracts that cannot be sustained even in a court of law. Since these Kenyans cannot wriggle out, they take advantage of them.

We are currently looking at the in duplum rule in most of these contracts. It is high time we examined whether it should be introduced into contracts because these are not moneylenders. They are neither banks nor financial institutions. They are people who just register a business and get people to sign contracts. They then try to enforce those contracts with unconscionable rates of interest. The terms of contract cannot be sustained and are totally onerous.

As this House looks into this matter now, we will also look at the law of contract to see whether the in duplum rule should be introduced in all contracts, especially where money is being lent. Otherwise, the bodaboda industry is one of the most important industries in the country. We know the revolution and what it has done for our young people. These are people who have no other sources of income, but by providing basic modes of transport, they can earn a living and make transport across locations easy. We must protect and speak for the bodaboda industry. Such unscrupulous persons, who are doing what MOGO Auto Limited is doing, should be brought to book. Whether under the law or where they commit offences, they should be prosecuted and punished harshly.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Janet Sitienei.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I wish to support this timely Petition by Mr Gichira. The bodaboda sector has been exploited for far too long by business people. This cuts across my constituency. They have raised concerns regarding business people selling a bodaboda that usually retails at Ksh150,000, but at the end, the loan repayment is Ksh450,000. You can imagine an interest of 200 per cent. I think this should be addressed because bodaboda is one of the sectors that injects into our economy. This is timely. We would like this addressed to ensure the bodaboda sector is not exploited. It should be catered for because it is a source of livelihood.

I support this Petition.

Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to take a completely different tangent from these comments. You may remember way back in June of 2024, this House considered similar complaints on the buy-now-pay-later arrangements, which is the genesis of such a Petition by Mr Gichira.

The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning considered this matter and tabled a report before this House. Part of the gaps that were identified in that report are issues to do with the regulatory framework on the buy-now-pay-later kind of schemes; issues

On a point of order!

What is it, Hon. Raphael Wanjala?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. You have heard the Leader of the Majority Party claim that the Committee on Implementation is not doing its work, yet we have so many reports before this House. Unfortunately, last week I was attending my nephew’s funeral, which is why I was not in the House. Hon. Speaker, you are aware of the status of my deputy. I do not know why she was not here; perhaps, she has a problem. You know the issue. I do not wish to say it here.

Who is your deputy?

Hon. Rose Museo.

Hon. Rose Museo is always here.

She was not present that day, and I had assigned her duties. Our absence that day does not imply that the Committee is inactive; we have lined up many reports.

Hon. Raphael Wanjala, the issue at hand is that there is a report that mirrors what Mr Gichira has asked us to pursue, along with resolutions and far-reaching recommendations. It is incumbent upon your Committee to ensure that there is follow-up and implementation of what the House has recommended. Thus, you should review that report and liaise with the relevant State agencies to report back to the House on their actions.

Second, Hon. Members, this Petition addresses a wide range of issues. For the Leader of the Majority Party, over and above what Mr Gichira is highlighting, I believe you also need to engineer legislation to regulate the bodaboda sector, protect the riders, safeguard their rights to their motorbikes, and address the predatory lenders you mentioned. In reality, they are not lenders; they are shylocks because they literally steal from these individuals! I know many young people who have been hijacked and killed, with their motorbikes disappearing, and no insurance company ever owns up. Hon. Wanjala, you have a basketful of issues to deal with and present to the House.

I will refer this Petition to the Public Petitions Committee, and if it is true that the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning has dealt with a similar petition, then I will enjoin the two committees.

On a point of order.

Yes, Sir George? Hold on, Hon. Wanjala.

Thank you very much. There is yet another petition; in fact, the report has been tabled. We have to examine the in duplum rule under the Consumer Protection Act. As we do that, I believe we need to extend this also to these unscrupulous moneylenders, so that we can regulate them with some law while also addressing how to oversee that industry, which is rather hazy.

Leader of the Majority Party, what you should also check and inform the House is whether these credit facilities, such as MOGO Auto Limited, are licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). If they are, whether the CBK regulates them. If they are not licensed, how are they allowed to operate, lend money, harass, terrorise, and humiliate Kenyans and get away with it?

Yes, Leader of the Majority Party?

I agree with you. It would be advisable to involve the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning in this particular Petition because part of what I see in their draft report highlights your concerns. Some of these entities are not regulated by the CBK, and even the issues that Hon. Sir George is addressing regarding the in duplum rule indicate that they do not adhere to it at all; they simply take advantage of the lack of knowledge of many of their customers.

In closing, we may excuse Hon. Raphael Wanjala because he was bereaved last week, but all other committee members, when your Chairperson is not present, you should stand in for them and move a report on their behalf. If Raphael is absent and Rose Museo is also away, any other member of the Committee on Implementation should stand in their place and present reports for the Committee.

However, for Hon. Raphael and the Committee, it is important that you follow through on the recommendations that the Speaker has provided, to ensure that if there are laws we need to enact, we do so. It is so that we do not make this House a talking show where we come to discuss issues without actionable outcomes. We cry like those who cry to us. That Petition is a cry for help on behalf of many others made by Mr Gichira, and we should not be crying; we should be providing solutions for those people.

Yes, Wanjala.

Hon. Speaker, my committee also addresses petitions, but this is where the confusion arises. You have referred it to the Public Petitions Committee and the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.

There is no confusion, Wanjala.

The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning has dealt with it, and you should have committed that Petition to my Committee so that we handle it together and then direct it to my Committee.

You are far from the facts. You already have a report to follow up on regarding implementation. This is a separate Petition going to the Public Petitions Committee, and I am directing that it be joined with the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. Once they complete their work, it will come to you for follow-up on implementation. Therefore, you should follow up on what already exists and let us avoid making this House look like the Biblical Book of Lamentations was written with us in mind.

Hon. Members, allow me to acknowledge, in the Speaker’s Gallery, learners from Cheplelaibei Junior School from Nandi Hills Constituency, Nandi County; Gitinga Comprehensive School from Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County, and Manyatta Comprehensive School from Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County.

The Member for Nandi Hills has requested to welcome students from his constituency. You may do so on behalf of all of us.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker, for the opportunity to invite and welcome all the students who are present here today, who have come to learn about the proceedings of Parliament. Welcome to the House of Records. This is where all legislation is conducted, and the laws of this country are made. Of great significance is Cheplelaibei Primary School; this is the school where I studied from Standard 1 to Standard

You forgot to welcome the other schools also, on my behalf and on behalf of the House.

I started with it, Hon. Speaker.

Okay, sorry. We welcome all the students, their teachers, and those accompanying them to the House of Parliament.

Next Order.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following papers on the Table:

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Co-operatives.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table:

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Hon. Tongoyo.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table:

Report of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on Administration and Internal Security on the Approval Hearing of the Nominee for Appointment as Chairperson of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). I submit, Hon Speaker.

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Labour, Hon. Ken Chonga.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table:

Report of the Departmental Committee on Labour on the Approval Hearing of a Nominee for Appointment as a Member of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Next Order.

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Hon. Tongoyo.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:

THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security in its Report on the Approval Hearing of a Nominee for Appointment as Chairperson of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 18th August 2026, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 250(2)(b) of the Constitution and sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), this House approves the appointment of Dr Duncan Oburu Ojwang, as the Chairperson of IPOA.

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Labour.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion:

Hon. Members, in the Public Gallery, we have students from St. Mathews Muromutua School from Igembe North, Meru; and, Disciples of Mercy School from Kisumu West, Kisumu. On my behalf and on behalf of the House, we welcome the students, their teachers, and those accompanying them to Parliament.

Next Order.

Hon. Dorothy Ikiara.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I wish to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the status of stalled and pending road projects in North Imenti Constituency.

The dual carriageway from Ngonyi to Meru ASK Showground and from Meru Makutano Trading Centre to Maua-Kithoka Junction, the Giaki-Kaguma-Kariene Road forming part of the Coca-Cola-Kithaku-Kithirune-Kariene-Kaguma-Siaki road and the Kithoka Junction to Kwachege section have either stalled, remain pending or are yet to be reclassified. These roads are critical transport links serving residential areas, trading centres and agricultural communities within North Imenti Constituency. The delays have resulted in poor road conditions, limited access to markets and essential public services, and constrained economic activity.

It is against this background that I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on the following:

Is the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure in the House? Is there any Member of the Committee? Leader of the Majority Party, the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure should respond to this request for Statement after recess.

(Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah nodded in the affirmative) That is a response to the Statement. Is the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock here? Hon. Osero, you a Member of the Committee. Do you have the response?

Yes, Hon. Speaker.

Where is Hon. Mary Maingi. I do not see her now but I saw her walk in. Hold on, we will deal with it later. Hon. Kamket.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. About one and a half months ago, I made a request for a Statement on the Equalisation Fund but up to now, I have not received any response. I am apprehensive that we may soon be proceeding on recess without it.

The request for Statement was to which Committee?

The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. In today’s original Order Paper, there was Equalisation Fund Appropriation

Just ask on when you will get a response. Stop debating.

Hon. Speaker, I am expressing a concern…

You requested for a Statement and it is now one and a half months without a response? I direct the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on what next. I do not see the Chair but I saw some Members of the Committee here, including Hon. Makilap and Hon. Ariko. Hon. Julius, can you bring a response to Hon. Kamket’s request for Statement on Equalisation Fund by Thursday this week? He says it has been ‘parking’ for the last one and a half months.

Hon. Speaker, on behalf of my Committee, let me take up the matter and ensure that we bring a response on Thursday. Thank you.

Yes, Hon. Sunkuli.

Hon. Speaker, the question by Hon. Kamket is valid. Hon. Speaker, when you hosted us in Naivasha, I asked a question on Equalisation Fund concerning the status of the disbursement of the money. The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning was present. Is the money ring-fenced? We are now passing the 2026/2027 Equalisation Fund Appropriation Bill yet we have not even implemented a cent of what we passed in last Financial Year. Can the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning tell us the issue with Equalisation Fund? Is it equalising anything or we are churning out Bills that are not being implemented?

Interrogate the response to the request for Statement on Thursday.

Hon. Kamket.

Hon. Speaker, for information, when I requested the Statement, there was a lot of interests on this matter. The Speaker who was in the Chair that day made a Ruling that the Chairperson not only brings a Statement, but also, the Cabinet Secretary and officials from The National Treasury. They must appear before the House because this matter touches on many counties. The county governors have made mistakes on this matter and we want to correct it before we begin implementing any other Bill. The first

Point made. Hon. Naisula.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. On the same issue, I would recommend that even as he gets the response to the Statement on Thursday, through your able Office, the Cabinet Secretary for The National Treasury and Economic Planning should come before this House before we go on recess so that we address the issue of Equalisation Fund with all Members present. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Kamket, I hear that you are not interested in the response to Statement coming here on Thursday rather you want it prosecuted before the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning?

Hon. Speaker, I am interested in justice for the people of Kenya.

Just answer the question. I am sure you are not interested in any injustice. Do you want the response to go to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning and you prosecute everything there, in which case I direct the Cabinet Secretary to appear before the Committee or you want the response to come to the Plenary?

Hon. Speaker, if it is possible for the Cabinet Secretary to appear before the Plenary, the better.

Leader of the Majority Party, when have you scheduled the Cabinet Secretary for The National Treasury and Economic Planning to appear?

Hon. Speaker, let us not depend on a schedule. Let the Cabinet Secretary be compelled….

Order, Hon. Kamket. Utaratibu ndugu yangu, utaratibu.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Pukose.

Hon. Speaker, without anticipating debate, when you look at the Order Paper, we have the Equalisation Fund Appropriation Bill coming up for debate. Last week, the feeling of the House was that this Bill will fail. My request is that if possible, we step it down and have the Cabinet Secretary address the issues before we discuss the Bill.

That has already been done. There is a Supplementary Order Paper where that Bill and its subsequent appearance at the Committee of the whole House, has been stepped down.

Okay, thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Leader of the Majority Party, are you able to get the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning?

Hon. Speaker, considering that we had already slotted two Cabinet Secretaries appearing this week and next week we had no indication of any Cabinet Secretary appearing because there is no issue. Probably we could get him to appear immediately after recess.

We can do that or alternatively check on the availability of the Cabinet Secretary. I can give you a Kamukunji for one hour on Thursday morning. Those interested in this issue, the Leader of the Majority Party has been directed to get the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning here on Thursday at 10.00 a.m. for an hour.

Hon. Speaker, I can get in touch with him. Most obliged.

Hon. Naisula.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(c), I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Energy regarding the persistent power outage in Samburu West Constituency, including Maralal Town. For the past year, residents of Samburu West Constituency, particularly Maralal Town and its environs, have experienced frequent and prolonged power outages. The outages occur without any prior notice, explanation or projected timelines for restoration. The situation has been attributed due to the delay in operationalisation of the Rumuruti sub-station. The persistent power outages, coupled with lack of communication from Kenya Power and Lightning Company (KPLC), constitute a clear violation of the legal obligations set forth in the Energy Act, Cap 225. Further, under the Consumer Protection Act, Cap 501, consumers have a right to fair service delivery, and are entitled to seek compensation where economic losses arise from negligence or disruption in utility services. It is against this background that I request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Energy on the following:

Hon. Gikaria, are you able to bring a response within a week?

Yes.

Next week, Tuesday?

Yes. Thank you.

Thank you. Is Hon. Mary Maingi back in the House?

Yes.

Hon. Osero, go ahead and respond to the request for statement on the plight of rice farmers in Mwea.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. On behalf of the Chairman, Departmental Committee of Agriculture and Livestock, I beg to give a response to the statement requested by Hon. Mary Maingi, Member for Mwea Constituency, regarding the plight of rice farmers in Mwea.

Kenya’s annual rice consumption is estimated to be over one million metric tonnes while domestic production ranges between 150,000 to 230,000 metric tonnes. In the Year 2024/2025, the total rice production locally was estimated at 303,384 metric tonnes against an

How much more to go, Hon. Osero? It is too long. Paraphrase.

Let me just read the conclusion.

Yes.

Taken together, these measures are intended to progressively narrow the gap between the local production and national demand.

However, given Kenya’s production levels and its obligations as a Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member, importation will remain a necessary component of the country’s rice supply strategy for the foreseeable future, even as the Government continues to support Mwea farmers through Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) mopping exercise.

I submit.

Hon. Mary Maingi, if you are satisfied with the response, let it lie.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am.

Thank you. Hon. Members, in the Speaker’s Gallery, we have MM Shah Junior School from Kisumu Central Constituency, Kisumu County.

Hon. Speaker, before we went on recess that we resumed from recently, we raised concerns about delayed responses to requested Statements and Questions. Consequently, you requested us to do letters to your Office so that you could see what to do about it. I did a letter dated 27th July which was delivered to your Office. These Statements have been pending, some since last year. I do not know what measures you can put in place so that we can expedite as a House. Sometimes, we ask these Questions to specifically address an emergent issue. If the response takes eight months to come, it will be overtaken by events. We need to find a way to expedite resolution of these matters on behalf of the people who sent us here to represent them.

Thank you.

Hon. Lotee, is it the same issue?

Yes, Hon. Speaker. I am rising on the same issue. Mine has been pending since 9th April. I remember that you asked us to do the statement which I did. Even last week, I asked the same question, and I was given assurance that it was going to be responded to. Unless something is done, we will not know when these Questions are going to be responded to.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

I directed that protest notes be forwarded to the Office of the Leader of the Majority Party. Hon. Owen Baya, you should check on them, compile a list and furnish it with reasons for the delay to the House on Thursday.

Much obliged, Hon. Speaker. We will do so on Thursday as you have requested. Thank you.

Excellent. Get your committee chairpersons who give responses to these Statements to also attend House Sittings. Some have responses but they do not come to the House to give them.

Next Order.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, this House adopts the Ninth Report of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services Administration and Agriculture on its examination of audited Financial Statements of the following State Corporations, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 2nd April 2026:

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to second the Ninth Report of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture on its consideration of the Auditor-General's report and the Financial Statements of nine State corporations.

One thing we observed in most of the State corporations we considered was the lack of land possession and ownership documents. Most of the land had been grabbed. Some land had been encroached upon, leading to litigation and costs borne by public funds. We asked the Departmental Committee on Lands to take up the issue of public land held by private entities and land without title deeds. We asked them to present a report with recommendations to this House. We also recommended that all public land be vested in the Ministry of National

The Members who want to discuss this Report can press the intervention button. Hon. Timothy Toroitich, Member for Marakwet West.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to comment on this very important Report. From the outset, I wish to thank Hon. Wangwe, the Chairman of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services Administration and Agriculture.

Looking at the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), the Report covers the Financial Years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. As a House, we must ensure these Reports are disposed of urgently because, between 2016 and 2026 - a 10-year period- a lot has happened at AFA. The law has changed, and regulations have been introduced. Therefore, we must find a way to expedite these particular Reports so events do not overtake them.

That said, one of the most important recommendations I have come across concerns the lack of ownership documents for parcels of land owned by State corporations. The Committee has observed that the lack of ownership documents, such as title deeds or other documents, has resulted in the grabbing of land belonging to these State corporations. We must take this matter seriously.

[The Temporary Speaker

(Hon. Martha Wangari)

in the Chair) Hon. Temporary Speaker, on the issue of non-compliance with the one-third basic salary rule, most staff of State corporations receive less than what the law provides. If employees of State corporations, as highlighted in this Report, receive salaries that do not comply with the one-third rule, those who lack integrity may resort to practices such as corruption. Therefore, those recommendations must be followed to the letter.

That said, this House has adopted many reports, but the question has always been: is there follow-up? We have a very important Committee in this House, the Committee on Implementation, chaired by my very good friend, Hon. Raphael Wanjala. It is a Committee of last resort in this House. It must ensure that adopted House reports and the relevant State departments, agencies, and the Executive fully implement recommendations. We must ensure

Very well, Member for Marakwet West. Actually, it is not the Standing Orders; it is the Constitution under Article 125. It gives not only the Committee but the whole House powers equal to those of the High Court of Kenya to issue summonses and do all that pertains thereto.

Member for Nambale, are you on this?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to support this particular Report by Hon. Wangwe, Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture. My colleague, the Member for Marakwet West, has raised the issue of implementation of resolutions passed by the House. I was also following the Report by Hon. Wangwe and I was surprised that we had a set of accounts that had been audited yet the audit report was being brought to the House covering the period from 2015 to date. It has taken almost seven years for these matters to come before the House, and even then, the House's resolutions are not being implemented. Therefore, it calls upon this Committee, led by Hon. Wangwe, a ranking Member of this House, to ensure that resolutions passed by the House are given equal force of law.

As you pointed out, Hon. Temporary Speaker, a House resolution has the same force as a High Court order. Why, then, are we having orders of the High Court stopping Motions in this House? Yet, as an arm of Government, we cannot have our own resolutions bringing the heads of parastatals to order. For instance, when staff breach the two-thirds rule, whereby one cannot have more than two-thirds of their salary committed, they may not have sufficient means of sustaining themselves, which could push them to resort to other means. My colleague pointed out practices such as corruption. At this particular moment, we are saying that our country needs to fight corruption. One way to do so is to ensure that the rules put in place for civil servants and others are followed. Therefore, I support the Committee’s Report and urge that it be fully implemented.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Very well. Hon. Members, there seems to be no more interest in this matter, so I will call upon the Mover to reply.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to appreciate my colleagues who have contributed to the issues raised by my Committee, particularly the issue raised by Hon. Timothy on implementation timelines. We must pursue the matter, especially now that the Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation is here. I wish my colleagues could push for it to come to the Floor so that, during the ongoing preparation of the Standing Orders, we can provide implementation timelines.

We have been given timelines for the report; we should also provide timelines for implementation. That would be a good thing, and I commend you, Hon. Timothy, for raising the matter. Thank you, Hon. Mulanya, for your support and input on this issue. Further Reports will incorporate your views. I thank you for that.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to reply. Thank you.

Very well, Hon. Wangwe. Hon. Members, I shall defer the putting of the Question on this specific Order. As has been communicated, the amendments to the Standing Orders for the 14th Parliament are ongoing. Hon. Members are free to write to the Procedure and House Rules Committee, including the Liaison Committee, as previously communicated. Next Order. (Putting the question deferred)

Chairperson, Special Funds Accounts Committee, Hon. Fatuma.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity. I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, this House adopts the Seventh Report of the Special Funds Accounts Committee on its consideration of the Report of the audited Financial Statements for the Land Settlements Fund for the Financial Years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 and the Railway Development Fund (Holding Account) for the Financial Years 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021 & 2021/2022, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 7th December 2023. In examining the audited accounts for the Land Settlement Fund (LSF) and the Railway Development Fund (Holding Account), the Committee received oral and written submissions from the Principal Secretary, State Department for Lands, and the Principal Secretary, State Department for Transport. These submissions related to the audited financial statements of the Land Settlement Fund for the financial years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022, and those of the Railway Development Fund for the financial years 2017/2018 to 2021/2022.

The submissions formed the basis of the Committee's observations, findings and recommendations. In preparing this Report, the Committee relied on the constitutional and legal provisions, including the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, and other enabling legislation, as the basis for inviting the Accounting Officers of the Land Settlement Fund and Railway Development Fund to respond to the issues raised by the Auditor-General and to make general recommendations.

After examining the audited reports, the Committee made the following general observations and recommendations, which apply to both Funds. The Committee observed long- outstanding receivables from exchange transactions. It recommends that, within six months of

Hon. Fatuma, ignore your neighbours. The Member for Kabuchai is really disrupting you.

He is really interfering. He is a Committee Member, and I think he is excited to be here. Hon. Temporary Speaker, please ask Hon. Wanjala to allow me to proceed. Thank you.

(Hon. Raphael Wanjala consulted Hon. Fatuma Mohammed)

I actually think he should move farther away from you. Continue

The Committee noted that the accounting officer’s submissions that they received, as per the summary of the budget versus actual performance figures, were erroneously posted to the statement and the correct amount was later stated below. The Committee recommends that, within three months of adopting the Report, the accounting officer submit an analysis of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) receipts that make up the Fund's total revenue. The accounting officer should also ensure that all applicable accounting and financial control system standards, laws, and procedures are followed in preparing the financial statement in accordance with the standard prescribed by the Public Accounts Standards Board, in compliance with Regulation 101(4) of the Public Finance Accounts Management Regulations.

In conclusion, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I wish to register my appreciation to the Offices of the Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Hon. Members of the Committee, the Parliamentary Liaison Office of the Auditor General, the National Treasury, and the Committee Secretariat for facilitating the work of the Committee and making the production of this Report possible.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Fatuma, you need to appoint a seconder. I already see a volunteer, but you need to say it on record.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I request Hon. Kalasinga, Member for Kabuchai, a Member of the Committee, to second.

Hon. Kalasinga.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The Committee took serious time to consider what was presented before it. What is key is to ensure that the Committee’s recommendations are strongly adhered to and implemented within the required timeframe.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to second.

Very well. (Question proposed) Hon. Member for Navakholo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to really applaud my very good friend and colleague. In another language, we say full network, but officially, the Member for Migori County. She has done a good job. The Report she submitted before the House enables us to see what is happening in our two Funds.

When the Railway Development Fund was established a couple of years ago, it seemed like a threat to Kenyans. Kenyans felt it was a burden. But today, we see it as an enabler for expanding our railway and better utilising it as infrastructure. Worldwide, railways are a major enabler. Railway lines enable the transportation of goods at lower costs, especially heavy machinery and items over longer distances. Therefore, the Executive is given such funds to spend. Their money is collected from Kenyans who feel the pain, because whenever one imports, they are charged the Railway Development Levy. We must hold the Executive to account so they explain how the money is used. Prudence and accountability enable Kenyans to feel at ease, however painful it is to be levied.

The Chair mentioned budgetary control. This is not budgeting for the sake of budgeting; we budget for what we are going to implement. An agency that gets budgeting and implementation right exercises a prudent approach to spending public resources. I thank my colleague because this Report is good. Let us approve it and ensure the Executive is held to account for how it spends the Railway Development Fund.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to speak to the issue of the Land Settlement Fund. This is a big issue because many Kenyans do not own land. They ought to be provided with land to live on. Article 43 of the Constitution provides for housing, apart from other socio- economic factors such as education and health. You cannot put up a house where you do not have land. You must own a house on a particular piece of land. A house should not necessarily be flashy. Whatever little house one owns, even if it is 10 by 10 feet and provides some shelter for them, is a house. Therefore, this Fund enables many Kenyans to settle on land and live somewhere they can call home. Therefore, as an oversight body or an oversight Committee, we should, as my good friend has shown us, look after the resources allocated to the Fund and see whether they are spent prudently. That is the right way to hold the Executive to account for whatever is made available to them.

With those very many remarks, I thank my colleague and really appreciate her. I support.

Very well. Hon. Mulanya.

I was not prepared for this.

Hon. Member for Tinderet. Are you on this? Do you know what is on the Floor? So, not on this order.

Very well. Hon. Owen.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I am happy to contribute and support the Report presented by the Women Representative of Migori and able Chairperson of the Committee. Audited financial statements for various funds are very important to this House. This is because, when we receive them on time, we can ensure funds are allocated for the next financial year.

One important thing I heard Hon. Fatuma speak about is the Settlement Fund Trust (SFT). Land is a factor of production. Apart from that, constitutionally, it is supposed to provide settlement. When we get settlement, we gain dignity and feel Kenyan like anyone else. For many years, the SFT has been there and has been used. I am happy that we now have a report on the SFT in this Parliament. SFT is supposed to run as a revolving fund. People take money to buy land and pay afterwards. The Government gets the money back, and we keep buying. Those of us from the Coast leverage SFT to buy land from absentee landlords who have held it for many years.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, my constituency and that of Hon. Ken Chonga have had land owned by absentee landlords for many years. These absentee landlords go to court, get court orders and come to demolish. The new Government programme on buying land from absentee landlords is a big relief to our constituents. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I request that as we do the budget, we need to allocate more funds so that the people of the Coast can, for the first time, own land.

Kenya got independence, and one reason we fought for it was to own our land. Independence was about three things. The Mau Mau and others fought for land so they could own what the colonisers had taken. They also fought for economic independence and political freedom. Those are the three things that our forefathers fought for. Other areas managed the three; they got political freedom, land and economic freedom, but the Coast, especially the 10- mile strip, missed one, which is land. This is because the colonial masters then and the First Government bequeathed that land to the Arabs who used to own the land.

It has been a struggle. We are an independent country, but we are still living on land that is not ours. This Settlement Fund Trustee (SFT) can give us reason to smile if there are enough resources to buy the land, compensate the absentee landlords, and give land to the people. This is why, Hon. Fatuma, who means well, I passionately request that, as you make this report, you please ask Hon. Atandi and his committee to allocate more money to this Settlement Fund Trustee (SFT). So, we can use that money to buy our freedom, because we are actually buying our freedom. We are still living on land that belongs to other people. My constituency has almost 60 per cent of the land we live on as squatters because people with long titles own it; the page is like two metres of that title.

We now have an opportunity through SFT, and when I say audited accounts of SFT, I want to know who has been given money and land bought for them; they need to pay. When they pay, we get more money to liberate other parts of the country that were not liberated because it is a revolving fund. Prudent use of that money is important; that is why that audited account is very important: to know those people who acquired land through SFT- have they paid? Have they discharged their land? When this money comes to the SFT account, how is it being used? Is it being used prudently such that we have enough money to buy land now for other Kenyans to settle on, or is it just being wasted? Those are the questions your Audit Committee should answer. In fact, put more emphasis on it. I want to see a newspaper headline that says, "SFT has reclaimed this money; this money has been repaid," so we know the repaid amount is enough to purchase land that other absentee landlords are still holding.

The President has a good plan to buy land for squatters, but if money is not coming in because people are holding a lot of money through SFT that the Government paid to acquire, for example, the Waitiki Land. Other lands that were also bought through SFT; the question is, are they repaying? How fast are they repaying? How efficient is the SFT Committee in ensuring

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Yes, you guys have land, huge plantations of sugarcane and many things. The people of the Coast are still squatters. You do not know what it is to be a squatter. It is to be a slave, a person without dignity, and to live in an independent country, but you live as a slave in your country. That is what it means to be a squatter. You cannot build a house.

Hon. Owen, you mentioned Hon. Kalasinga, and he was actually saying, "I support you." So, what is out of order, Hon. Kalasinga?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, you know very well I have a good heart, and when the people of the Coast are suffering, I cannot be happy.

I do.

Mimi nalinda mwananchi. The people of the Coast are suffering, and I fully support the Hon. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.

Finish up, Hon. Owen.

Thank you. I was telling my friend, Hon. Majimbo Kalasinga, and the House that being a squatter is an abuse of humanity. To be a squatter means you have no home. It means you own nothing. To be a squatter means that when someone in your family dies, you even have a problem with where he should be buried. If you live as a squatter, you are buried as a squatter, and your spirit, even in heaven, remains as a squatter spirit. We must end this issue of people being squatters, and SFT is the vehicle to do it. To live as a squatter is to live the most undignified life in this country. Therefore, I request that when budgets are being made, resources are being allocated, and we are mopping up resources, we put more money into liberating parts of this country that independence never liberated. One of them is the Coast Region, because those lands still belong to other people. Therefore, when I see audited accounts of SFT, I see a light; I know we are moving somewhere,

The question is, how well is that fund being used? How much more resources? Those people who benefited from it, are they paying? If they are paying, how is it revolving? Why is this revolving fund not buying more land for people? We wait for a Presidential directive to get more money. We must bring this SFT under scrutiny to know how much money is coming back and how much is being used for the right thing. I support that report and request this House to support it.

Mover to reply.

Thank you so much. The so-called Linda Mwananchi are so noisy. All this time, the Hon. Member here had a very emotional contribution. They decided not to let me listen. They have just been talking. I sympathise with you, but I thank all the Members who have contributed.

I also thank the Member of Parliament from Kilifi. I know this is really touching; one of the recommendations we made was to fast-track the resolution of the disputed land in Kilifi

Very well. We shall defer putting of the Question on this Motion. Members, before the next Order, allow me to recognise, in the Speaker's Gallery, learners and teachers from Kipkabus Downs Junior School from Keiyo South Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

We welcome them to observe the proceedings of the House. (Putting the question deferred) Next Order.

Chairperson of the Departmental

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to thank the substantive Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Energy for giving me this opportunity to move this Motion. I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Energy on its consideration of Sessional Paper No. 5 of 2026 on the National Energy Policy, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 2nd July 2026 and approves Sessional Paper No. 5 of 2026 on the National Energy Policy. The National Energy Policy, 2025 replaces the National Energy Policy of 2018. It will guide the energy sector for the next 10 years. It covers electricity generation, transmission and distribution, renewable energy, clean cooking, energy efficiency and new technologies such as

Hon. David Gikaria, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me take this opportunity to thank the Member for Nambale Constituency, who is a very resourceful and dedicated member of the Committee, and a lawyer by profession. Sessional Paper No. 5 of 2026 deals with matters to do with energy. With the support from the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Secretariat, we have had an opportunity to go through this Sessional Paper in detail and present a Policy that will be used for the coming ten years. Energy, as it is understood, is right at the core of the economic transformation of any country.

This Policy is a very significant milestone, in the ongoing transformation towards a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient energy future. Sometimes just having energy is not enough. We also need to look at the affordability of energy. Expensive energy will not transform the economy by the percentages that we expect. We recognise that reliable, competitive, affordable and clean energy access to all Kenyans is essential for realising our national development aspirations. The current administration, led by His Excellency President William Samoei Ruto, has an ambitious programme of over 10,000 megawatts (MW) of energy generation per day. That is a very clear indication that as a country, as we talk about our journey to Singapore, we cannot do this without having reliable, competitive, affordable and clean energy.

When you talk about clean energy, we look at matters to do with the environment. Kenya being a supporter of green energy, with geothermal energy being the biggest contributor of the energy in our country at almost 80 per cent, speaks volumes. When the President became the Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), and we held a summit here, it was key that we also need to take care of the global warming issues. Kenya has gone a step forward to achieve this.

Over the years, Kenya has made remarkable strides in expansion of electricity access, with the majority of its population now connected to electricity. It is on record and supported by facts, that for the last four years, this administration has been able to connect an additional four million consumers to the national grid. However, the challenges remain. These challenges are particular to rural areas, where access remains limited with lower levels of clean cooking options. The Policy aims to address these gaps, laying the foundation for an inclusive energy transformation that is centred on renewable resources, energy efficiency, and promotion of innovative technologies. Kenya has not been left behind on matters to do with innovative energy technologies.

This Policy is grounded on Kenya’s commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG7 that speaks about affordable and clean energy. The Policy aligns with our global climate commitment, including the Paris Agreement and the nationally determined contribution. It is on this nationally determined contribution that Kenya plays a role on matters to do with climate change by prioritising renewable energy resources, advancing the adoption of clean cooking solutions, enhancing electrification, enhancing emerging technologies and promoting energy efficiency. This Policy is set to clear a path towards ensuring that Kenya has access to reliable and sustainable energy.

This Government is committed to supporting implementation of this Policy through strategic partnership. As a country, we cannot be able to do these things alone so we have committed to bring on board other partners for resource mobilization and innovation. This framework enables transformation by ensuring that energy plays its rightful role as a catalyst for economic growth and socioeconomic development in this country.

Hon. Owen Baya.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to support the Motion on the Session Paper No. 5 of 2026 on the National Energy Policy. (Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo spoke off the record) I also welcome Hon. Oundo to listen carefully so that he knows that this government is working. He has a problem. He has not pushed the government enough to connect electricity to his people. Most of them live in darkness as they do not have electricity. They cannot watch television and hear him. It is even a problem to charge their phones.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, this policy framework represents a comprehensive and forward-looking blueprint designed to guide Kenya's energy sector over the next 10 years. It succeeds previous legal regimes, building on the significant milestones we have achieved as a nation. It is worth noting that Kenya has made significant strides towards ensuring that the whole country is covered by electricity. Not everyone has been covered, but significant strides have been made. This administration has connected over four million people to electricity in a period of three years. We have not covered the whole country yet, but significant milestones have been made. There are plans, not just plans but intentions, to ensure that we put electricity in every home under this administration.

Waswahili walisema, ‘chanda chema huvishwa pete’. I want to thank Hon. Gikaria, who has presided over the Committee in both the 12th Parliament and this Parliament, for a

That has actually happened severally. I was going to say you will confuse our learners at the Public Gallery.

I want to confirm that the person sitting on the Speaker’s Chair is a Madam Speaker.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the other pillar in this policy is promoting competitive energy procurement and pricing to bring down the cost of power for households and industries. This is one of the pillars that we aim to promote in this policy on competitive energy procurement. I remember when Hon. Kawaya was the Chair of the Energy Committee, he had to deal with the dragon of energy pricing, especially the energy got through diesel generators. We can remember that.

I need five more minutes to finish. I request that I be given more time so that I can finish my contribution on this policy.

You cannot take more time than the Mover and the Seconder. You will have an extra one minute.

One minute is not enough, but let me try. We need to procure better. Sometimes these energy producers fleece this country. We need to reign on independent power producers. If we must achieve energy sufficiency that is better priced and affordable to Kenyans, we must reign in on independent power producers to bring down the cost of energy so that we actually achieve the things that this policy is talking about.

Mainstreaming energy transmission, green industrialisation and absolute environmental and social sustainability is one other key pillar in this policy. You know, I was one of the people who had an opportunity to have a talk about nuclear energy. The producers of nuclear energy came to my county and constituency and the county said no. I hear it is now in Nyanza. What is our thought as a country about nuclear energy? What is our thought as a country about other sources of energy? How are we investing? How are we transitioning from petrol? I like the idea of what the President said. We need to invest more in electric cars and electric motorcycles. How are we transitioning to such energy levels? We have seen in other countries where people are reducing the use of petroleum fuels and moving into other biofuels and other energy products. How are we transitioning? Are we going to be stuck in the old systems of energy, or are we going to transition into new systems of energy? Energy transition and mainstreaming are very important. But, above all, how are we protecting our environment by ensuring that we use the right sources of energy? These are some of the key pillars, as well as enhancing institutional capacity, governance and seamless collaborative frameworks across the entire sector. These are very important things.

Without proper governance of the energy sector, we are going to kill the energy sector in this country. Proper governance: How is the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) being governed? How is Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) being governed? How is Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) being governed? How are we addressing the issues of governance within the energy sector? It is one of the key pillars of this. We are saying, as a country, we need to mainstream governance, ensure there is no corruption in the energy sector and ensure there is proper governance in the energy sector to achieve the milestones that we want to make.

Having said all those many things, and I think that the light is red, if you allow me, that one minute has not been given to me. But if they give it to me now, I will say this: This policy successfully aligns Kenya with global energy trends by integrating electric mobility, smart

You have made your point. I already gave you the extra minute, Hon. Owen. Allow me to indulge the Member for Funyula to make his contribution.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The Deputy Leader of the Majority Party is a friend of mine. We normally have a banter once in a while, and I am surprised that he also does not have electricity in his area, yet he said it is only people from Funyula who do not have it. Pure contradiction. That is inimical to this wretched regime.

I also stand here to support the Committee Report on its review of Sessional Paper No. 5 of 2026 on the National Energy Policy 2025. Energy is central to economic development, is central to social development and, indeed, it promotes better welfare for the people of Kenya. This country has a bit of a contradiction, and I want to pick those contradictions directly from the Report and the Sessional Paper. This country, when you look at page one of the Sessional Paper, shows that Kenya's total installed electricity capacity as of June 2025 was 3,081 MW against a peak demand of 2,316 MW. That is where the paradox comes from, and this belies what we have always believed: that there is excess power in this country. So, it becomes a bit self-defeating and interesting that, when we go to page five of the same policy, it says that by 2025, the national electricity access rate was approximately 75 per cent, with 90 per cent and 68 per cent access in urban and rural areas, respectively. I represent a rural constituency, and therefore my concern is the 68 per cent connectivity in a rural constituency.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, if connection to energy is a basic human right, why do we only have 68 per cent access in rural areas 60 years since Independence? This statistic of 68 per cent could be more or less correct. When I became the Member of Parliament for Funyula Constituency in 2017, only about 18 per cent of the households in the constituency were connected to electricity. Through the good work of President Uhuru Kenyatta, I managed to improve that connectivity to about 50 per cent. At the time, the typical cost of a scheme was about Ksh5 million. In this regime, which my good friend Hon. Baya is the chief choir master, a single scheme now goes for almost Ksh12 million. Hon. Gikaria and those of us who were here know. This means the rate of connectivity in our rural areas has reduced considerably. Even if we use the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) Matching Fund Program, we can only do one project each year. Each constituency is allocated only Ksh5 million in the Matching Fund Program. The number of connections that can be done with this amount become a challenge.

I appreciate the issue of strategic objectives raised here. We hope to achieve universal electricity access by 2030. Chair, Hon. Gikaria, I pray and hope to God we will be here in 2030. By then, I want the entire Kenya to be connected to electricity. Many development economics will tell you that the measures of development are electricity connectivity, diversifying the energy mix and prioritising renewable energy sources while ensuring energy security and grid stability. Allow me to deal with the issue of grid stability. In Busia County, whenever the wind blows or there are signs of rain, power goes off completely. We can go three to four days without power. In Busia, power seems to have a very negative relationship with rain. When we asked, we were told the grid is old, outdated and cannot sustain the demand we require.

The second issue we need to look at is renewable energy sources. Over the years, we have promoted solar energy. Indeed, quite a number of homesteads have solar energy. But we

Hold on, Hon. Oundo. What is out of order Hon. Gikaria? Are you on a point of order or a point of information?

It is a point of information, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. (Dr) Oundo, do you want to be informed?

He is a good, honest and sincere man. I would wish to be adequately and comprehensively informed by him. Thank you.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I appreciate Hon. (Dr) Oundo. The Sessional Paper No. 5 on the National Energy Policy 2026 is available in our offices up here, and you can get it. When we delve deeper into the document, it addresses the matters he has raised. Yes, we have noticed issues regarding innovation and technology, particularly with solar energy; it does not last, and that is why the lights are off by 7 p.m. However, we now have storage batteries. After the sun sets, we can store enough energy in those batteries that can be switched on afterwards. This is the information I wanted to pass to Hon. (Dr) Oundo.

Yes, please wind up.

Allow me to receive the information with gratitude.

I will give you a minute.

Indeed, the same problem exists with solar energy. Those of us who have operated solar-powered pumps…

On a point of order.

Hon. Chonga, Hon. (Dr) Oundo hardly received the information. What is out of order?

Thank you. To be very honest, we are discussing a very serious subject. Is it in order for Hon. Oundo to mention the next government of Linda Mwananchi? What is Linda Mwananchi in the first place? He seems to imply that it is a government that will perform better than the current government.

Hon. Ken Chonga, that is a point of debate, and you are allowed to dream. You may even say when you become the president next year; it is up to you. Hon. Members, I do not want us to stifle each other's aspirations, as this is a House of debate. Unless something is utterly out of order.

Yes, Hon. Owen.

I want to support Hon. Ken Chonga. You see, dreams are valid. However, dreams must also have a foundation or a pedestal of sorts. Linda Mwananchi have lost the party. They have lost the slogan. They have no ideas.

Order, Hon. Members. Hon. Owen, it can actually be you saying you are the president next year; it is within your rights. I do not think there is anything out of order. Hon. (Dr) Oundo, you have one minute.

As I was saying, we need to be brutally honest. It is very embarrassing that someone has to walk for two kilometres to find somewhere to charge a phone. It is very embarrassing that someone cannot iron a shirt to look clean while walking around simply because he cannot connect to electricity. That is why it must be a top priority for us to achieve the target set here by 2030 to ensure universal connectivity by whatever means—be it solar, off-grid, or main grid. I can assure the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party not to worry. When he mentions Linda Mwananchi, my heart warms up. Thank you.

Hon. Naisula.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I was also intending to raise a point of order to urge my colleagues not to let the time for this session end before I contribute to this very important Motion by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Energy. I commend my good friend, Hon. Gikaria and his committee, for bringing this Sessional Paper No. 5 of 2026. I believe it is a very important document. I have gone through various issues within it, and as I mentioned earlier, this is the third or fourth time I have brought a statement to inquire about power in Samburu County, specifically in Samburu West Constituency.

Hon. Temporary, we have to be very careful with these Sessional Papers. We are aware of previous Sessional Papers that were brought way back, that marginalised some of the communities and counties. I have read through this Sessional Paper, and there are some very important issues. I will talk about issues of implementation. Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Gikaria, this can look very good on paper: the aspirations of Linda Mwananchi or the current regime, but the raia just need power. At the end of the day, it is as simple as that.

I just want to say a thing or two about the other Sessional Papers that have marginalised areas on energy matters. For example, when we had the Last Mile Connectivity Project, people assumed that Samburu and other areas had sunlight; we used to install solar in schools, hospitals and other public institutions while the rest of the country got electricity from the main grid. And since the Last Mile Connectivity Project provided that any household within 600 metres of an electricity connection would be connected to power, connecting a public institution to solar meant that the solar power would not benefit any other households. The solar power was only installed for that particular institution.

I remember when that policy was brought to this House, I opposed it. I have tried to read through and I hope we are not doing that anymore in this Sessional Paper, because you will be marginalising the same places based on assumptions. People just assume that those areas are sunny. What about the days when there is no sun in those areas? We do not want to have any Sessional Papers that continue to marginalise some areas while others keep moving forward.

The other reason I would like to comment on this Sessional Paper is because of power supply and monopoly. This issue with Kenya Power, some call it “Kenya Power and Lightning”- because they fear that any time there is rain in any town, there will be a problem. We have talked about monopoly for a long time. The same way His Excellency the President has been bold in addressing some of the policies in this country is the same way we should address the issue of the monopoly of Kenya Power. We have witnessed the entire country

Very well. Hon. Ruweida, are you on this? Kindly note that you contribute for five minutes as had been allowed before. (Hon. David Gikaria spoke off the record) There is no one on the Floor, Hon. Gikaria. You can give the information as you reply. Hon. Ruweida.

Ahsante, Mhe Spika wa Muda. Ningependa kumpongeza Mwenyekiti kwa kutoa maneno muhimu kama haya. Nimesoma Ripoti hiyo ila sijamaliza yote. Mwenzangu Mhe. Lesuuda amezungumza maneno ya ukweli kwamba mpaka sasa kuna sehemu nyingine ambapo wadi nzima haina stima. Hata katika shule, hakuna hata solar. Katika wadi ya Basuba kule kwangu, Chairman anafaa kujua kwamba wadi nzima mpaka, zikiwemo shule na zahanati hazina stima.

Pia naona Kamati imezingatia mambo ya wakazi wa visiwa vya bahari kwa sababu majenereta ni kazi sana. Kwa mfano, kule Faza Ward tuna jenereta ambayo tunatumia kwa stima na kila mwezi matatizo hayakosekani. Wakati wa jua zaidi ndipo jenereta huharibika zaidi. Tumekuwa tukigawanyiwa stima, mara mji huu unapata mara huu haupati. Siku zote imekuwa Mbunge ni maswali hapa Bungeni kuhusu jenereta. Natarajia kwamba hii Sessional Paper itakuwa imetibu haya matatizo yote ambayo sisi tunapata.

Wakenya wameunganishwa kwa mambo kadhaa. Mojawapo ni National Grid, nikisema kwa lugha ya kimombo. Sisi, Lamu Mashariki, hatujaunganishwa na Wakenya kwasababu eneo Bunge lote hakuna laini ya National Grid hata inchi moja. Chairman, ningependa nisikie vizuri kwa hivyo naomba uzingatie matarajio yangu. Kumekuwa na ubaguzi sana hapa Bungeni hasa kwa bajeti upande wa Energy. Ubaguzi unaofanywa ni kuwa tutahakikisha kwenye bajeti hapa tunaenda mbio lakini utaona katika hiyo bajeti eneo Bunge moja limepata milioni mia nne na hamsini na eneo Bunge langu, Lamu Mashariki, ipate milioni nne peke yake. Haya ni matatizo sugu ambayo yamekuwa hapa. Wale tumekuwa nyuma, tumeendelea kuwa nyuma na hii ndio sisi tunategemea angalau tuunganishe na wengine kwa hii stima.

Kuna mradi umekuja kule Lamu Mashariki wa Kenya Off-Grid Solar Access Project (KOSAP) kwenye visiwa vya Ndau, Kiwayu na Mkokoni. Lakini huo mradi umechukua muda. Contractor amekuja akanusa tu na kuondoka, hajarudi. Chairman, najua kuna matatizo mengi na kwa sababu tumepata nafasi wacha tukuambie. Tumekuwa tukikuelezea kwamba tuangalie na sehemu nyingine. Najua wewe ni muungwana na ni matarajio yangu kwamba wewe na Kamati mumefanya kazi nzuri kuleta hii Sessional Paper na ndio itatatua matatizo yetu.

Ahsante Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Thank you. There seems to be no more interest on this Motion. I will call the Mover to reply.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to thank Members who have contributed to this, Hon. Owen Baya, Hon. Oundo, Hon. Naisula and Hon. Ruweida. I encourage Members to support the Government on this. This is because the paper outlines government policy and provides a roadmap on where we need the country to be in the next ten years, in terms of energy production and distribution.

You noted from the debate that energy is core in the contributions of every Member who has contributed. I am sure it is also core to those who have not contributed. As they say, for any country to move forward, energy is the key enabler of the economy. That is why we must thank this government. This is because in just four years they have come up with this Sessional Paper to provide a roadmap on where we need to be as a nation. This is what Hon. Owen Baya pointed out to Hon. Oundo who is my neighbour. Hon. Oundo maybe just failed to point out to the House that he has benefited in electricity distribution from my county to his constituency in the last four years, more than he did in the last five years.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

There is a point of order from the Member for Funyula. He has been mentioned.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, my young brother is completely out of order. First, he was not here in the 12th Parliament and, therefore, does not know what happened. Second, the electricity projects we have gotten this term cannot be comparable to the ones we got last term. Let him not delude himself trying to defend what is not defendable. Let him just reply. Yes, we have moved from 18 per cent to about 60 per cent, and I thank God for my effort in this House. In any case, it is not me who has benefitted. Those projects have gone to taxpayers. It is not me. He needs to put it very clearly.

You have made your point.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

There is nothing out of order, Member for Trans Nzoia.

There is.

What is out of order? (Hon. Owen Baya spoke off the record) Hon. Owen Baya, you will not do the Speaker’s job. What is out of order?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I felt like he was out of order because we cannot do a comparison of four years against ten years.

What ten years?

He is talking about the previous government…

Hon. Members, you know this is a House of debate. I am being very patient. I have listened to Hon. Mulanya who has made Hon. Oundo to respond to last term. If I heard him right, he said that his last term compared to this term is different. That is what I heard him say.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

What is out of order, Hon. Naisula? I do not want us to make points of debate controversial when they are not.

No, Hon. Temporary Speaker. It is out of order that we are starting debate afresh. What we need to hear from the Mover of the Motion is a reply by giving concrete solutions on this matter. What was being brought up here is not a joke and it is also not politics. We have politicised it for too long. We want to know what this Sessional Paper will solve on the issues that have been raised here by Members. Otherwise, we will waste time while we still have not heard answers to our questions.

Hon. Mulanya, kindly reply. The idea of a reply is to listen to your colleagues’ contribution…

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I was just responding to my neighbour…

Order, Hon. Mulanya. You are supposed to listen to your colleagues’ contributions, respond, and say whether there is anything that can be done to improve your proposal. That is the idea of a reply. Any Member is allowed to make reference to their constituencies. It is in order.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The Sessional Paper raises nine key points that address the issues that my colleagues have debated on. One of the key things that Members have raised on the Floor of the House is constant power blackouts. This is caused by aging electricity lines. The Sessional Paper states that going forward we need to address this by replacing the ageing network. This will enable us to have a reliable power supply in the entire country.

The Sessional Paper also addresses the issue of electric mobility (e-mobility). My colleagues will note that, a few months ago during the Iran-America War, we had problems because of our reliance on petroleum products for movement. So, when the Paper talks about e-mobility, it means that we must have reliable power supply in the country. We can then have electric vehicles, electric motorbikes and other automobiles so that in future, when we have similar incidences to the Strait of Hormuz situation, we are not gagged down by not having fuel for the country to move forward.

The issue of clean cooking was also started by this Government. We are saying that the State Department for Energy is giving a roadmap on where they want us to be. In rural areas, especially, our people still use charcoal and firewood, which are not clean cooking methods. We are therefore stating in the Sessional Paper that we need to move forward to ensure that our mothers, brothers and sisters in the rural areas can access clean cooking methods. This can only be done if we have a stable supply, generation and distribution of power which we are talking about.

With those few remarks, and before I reply, I wish to donate one minute to my Chairman.

You are totally out of order. Hon. Members, please refer to your Standing Orders. If you want to donate time, you should do it before you reply. Reply, Member for Nambale.

(Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo and Hon. Naisula Lesuuda consulted loudly) Order, Hon. Members. You should also realise that you cannot donate time to a Member who has already spoken to this matter. It is totally out of order. Member for Nambale.

Yes, thank you.

Could you reply? Are you on record?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

With those few remarks, I beg to reply.

Hon. Members, allow me to defer putting of the question on this Motion to a later appointed date. (Putting the question deferred) Next Order.

This Bill is to be moved by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Labour. Hon. Chairpersons, allow me to recognise that today, you have done very well, including the Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation who is still waiting for his Order to be read out. Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Labour.

I always carry out my responsibilities very well. I know you know that.

Hon. Chonga, do not take us back to last week. I think the Speaker already prosecuted that problem. So, kindly move.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the County Assembly Services (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No. 34 of 2023) be now read a Second Time. The Bill was read a First Time in the House on Tuesday, 27th May 2025 and was thereafter committed to the Committee in line with Standing Order 127(1). The Bill seeks to amend the County Assemblies Services Act No. 24 of 2027 to clarify the procedure for removal of a member of a County Assembly Service Board. Additionally, the Bill proposes to provide a procedure for the suspension of a Clerk of the County Assembly, taking into account principles of fair administrative action. In this respect, the Bill proposes to set out the pendency of suspension. Further, the Bill seeks to ensure that the Clerk of a County Assembly exercises effective control over the staff of the Assembly in order to ensure efficient running of the respective legislatures.

In compliance with Article 118(1)(b) of the Constitution and Standing Order 127(3), the Committee placed an advert in the print media on 24th June 2025, inviting the public to submit memoranda by way of written statements on the Bill. The memoranda were to be received on or before 4th July 2025 at 5 p.m., East African time. In addition, the Committee by letter Reference No. NA/DDC/LAB/2025/025, dated 23rd July 2025, requested the key stakeholders to share their written memoranda by Friday, 1st August 2025. By the close of the submission deadline, the Committee had received three written memoranda. The Kenyan Law Reform Commission (KLRC), the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) and the Society of the Clerks at the Table (SOCCAT) in the Kenyan legislature gave their views on the Bill, which the Committee considered and it is contained in Part 3 of the Report.

Before I provide the findings of the Departmental Committee, allow me to give a brief overview of the Bill for Members’ guidance. The Bill contains eight clauses. Clause 1 provides the Short Title, which is the County Assembly Services (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No. 34 of 2023). Clause 2 proposes to insert the word “administrative” after “procedural” to ensure

Hon. Wanjala, you know you are out of order. Continue, Hon. Chonga.

Thank you Hon. Temporary Speaker. Hon. Wanjala is like that.

Very well. Hon. Siyoi.

Thank you for giving me the chance. I congratulate my Chair and fellow members of the Committee for going through the Bill. We found out that this is a very good Bill to support because we have seen the manner in which Clerks and Speakers are handled. I might quote the example of how the Speaker of Nyamira was removed from office. He was removed in a very awkward and wrong manner. I think he even went into depression. If you remember, he even formed another Chamber in his house. Just to be fair to officers in office such as Clerks, Speakers and even members of boards, it is important to have procedures through which they can be removed. We sat down, listened to the proposer and realised that the clauses that my Chair has just read out are prudent to be adopted. In that case, I second the Bill.

Very well. (Question proposed) Member of Nambale?

I am not on this.

Not on this. Member for Funyula, are you on this? (Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo spoke off the record) Hon. Owen.

Thank you. I stand to support the Bill as moved by Hon. Ken Chonga. The devolved unit space has a lot of legislation that must be enacted to align things so that they are properly done. Removal of Speakers, Clerks, CECMs and Governors, and chaos are among the things we have seen. That space requires some neatness. It is not neat yet. I think this Bill brings that neatness.

Hon. Ken Chonga, having moved the Bill and brought it to the House, will guarantee safety of officers who work in assemblies and particularly county assemblies. Sometimes the removal of certain senior officers in county assemblies including the Speaker, the Clerk and other staff is very untidy. Sometimes it is done maliciously and in such a way that brings chaos. I think this Bill will bring sanity and order to that space. That is what we need.

This Chamber has survived many years. It has been there for many years. This House has existed for many years. The Senate is a recent addition but I am yet to see them move a

That was in Nyamira.

Yes, it was Nyamira. Nyamira County was running two parallel assemblies and an MCA could choose which assembly to attend. You wonder whether this is Kenya. The county assemblies must learn from this House as it has ensured that law and order prevails. We do have our own ups and downs but we always respect the Speaker, the Clerk, the Mace and our Standing Orders. We must bring that order to the county assemblies. The National Assembly is ready to midwife such a transition.

Thank you, Hon. Ken Chonga, Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Labour, for trying to bring order to the county assemblies. May God bless you and may the people of Kilifi South look at you with favourable eyes in the next election.

Very well. Let us have Hon. Oundo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I am sorry, I was looking for the Bill. I had read it earlier on and noted some comments but I cannot see it. I rise to support the County Assembly Services (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No. 34 of 2023), which sets out procedures for the removal of the Clerk and members of the County Service Board. I also want to implore the Senate, our parallel House, to fast-track our Bills. They told us not to call them “the junior House”. While we go out of our way to expeditiously review and process their Bills, our Bills stall in the Senate. They do not move at all. We are legislating for Kenyans. It is not about sibling rivalry. We will pass this Bill and it will be assented to.

I also want to join my colleagues who have stated that what happens in the county assemblies is a terrible embarrassment to democracy, which probably has to do with the quality of those who, fortunately or unfortunately, get elected to those county assemblies. They still treat the county assemblies like county councils or kanjos to the extent that there is no law and order. It is about goonism and unbridled use of force.

The Bill seems too descriptive and verbose. Some of the issues being legislated in the Bill could be included in the Standing Orders. We should amend the Bill during the Committee of the whole House because some of the set-out procedures are unnecessarily too long to be included in a Bill. They should be in the Standing Orders of the respective county assemblies. For example, the Bill provides that once a petition is received, the Speaker shall report it to the Assembly within seven days. Upon reporting the petition, the Speaker shall refer it to a Select Committee of the County Assembly to investigate the matter.

Even our Parliamentary Service Commission Act does not contain all these elaborate procedures. Those matters are provided for in the Standing Orders. We would therefore request the Committee to consider a bipartisan approach to the amendments to avoid such provisions and make the process much easier. The same applies to the removal of a member of the County Service Board. The procedures involving an advocate, investigations and other such requirements do not apply to a constitutional office. These are offices held by virtue of a statute. Therefore, there is no need to provide such an elaborate process in an Act of Parliament.

Another amendment I have included here, in Clause 8, is to amend Section 25 of the principal Act by adding a provision on secondment. A member of the Board can be seconded elsewhere while retaining their benefits. In essence, I hope and believe that once the Bill is cleaned up, it will meet the standards of the National Assembly. Sometimes Bills that come from the Senate have challenges. When they come here, since we have the technical capacity, we must clean them up so that when they become law they reflect the quality required.

Allow me to make a few general comments on the issue of county assemblies. The Constitution of Kenya mandates the county assemblies to oversee the county governments, including the county executives. Now that the clerk and the speaker have some security of

Hon. Members, I do not see any more interest in this Bill. Hon. Chonga, reply.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. First of all, let me take this opportunity to appreciate the seconder and all the Members who have participated in debating this Bill. There are many cases where we witnessed indiscipline in our county assemblies. One such case has just been mentioned by Hon. Owen Baya. We have the case of Mandera, which turned very ugly. It almost turned fatal.

As Hon. Oundo has said, such incidents give a very bad image locally and internationally. The time has come for us to ensure that that the county assemblies operates with the level of dignity that is upheld by this House. They have rules of the House just like we do. It is timely that all the rules pertaining to the conduct of the business of an assembly, including matters of discipline, are properly provided for and adhered to.

With those remarks, I reply.

Hon. Members, I defer putting the question to an appropriate time. (Putting the question deferred) Next Order.

Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation, Hon. Wanjala.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move: THAT, this House adopts the Third Report of the Select Committee on Implementation on status of Reports on Petitions and Resolutions passed by the House, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 5th December 2024. The Committee on Implementation is established pursuant to Standing Order 209 of the National Assembly Standing Orders. The Committee is mandated to scrutinize and track resolutions of the House, including adopted Committee reports, petitions and undertakings by the National Executive. In addition, the Committee is required to ascertain whether such decisions and undertakings are implemented within the prescribed timelines and where delays or non-implementation arise, they ensure that satisfactory explanations are furnished. Standing Order 201 provides that within 60 days of a resolution of the House or the adoption of a Report of a Select Committee, the relevant Cabinet Secretary shall submit to the appropriate Committee a report outlining the status of implementation of the resolution.

Consistent with Article 153(4)(b) of the Constitution, Cabinet Secretaries are obligated to provide Parliament with full and regular reports on matters under their respective dockets. The Committee on Implementation, therefore, plays a central role in ensuring that resolutions

Hon. Mulanya.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Having listened to the Chair of the Committee on Implementation, I wish to second the Motion. The issues raised by the Chair, particularly lack of funding, are curtailing the efforts of both the Committee and state agencies. This afternoon, issues were raised regarding the implementation of reports and resolutions of this House. Our duty is to exercise oversight, and oversight must go hand-in-hand with implementation of what we deliberate upon. It would be futile for us to deliberate, spend hours debating matters and arrive at resolutions, only for those resolutions not to be implemented.

At the same time, if we require state agencies to implement our recommendations without providing them with adequate budgetary allocations, we create an impediment to their work. They are left with reports but without the resources to implement them. As you have heard from the Chair, some matters remain pending for as long as 10 years. For instance, where the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is required to investigate and prosecute a matter involving forensic evidence, when you spend more time with the reports, the delays can allow the same culprit that you are investigating to destroy the evidence that would otherwise be used in the prosecution of the offence.

There is also the issue of Pan Paper Mills, which has been raised in the report. As a Member from the Western Region, I know that many people, including some from my constituency, worked for Pan Paper Mills. Since they lost their employment, many of them have never been paid their dues. A report was submitted to the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning for consideration of a public petition on payment of terminal dues to former employees of Pan Paper Mills Limited. The Committee had recommended that the government, through the National Treasury, provide funds within the 2017/2018 financial year to settle the terminal dues owed to the former employees but the recommendation has not been implemented to date. We are now in 2026. As a legal practitioner, I know that when a court makes a decision, there must be a mechanism of enforcing it. Ultimately, a person who has gone to court seeking justice must be able to enjoy the benefit of that decision through enforcement, whether by an auctioneer or the police. However, we have a situation where resolutions and decisions of this House have not been implemented.

There is also the issue of title deeds, as raised by the Chair. Under the law, the person who acquires the first title obtains an irrevocable title. We could therefore reach a situation where we lose public land, not because nobody cares but because of our own laxity and our failure to provide the necessary resources to support the Committee and the relevant state agencies.

With those few remarks, I second the Motion.

(Question proposed)

Hon. Owen, you have the Floor. Get to your seat as quickly as possible.

Why have I been given the Floor?

Deputy Leader of Majority Party, the reason as to why I have given you the Floor is because earlier on this afternoon, the issue of no-implementation of resolution of this House arose. Honourable Members, including the Leader of the Majority Party, raised many questions on the non-implementation of Petitions and Resolutions of the House. So, before the House now is a Motion on a very important Report.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to thank the Chairman for moving two important Reports. I congratulate him and his Committee. I served in that Committee with him during the 12th Parliament. It is a very important Parliamentary committee. It is actually a very powerful Committee. It is one of the Committees that our Standing Orders stipulates very clearly that they must be headed by Members from the opposition or the minority side of the House.

In looking at implementation of House resolutions, there are many resolutions that this House passes. The resolutions are not passed in vain. It is understood that Parliament does not act in vain. Everything that is approved by Parliament must be implemented to the latter. Anybody who does not implement the resolutions of Parliament must face the wrath of the Committee that is chaired by the Member for Budalang’i.

The Member for Budalangi did something very good for me. There was a time when we passed a resolution in this House on the issue of Baricho water and it was not followed up for implementation. There were resolutions on solarization and power tariffs. The resolutions were partly implemented because the Committee took interest in them. It actually visited the place and asked why they had not implemented the resolutions. I want to report to the Chairman today that solarization has been done. That is how powerful this Committee is. In fact, it will be in the best interest of the Committee to visit Baricho today and see the fruits of its work. The Committee will confirm that solarization has been done. What we are waiting for is the reduction of the tariff on energy. The component of solarization has been done. That is how powerful this House Committee is.

Many Committee Reports are passed in this House and Members imagine that because a Report has been passed, it is the end of it. The chairpersons of the Committees never follow up the matter in terms of informing the Chairman of Implementation Committee that their resolutions have not been implemented, and that the Committee should kindly follow up. That is how Members of Parliament ought to work. We bring to the House Committee Reports, Petitions and requests for Statements, and people make promises. When they do so, we sit down assuming that we have achieved something. However, we do not achieve anything until the resolutions are implemented. We spend Parliament resources on them. The Committee that does the follow-up on behalf of this House is the one led by Hon. Wanjala. As I commend Hon. Wanjala for the good job that he is doing, I also want to call upon Members of this House to follow up on their reports. When they are not implemented, they should go to the Chairman and ask him to follow up.

I also remember another thing that Hon. Wanjala did for me because I follow up on issues. When we passed the resolution on restoration and revival of the Kenya Cashew Nuts Factory in Kilifi, it was passed here and resolutions were made. I followed up the matter. Hon. Wanjala and his team visited and inspected the factory. They asked very tough questions as to why that resolution of Parliament had not been implemented. I said, yes, this is the power of Parliament. That is why we need to change the way we do things. We do not just pass resolutions for the sake of saying, “You presented something.” Has that which you brought to this House been implemented? If it has not, Parliament has provided a way through which you can enforce the implementation of that resolution.

Hon. Wanjala, I thank you, and I want to thank the Members who followed up with you. I want to urge other Members of this House that every time this House resolved on an

Hon. Members, this debate will continue. This is a very important Report. I hope the debate will continue in the next sitting.

Hon. Members, the time being 7.00