Thursday, 26th April 2018

Members, we do not have the required quorum and, therefore, I order that the Bell be rung for 10 minutes.

Order Members. We seem to have the required quorum and, therefore, we will begin business.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table of the House today Thursday, 26th April 2018, Morning Sitting:

The Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) of Kathiani Constituency for the year ended 30th June 2016, and the certificate therein.

Estimates of Recurrent and Development Expenditure of the Parliamentary Service Commission for the year ending 30th June 2019 and projections for 2019/2020 – 2021.

The Insolvency (General Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2018 and Explanatory Memorandum pursuant to Section 730 of the Insolvency Act 2015.

Very well. Let us have the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House today Thursday, 26th April, 2018:

The Report of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations on the consideration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) , the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) , the East African Community (EAC) and South African Development Community (SADC) tripartite free trade area agreements.

Very well. Next Order.

A certified version of this Report

On this particular, one let us have Hon. Metito.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations on the consideration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) ; and, the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Agreements, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 26th April 2018 and, pursuant to Section 8 of the Treaty Making and Ratification Act, 2012, approves the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) ; and, the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Agreements. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Very well. Hon. Keter.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Pursuant to Standing Order No.33 (1) , I seek leave for the adjournment of the House for purposes of discussing the disasters caused by heavy rains in the country.

The heavy rains have pounded most parts of this country since late October and have continued to wreak havoc in several parts. Over 60 people are thought to have lost their lives and hundreds forced to evacuate their homes over the last few months. In addition, properties of unknown value have been lost as a result of flooding and landslides. Further, infrastructure across the country has been destroyed.

There is need to ventilate on how the State Department for Special Programmes can establish precautionary measures to deal with such natural disasters, especially in terms of identifying areas for resettlement and compensation of displaced persons. It is for this reason that I seek leave for the adjournment of the House in order to discuss this matter of great national concern. I want to ask Members to support.

Obviously, I can see you have the numbers. But, before that, I want to be sure about the specifics to be discussed so that I can know the amount of time required. I will give a few Members so that I can see the magnitude and know the time to be allocated. Obviously, you have succeeded in securing the Motion but the amount of time required is what I am trying to… Let me have two or three Members, starting with the Member for South Mugirango.

A certified version of this Report

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Indeed, this discussion is necessary due to the harm caused by the rains. I am a victim of being caught up in the rains while I was travelling from my constituency in Kisii County. Upon reaching Mai Mahiu, vehicles could not pass. The road had cracked into two parts and several other commuters and I left our vehicles. This was 10.00 p.m. in the night and we walked in search of safety.

This matter needs urgent attention and all the concerned relevant authorities should act as quickly as possible because several people have been left homeless. This is not about transport but it also affects food security. People cannot go to work and in some constituencies, they are camping in schools in pursuit of shelter and even those schools are not safe. This is a matter that is of grave concern. It is important to look for ways of making sure that this is resolved generally and collectively through the relevant Ministries. I rise to second.

The Leader of the Majority Party.

I want to thank Hon. Keter for bring something which is very serious. He does a lot of his business in the lounge but now he has brought… There is a serious humanitarian crisis in our country. As I speak, the whole of Tana River County is submerged. Also parts of Garissa County in centres like Baraki and Gurufa in Lagdera Constituency, people have not accessed food for the last two weeks. Roads have been cut off and there is complete destruction of infrastructure. If you watch television, the rains have also affected Nyando in Kisumu County.

That is why this country must have its priority right. Do those Governors have to sit in Kakamega when the essence of devolution is to help the people they represent? The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Devolution and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) should not be seated in Kakamega. This matter should be given enough time, either this morning or in the afternoon, so that we can discuss it. There are many people in this country who are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) . In major towns, we never used to experience flooding but, today, in major estates and urban centres, people have lost their private property because their houses have been submerged.

The weatherman is saying the rains will continue until June. We must have an emergency recovery system in this country. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) must come in. We must allow them because they are obligated under the Constitution to come and offer emergency assistance to the people of Kenya. We need helicopters to deliver food and non-food items to the areas which are landlocked. In Makueni and Murang’a, we have seen over 30 families who are victims of landslides. This is affecting the whole country.

I am surprised that there is no water in Ndakaini Dam. This is a matter of national security and must be investigated. The Managing Director (MD) of Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO) says it is only raining in the savannah and not in the Aberdares. But it is raining in the desert, highlands, Coast, Nairobi and everywhere. The Almighty God has opened up the skies. This is a blessing but the Government has a responsibility. Malaria causing mosquito is becoming a menace and people are going to die. Assistance must be provided in the health sector and food items…

The Leader of the Majority Party, convince me on the time required.

This matter is very serious and I want you to allocate it not less than 1 hour 30 minutes.

Yes, that is what I want. Hon. Members, if you start contributing to the substance, then I will stop you from contributing to the Motion when it goes through. I am

A certified version of this Report interested in knowing the number of hours you require. Let us have the Leader of the Minority Party.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Let me start by encouraging you to allocate two hours to this debate. We need to discuss the effects of rains, floods and what is causing this. This starts with environmental degradation and other things. I expect this House to talk on how to mitigate the effects of the same. This will include what the Leader of the Majority Party has said about involving the KDF as opposed to leaving this to the Kenya Red Cross as if it is a Government organ. We will discuss how we can allocate funds to repair roads which have been damaged by the rains. So, a lot will be discussed. Apart from the specific areas that are affected, I think this House needs not just to lament, but even to start indicating what we are likely to do in the event that the rains continue and even after. That is why I urge the Members...

Hon. Members, I am also trying to look at the kind of agenda we have this morning. We will have the Computer and Cybercrimes Bill which, in my estimation, will take an hour and a half or two. So, I think it will be okay if I allocated an hour and a half and just in case we finish the Computer and Cybercrimes Bill a little earlier, then we simply go straight to this particular Adjournment Motion. It depends on how you move. If you move faster, then you will have enough time to discuss the Motion. However, in terms of the specifics, let it be one and a half hours. So, we will start at 11:30 a.m., which is not normal. That is a little bit more than normal. We normally give an hour and sometimes even 30 minutes. This is going to be an hour and a half but it could be more if we are able to dispense with the Order listed as No. 10, Committee of whole House on the Computer and Cybercrimes Bill.

Before we move to the next Order, there was something from the Budget and Appropriations Committee. This is a serious issue and I congratulate that Committee. I am informed that they slept this morning at 4.00 a.m. I know ordinarily the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee sleeps at 4.00 p.m. but this one was on a very serious business.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. It is indeed true that I ordinarily sleep at 4.00 p.m. but this time I had to sleep at 4.00 a.m.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to lay the following Paper on the Table of the House: Report on the Budget and Appropriations Committee on the Second Supplementary Estimates for the Financial Year 2017/2018.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I beg to give notice of the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Second Report of the Budget and Appropriations Committee on the Supplementary Estimates for the Financial Year 2017/2018, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 26th April 2018 and, pursuant to the provisions of Article 223 of the Constitution and Standing Order No.243, approves the Second Supplementary Estimates for the Financial Year 2017/2018.

A certified version of this Report

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Of course, that will be the main item of this House’s afternoon business. That is why I thought it is better we allocate time for the Adjournment Motion for this morning so that in the afternoon, we can deal with the Second Supplementary Budget.

Next Order!

Hon. Cheptumo, on which one do you intend to speak to? Is it on the statements?

Extension of time for the Parliamentary Service Bill.

So, what is it that you want to do so that we know?

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I just want to request for additional time so that we are able to file our Report as a Committee on that Bill.

I have an issue with how you have approached the House.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, it is not a Bill. It is tabling of the Report.

I thought the Report is supposed to belong to the Leader of the Majority Party. I am also thinking, is it that we are just going to go in that particular manner or do we want to have a Procedural Motion? Hon. Cheptumo, let me consult briefly and then see how we can handle that matter.

The best way is to have a Procedural Motion on it and we place it in the Order Paper. We can do that in the afternoon. You will agree who will move it between yourself and the Leader of the Majority Party. Of course, I know that is your Committee specifically, but that is the Leader of the Majority Party’s docket. However, that is something you can work out yourselves. There is no major issue on that one. Let us have it in the afternoon so that it is in the Order Paper and we can put it in the proper manner.

Next Order!

A certified version of this Report

On this particular one, what remained was putting of the Question. I confirm that we have the required quorum of at least 50 Members.

Next Order!

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : What is out of order, Hon. Musimba?

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I rise under Standing Order No.131. We had submitted amendments to this particular Bill, which do not appear on the Order Paper. We had written several letters to the Speaker, as my amendments were submitted on 28th March 2018. As such, we had deliberations yesterday with the Chairs of the two committees; that is, the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security and the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, in accordance to a letter which is dated 24th April 2018 emanating from the substantive Speaker himself. What we deliberated upon was to try and synchronise with the view of having the amendments on the Floor of the House and we marry them as we progress in line with the same Standing Order.

However, the same has not been listed anywhere in today’s Order Paper. So, I stand to be guided and, with your discretion, to actually postpone this particular sitting because there is a report which has to be given prior to proceeding with the Committee of the whole House. I can submit a copy of the letter, if you do not have it.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Do I see any other Member who wishes to join Hon. Musimba? Let us have the Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, with a lot of respect to Hon. Musimba, he had a candid discussion for over two hours with the two Chairs and they have married their amendments. It will be very important for Hon. Musimba to be very particular. He needs to

A certified version of this Report look at the Order Paper and see what the two Chairs have carried. Maybe, whatever he has in mind is in the amendments that will be carried by either the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, Hon. Koinange, or of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, Hon. Kisang. Secondly, there are certain amendments awaiting the Speaker’s opinion as to whether they fall within money Bill category or not.

I had about three or four amendments, but I was only allowed one. Because Hon. Musimba had further discussions with the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, he can walk to the Chair and see whether some of his amendments have been left out. The Clerk can confirm whether those amendments were removed subject to something else. They discussed this yesterday for the whole afternoon. I do not think we need to go into that bit.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): Hon. Musimba, you know how we do things. You do not have to be on your feet. You will have an opportunity. It is you who raised this. You will have the last word on it.

I would like to give this opportunity to the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, Hon. Kisang.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, yesterday, Hon. Musimba, Hon. Koinange and I sat for close to two hours and we agreed that some of the amendments will be carried by Hon. Koinange. Hon. Musimba has several amendments on page 24 of the Order Paper on the long title and Clause 16A to Clause 16H. He also has additional amendments on Clause 3C. That is what we agreed. According to the Communication from the Speaker, most of Musimba’s amendments were carried by the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Let us have Hon. Musimba.

I have listened to the discourse by the Leader of the Majority Party and the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation. This is not a true reflection of what we discussed yesterday from 5 p.m. We agreed very clearly that the Clerks would work on it and share with us. It does not preclude me as a Member of Parliament to move my amendments on the Floor of the House. There is no usurpation anywhere by the Chairs of the Committees.

Standing Order No.131 is very clear. It calls for a report from the Committee before the commencement of the Committee of the whole House so that what is agreed on is captured very well in the same report. Contentious issues will be captured in the amendments on the Order Paper. My rights cannot be just taken away purely by an exchange on the Floor. Following Standing Order No.131 and to the extent of the money Bill aspect Standing Order No.114, I expressly wrote a letter to the Speaker to ask him to clarify - because it happened to Hon. Abdulswamad during the Energy Bill - to what extent any clause within my amendments has to do with a money Bill so that I make the same presentations before the Budget and Appropriations Committee, as is the tradition of the House. The only letter I received from him said that I should refer those amendments in line with Standing Order No.131. So that we are on the same page, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I do not know whether you have received the same letter. Are you in receipt of the letter written to me by the Clerk’s Office, so that we can exchange on the same page?

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Musimba, I will give a communication on this issue after you finish your delivery.

A certified version of this Report

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I must say this clearly. This particular Bill opens up this country to grave danger and attacks. We cannot treat it casually. We are opening our country to the Al Shabaab to come in, work and threaten this country. We cannot take this particular Bill casually at all. I would invite the Hon. Chair, as you make your ruling and direction as we move forward, to please consider this in the same breath. Our country’s stance on cybersecurity is of grave importance. If we are casual about it, we will fall. We will regret it.

Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation and the Mover of the amendments,

On a point of order. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Musimba, there cannot be a point of order on Communication from the Chair.

I will allow you but there cannot be a point of order on a Communication from the Chair.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, you communication is very clear. It says that I will move the amendments which are not covered. How will I move those amendments if they are not on the Order Paper? They are not there. They are not in my name. I refer you to the Order Paper. There is no amendment in my name. The Order Paper by itself is in contravention of the said Communication.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Musimba, I do not know whether you have the Order Paper for today. If you look at page 424 of the Order Paper, you have three amendments to my reckoning. Hon. Musimba, so that we may just move, maybe, you may want to acquaint yourself with the Order Paper so that the House makes progress.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I have seen the clauses about the offences. I would like to hear the comments of the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security because we have heard from the Chair of Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, as far as the command is concerned.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Musimba, we cannot do that because we will be opening the floodgates after we have closed them. It is actually flogging a dead horse. I have already communicated on that issue.

Can I get a copy of the Communication so that I can look at it? The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Very well. Let us have the Leader of the Majority Party. I will not allow a lot of debate on this so that we can make progress.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, when the Speaker or Chair gives a Communication, that is it in the parliamentary procedure. I am the Leader of the Majority Party whether you call me a sham or not. That is why we need to refute fake news. We need to move on. These Members are waiting to debate this. We cannot be a victim of one person.

THAT, Clause 3 of the Bill be amended—

No.

Clause 5

THAT, Clause 5 of the Bill be amended in sub-clause (2) by deleting the word “this” appearing immediately after the words “purposes of”;

This amendment will ensure that there is consistency and clarity in the clause. We are cleaning up the Bill.

(Question, that the word to be left out be left out,

put and agreed to)

Clause 7

A certified version of this Report

THAT, Clause 7 of the Bill be amended in sub-clause (2) by—

THAT, Clause 8 of the Bill be amended—

THAT, Clause 9 of the Bill be amended in sub-clause (1) by deleting the word “term” appearing immediately after the word “imprisonment”;

This amendment will rectify typographical errors. We are cleaning up the Bill.

A certified version of this Report

(Question of the amendment proposed) (Question, that the word to be left out be left out, put and agreed to)

THAT, Clause 10 of the Bill be amended—

THAT, Clause 11 of the Bill be amended—

THAT, Clause 12 of the Bill be amended by—

A certified version of this Report

THAT, Clause 13 of the Bill be deleted; This amendment seeks to transfer the proposals in the clause and harmonise them with the Sexual Offences Act, 2011. This will result to a consequential amendment to Sexual Offences Act.

Clause 13 will be deleted in this Bill and then we transfer the proposals to Sexual Offences Act.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman

(Hon. Omulele)

: Those who would like to have a say on the clause, kindly put your cards at the interjection slot. I see interest from Hon. Rasso Ali.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to oppose the amendment. The Sexual Offences Act is a standalone Act. If this Bill becomes an Act, hence the law of the land, it can be read together with the existing statutes and the laws of the land. For that matter, the reasons that have been given are not good enough.

Thank you. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : I will give a chance to the Leader of the Majority Party. Hon. Shamalla has proposed to amend this clause, so, you will have a say on it. Hon. Musimba, hold your horses. You will also have your chance.

The Chairman, the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation needs to tell us more because the issues discussed in Clause 13 are also found in the Sexual Offences Act. Here, we are talking about how technology, computers or gadgets will be used in as far as child pornography is concerned. If you give the Chair of the Committee a chance, he will make a clarification. He has told me that he has proposed another amendment to substitute this one. He can explain to us. I feel it should be in the Bill and not deleted. I oppose the deletion.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Leader of the Majority Party, you are on point on this. Before I give a chance to Hon. Shamalla who is proposing to enhance Clause 13, the Chairman should tell us why he wants to delete the clause.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. We are saying that we want to amend and replace provision 16 of the Sexual Offences Act, 2011 to deal with child pornography. Basically, we are moving Clause 13 from this Bill to the Sexual Offences Act. This is to amend Section 16 of the Sexual Offences Act, 2011 to harmonise its provisions with those of the deleted clause.

We can debate it and if Members say that the provisions can be in the two Acts, we do not have a problem with that as a Committee. We can retain it in this Bill.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Chairman, you can see the kind of agitation it is raising in Members. You must be cognisant that a lot of child pornography is carried out through cyber. You need to be very clear on this.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, because of the mood of the House, even when we were debating, every Member contributed on this clause, I withdraw this amendment.

A certified version of this Report

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): Hon. Musimba, do you still have a problem?

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I wanted to seek clarity from the Chair and he has done that. The Sexual Offences Act does not provide for electronic offences. So, it is important, in line with what has been said by the Leader of the Majority Party and Hon. Dido, that the clause is retained in the Bill. It has to stay.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Shamalla, you can now move your amendment because it is seeking to enhance Clause 13.

THAT, Clause 13 of the Bill be amended—

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I thank Hon. Shamalla for proposing the amendment. This Bill is very important for protection of family values in this country. How do we protect them? By making sure that we control access to pornography which is dirty, according to most of us. We are bringing up children. Our children and adults should not access pornography. There are countries that have done better than us. China and the United Arab Emirates have done well. At a click of anything, you cannot access it. So, we should not even bother but we can do better.

I support the amendment and ask the Chair to agree with us. This is a very serious Bill, as Hon. Musimba said, and we must make sure that each and everything that is deleted or amended is explained well to Members. I ask the two Chairs who have the bulk of the proposed amendments to take more time to explain to us what each and every action they want to commit.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. ole Sankok.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. Surely, the country and every Member of this House has suffered cyber bullying. We really need to support the Anti-Cybercrimes Bill so that we protect, if not adults, our children. We have seen what is going on, on social media. Somebody sent me the video clip of the Deputy Governor of Kirinyaga. I opened it because it was in an ordinary WhatsApp group. When I opened it accidentally, I could not close the application yet my child was watching. He asked me: “Baba, what is this? This man does not have clothes. What is happening?” My fingers started sweating and when your fingers sweat, the touch screen does not respond. So, it could not respond.

I had to throw my phone under the chair. After throwing it, my child said, “baba, imeanguka.” He rushed and picked it while the video was playing. It turned out to be worse. For sure, we are suffering. Nowadays, for me to open any video clip, I have to first of all go to the toilet, make sure I have closed the door and reduce the volume on my phone because sometimes what comes out may attract a lot of attention.

The issue of cybercrime should also be in the security Bill so that our officers can be trained on how to handle these fellows so that we can make sure we are safe.

With those remarks, I support. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Members, unless one has a totally divergent position from what Hon. Shamalla eloquently and sufficiently set out, we should make progress on it so that the House makes a decision. Unless you have a totally divergent position, Hon. Manje, I will give you an opportunity.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. In the social media, some links are sent to you. You are unwillingly linked to a site you do want to view. That is why it is very important to make sure that at least this amendment goes through. We should realise that children are like any other creation. When they are exposed to funny things, they grow with the funny things just the way any other animal would grow. So, this exposure should be curtailed.

I support. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Wambugu, Member for Nyeri, is it something different?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. I see us getting to the point where we want to discuss about keeping that particular clause as it is. I was just seeking direction on Clause 13 (2) . Are we going to get there at some point to amend it or are we going to discuss and pass it as it is? I do not agree with Clause 13 (2) . I have a problem with

A certified version of this Report anything that tries to justify that it is possible to have child pornography as a scientific medical research or law enforcement purpose. I just asked Hon. Shamalla and she says she had not got to the point of presenting her amendment. I am worried that we will get to the point where we will decide whether we are keeping it or not. I find Clause 13(2) offensive.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): Hon. Members, we are dealing with the amendment as proposed by Hon. Shamalla holistically unless Members want to deal with each sub-clause.

He dropped his amendment on Clause 13. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Unless it is in the Order Paper, we cannot purport to amend it.

Clause 16

THAT, Clause 16 of the Bill be amended—

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I also have an amendment to Clause 16.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Shamalla, I have seen your proposed amendment. There are three proposed amendments to this clause, one by the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, another one by the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security and another one by you. I am proposing to deal with the one for the Chair of Communication, Information and Innovation to its logical conclusion then we come to yours.

THAT, Clause 16 of the Bill be amended by deleting sub-clause

(3)

.

THAT, Clause 16 (1) of the Bill be amended by inserting the following new paragraph immediately after paragraph (b) — “ (ba) is in whole or part, of an indecent or grossly offensive nature and affects the person.”

A certified version of this Report

This is in regard to cyberbullying and cyberstalking. I went through the same legislation in the United Kingdom and they include the words “of indecent or grossly offensive nature”. I remember parliamentarians stating in this House how they would get pictures on WhatsApp of grossly offensive and indecent nature, which has an effect on the person receiving them.

(Question of the amendment proposed) (Question, that the words to be inserted be inserted, put and agreed to)

THAT, the Bill be amended by deleting Clause 21 and substituting therefor the following new Clause—

They are two. One is from the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation and the other is from the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I beg to move: THAT, Clause 23 of the Bill be amended—

Thank you. Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I beg to move: THAT Clause 23 of the Bill be deleted and replaced by the following new clause—

Search and seizure of stored computer

A certified version of this Report

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I tend to agree with the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security because there is a procedure that the law enforcement officer must follow to obtain a search warrant to conduct a search or seizure of any stored data. If you compare that with the amendment by the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, it is better improved by the one that the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security has made clearer. He is proposing to replace the entire clause with his amendment. What he has done is that there must be a process of acquiring a search warrant in a manner that it will support timely and effective decision and investigation. That protects both the investigating officer and gives a chance to the person in terms of the Fair Administrative Action Act. Of course, he has brought the element of best international practices according to the Budapest Convention and the one from Jamaica.

The amendment by the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security makes more sense. I beg to support.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : It is true. It is good that the kind of action that is proposed is properly regulated so that it does not offend the Constitution in terms of the right to property and fair administrative action.

I see interest from Hon. Wamunyinyi Wafula, Member for Kanduyi. data.

A certified version of this Report

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. I also support this proposed amendment by the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security.

Just to add, it not only provides clarity on how to manage the process of investigation and other related actions, but also ensures that we have looked at the other related laws and provisions in other international statutes. Therefore, we are also complying with international statutes looking at the UN and other countries the Chairman has cited.

This proposal will also protect all the parties that are affected and will ensure that we are able to comply and take care of the interests within the law.

I support, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Kisang, I see you wanted to say something on this.

I wanted to say that as the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, we do not have any issues with the amendments from the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. We had enhanced, but his is better than ours. As a Committee, we support.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : So, let us deal with it so that we come to yours and deal with it as necessary.

Before we move to the next stage, we will have to deal with your proposed amendment, Hon. Kisang. What would you like to do with it?

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, because of what has happened, we have already taken the amendments from the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. The one on my Committee stands dropped.

Clause 24

THAT, the Bill be amended by deleting Clause 24. We discussed and deliberated. There are so many issues. In the Bill, there was a proposal that a police officer or an authorised officer could go into premises and seize data or arrest without a warrant of arrest. There is no justification because to conduct a search without a warrant contradicts Articles 24 (1) (a) and 31 of the Constitution on freedom of expression and others.

As a Committee, we said this clause be deleted completely because it offends the Constitution of Kenya.

A certified version of this Report

(Question of the amendment proposed) The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): It is a similar situation to the one we have just dealt with. Hon. Koinange, Chair of the Committee on Administration and National Security, you also have a proposal, which will fall in the event the one that is proposed by the Chair of the Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation is carried.

THAT, Clause 24 of the Bill be deleted and replaced by the following new clause— Power to search without a warrant in special circumstances.

24 (1) . A police officer or authorised person may without a search warrant search any person or premises for seizing any computer system or data referred to in section 23—

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, we cannot legislate a law that contravenes the Constitution. Somebody will go to court and the courts will annul that piece of legislation. I totally agree with the deletion by Hon. Kisang. He cited Article 24 and Article 31 of the Constitution. Article 31 talks about privacy. Every person has a right to privacy, which includes the right not to have their person, homes and property searched, their possessions seized or information relating to their family or private affairs recorded unnecessary. That is why the element of a search warrant has been brought. Firstly, we cannot legislate contrary to the provision of the Constitution. Secondly, we should not give security agents a blank cheque to

A certified version of this Report violate your rights given under Article 31 of the Constitution. I want to agree with Hon. Kisang, that we delete Clause 24 because the other section that the Chairperson of the Departmental

Committee on Administration and National Security raised earlier can cover it. So, we must also

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. What I wanted to say is what you have just said. That amendment contradicts the amendment we have just endorsed on Clause 23. Whereas Clause 23 talks about a search warrant, Clause 24 talks of “without a search warrant” which clearly contradicts each other.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. It is important that we do not legislate in vain. It is also important that we all know that the rights that enshrined in our Constitution are inalienable. In other words, they cannot be taken away from you by anybody or any institution or any Government. So, this particular House cannot be the one taking away the rights as enshrined in the Constitution. I think this particular clause that the Chairman is proposing is open to abuse by authorities. Each one of us should put ourselves in the shoes of the ones being searched without a search warrant. We also know that around politics, this is the one thing that can be misused to fight an opponent. Therefore, I oppose this particular amendment and I want to urge the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, to consider withdrawing this particular amendment. It is not in good faith and it is illegal.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Having heard the sentiments of Members, unless somebody has a totally contrary position, I intend to proceed.

Hon. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, what do you want to do with your proposed amendment?

I will just drop it because it is similar to Clause 23.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman

(Hon. Omulele)

: Very well, that opens the way for me to put the Question.

Clause 25

THAT, Clause 25 of the Bill be amended—

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, since the Chair of the Committee on Administration and National Security and the one of Communication, Information and Innovation are deleting, it will be very good if the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security tells us which area he is deleting and the justifications.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Chairman, you need to be clearer because we have deleted some preceding clauses and this is following on the work that we have just done so that it is clear to Members exactly what this means.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : I see interest from Hon. Kisang.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I rise to oppose this amendment because if the security officers seize your computer or any other material that you have been using to perform your work, there is no harm in you being given an opportunity to access your computer and make a copy of what you have so that you can continue doing your own activity. They can retain what they have already seized, but it will be good for you to be given an opportunity so that you can make your copy and continue doing your work. Supposing you are an IT expert and they have taken the server away and you do not know how long they are going to retain it, how will you perform your daily duties?

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Very well. Let us have the Leader of the Majority Party followed by Hon. Wambugu.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I also stand to oppose. The Chairman of the Departmental Committee in charge of security wants to give the security agencies a blank cheque. Look at Sub-clause (4) which he wants to delete. It says: “A court may, on reasonable ground being disclosed, allow a person who has qualified under sub-section 2 (a) or (b) access and copy data on the system.”

When a security officer comes to your house with a search warrant and intends to pick certain computer gadgets, it is within the rights of that person to record, because you never know that the moment you take those gadgets and equipment, more things can be added. So, we must also protect that person where the seizure is being done. We have seen a situation where people can even put guns in your house. That is completely against fair administrative justice.

I want the Chairman, this time, to agree with us that we should not give security agents a blanket cheque on the pretext…If it is the KRA, for example, and they feel that you are involved in tax evasion, it is just important that that person copies the information that you are taking so that you can use it in a court of law. You cannot just take his things and say, “I found the following things,” which he is not aware of. So, I agree with the Chairman of the Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation. I want to ask the Chairman of the Committee on Administration and National Security that we should not go to the extent of putting the question. He can as well just drop that amendment.

A certified version of this Report

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): We shall have Hon. Wambugu.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. As a Member of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, I rise to support the amendment that our Chairman has proposed. Why do I do that? In any other circumstance where police officers are conducting an investigation, let us just use an example that they have found you with a car that they think has been involved in a crime. They take possession of whatever item that they need to conduct investigations and finish. What we are saying is that if your computer has been seized by the police, you actually have permission to copy the information on that computer.

We have had incidents of bloggers creating fake news and then using it to hurt the reputations of Members here. What we are saying is that if the police seize the material or the computer that that blogger has been using, you are actually allowing that he can be given access or permission to copy that material and continue using it. Remember, the person being investigated is being investigated for a crime. In fact, every time I listen to the conversations we are having now between ICT and national security, I go back to one of my initial problems with this Bill: That we are trying to create a crime management process through ICT rather than through national security.

In this particular aspect of cybercrime, we are dealing with a person who is suspected of being a criminal. We are assuming that the computer that that person has been using is his tool of crime; his gun. In any other circumstance, if it is an armed robber, you pick his gun and conduct investigations on it. Here, the tool that is being used to commit the crime is a computer and you are now telling us that once that computer is seized, the suspect has access to the information even as the police conduct investigations. What is going to stop the suspect from continuing with the crime if he has a copy of the information that was on the computer?

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Wambugu, you will appreciate that if you commit a crime and it is a recognised crime and you persist in doing the acts that comprise that crime, then you will be charged as many times as you offend. Every time you offend, there is a charge. So, if you persist, then definitely you will be charged. What we are speaking to is the right to property on mere suspicion. I think that is what the Leader of the Majority Party was speaking to.

Let me not be the one to make this point. I will give this opportunity to Hon. Mutua Barasa, Member for Kimilili.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. I also rise to support the amendment and make it clear that as a Committee on Administration and National Security, we discussed this matter at length. My good friend, the Leader of the Majority Party’s statement is a bit based on a layman’s point of view. We, as security experts, looked at it in terms of preventing such kind of crime.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Barasa, there is no Member here who is a layman. Every Member here is a Member of Parliament. When we debate matters here, we do so as Members. Make your contribution on the proposed amendment, but without sullying the contributions by other Members.

I was simply saying that when we were coming up with this kind of amendment, we consulted security experts amongst ourselves. As opposed to looking at the comfort of the suspect, we should look at the bigger picture. Once you give them an opportunity to copy, it is their business. They should have a copy of what they are doing. Even in modern ICT setup, whatever you are doing is copied in some disc somewhere. This amendment is proper.

A certified version of this Report

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): I will give opportunity to two Members and then I will hand it over to you to make a determination. Hon. Wamunyinyi followed by Hon. Angwenyi. The Member for Dagoretti South, you will hold your horses a little bit.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. I think I should start by advising, for free, my brother, Hon. Didmus Barasa. We do not have laymen in the House and the Leader of the Majority Party can never be a layman. He is a senior legislator here. Didmus should learn. I know he was elected for the first time and he is learning, but I think he should speed up his learning, so that he can understand that there are no laymen in the House. We only have legislators.

I am a member of the Departmental Committee in charge of security, but I have been wondering and having an afterthought. What the chairman seeks to delete is as follows:

“Where a computer system or data has been removed or rendered inaccessible following a search or seizure under section 23, the person who made the search shall at the time of the search or as soon as practicable after the search-

Hon. Wamunyinyi has said it. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : You are saying that Hon. Wamunyinyi has covered what you wanted to say. Let us hear the Member for Dagoretti South then we shall put the Question.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. I will also not take much time because Hon. Wamunyinyi has covered quite good ground and we are also guided by what you have said. The issue of an expert opinion has been sought here and I would like it to go on record that even when a computer is seized by a security organ, what normally happens is that

A certified version of this Report they do not even operate on the actual hardware that carries the material software that is being investigated. They make an impression copy of what is carried in that hardware.

In that sense, they do not even tamper with what originally existed within the hardware that was seized. But also, what this Committee is telling us is that there is a chance that there would be further modification or adjustment to data that exists and any computer expert will tell you that any modification made within any digital system has a footprint which carries its own metadata. As such, any modification that is going to be made is going to carry a footprint that shows the time, date, access and, modification done. So, I do not see any offensive nature that needs to be cured by what the amendment by this Committee is seeking to do. On that ground, I oppose.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): Very well, Members, you have expressed yourself sufficiently on this.

(Question, that the words to be left out be left out, put and negatived)

THAT, Clause 26 of the Bill be deleted and replaced by the following new clause— Production order.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, because we have already taken the amendments by the Chair of the Committee on Administration and National Security, mine was to delete Clauses 4 and 6 because of the offences. It was an offence in the Constitution, but these amendments have enhanced them so that they do not offend in any way. Basically, we will live with it because there is nothing offensive to the law.

Clause 27

THAT, Clause 27 of the Bill be amended—

A certified version of this Report

THAT, Clause 28 of the Bill be amended-

THAT, Clause 29 of the Bill be amended—

A certified version of this Report

THAT, Clause 33 of the Bill be amended—

THAT, Clause 38 of the Bill be amended by deleting—

THAT, Clause 39 of the Bill be amended in sub-clause

(2)

(g)

by inserting the words “to the” immediately after the word “relevant”; This is to correct some spelling mistakes.

A certified version of this Report

(Question, that the words to be inserted be inserted, put and agreed to)

THAT, Clause 41 of the Bill be amended in sub-clause

(1)

by deleting the words “and prosecuting” appearing immediately after the word “investigating”. The Central Authority established under this Bill falls in purview of the Office of the Attorney-General, which does not have prosecution powers in the Constitution.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman

(Hon. Omulele)

: The Leader of the Majority Party.

I want the Chair to explain better. I think the Central Authority we are establishing, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has prosecution powers as a Member. The Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and all those who work under the DPP have prosecution powers. I disagree with the Chair, we should not remove the words “and prosecuting”. The essence of bringing the DCI and the Inspector-General (IG) is to investigate. We have the DPP in the Central Advisory Board for him to prosecute. If you remove the word ‘prosecution’, then you are telling us that the DPP has no role there. I ask the Chair to withdraw that amendment.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Before the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation speaks to it, I will give an opportunity to Hon. Wamunyinyi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. I also looked at this keenly and the Chair of the Departmental Committee of Communication, Information and Innovation explanation has not convinced us why these words are being removed. As the Leader of the Majority Party has said, the prosecuting institution is important. We need to retain those words.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Very well. Hon. Osotsi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. Looking at this Bill, the Central Authority is in reference to mutual legal assistance which is basically a function under the Office of the Attorney-General, which does not have prosecution powers. The Committee thought this particular issue of prosecution should be removed so that only investigations are done.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Chair.

Those powers were moved to the DPP. In the Constitution, the powers are not in the Attorney-General’s docket.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Very well, Members. I think you have expressed yourselves on this.

A certified version of this Report

(Question, that the words to be left out be left out, put and agreed to)

THAT, the Bill be amended by deleting Clause 46 and substituting therefor the following new clause—

THAT, the Bill be amended by inserting the following new part immediately after Clause 3—

3C. (1)The Committee shall—

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation had made some recommendations on this area, but I stand to oppose some parts of this amendment, especially Clause 3B (2) , that says:

A certified version of this Report

“The Committee shall report to the Cabinet Secretary responsible for matters relating to internal security.”

This Computer and Cybercrime Bill is a very technical Bill that requires a function of Government that has the capacity to implement it. In this case, the ministry in charge of ICT has the capacity to implement matters related to cybercrime. Even the unit that is currently handling issues to do with response to cybercrime is based at the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK). It is going to take us time to implement this Bill if we are going to say the ministry in charge of internal security will be the implementing agency. Globally, the experience is that issues to do with cybercrime are handled at a multiagency level and this Committee will handle that. The technical committee responsible for matters of cybercrime is in the ministry in charge of ICT. So, on that basis, I oppose that particular amendment in 3B(2).

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): Hon. Members, you know how we operate here. All of you have shown interest. We shall have Hon. Musimba. This is debate. So, everybody is allowed to have an opinion.

I thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. I have heard what Hon. Osotsi has said. The points he has made are pertinent to the following level: The CAK is a regulator and this is a coordination committee. Largely, we are proposing prosecutions of offences as relates to cybercrime. That is why it is important for it to be at the security docket. When you look at the functions of that coordination committee, it further reports to the National Security Advisory Council (NSAC) . Article 240 of the Constitution is clear as to who has the overall lead when it comes to issues security. So, they are the directing agency.

Further, when you look at the composition of the committee, you have people like the Chief of Staff of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and you have the Inspector-General of Police. Surely, they cannot be reporting to the Principal Secretary in charge of ICT. It needs to be coordinated from the interior docket, which is directly under the NSAC in the Office of President. I encourage Hon. Osotsi to see it from that point of view because a lot of the operational issues to do with movement, including moving to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and all those people are covered within that coordination committee. So, we are all in concurrence.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : I will now give Hon. Rasso Ali this chance.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. From the beginning, this Bill appeared to be a property of ICT, but the more we delve deeper into the horizon, the more we see that these are security matters. The minute we are saying it is about crime, I think we know clearly where law and order lies in this land. That is why we should not make it an ICT and computer function. It is about national security.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Members, I think we have eaten into the time that had been allocated for something else. We are trying to do this so that we can clear up and we move on. I will give the Leader of the Majority Party a chance.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Clauses 3A to 3J talk about the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee. If you look at the membership, you even have the Chief of Defence Forces there. You have the DPP and the Attorney-General. In fact, in best practice and in other countries that I have checked, it is under the national security council. That is why Hon. Osotsi will agree with us that it is only the coordination of that committee. That is why the Chair has moved a further amendment and introduced the PS in charge of ICT and CAK to be members. However, because of the nature of security and the PS

A certified version of this Report of internal security sits in NSAC and at times, even chairs NSAC on behalf of the President, we felt that that is the security aspect of it. I think we agree with the Chair. So, Hon. Osotsi, you will forgive us. It is only that coordination which we have moved to the ministry in charge of internal security and it is from best practice. In fact, we should even have stated that this committee reports to the NSAC. It is there.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): Now that we are still on the new Clauses 3A to 3J, there is a proposed further amendment to New Clause 3C by Hon. Musimba. Hon. Musimba, I would like you to prosecute that proposed further amendment. Is it taken care of? Are you comfortable with it? You may either wish to withdraw it or move it because it is on the Order Paper.

It is on the Order Paper, but it is by the Member for Kiambaa, Hon. Paul Koinange. It is just enhancing the functions.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : It was your proposed amendment to the proposals by the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security.

It was just adding more functions, but I can still move it. I will move that further amendment.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I beg to move: THAT, the proposed amendment to New Clause 3C by the Member for Kiambaa Constituency, Hon. Paul Koinange, be further amended by inserting the following new paragraph immediately after paragraph

(i)

appearing in sub-clause

(1)

— “

(ia)

develop a framework for training on prevention, detection and mitigation of computer and cybercrimes and matters connected thereto;” The import of this is just to improve on the functions which have been deliberated on by the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, to develop a framework for training on prevention, detection and mitigation of computer and cybercrimes and matters connected thereto. It is that straightforward.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman

(Hon. Omulele)

: Let us have Hon. Mbarire.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, allow me to support this amendment. One of the biggest challenges we have in this country when it comes to cybercrimes is our being able to prevent, detect and mitigate cybercrimes before they happen. We always have to deal with it after the fact. This particular new role is critical going forward. I support the amendment.

Question, that the new part be read a Second Time, put and agreed to)

(Question, that the new part be added to

A certified version of this Report

the Bill, put and agreed to) New Clause 12A

THAT, the Bill be amended by inserting the following new Clause immediately after Clause 12—

12A. A person who knowingly publishes information that is false in print, broadcast, data or over a computer system, that is calculated or results in panic, chaos, or violence among citizens of the Republic, or which is likely to discredit the reputation of a person commits an offence and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or to both. Hon. Chair, I looked for the term “fake news” in law and I could not get it. There is nowhere in law I could find that term. This amendment proposes to introduce and define the scope of the offence of publication of false information to tackle emerging offences of fake news. The ingredients have been informed by the existing legislation from similar jurisdictions in the Philippines and Malaysia. The definition falls within the offences that relate to the scope of the offence within the Bill and that are conducted over a computer.

If Members can remember, the late Hon. Biwott “died” 10 times through fake news. Mugabe died five times through fake news. When Mzee Moi just went for a knee surgery in Israel, people decided to kill him. There is serious fake news and false publications. I want the Members to support it. The amendment does not offend the provisions of Article 34 of the Constitution. We really looked at it with the Legal Department of Parliament. If you publish false information, the offence is so grave that you either pay Kshs5 million or get a prison sentence not exceeding 10 years or both. Those people who use gadgets to create alarm, false news and publish to harm others must be dealt with under this law.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman

(Hon. Omulele)

: Let us have Hon. Wamunyinyi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. On this one, I must applaud the Leader of the Majority Party. We must deal with a person who knowingly publishes information that is false in print, broadcast, data or over a computer system. This proposed new law will help us to deal with misinformation, false reporting and all kinds of mischief that come through this. I rise to support this new clause introduced by the Leader of the Majority Party so that we curb any attempt by any person to injure others falsely. Action must be taken against them.

(Question, that the new clause be read Publica tion of false inform ation

A certified version of this Report

a Second Time, put and agreed to)

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Hon. Musimba, the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security and I propose that we move all the amendments to the new clauses together then we contribute jointly.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : That is your proposal. I need to get the concurrence of the other proponents. Let us hear from the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I concur. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Let us hear from Hon. Musimba.

I concur, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. We will marry the language and dispose with it.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : We shall consider all the proposed amendments together so that we can move in a neat way. Let us have the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation.

THAT, the Bill be amended by inserting the following new clauses immediately after Clause 16— Cyber squatting.

16A. A person who, intentionally takes or makes use of a name, business name, trademark, domain name or other word or phrase registered, owned or in use by another person on the internet or any other computer network, without authority or right, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both. Wrongful distribution of intimate images.

16B. A person who transfers, publishes, or disseminates, including making a digital depiction available for distribution or downloading through a telecommunications network or through any other means of transferring data to a computer, the intimate image of another person commits an offence and is liable, on conviction to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty years or to both. Identity theft and impersonation.

16C. A person who fraudulently or dishonestly makes use of the electronic signature, password or any other unique identification feature of any other person commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or to

A certified version of this Report

imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both. Phishing.

16D. A person who creates or operates a website or sends a message through a computer system with the intention to induce the user of a website or the recipient of the message to disclose personal information for an unlawful purpose or to gain unauthorised access to a computer system, commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both. Interception of electronic messages or money transfers.

16E. A person who unlawfully destroys or aborts any electronic mail or processes through which money or information is being conveyed commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding seven years or to both. Willful misdirection of electronic messages.

16F. A person who willfully misdirects electronic messages commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

THAT, the Bill be amended by inserting the following new clauses immediately after Clause 16— Cyber terrorism. 16A. (1) A person who accesses or causes to be accessed a computer or computer system or network for purposes of terrorism, commits an offence and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term note exceeding ten years, or to both. No.30 of 2012. (2) For the purpose of this section, “terrorism” shall have the same meaning under the Prevention of Terrorism Act,

THAT, the Bill be amended by inserting the following new clauses immediately after Clause 16—

Inducement to deliver electronic message. 16A. A person who induces any person in charge of electronic devices to deliver any electronic messages not specifically meant for him commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both. Intentionally withholding message delivered erroneously. 16B.A person who intentionally hides or detains any electronic mail, message, electronic payment, credit and debit card which was found by the person or delivered to the person in error and which ought to be delivered to another person, commits an offence and is

A certified version of this Report

liable on conviction a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both. Unlawful destruction of electronic messages. 16C. A person who unlawfully destroys or aborts any electronic mail or processes through which money or information is being conveyed commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both. Wrongful distribution of obscene or intimate images. 16D.A person who transfers, publishes, or disseminates, including making a digital depiction available for distribution or downloading through a telecommunications network or though any other means of transferring data to a computer, the intimate or obscene image of another person commits an offence and is liable, on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both. Fraudulent use of electronic data. 16E. (1) A person who knowingly and without authority causes any loss of property to another by altering, erasing, inputting or suppressing any data stored in a computer, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.

I will move the amendments and say that they are in the Order Paper. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Unless a Member has a very contrary view, do not read them so that we can move on. The Members will concur or disagree with you.

You can give the other Members a chance to contribute, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman

(Hon. Omulele)

: Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security.

We concur with the Chair. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Musimba.

I concur as well.

Schedule

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, before I move the Schedule, we are consulting here. There is something which is missing in new Clause 16A. For the purpose of this section, “cyber terrorism” shall have the same meaning as the Prevention of Terrorism Act,

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, the Leader of the Majority Party will recommit Clause 23.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : The recommital is in order but the business that you are dealing with is the Schedule.

A certified version of this Report

THAT, the Schedule to the Bill be amended by inserting the following item in its proper sequence— Written law Provisi on

Amendment Sexual Offenc es Act,

Delete and replace with the following section— Child pornography

A certified version of this Report

THAT Clause 2 of the Bill be amended—

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I have an issue on the Ministry which is responsible for the implementation of the Computer and Cybercrime Bill. I know the Leader of the Majority Party has explained that.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : That is not a point of order.

I want it to be put on record. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Is that your contribution? Hon. Osotsi: Yes.

Looking through the Bill, the new amendments we have proposed especially to Part IA are functions of the Committee. If you look through some of those functions, they conflict with the functions of the Ministry in charge of ICT. Let me give an example. When they say the committee shall develop a framework to facilitate availability, integrity, confidentiality of the critical national information infrastructure including telecommunication and information systems of Kenya that conflicts with a critical function of the Ministry of ICT.

Secondly, to develop and manage national public key infrastructure framework is also conflicting. Globally, that is the function of ICT. The Chairman of the Departmental Committee

A certified version of this Report on Administration and National Security has talked about experiences from other countries. I want to give experience of an African country.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): Hon. Osotsi, we do not have much time. I will give you two minutes. Every Member who is going to contribute will get two minutes.

In Nigeria, for example, they came up with a cybercrime law more than five years ago and put the responsibility in the Ministry of Security. They are having challenges because of capacity issues. We will pass the Bill as it is, but I assure you that there will be need for amendments after six months.

Thank you. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Kiarie.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I would not want this House to be drawn into a tug of war as to where the Bill should be domiciled because what we are seeking to do is to create a Bill that will mitigate some of the problems we are facing with the fast development in the ICT space. As it is now, we are playing catch-up because ICT is developing way faster than we can legislate and way faster than our security bodies can keep up. Knowing how our Government works, we are better of having this Bill domiciled in a place where there is research being done continually on matters to do with information, communication and technology. To bring it to context with examples from elsewhere in the world, I want to quote one of the finest performing ICT expert in this country, Michael Joseph, who said that Kenya is a peculiar country. It is peculiar in a sense that we leapfrog in terms of technology. We do not follow the normal procedure of growth in technology advancement as other parts of the world.

As such, I believe the amendment to bring in the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government in not well placed. As we understand the situation right now, the Ministry of ICT is investing heavily in keeping up with technology and more in innovation.

Thank you very much. The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : We shall have the Leader of the Majority Party and then I shall present it to the House to decide one way or the other.

Hon. Chairman, there is no Bill that belongs to the ICT Ministry. The Bills are brought into this House from the Cabinet through the Attorney-General and the Leader of the Majority Party who appends his signature. So, there is no law we make for a specific ministry. We make laws for the people of Kenya. The Government is one and the Government and the Cabinet act as one.

Let me answer my friend, Hon. Osotsi. There is an element of the title of the Bill that talks about cybercrime. The ICT does not deal with crimes. That is why we have the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) . The moment the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) and other agencies identify a crime, it is for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the DPP to do the prosecution through the said office. That is why we have the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya being a member of that committee. He represents the fraud that takes place in the financial sector. You cannot have this Bill without the Governor of the Central Bank. That is why we have the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service.

This is a multi-sectoral committee. You also find it in many other Bills that this House has passed. We have it in many other pieces of legislations that we have passed. So, there is nothing peculiar this time. That is why for the ICT Ministry we have the Principal Secretary, ICT

A certified version of this Report and the CAK’s Director-General sitting in this board to take care the interests of the Ministry. We are creating a mountain out of a molehill. We have done it and let us move on.

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele): Let me present this to you to deal with in the best way.

(Question, that the words to be left out be left out, put and agreed to) (Question, that the words to be inserted in place thereof be inserted, put and agreed to) (Question, that the words to be inserted be inserted, put and agreed to) There are two more proposed amendments, one from Hon. Koinange and another one from Hon. Shamalla.

THAT Clause 2 of the Bill be amended—

THAT, Clause 2 of the Bill be amended by inserting the following definition in proper alphabetical sequence — “pornography” includes the representation in books, magazines, photographs, films, and other media, telecommunication apparatus of scenes of sexual behaviour that are erotic or lewd and are designed to arouse sexual interest”;

It is with regard to the definition of the word “pornography”. In all the legislations that I have perused, there is no definition of the actual word “pornography”. Definitions are important as they enable us to have a common understanding of what they express and the essential nature of the word.

(Question, that the words to be inserted

be inserted, put and agreed to)

Long title

The Temporary Deputy Chairman (Hon. Omulele) : Hon. Musimba.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman. I beg to move; THAT, the Bill be amended in the long title by inserting the words “prohibition, prevention, response,” immediately after the word “detection”. In the other amendments we made, prevention is a key thing. We do not wait for offences to be committed. We want to make it explicit in the objects of the Bill that we need prohibition, prevention and response so that it is in congruence with the other amendments we have already made in the Bill.

(Question, that the words to be inserted

be inserted, put and agreed to)

Title

THAT, the title to the Bill be amended by inserting the word “misuse” immediately after the word “Computer”

(Question, that the word to be inserted be

A certified version of this Report

inserted, put and agreed to)

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, I beg to move that the Committee does report to the House its consideration of the Computer and Cybercrimes Bill (National Assembly Bill No.36 of 2017) and its approval thereof with amendments.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Computer and Cybercrimes Bill (National Assembly Bill No.36 of 2017) and approved the same with amendments.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the House does agree with the Committee in the said Report.

I request Hon. Koinange, the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security to second the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the whole House.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I second.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I beg to move that the Motion for agreement with the Report of the Committee of the whole House be amended by inserting the words “subject to re-committal of Clauses 23 and New Clauses 16A to 16H.”

The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu) : Before I make a decision on that, can we have two or three people to make some comments?

Put the Question! The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu) : I have to confirm whether we have the numbers.

A certified version of this Report

I confirm that we do not have the requisite numbers for us to put the Question to the re- committal. I order that this Question be put in the next appropriate time.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 33 (1) , I seek leave for the adjournment of the House for purposes of discussing the disasters that have been caused by the heavy rains being experienced across the country.

This is a very crucial matter that touches on national security. There are so many people who have died so far since heavy rains started last October. Last night, there were so many reported incidents all over the country, including Machakos County, Tana River, Isiolo and Marsabit counties. Even in Nairobi, I know of so many roads that have been closed because of the same issues touching on heavy rains.

I congratulate Members for supporting me early this morning when I gave notice of the Motion. We need to give solutions. Let us look for ways and means of curbing the incidents so that we check on the losses. We have lost so many Kenyans. I have heard many ministries and departments telling Kenyans to move to higher grounds but I do not know whether they have the financial capacity to move the affected Kenyans who have been advised to move. In my constituency, for example, along the Nandi Escarpment in Kapchorwa Ward, I have over 100 homesteads that have been told to move. Some have since been forced to move by landslides.

We have so many departments under the Ministry of Devolution and Planning. One of them is the State Department for Special Programmes.

We have the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) that is directly concerned with disasters. One thing that is very unfortunate is that they do not have the resources. I appreciate the efforts that have been made by the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and many other organisations that have helped so many Kenyans. Without them, we should have lost more Kenyans. We have so far lost so many Kenyans. Were it not for the efforts made by the KRCS and the very few organisations that have tried to help Kenyans, we would have lost so many. I call upon Members of this House that as you support this Adjournment Motion, let us give a solution. We can even set up a special committee of this House to look into these matters. They touch on many other departments. It is not just about security. It touches on health. The issue of mosquitoes at the moment is a disaster. Many Kenyans are at risk of contracting malaria.

Because of time and I want many Members to contribute on this matter, let us give a way forward. We are very hysterical of these issues of floods. We have seen so many in Nyando, Nyanza and many other regions four or five years ago. Our NDMA is not ready; even after we have faced this challenge over and over again. We should now come up with a permanent solution. That is so that in future we have a disaster management authority that is ready to address these issues so that we stop losing Kenyans.

A certified version of this Report

As I conclude, I want to send a message of condolences to the families that have lost lives. As I speak, over 100 families have lost individuals in their homes. I think it is over 100 people who have lost lives. It is very unfortunate. As I move, I ask the Hon. Members from Mugirango South to second.

The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu): We do not second Motions like this. It is a Motion for Adjournment under Standing Order No. 33. Of course, the Mover sought leave for this and the Speaker gave this hour to discuss this matter of urgent national importance. The other Members will have only five minutes to speak to this as per the resolution of the House.

I will give you a chance to speak, not as a Seconder as proposed by Hon. Keter. Just speak to it.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Actually, I was rising on a point of order. I was not really going to second the Motion. I was to propose the timing and the timelines or time allocations for contribution considering that this is a matter of grave concern and the time allocation is about 60 minutes or even less. Members want to contribute. I propose that we limit contribution time to about a maximum of three minutes, kindly.

The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu) : Hon. Members, this being a matter of national importance and, I am sure every Member wants to speak to it, the vote lies on you Members; therefore, he has rightfully done it at the start.

Hon. Hulufo Oda, Member for Isiolo North.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I would like to thank Hon. Keter for bringing up this Adjournment Motion. As Kenyans, we should realise that we are facing a very serious humanitarian crisis occasioned by the heavy rains we have received across the country.

I want to draw attention of the Members to a Press release by the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) in form of a seasonal forecast which I feel was very misleading. The Press release was done on 19th February. It painted a seasonal forecast of depressed rainfall. What we have received is contrary to what they forecasted. Probably, this came about as a result of use of obsolete equipment in which case the Departmental Committee on Environment and Natural Resources needs to consider proper funding for that institution. Of course, they corrected that when they gave us updates of rain forecasts in March, April and so on and so forth.

As we speak, the office for coordination of humanitarian assistance of the United Nations, stated that 211,000 Kenyans are displaced while 72 are reported dead. I am sure there are many deaths which are not reported, especially from Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) where the media has no access. Out of these, it is only 10,000 Kenyans who have been reached by some form of support through the KRCS. That accounts for only 4 per cent. This tells us the importance of us discussing this as an issue of concern. About 8,450 acres of land are already submerged.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, because my time is up and I have a lot of important data, most importantly, from past experiences we are likely to have an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever. We need to be on the alert. We need to support the relevant Government agencies with adequate resources as we look at the Supplementary Budget. We need to allocate adequate

A certified version of this Report resources to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and those other ministries which deal with disaster responses.

Thank you very much. The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu): Thank you. Hon. Iringo Kubai, Member for Igembe Central.

Thank you Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me this opportunity to support this Adjournment Motion by Hon. Keter. I thank him for the same. We have a problem in Kenya. We cry every time. We had an Adjournment Motion in February when we were crying over drought. Now, we have another Adjournment Motion crying of rain. I do not know where we fit. All in all, it is a disaster as it is being said. I have just read in the breaking news today that around 200 students will not be reporting to school in Tana River because they cannot access their schools. The schools are submerged. This is happening all over the country. There is no road in Suswa, Mai Mahiu and many other places.

We need to have a proper disaster management committee in this country. More so, because of the much rain, I request the Government to use the Kenya Defence Forces’ officers and their equipment to assist where possible. Let them provide choppers. The National Youth Service (NYS) and their machinery should be used to mitigate this disaster. The National Treasury should be compelled to set aside funds for every constituency to repair roads. I believe there is no constituency which has any passable earth road as we talk. Most of the roads have been swept. As a way of mitigating the same, in this Supplementary Budget and the Budgets to come, we should put extra funds as an emergency fund so that each constituency gets money to repair these roads. Once the rains subside in June as it is said, we will have no roads in our constituencies. It is important we get that money to do the roads.

There are those schools that have been marooned. There are families which have been marooned. They need to be compensated in one way or another. At the end of the day, let us not only rely on the KRCS. The Government has to come in strongly.

Because of time, I support the Adjournment Motion. The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu) : Hon. Member for Saboti, Hon. Luyai Amisi?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I also rise to support this Motion by Hon. Keter. It is timely. Mother Nature has once again unleashed wraths to our nation, and this time it is very devastating. It is not just the usual victims of such calamities. We have had constituencies like mine, Saboti Constituency, where a bridge that was under construction collapsed and we had serious effects and even one person died. Somebody may wonder why we are talking about disaster management when we have metrological department, a full-fledged parastatal which is under operation using States resources and taxpayers’ money. Are they doing their work? What is the role of the meteorological department in weather forecast and in trying to predict the climatical and weather changes in this country? If they are doing their work and if they are giving the information, how is the dissemination of the information to the public? Are we made aware of the weather forecast? Those are the questions we should be asking. I support this because where I come from learning has been paralysed. Students are not accessing schools. The bridges that connect the roads have become impassable; the boda boda operators cannot do that anymore. So the effects are beyond measure. We are looking at a country that never learns from history. We should not be a country that never learns from history. They say, if you do the same mistake over and over again and expect different

A certified version of this Report results, you can only be termed stupid. We are wondering whether Mother Nature is feeling lonely and needs father nature. I support this Motion and I call upon the relevant departments especially the Meteorological Department to explain as a matter of urgency. Thank you.

The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu): Well said. For Members who were not present in the morning, this Motion of Adjournment pertains the heavy rains in most parts of the country and the Member was seeking for the State Department of Special Programmes to look at precautionary measures that can be employed to deal with such disasters.

The Motion is by Hon. Keter. Hon. Cecily Mbarire.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Motion and congratulate the Mover, Hon. Alfred Keter. It has been a very tough time for Kenya to watch Kenyans die due to floods, to watch little being done in terms of mitigation and to see that as Government, we are reacting other than being proactive in protecting our people. Obviously, the Metrological Department has a role in ensuring that they give a clear picture of what to expect. They said that we would have heavy rains in parts of this country. In most parts of this country the rains have turned out to be heavier than they had predicted. Going forward, we need clear mitigation efforts by Government because we know with climate change we are likely to witness this kind of excess and extreme weather conditions going forward, so that we are not caught off guard or we are not saying that we are unable to deal with situations. We now know that we have a real problem that we have to deal with going forward. I think it is upon the responsible ministries to prepare themselves adequately when we expect these heavy rains. I remember in the last Parliament we still had the same heavy rains and we passed Supplementary Budget to ensure that the Ministry in charge of infrastructure had adequate money to respond to the various infrastructural challenges that came because of the heavy rains. The question is, why do we have to wait until the rains are here, then we start to cry and ask for money? Going forward, we need to make sure that we have more money in our Budget for such moments so that we take care of farmers. Now most of the crops are rotting. We are likely to witness serious drought and hunger in the near future because most of the crops especially where I come from, are rotting in the farms because of excess rains. So we need to prepare ourselves and stop coming back to this House to complain about certain things not going right, when we should have done something about it.

With those few remarks, I beg to support. The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu) : Member for Lamu.

Asante sana, Naibu Spika wa Muda kwa kunipatia nafasi hii ili niweze kuchangia Hoja hii. Kwanza ningependa kumpongeza Mhe. Alfred Keter kwa kuileta.

Lamu County iko na tatizo hili. Wabunge wakisimama wanataja Tana River, Garissa na sehemu nyingine, lakini hawataji Lamu. Kuna miji mitatu pia ambayo inafurika kule Lamu; Moa, Chalaluma na Dide Waride. Kama majirani wa Tana River Kaunti wakipata tatizo, inabidi waje Lamu. Kwa hivyo,Wizara ikifanya mipango yoyote wajue kuna Lamu County. Tunashukuru Red Cross kwa usaidizi wao kwa wananchi. Kuna wanyama kama ng’ombe na hata binadamu ambao walikua wamefungiwa na maji, imebidi watolewe. Mashamba yameharibika na maji yamefika kwa manyumba. Kuna watu wanatolewa sasa hivi, wamepewa ilani watoke maeneo yao na waende maeneo mengine. Serikali kupitia kwa Wizara ya Special Planning inafanya kazi nzuri. Wizara inayohusika na usalama ni kubwa sana, ikipewa majukumu kama haya, yatapotelea humo. Ningeomba Wizara ya Special Planning ipate kusaidia

A certified version of this Report watu wetu. Watu wana shida, watoto hawaendi shuleni, watu wana njaa, kuna shida ya mbu na tunahitaji neti na chakula pia.

Naunga mkono Hoja hii. Asante. The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu): Member for Kibwezi West, you are the next on my request list. I am aware some of your people are on the tanks.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I must thank Hon. Keter for coming up with this Adjournment Motion. It is true that parts of our shared constituency are under water. The concern is about mitigation. We have seen these cycles for the last 100 years. The issue is about documentation and anticipation on how to best deal with it. Within every Budget, we should leave a certain percentage to deal with emergencies. What we are not defining is how to deal with the disaster as and when it kicks in. I would like to implore on the State Department for Special Programmes to step up. As we move forward, we should come up with mechanisms which deal with what is critical. Is it infrastructure in terms of roads or insecurity which should come first? We should pursue this as matter of urgency that as we have taken leave to discuss this issue, we should simply say that even NG-CDF can respond and partner with State Department for Special Programmes. That would be immediate and right across the board, so that all the Members are able to bring their proposals which will be acted upon by the Government. As we move forward, we need to propose as a House and within the committee of NG-CDF that State Department for Special Programmes immediately disburses funds that address what has just happened within the Republic.

Without further ado, I would like to allow other Members to contribute to this important Motion. That is where I will leave it. Thank you.

The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu) : Thank you, Hon. Musimba. Hon. Rasso.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I also want to take the shortest time possible. I think what we lack is leadership. In this House we have a committee that should be able to summon both interior and special programmes. Coming from northern Kenya, I think the face of disaster response is Red Cross Society. I think it is high time this House approved that Red Cross should be given funds so that they are able to work for this country, because at any time instead of seeing a CS, you see the face of Abbas Gullet. That is how important Red Cross has become.

More importantly, I think there are issues of health. There are no roads. Many of the settlements, particularly in northern Kenya, are impassable now. They can only be supported through lifts by helicopters, which we cannot afford, leave alone the people. Even we as leaders are actually very helpless. So, we call upon the Government to show leadership in this particular instance.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The Temporary Deputy Speaker

: The Member for Mandera North is next on my list.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Keter for bringing this Motion. This is very critical. We have come from a period of drought, now we are in a period of flooding. We have had too much of drought, now we are having too much of rain. The unfortunate part is that we are not thinking so much about the catchment measures for the heavy rains that have occurred.

In Mandera North, where I come from, and north eastern in general, we never used to have roads. Now the few ones that we thought we had have now been washed away. Imagine

A certified version of this Report that kind of situation where you have no roads, you had something similar to roads and they have been washed away. This is really a disaster. Places where they have had tarmacked roads have also been hit hard. You can imagine tarmacs have been hit hard, what about places where there is no tarmac?

The other aspect on which I want to support my colleague from Marsabit is that Red Cross is actually the face of responding to these disasters. The unfortunate part is that they do not get any government funding for these kinds of actions. It is time, as he said, that we must appropriate funds for the Kenya Red Cross, because they are in every village and every location of this country. So as a House we need to stand with the Red Cross so that they can be in the forefront addressing these matters.

Above all, we also have equipment belonging to KDF. The other day, the Suswa-Mai Mahiu Road was cut off. We have capacity for mobile bridges that can be deployed for people not to be stranded. It is high time some of these big machines lying in warehouses and yards were used. They have also been bought by taxpayers’ money. In Mandera, we had people being cut off; they cannot reach the other side because the bridge was washed away. And we have no equipment to respond. So, this is very critical. We need to talk about how to make use of these heavy rains and flooding so that we can use them positively.

Thank you. I support. The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. Ms. Mbalu): The Member for Mwea.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The Temporary Deputy Speaker

: No. You just came in; I saw you come in. We follow a request list which is here. It is not about a handshake.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for protecting us against people who pop in and just press a button for a point of order for the purpose of contributing before others. I want to support this Adjournment Motion and in particular I would want to bring to the attention of this House…

The Temporary Deputy Speaker

: Hon. Simba Arati, I can tell you from where I sit there is nothing which is out of order. But let me hear what you have to say.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Is it in order for you to be too biased the way you are in terms of giving opportunity? I know you have all the discretion to decide that one side of the House will contribute to this Motion.

Hon. Simba Arati, you are actually out of order. Hon. Simba, you are the one who is out of order. You have just walked into this Chamber and you cannot be given preference. There is a list of requests and you cannot purport to say that I am biased. We have a free sitting in this Chamber. So, you can sit on either side of the House. You are a Member and we have requests.

Hon. Member for Mwea, sorry for interruption.

Thank you. You have saved us from the agony we normally undergo from some of the guys who walk in and they want to talk before...

A certified version of this Report

I would like to speak on this Adjournment Motion specifically about some of the low level disasters that we have out there that go unnoticed. I say this knowing that we have large scale effects of the ongoing rains in Tana River and elsewhere but we also have some low level effects.

In my constituency, we have settlement setups in form of villages and what we refer to as canals for rice growing. We have a lot of adverse effects from the ongoing rains and as we speak, I have an area in South Ngariama where more than 20 families have been displaced. We have areas called Wamumu, Kiandegwa, Siagini and Gaturi where families have been displaced. Because these are low level areas where people do not expect that we have these adverse effects from the ongoing rains, we normally do not get assistance when others do.

I support this Motion and request that even as we look for solutions, we must also look at some of these areas. I am struggling with my emergency fund in the NG-CDF to see what I can do but that is not enough and I cannot help my constituents. So, I support and propose that we make a budget that we can be drawing from when we come to some of these effects of the rain as well as prepare ourselves and not wait until we do the fire fighting.

I support. The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. Mbalu) : For record purposes I must correct Hon. Simba Arati. You can sit anywhere in this House. Any Member can sit on either side of the House, it does not matter where.

Hon. Simba Arati you are out of order. You have just come in this Chamber. Hon. Simba Arati, I will throw you out of this House.

Hon. Cecily Mbarire, it is the Speaker who is in charge. Let us have the Member for Tigania West.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to this Motion.

I came from Tigania West this morning and I ran away because the situation is impossible for me to handle because the effects of the rains are too much. There are floods all over, people have lost property, houses and livestock. They have been displaced. There is destruction of infrastructure and bridges have been washed away. I speak from a region that is not very famous with the Red Cross. Most of the time, the Red Cross does not respond to some of these areas. They may not know what is happening in Tigania West. I have more than seven locations which have already been affected and more than 300 families have been displaced. Some of them have been ring-fenced by the rains. They do not know how to swim. They do not have canoes. They have never lived in such conditions and so they do not know what to do.

Another issue which is devastating is the fact that the effects will last longer because crops have been destroyed by the extended rains. As a country we should look into this and ask ourselves whether we are prepared to feed our people. All the beans are destroyed and maize has stunted. As we consider how much to give the relevant Ministry, we should ask ourselves whether it will take care of this situation right now. We should look for long term solutions because we are likely to face food insecurity due to the prolonged rains. Healthcare has

A certified version of this Report deteriorated and people are suffering from malaria and bilharzia because of floods. We need to declare this a national disaster so that a national disaster response mechanism can be put in place to salvage our people.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu): Hon. Members, at my own discretion I will add five more minutes to the adjournment time of the House. Let us have the Member for Rangwe.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. Allow me to take this opportunity to thank Hon. Keter for this beautiful Motion and I rise to support. It is unfortunate that Kenyans are forgetful. It is not the first time we are having flash flood problems, this keeps recurring but we have never put in place serious and sustainable measures to mitigate this. Allow me to also challenge our engineering system because they do work that cannot sustain some of these basic natural causes.

For example, the basic box culverts usually in my constituency have gone with the floods. Money is paid towards this work and it is inspected but anytime it rains, areas are not accessible. I want to urge our technicians in the engineering field and contractors to do a good job because it always rains and drought follows. I also take this opportunity to thank the Kenya Red Cross, during these times we remember it exists because we need help in managing disaster. We also forget that the Kenya Red Cross also does other beautiful projects during drought. I want to inform my colleagues that they are co-funding projects in water, sanitation, health and food security. This is a good Motion and I support it. I can see my time is up but as Kenyans we should come up with sustainable mitigation measures.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu) : The Member for Galole, one minute.

The Member for Galole

: Asante sana, Mhe. Naibu Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipatia fursa hii. Jambo la kwanza kabisa, kwa sababu ni mara yangu ya kwanza kuzungumza hapa Bungeni ni kuwashukuru watu wa Galole kwa kunichagua. Pili, kwa sababu ya muda, vile unavyojua Kaunti ya Tana River kila wakati kuna janga la mafuriko ama ukame. Shida imetupata huko Tana River na imetuathiri sana. Hivi sasa, asilimia sabini ya kaunti yetu iko ndani ya maji. Nilitoka huko jana na watu wengi katika eneo Bunge langu katika wodi za Wayu, Mikinduni, Chewani na Kora wako ndani ya maji. Hivi sasa, watu wamezungukwa na maji na watu kumi na nne hawajulikani waliko.

Kuna sehemu nyingi ambazo barabara pia zimeharibika. Tumepewa chakula kidogo na Serikali lakini hatujui vile chakula hicho kinaweza kuwafikia walioathirika. Tumepewa chopper na Serikali lakini imeharibika. Mpaka sasa watu wako kwa shida. Kwa hivyo, tunaomba kitengo cha Serikali kilichopewa nafasi hii wasaidie sehemu zilizoathirika katika kaunti ya Tana River.

The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. (Ms.) Mbalu) : Thank you, Hon. Member for your maiden speech.

Hon. Members, I must appreciate that this is indeed a matter of national importance. Every hon. Member present wants to speak. I have nine more requests despite the fact that I did add five more minutes to this session. I have requests from the Member for Runyenjes, the Member for Nandi Hills, the Member for Kajiado, Hon. Teiyaa; Hon. Ongera Janet, Hon. Waweru Kiarie, the Member for Buuri; Hon. Leshoomo; Hon. Oluoch, Member for Mathare; Hon. Muturi King’angi, Member for Mbeere South; and Hon. Ibrahim Abdisalan, Member for

A certified version of this Report Wajir North. All these Members are ready to contribute to this Motion. Thank you for the requests, but our time has lapsed.