Thursday, 26th May 2022

Sergeant-at-Arms to ring the Quorum Bell.

.Hon. Speaker: Very well. Hon. Members, we now have the requisite quorum. I have a feeling that the incoming Parliament may have to consider whether it is necessary to have quorum at all times even if you are not voting. The practice in many jurisdictions of the world is that quorum is only necessary when you are making a decision. It is one of the things that may require to be tested through some judicial pronouncements to avoid a situation where the House sits, makes certain decisions, then somebody says it was insufficiently quorated. We may commence.

Member for Mwatate, tafadhali. Member for Tiaty, please, be in the House.

respective exit reports during the sittings of the House of Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th June 2022.

This requirement also applies to the recognised parliamentary caucuses and friendship groups provided for in Standing Order No.259A. In addition, the Clerk of the National Assembly shall, in due course, issue formal notification to all Members on the usual transition arrangements and clearance processes by individual Members ahead of the end of the term of this Parliament.

The House is accordingly guided.

Let us have the Deputy Speaker.

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

The 5th Report of the Procedure and House Rules Committee on amendments to the Standing Orders.

I hope Members take note of that. It is good to look at that Report. I have heard some of you quite confidently and proudly say that you are only waiting to be sworn in, on or before 9th September 2022. Those of you that have made that decision to be back here, please, look at that Report and see the proposals for amendments to the Standing Orders to be applied by the 13th Parliament, as is the tradition. It is the normal tradition. Next week, we will sit here to debate that Report as well as go through the proposals to amend certain aspects of the Standing Orders.

The Vice-Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Energy was supposed to table a Report on Public Petition No.002 of 2022 by Mwangaza Abunya Community Development Group. Who is the current Chairperson of that Committee? There have been so many changes such that you can hardly tell who is who. Is Hon. Kioni the Chairperson? He must have decided to exit. Inform him that he will be required to present an exit report, even as he exits from the Committee. He should have a Vice-Chairperson. Is that not it? Is there any other Member of the Committee who could act as an agent of necessity?

Very well. Let us move to the next Order.

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

THAT this House adopts the 5th Report of the Procedure and House Rules Committee on amendments to the Standing Orders, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 26th May 2022, and pursuant to provisions of Standing Order No.264, approves the proposed amendments to the Standing Orders as contained in the 5th Schedule to the Report, and further resolves that:

Very well. Member for Mvita, are you through with the Afternoon Session? Hon. Members, before we go to Questions and Statements, allow me to recognise the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery, of students from Ogande Girls High School from Homa Bay Town Constituency in Homa Bay County. They are welcome to observe the proceedings of the House this afternoon.

Hon. Members, I am only able to see what is on the screen. That means that people must have their cards with them. Has Hon. Wanga forgotten how to use her card? Hon. Gladys Wanga, because I know you have some other business, please proceed.

Thank you so much, Hon. Speaker. I have been in the village quite a bit and I can be forgiven for missing my card. I take this opportunity to welcome girls from Ogande Girls in Homa Bay County. We are really proud of this school because it also produced Her Excellency Dr. Ida Odinga. She schooled here. So, we are really proud of them and I use this opportunity to encourage them to work hard and remain disciplined. They will move from sitting up there to sitting down here, one day. The sky is the lower limit.

I thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Very well. The Member for Nyando, what have you to say about the school?

Hon. Speaker, in the same breath, allow me to join you in welcoming our beautiful girls from Ogande Girls, which is an infamous school known for its academic prowess and we…

Infamous?

Well, famous and infamous mean the same thing just like flammable and inflammable. I welcome them to the august House. As my sister Gladys Wanga has said, the incoming First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, Mama Ida Odinga schooled there. So, it is a testament that this is not a school of mean repute. We want to encourage them to focus on their studies, not necessarily to come to this august House, but to engage in other professions that will ultimately make them better and responsible citizens.

Hon. Speaker, if you allow me, I had put this intervention a little earlier before this. Just give me one minute to say that the National Police Service (NPS) has continued to do a splendid job protecting the citizens and their property. I read a response by the NPS about one Member of the Senate who made unsavoury remarks about them. This is utterly unacceptable. They have continued to protect our lives. Members of this House continue to have 24-hour protection by the NPS. For one to demean the participatory role of the police service is utterly unacceptable.

Therefore, on behalf of the Members of this House and Members of the Senate, let me express our apologies and say what that particular Senator said is not representative of…

Sorry, Hon. Members, let me just caution you. I know many of you are beginning to forget our rules as you near the exit. Surely, to talk about a sitting Senator without a substantive motion, is not allowed. You should not…

There is no debate on this. Sorry, Hon. Kilonzo no debate. Next Order! Hon. Kilonzo we will hear you, but not now. I have noticed a trend that we spend close to 15 minutes ringing the Quorum Bell. As soon as we attain quorum, within five minutes we again

lose it. I will allow you to raise your point of order. Allow me to rearrange business so I can put the Question on some of the businesses. Please, before we go to Order No. 7 and the points of orders, we go to business appearing as Order Nos. 9 and 10, which I believe is the reason Hon. Wanga is around.

Hon. Kilonzo do not quarrel with me. I am able to see when we are likely to lose quorum. So, it is for good measure. Hon. Members, debate on this Motion was concluded yesterday and what remained was the Question to be put which could not be put because there was no quorum. Now, that we have quorum and before we lose it, let me put the Question.

Next Order!

Please, take your seats. Hon. Gladwell Cheruiyot you can assume your role of the… Hon. Members, again, debate on this motion was concluded and what remained was the Question to be put which I hereby do.

Hon. Members, we can now go to the next Order.

Order, Hon. Members. Before you leave, there is a request, which I think is fair on the Business appearing as Order No.12. Can the Clerk call it out?

Hon. Members, this Question relates to an amendment proposed to this Report by the Leader of Majority Party.

Hon. Members, let me go ahead and put the Question.

The Member for Roysambu – the royal suburbs - it may well be in your constituency, but remember at this stage you really have no role. I can read the Report as it is, as prepared by the Committee on Implementation, but it is that Report that the Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Kimunya, wishes to amend. The amendment was moved but the Question was not put on account that there was no quorum. Now that the House has quorum, and so that we can be able to progress this Motion, as amended or in its original form...

Hon. Members, let me just read a portion of the Motion for those of you who may not know. This Report is titled... It is assumed that Members are aware of the amendment moved by the Leader of the Majority.

It is never the business of the Chair to keep reading everything; it is assumed that Members are constantly updated. It is now the proposal by Hon. Kimunya, the Leader of the Majority Party, which I will be putting the Question on:

THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Implementation on its consideration of the implementation status of the Reports of the Departmental Committee on Lands, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, on the following subjects-

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations regarding Visa fees collected from unsuccessful Kenyans who apply to travel abroad.

It is of great concern that Kenyans intending to travel to destinations out of the country are subjected to a very expensive Visa application process. It costs a hardworking Kenyan an average of USD160 which is around Kshs20,000, for a USA Visa; USD128 for a UK Visa; USD96 for a Schengen Visa; and USD116 for a Canadian Visa just to mention but a few. Out of the numerous Kenyans who apply for these Visas, only a few are successful.

It is against this background, that I seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations on the following:

I thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Tong’i and the Chairman of the Defense and Foreign Relations Committee, how long do you think you will take?

We will look into it, Hon. Speaker. We should be able to get a response in two weeks.

Very well. Two weeks it is. Next is a Statement by the Leader of the Majority Party on behalf of the House Business Committee (HBC) . The Majority Whip.

Thank you, Hon Speaker. I am rising on behalf of the Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No. 44 (2) (a) , I rise to give a Statement on behalf of the House Business Committee (HBC) , which met on Tuesday 23rd May, 2022 to prioritise business for consideration.

As Members may have noted, a significant portion of the House’s time has been allocated to consideration of the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2022/2023. I am glad that several Members made significant contributions to this crucial business during the general debate on both the Annual Estimates and the Finance Bill 2022. Currently, we are at the Committee of Supply stage in accordance with the provisions of Section 39 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 and Standing Order No. 239. I, therefore, urge Members to be patient today and support the House in finalising the critical part of the Budget approval process.

On Tuesday next week, the following business has been scheduled for consideration:

Very well.

On a Point of Order, Hon. Speaker.

What is your point of order, Hon. Pukose?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. As you are aware, Wednesday next week will be Madaraka Day. Apparently, the letters for invitation that I have seen, seem to have been sent only to the Kieleweke and the Azimio side of the Members of Parliament. I do not know whether the Kenya Kwanza team are not supposed to attend the Madaraka Day celebrations. These letters of invitation are coming from the Office of the President. The Cabinet Secretary and the Permanent Secretary in that docket should not be partisan. They are earning from taxpayers’ money by being in that Office. Everybody is supposed to celebrate that day. Considering that this will be the last ceremony for this Government, it is important that all sides of the political divide are invited to that celebration. I do not know whether Parliament has a way of inviting Members to the celebrations. That is my concern.

You know Parliament was only able to invite Members for the National Prayer Breakfast and not for any function that is from the Executive. Hon. Abdullswamad.

Hon. Speaker, the Hon. Member needs to clarify. He has accused the Office of the President for sidelining others. He has no authority to speak on behalf of the Kieleweke side as he has called them. He should just say that he has not been invited and he wishes to be invited. I am aware of other people who may have a different political view and school of thought who have been invited. He is asking for Parliament’s indulgence so that he can be invited. It is true that some people are going to enjoy such privileges for the last time. Maybe he will be on this other side in the next Jamhuri Day. You need to rule whether he has the authority to speak on behalf of Kieleweke. Some of us do not get amused by these invitations; we have not been invited and we are not complaining because we intend to go to our constituencies to celebrate with our constituents.

Hon. Kabinga Wachira.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. We are in a very sensitive time in our country. It is important as leaders, to check what we publicly say. Otherwise, we will be adding to that sensitivity. As a conflict expert, I know some of the things that can cause us problems in this country. On these invitations, I have not been invited. However, I am aware that they are doing it in batches. My brother here is looking for airtime before time. He should just wait for the batch that he is included to be invited. I am yet to be invited too. Once we are invited, we will be with him. Let him not look for airtime in this House to bring up a very sensitive matter and talk about the Office of the President. He knows why he had done that.

Hon. Members, now that Hon. Kabinga says he has information ---

I have not been invited. I know they are doing it in batches. I am not complaining

You Know? I do not know myself.

Well, I also do not know but since people have been receiving invitations on a daily basis, my brother could be having his at the reception. He should go and check.

On a Point of Order, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Pukose, what is your Point of Order?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Is the Member in order to insinuate that I am looking for airtime? For your information, I am the Member of Parliament for Endebess Constituency. I raised that as a representative of the people to ask on

behalf of my coalition which has not received any invitation. He says it is a sensitive matter. Invitation to a Madaraka Day Celebration is not a sensitive matter. It only becomes a matter of concern when one side, the Azimio team, is invited and the other side, Kenya Kwanza, is not invited. He is claiming that he has information. Can he substantiate that information?

Hon. Passaris. Let us hear the voice of a lady.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Sometimes there are delays in invitations. As the Nairobi County Women Representative, I have not received my invitation for Madaraka day celebrations on 1st June. So, I am not looking at it like it will not come. We should just let things to flow as they are supposed to. I do not think there is any concern. I got my invitation for the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday. Sometimes they are just delays. It does not mean that anyone is being side-lined. As you saw today, we all went for the National Prayer Breakfast yet there were people who were saying that they will not be invited because the invitations were coming from the Speaker’s office. I told them to just wait and we all got our invitations.

As we prayed for the nation today, we prayed for peace, understanding, forgiveness, and elections where we will all accept the winners. Let us maintain the same spirit as on the National Prayer Day, when we talked about forgiveness and moving our country forward. Let us not incite each other and our constituents.

We have to be people of integrity as leaders. We need to understand that whatever we say affects and impacts those at the grassroots, who suffer every time. As the Nairobi County Women Representative, I want every leader to be wary of what they say because when people die in this country, it is not our children. It is the children of those who come out to queue and vote for us. Let us conduct ourselves in a manner that does not make it look like we are up in arms against each other.

We had the National Prayer Day today. Let us keep the spirit of those prayers where we saw that we can actually rise as leaders and put God first. I ask Dr. Pukose to believe that his invitation will be there. I look forward to being there and sitting next to you on 1st June.

Thank you and God bless you.

Let us have Hon. Ndindi Nyoro.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I share the same concerns with the Member for Endebess. We have seen a very bad trend of trivialising very important State affairs. It is foolhardy for us to try and trivialise such an important day in our country like Madaraka Day, especially for people in the interior. It is important to note that Kenyans follow some of those issues. It had previously been communicated that the celebrations this year would be held at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu. We can change the venue, but not the date. It would have been more accommodating to move the venue to a stadium within Kiambu County. We read a lot of politics in the entire process. Even the choice of venue is for political convenience for some people and leaders in our country. I know they will be shocked as they have been before in trying to choose venues they think are convenient for their politics. It is important for us to observe these days with the importance they deserve. The choice of venue should accommodate as many Kenyans as possible since it is the last Madaraka Day, especially for our outgoing President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. It would have been more convenient to choose a venue that can accommodate many Kenyans so that we bid goodbye to the outgoing President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.

Let us have Hon. Makali Mulu.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. When I listen to some of the things that we push forward to Kenyans when we are in this House, they degrade this House. On a serious note, I have been getting a card every year and I have never attended a single day. Here I am, 10 years down the line. I do not know why you want to make things which are not important seem so. You can attend the celebrations in your constituency. Those who want cards can come to me and I will give you mine so that you can attend.

Very well. Because the Office of the Speaker is not involved in the invitations or even the arrangements for national days, the matter can only rest there. There is nothing I can do. I have told Members who want to speak not to raise their hands. There is nothing to discuss. Hon. Pukose just raised the issue of whether invitations were being extended selectively. I have no answer for that. What view? Hon. Charles Kilonzo Mutavi, are you the one extending invitations?

Hon. Speaker, my colleague, Hon. Passaris, put it very well, and so did Hon. Makali. Thirty thousand Kenyans have been invited over the radio. You do not have to be treated so specially. The problem is that you get elected and then start treating yourself in a very special way. My advice to those Members who complain frequently and constantly is to, please, see a therapist. He or she will help you know how to live a simple life.

Very well. Let us go to business. Let us go to the next Order. You want to prolong this and yet, you have a lot of business. Hon. Wangwe, proceed.

Next Order!

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

THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Orders No.30 (3) (a) , this House orders that should the time appointed for adjournment of the House be reached before conclusion of business appearing under Order No.13, which is Committee of Supply, on today’s Order Paper, the Sitting of the House shall stand extended until the conclusion of the said business. The import of this Motion is that under normal circumstances, the House shall rise at 7.00

The Members who are exiting the Chamber, we are almost getting into the Committee of Supply. The normal practice is that this House should be full, particularly with all chairpersons and deputies of various departmental committees. The Committee of Supply is a function of the ministries which you oversee and so, we expect the chairpersons of all committees to be present, starting with the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, the Departmental Committee on Energy and all the others.

I do not want to begin conducting literacy classes on issues at the tail-end of the 12th Parliament. This is the time that chairpersons of various departmental committees will show that

they understand and follow what is allocated to the ministries or departments that they oversee. I am surprised that I do not see many chairpersons.

Anyway, proceed Hon. Wangwe.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. You have put it very clearly to my colleagues. In line with what we underwent this morning during the National Prayer Breakfast where forgiveness was the key towards transition, this House, especially the leadership where I sit, should seek an apology from the Members of the House. You should forgive us for giving you some chairpersons who do not appear. Most are in the House.

With those few remarks, I beg to move and ask the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee to second.

Let us have Hon. Kanini Kega.

Thank you so much, Hon. Speaker. I rise to second this very important Procedural Motion. To re-emphasise what you have said, we are going to a very critical stage of budget-making. As you have clearly said, I beseech Members to be here, especially the chairpersons, to make sure that, as we supply to the ministries, they know exactly what is going there, so that they can do proper oversight.

I beg to second.

There is no contribution to this.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker. We do not have quorum.

No.

Very well. Hon. Members, you know the issue of quorum can be raised at whatever stage. Any Member can rise in his place and claim there is no quorum. The requirement is that the Speaker shall ascertain and if there is no quorum, order that the Quorum Bell be rung. I confirm that the House does not have 50 Members. Ring the Quorum Bell.

Very well. Hon. Members, take your seats.

Hon. Members, again at the request of the Vice-Chair of the Departmental Committee on Energy, I permit her to table the documents she was supposed to. I just want to remind her to always be here at 2.30 p.m.

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

The Report of the Departmental Committee on Energy on its consideration of Public Petition No.002 of 2022 by Mwangaza Abunya Community Development Group regarding the

degradation of the environment along Sondu Miriu Dam due to failure by KenGen Company to fully comply with the Environment Impact Assessment of 1995.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Very well. That was Order No.5, and we are through with it. Next Order.

Hon. Members, before we go to Order No.13, I have just looked at the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, (National Assembly Bill No. 26 of 2022) and I do not know whether the people responsible… Majority Whip, maybe, you could find out. It is very untidy to claim to amend 56 laws through one Bill. This House has expressed itself severally – it is a very untidy way of going about it – and especially at the tail end of a Parliament. Even though the Bill stands committed to various committees, I even do not know which one, because there are so many laws being amended. It looks like a hotchpotch of everything. The Copy Right Law which was passed the other day is being proposed to be amended; and so is the Kenya Human Rights Commission; the Energy Act; and many others. Somebody must say where this Bill would be referred to, and who is going to undertake the requisite public participation because there are so many laws that are being amended. But that is just an observation. I wanted to know from Hon. ole Kenta, with this Motion having been…

The debate on this Motion can proceed with the Mover being called upon to reply. Clerk- at-the-Table, please, call out Order No.12.

The Question had been put and the amendment had been carried and so, it is the Mover to reply. Hon. ole Kenta, Chair of the Committee of Implementation.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Members for supporting this Motion. It will go a long way in addressing historical land injustices especially in a place like the Central Province. I would like to urge the Cabinet Secretary to do what he is supposed to do, and not to punish the ordinary Kenyans who are suffering.

The amendment has been carried, and I respect the decision of the House. It is also not fair for this House to let Cabinet Secretaries to go scot free when they are fighting this House so much so that it is now acting in vain. We will, however, respect what has happened, and urge the people of Kandara to follow up on their rights, and ensure that they get what they have lacked for the last 60 years. That is even before Independence.

I would like to thank the House, and the Members, and I beg to reply.

Are you able to take a seat please? Hon. Members, I am being forced to think that the 11th Parliament was a bit more active at this time of the year than this 12th Parliament. I now put the Question on this Motion as amended. Remember you carried the amendment.

Resolved accordingly: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Implementation on its consideration of the implementation status of the Reports of the Departmental Committee on Lands, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, on the following subjects-

Very well. Let us proceed.

Hon. Members let me just remind you that the Committee of Supply is not the same as the Committee of the Whole House. There is nobody who seems to be familiar with this. It is a Motion

which was to be done in supply but, alongside that Motion, was the inclusion that the Hon. Speaker, now leave the Chair. It is not literally leaving the Chair. I am sure this must be confusing to some of you. Hon. Members, as I had indicated earlier, when we move to the Committee of Supply, I expect various chairpersons to, please, be available because you need to know what is being supplied to the various Ministries and Departments which you oversight.

(Hon. Onyango Oyoo and Hon. Elisha Odhiambo consulted loudly) The Members for Muhoroni and Gem, you need to know what is being supplied to the Ministries that you oversee and be able to follow when they do not do what they are supposed to. Very well. We go to the Committee on Supply.

(The Speaker consulted the Clerks-at-the Table) Hon. Members, to again inform the House, remember that you have already passed the Procedural Motion on extension of time. You are now required to sit until the conclusion of the business appearing as Order No.13, so that this First Allotted Day could also serve as the Second and Third. Very well.

Order Members! Please the Members walking out of the Chamber do so in a quiet manner.

Hon. Members, we are now in the Committee of Supply to consider various votes on the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2022/2023.

Let me have Hon. Makali Mulu, Member for Kitui Central. Use the next one.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, can I go to the next one? This one is too short.

Is it too short?

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I support the supply of resources to these departments. It would be important to note that the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) contract is coming to an end in the course of the year. I hope the resources provided are just to “kind of” consolidate their gains and then close that chapter.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Hon. Member for Kieni, you want to speak to this?

I think we were able to interrogate this properly with the departmental chairs. That is why there are no major changes. I support it the way it is.

(Vote 1011 agreed to)

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Next vote?

Member for Mwea, you want to speak to this? I can see you have a request.

I support.

(Vote 1021 agreed to)

You support. I see no interest to this again.

Hon. Kanini Kega.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I rise, of course, to support. I beseech the Committee to also make sure that if there are any historical pending bills, make sure they are paid. These are some of the issues that have been bedevilling us for a long time. Kindly, as they say, the first charge should always be the pending bills.

Make sure that those pending bills are paid. However, the pending bills must be verified to make sure that they are authentic.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

The Member for Navakholo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I just want to support. However, I want us to look at one of the programs; the Prisons Services. I urge the Chair to consider more money to allow probation, not just to put people in incarceration, but also provide funds for probation.

(Vote 1023 agreed to)

I am wishing the Chair well so that he can come back and, hopefully, proceed as the Chair.

I see no interest to debate on this and, therefore, I move to put the Question.

I see Hon. Members raising their hands. Let us have the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. We all support that move. However, I would like to say that the money allocated to the Ministry of Defence is not enough. We appreciate that there will never be enough money, but we urge that in the subsequent budget provisions, we should be able to give them a reasonable amount. This is because they are the only men and women who don their uniforms every morning to go and die on behalf of the country. We need to support them in every way we can to ensure that they are comfortable in whatever it is that they are doing. We need to ensure that they are equipped with the most modern machinery that they need, so that they can protect Kenya in the best way they know.

I beg to support.

With that, I will put the Question.

Order, Hon. Members. Members consulting, I am putting the Question on the Vote.

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

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, we once again appreciate that there will always be constraints of resources and that there will never be enough money. However, as a country, we have to make a deliberate decision to increase our footprint in the world because that is how we are measured, become visible to the rest of the world, and other countries get to appreciate Kenya as a force to reckon with. It is important to appreciate that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the face of Kenya to the rest of the world. We need to ensure that our embassies are well-maintained and ambassadors are well-resourced, so that they are able to protect and serve Kenyans as they should. If we do not give them enough support in terms of resources and money to meet their budgetary obligations, we are shooting ourselves in the foot. We are not prepared to do that as a country because we have the responsibility of ensuring that their visibility is a positive one for the good of the country.

We just approved 21 nominees for ambassadorships yesterday who all require resources in their new work stations. I, therefore, urge the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations

Committee, Hon. Kanini Kega, who is my good friend, that we get a way of supporting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with enough resources in the Supplementary Budget, so that they can ensure that the new ambassadors have work stations. This especially applies to the Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), who needs resources so as to give Kenya value for money.

I support the proposal.

Hon. Mwikali Mutua, Member for Busia County and Chairlady of the Departmental Committee on Education.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency the President for ensuring that the Departmental Committee on Education and Research got the highest budget.

Hon. Mutua, are you on Hansard? It is good to be on record. Use the next microphone! We need you to be on Hansard.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta for ensuring that the Ministry of Education is well supported. We got the highest budget of Kshs544 billion and it has been put into good use.

I also take this opportunity to thank the CS, the entire Ministry and all the stakeholders for ensuring that the Ministry is able to achieve most of what it had set out to. As you know, we are in a very difficult period of COVID, but the Ministry ensured our schools did not close for long and our children did exams and exceled. I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency the President and the Ministry under CS Magoha for ensuring we achieved most of what we set out to do.

I also take this opportunity to thank the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee and my Committee Members for a job well done and ensuring we gave our best during these very difficult times. However, our Committee had a wish-list of two very key items. One, was the issue of Teacher Professional Development (TPD). We never managed to get this and yet, we had only requested for Kshs2 billion. However, the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee is aware. So, this is unfortunate and the teachers will have to continue with the training from their pockets.

Two, is the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for universities, which is very key this year. We request the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee to continue pursuing this issue so that we are able to take care of CBA. The Committee had requested for Kshs4 billion and we did not manage to get it.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

I see the Chair. Do you want to speak to this? No.

(Recurrent & Development) during the year ending 30th June 2023 in respect of Vote 1069 (State Department for Implementation of Curriculum Reforms).

Hon. Member for Navakholo.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. Whereas I support the supply of funds to this State Department, the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Education and Research could consider in the final report to the House about her Department, whether these two State Departments are completely worthy to exist and advise on that. One state department is getting about Kshs110 billion while another one is getting about Kshs100, billion. But this one is getting Ksh339 million.

I request the Chair to consider in the submission of the House the performance of the two State Departments so that we can consider in future.

Thank you.

The Hon. Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Kanini Kega.

Thank you, Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I rise to support this because it is critical and very important.

However, the National Treasury apportions funds to the various ministries. But when we have the National Treasury again as an implementing agency, like for example, in the railway transport and marine transport, sometimes there is some conflict of interest. Going into the future, the railway and marine transport should be domiciled in the line ministries. It is an area of concern.

However, I support.

The Member for Roysambu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. While we support the Budget and Appropriations Committee, I wish to plead with them that they have captured very well that we should be very keen on paying pending bills. They have declined to pay a very important historical pending bill of Kshs452.6 million of a contract signed in 1997 between Spencon Kenya Limited and the Ministry of Local Government for the construction of Mombasa Sewerage Project. The Ministry has consequently been notified that unless the sum of Kshs452.6 million is paid to Spencon, the said company had negotiated that price. If the National Treasury does not pay the amount awarded by the arbitrator, they will again move to court. This

bill is very old. We appeal to the Budget and Appropriations Committee to ensure that it is provided for in the next Supplementary Estimates.

I support.

Point passed.

Hon. Kabinga, what is your contribution?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I stand to support this allocation - supply to the Department of Infrastructure - and urge that, in future, we put more money into infrastructure so that we build the economy. Quite often than not, people ask whether doing a road would turn into unga. I always tell the young men and women out there that when a road from point A to point B is improved and there is a boda boda guy using

it, he saves on the frequent washing that they would do when the road is bad. They save on spares and the number of times that young man will ferry clients. That is what we can now refer to as putting money in the pockets.

I really thank the management of this department. In the past five years, my constituency has seen tremendous improvement on infrastructure. I came in when we had only four kilometres of road in Mwea that started in Mwea and ended in Mwea. Today, we have a number of them. I really thank the CS and the PS for the good job well done.

I see an interest from the Member of Navakholo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. Whereas I want to support this supply, I ask the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Education and Research to consider intervening on the issue of pricing, especially on aviation and flight costs. Our airlines are the most expensive in the region. Whereas we are giving them subsidy and each and every support the airlines need, it is important that they check the costing of their tickets and flights.

Meanwhile, I support.

I recognise the representative of the people of Mwea.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. Yes, I am the servant of the people of Mwea. I support this supply to the Department for Housing and Urban Development. I also note that within the period of the 12th Parliament that is now ending, I have been pushing for the upgrading of my great home town of Ngurubani, which is home to great economy. It generates almost Kshs10 billion to the Kenyan economy. I had urged this Department to consider upgrading it to a municipality. When the President visited the town, he saw for himself the activities that go on there. And he gave a directive that the town’s infrastructure be improved. Most of the roads are now improved.

We will continue working with the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee to ensure that funding flows. It is my wish that in the coming years, the Department will find it necessary to upgrade the town to a municipality. When construction of Thiba Dam is over, Ngurubani will be contributing Kshs20 billion to the economy of this country. Therefore, it is important that we upgrade it to a municipality so that the infrastructure is improved. The Department should move there and construct low-cost houses and improve standards of the town to bring in more investments that will generate even more money to the economy.

I support.

The Member for Seme, Hon. Nyikal Wambura.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I rise to support this allocation. This Department should take into consideration not only pedestrian access, but also access for persons with disabilities (PWDs) . We have been debating the Persons with Disabilities Bill. Many public buildings are not disability compliant. Public transport through matatus, buses and trains is not fully disability compliant. Even bus stops are not disability compliant. This Department should comply with the law as it is now and provide proper access to PWDs to all infrastructure within the country.

Thank you.

Member for Kieni.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I rise, of course, to support. But the Vice-Chairman had alluded to me that he wanted to propose some amendments. Unfortunately, he is not here. So I think we might consider the amendments in the Appropriations Bill.

Member for Mwea.

Thank you once again, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I support the supply to this Ministry. This is a very important Ministry in charge of not only water for domestic use, but also water for irrigation. My constituency is a major consumer of irrigation services. I urge the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary in charge of this Ministry to ensure that Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) does not exploit our people. They keep on increasing the rates of water for irrigation without any due consideration to the consumers. The last time WARMA had a meeting in Mombasa, I had to go without planning. We agreed with them that they are not going to increase rates for irrigation water. To my surprise, I came to realise that they actually gazetted figures that we had already said in Mombasa that they should not be increased. I really felt it because I left this town for Mombasa without any clothes to change to save my people just to find WARMA gazetting figures that were not agreed. I hope that the Principal Secretary will take this very seriously because we feel if it is not done, we will definitely be moving to court to prevent them from doing so. The other thing is on drinking water. We are doing well on irrigation, but the people of Mwea continue consuming canal water which is contaminated.

Thank you. I support.

(Programmes 1001000, 1004000, 1017000, 1014000, 1015000 and 1022000 agreed to)

Member for Mwea.

Thank you once again, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I support the supply to this particular ministry but also note that in the past three years, we have been working with this ministry to ensure that the people of South Ngariama in my constituency are given their title deeds. This particular exercise was commenced by the national Government, but I want to say that I was really unhappy with the way it was handled by the county government. They are the people who have delayed the issuance of those title deeds. I hope that in the coming years, they will not interfere so that the people of South Ngariama in my constituency can get their title deeds.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Next Vote.

Next Vote.

Member for Mwea, what is your comment?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. Whereas I support the supply to this particular Ministry, it needs to pull up its socks. If this country has to achieve its Vision 2030 on electricity connectivity to our people, we need a total overhaul in that particular Ministry.

I am happy because the President initiated some changes there. I hope that things will be done in a better way in that Ministry. We are aware that there was a problem in procurement sometime in the past. They procured transformers that were not functional. For that reason, many of our people are still unconnected to electricity.

For example, when I became a Member of Parliament, the electricity connectivity in Mwea Constituency was at 53.3 per cent. I am now still struggling with about 75 per cent. It is my hope that changes in this Ministry will improve things. My people in Mwea Constituency will be fully connected in the coming year or two years. This is one area that we really did badly during my time as a Member of Parliament. I struggled but the problems in that Ministry did not allow me to achieve my goals, as far as connectivity is concerned.

I support the supply to this Vote with that particular rejoinder. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Very well. Before I put the Question, let us have the Member for Mwingi North.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I rise to support this Vote with certain comments just like my predecessor has just said. The question of electricity connectivity is really a big problem in Mwingi North Constituency. We have so many transformers that are faulty. It is as if I work for the Kenya Power because I receive calls every day. Going forward, this must stop. As much as I support this Vote, proper systems must be put in place, to ensure that all those faulty transformers that were reportedly installed at certain times are removed and replaced with the right ones.

I support the supply to this Vote.

Member for Seme.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. Our life support is supply to this State Department. The Programme of Fisheries Development and

Management needs more emphasis. We should allocate more money than this. The production of fish in this country, particularly in Lake Victoria, which is the second largest fresh water lake with the best fish, is not considered seriously. It is unacceptable that at this time, we are importing tilapia from China for sale in Kisumu, simply because we have not developed modern fishing techniques. We have the old technologies which hinder the production of fish in the lake.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, although fisheries is devolved, they should have a pilot programme complete with research so that we utilise the lake fully while taking into consideration the environmental impact of massive use, particularly for methods such as cage farming.

With that I support the Supply.

Very well.

Yes Hon. Member for Mwea?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I support the supply to this particular Department. This is one Department that in the past few years, has shown a tremendous improvement. As we all know, agriculture and livestock are at the heart of this country.

It is good to note that we have an able Cabinet Secretary (CS) , Hon. Munya, who has touched the hearts of farmers out there. I was elated when a kilo of rice was costing Kshs45. Today my people in Mwea are selling the same at around Kshs90. That is putting money into the people’s pockets. I thank this Ministry and hope that more money will be supplied to it so that they can continue improving agriculture in our various parts of this country. More so, ensure that there is enough support for farmers so that they do not become slaves of their own farms, where they work but get nothing at the end of the day.

I support and hope that the CS will continue doing the good job.

Yes Hon. Member for Mwea? Try to be brief.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. This supply to this particular Department, in my opinion, is not enough. There is more that this Department can do, working with other sectors to ensure that we improve on products, both quantity and quality, that makes us import some of the products that are brought into this country. I am aware that we have a lot of Pakistan rice that is imported into this country, while we can improve on rice production in Mwea, Bura and parts of Nyanza to ensure that this country is self- sufficient in as far as rice is concerned. Doing that will help us conserve our foreign exchange that we otherwise send abroad.

I thank you and support.

Vote 1174 agreed to)

The Member for Navakholo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I have some interest in this allocation. Whereas I support the amount, it is important for purposes of record that the State Department for Industrialisation to live up to expectations. Industries need to be created. The existing ones are dying without resuscitation. I refer to Mumias Sugar, the only employer of over 2,000 employees in Western Region, which has since died, but nobody seems to address the issue. This is a wake-up call to the State Department for Industrialsation to rise to the occasion and make sure that Mumias Sugar works for our people.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

The Member for Mwea, do you want to speak to this?

Yes. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I am the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, and throughout the period I have been the Chair, we have been trying to get more resources for the Department. Kshs3.5 billion is not enough. The Department is responsible for our young men and women who have gone out of this country in search of employment. Some of them, especially in the Gulf, are suffering. We have desired to have the Department establish safe houses for our girls, boys and men who are in Saudi Arabia, for example, without any success. It is my hope that in the future, our country will find it necessary to prioritise this particular Department in view of the many young men and women who are suffering out there.

I support.

Yes, Member for Ikolomani?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I am sorry, my card has failed me. I want to comment on the Department of Labour.

We have had many Kenyans, especially women, suffering in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and in Saudi Arabia, but there has not been a proper structure on how to check on them as they go to look for their livelihoods there. We wish that this Department is allocated more money so that even out there, we have a follow up in terms of sending labour officers. This is so that they can keep track of how many Kenyans go there, establish where they are working, and if there is any problem, there is a proper way of repatriating them back to Kenya.

I have several people from my constituency who are suffering in Saudi Arabia. I feel so disturbed that Kenyans who have gone to look for a livelihood are out there suffering, but there is no way to help them; and there are no proper structures on how the Government can reach them. I hope the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare will take this seriously.

I support, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Member for Mwea?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I am Chair of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare that oversees this particular Department. There are many things I would have liked to raise in this supply, but I will only touch on three of them. One, that the money that goes to the elderly is not enough. In all the 290 constituencies, we have elderly people who get money and some who do not get it. Some are neighbours; one neighbour gets the money but another one does not. This is an anomaly that needs to be corrected, because it causes some sort of disfranchisement in our communities. They feel disenfranchised because some get while some do not.

People with disabilities are in this Department. This is an area that has been under resourced. We have many people with disabilities but they are not taken care of. Some even go without wheelchairs, and some require special treatment which they cannot get.

The last one is on children. I bring it to the attention of the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. We are moving to elections, a season when children suffer. The United Nation International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has been quite handy in supporting activities to support children during this time. Before the Government comes in, UNICEF usually comes and puts in some resources. Government money usually comes late, and sometimes it is not very useful. I had discussed this with the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security to extend some resources to this particular Department for the purpose of children services before, during the time of elections and after elections. He had kindly accepted to give this Department, or rather extend, about Kshs200,000,000 to this Department. We agreed on the same with the Budget and Appropriations Committee. All was well before I realised this money was not allocated. I kindly urge the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee to consider making that resource available during appropriation. It is very important. We do not want our children to suffer during elections.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Okay. Member for Trans Nzoia, what is your comment on this?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I just want to agree with the Chairman on the issue of social protection. It is true that we have elderly people who are really suffering outside there. The way the Chair has said, even children need to be given more money so that these elderly persons and children can enjoy, especially during this time of elections. It is going to be a problem. At the same time, those working with social protection are not enough. We need to add more workers in social protection.

I support.

Member for Ikolomani.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. As the Vice Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, I agree with the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. We shall consult. As we move forward, we will see what we can adjust at that level.

However, I also want to support the disbursement to the elderly. We interact with the lowly where we come from. This money does wonders. Many of our elderly people die because they do not have what to eat and medical care. The programme provides for NHIF, Kshs500 pays for NHIF every month. This is a great achievement by the Government if we roll it out to all elderly people who are above 70 years. On the same, we want it streamlined because we have people who die and money continues coming to them, yet we have others who should be picked immediately once one is deceased. That is the only comment I wanted the Chair to note – that we want it streamlined so that resources do not go to waste, yet they can be used by other families

The last one is by Member for Seme, just a comment.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, for allowing me to comment on this.

This is an extremely important Department. It takes care of the most vulnerable people; elderly persons, orphans and vulnerable children, and people with disabilities. I also support that it should get more money. However, the Chair of the Committee is here, and the functioning of this Department is not up to date. The disbursement procedure is not correct. The exit procedure is not clear. Inclusion of new persons is not clear. Even when there are changes, it is just changes in the banks then people miss and do not get the money. Old persons queue for long hours and they are given money late. This is an important Department. Let them get more money, but they should streamline it. I am particularly concerned about this because I literally started this Department. It has achieved what it was intended to, except that its management is not up to scratch. People are suffering while they should be enjoying. More money and better management is my message for them.

during the year ending 30th June, 2023, in respect of Vote 1194 (Ministry of Petroleum and Mining).

The Member for Mwea.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. Again, this Department falls under the mandate of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Services. It is one Department that is under-resourced. This country keeps talking about empowering women to ensure that their participation in our economy is improved, but the amount of money we allocate to the Department is wanting. I hope that in the coming years, we will allocate more money. As we always say, to empower a woman is to empower a family. This country can never grow without the growth of women. I am a great supporter of women and women development. I was brought up by my mother when my father left us at Standard Four. I know the power of a woman. I hope we can allocate more money to this Department.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

The Member for Mwea.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, I support the supply to this Department. But I would like us to take note that the National Youth Service (NYS) , which is under this Department, has not given this country what it deserves; it has not fully utilised its potential. I am well informed that some of the biggest companies from China in this country are owned by the Government. This is one sector that we can also venture into. The NYS has a lot of equipment and manpower. We do not see why it should not participate in the contracting for major projects in this country so as to generate Appropriations-in-Aid (A-in-A) . I support the supply, but I hope that in the future, we will improve the sector.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Member for Mwea.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. Peace and development in this country highly depends on how well we prepare our youth for the future. The allocation of Kshs.3 billion to empower our youth to develop and grow and take over the management of this country is far below expectation. We hope that in the coming years, we will focus on this particular area. I have seen how support to the youth has changed this country. Youth now get money in groups. We also need to develop youth empowerment centres in our constituencies. I thank the Department for identifying my constituency as one of the areas to put up a youth centre. Very soon, we should move in to lay the foundation for the centre. It is my hope that we will escalate this programme to many more constituencies in the country so that our youth can find a place to seek advice, conduct their business online without paying and interact and exchange ideas. The elderly should also access the centres to advice the youth.

I support.

The Member for Ikolomani.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I want to echo the sentiments of the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. The amount allocated to the development of youth businesses is too little compared to the population of the youth in Kenya. Given that white collar jobs are scarce, it is important that we adjust upwards the allocation to support the youth.

I want to propose to the Government that this money should be distributed fairly. In some constituencies, especially rural ones, there is a lack of education to create awareness among the youth in order to benefit from these funds. I think maybe the Youth Enterprise Development Fund does not have enough staff to go down and educate our youth on the processes and positive nature of taking this money for their own use.

The last comment is from the Member for Trans Nzoia County.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I also support the supply to this Youth Enterprise Development Fund. This Fund has really changed the lives of youth, especially in rural areas. This is because for the last two years, once people finish Form Four, they get into the boda boda business. However, nowadays we can see them being empowered, apart from the rules that they have put in place that if you want to get a loan or be given a certain amount, you must produce this and that. Otherwise, the Chair should also make sure that we get those centres that he has said he is putting one in his area. They should be across the board so that the youth can enjoy them.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Chair, do you want to say something?

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, there could be a notion that it is only Mwea that is having that centre. I want to let the Member know that Mwea could be one of the last ones in the past five years. More than 25 have been put across the country. So, it is not just in Mwea; they are all over. You can check. Probably we have some in Trans Nzoia.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Thank you, Chair, for that. I know Members are looking for them, including in Kibwezi East.

Let me have the Member for Mwea to comment.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. Let me take this opportunity to really thank the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in this country. Unknown to many Kenyans in this country, the NIS is responsible for information that leads to

peace that we enjoy. I commend and thank the young men and women who have sleepless nights in the cold at our borders gathering information that has seen this country and this year without much problems in as far as the outlawed gangs are concerned. This includes the Al-Shabaab, who invade this country any time they want. Because of the improved NIS that we have in this country, we have enjoyed relative peace. We need to keep giving them more money so that we can strengthen them as much as we can.

I thank them, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Very well.

Order, Members! Attention, Hon. Members. I know that the Member for Yatta is walking to consult another Member.

Next Vote.

Next Vote.

Member for Navakholo, give a comment on this Vote. Thank you. Give him the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I just want to thank the Cabinet Secretary of the National Treasury for allocating Kshs649,070,000 to the Witness Protection Agency. However, I would like to indulge the Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Hopefully, if he will come back and be in the same position or whoever will take it, he or she should consider pushing for the Victim Protection Board to be also given a vote in the Budget. These are two bodies that go hand in hand. We passed a Bill here that set up the Victim Protection Board within the Attorney-General’s Chambers. So, it is important that the National Treasury also allocates resources to that Board.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady.

Very well.

Let us have a comment from the Member from Mwea.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, I support the supply to the National Lands Commission (NLC) . However, I note they should have done much

more in the past two years especially on recovery of public land. In my constituency, we have a scheme referred to as South Ngariama, which was well planned with public amenities, much of which has been grabbed by individuals. This happened especially during the time when we wanted title deeds to be issued. During the verification exercise that was commissioned, many people moved in and grabbed land in that area. It is my hope that the NLC will intervene and recover any land that has been grabbed from that scheme.

There is another request by the Member for Gichugu. Members, you are aware that we passed a Motion to the effect that we must complete Order No.11.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I also support the amount allocated to the NLC. I hope they will use some of that money to resolve and sort out the historical issues that touch on some counties such as Kirinyaga, especially on the Mwea side. These are issues that we have been following up. I hope in the next one year, they will completely solve the issues so that people can live in harmony and peace.

The Temporary Deputy Chairlady (Hon. (Ms.) Jessica Mbalu) : Hon. Members, as I was saying, we passed a Motion before these Members came in and we encouraged the chairs of the relevant committees to be present, so that we can complete Order No.11 today.

Let us have a comment from the Member for Ikolomani.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. As I support the money given to the NLC, we wish they could look at their records in terms of when they gazette certain projects for compensation. We have found that they tend to pay for projects which have come in later out of political influence yet other compensations that were gazetted earlier remain in their books for many years.

There is a road that was done in Kakamega about nine years ago. It was gazetted, but the affected people have never been compensated. We have had so many complaints from other parts of the country where people have stayed for so long without being compensated yet when they started constructing the Standard Guarge Railway (SGR) , people were compensated in advance. We want the NLC to be fair and ensure that they serve the people who come in first.

With that debate, I will put the Question.

Let us have a comment from the Member for Mwea.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, I thank this Commission for coming up with the intern programme that has been running. Since its inception, we have seen our young men and women get more opportunities to secure jobs. I thank the late Hon. Paul Koinange, who discussed this programme with the Commission. It is my sincere hope that we can put in much more resources, so that more young men and women, especially university graduates, can find opportunities in our various sectors to get knowledge and experience that would enable them to secure jobs.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, I support the supply to the Commission.

Member for Gichugu, Hon. Gichimu Githinji. The three Gs; Gichimu Githinji, Member for Gichugu Constituency.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. They are rhyming.

As I support, I would like to urge the TSC to utilise the money in an equitable manner in employing teachers to make sure that all corners of this country get teachers. The Commission should make sure that day schools are also given priority in allocation of teachers after employment. I also thank the TSC for having an annual internship programme to teachers. It is preparing teachers for the job and giving them opportunity to feel the market even before employment.

I support.

Yes, Member for Navakholo, Hon. Wangwe Emmanuel.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I support the supply of these funds to the TSC, but I just want to add a rider. You have been a teacher at the university level.

When you say a lecturer, it is just an improved teacher. The baseline is that she is a teacher. Without taking a lot of time, I just want to make this confirmation that the TSC has a rule.

Let me hear. I think we are doing well. I can report that we are not badly off in as far as our programme is concerned. Let me hear because there is an intervention by the Member for Mwea to the Whip of the Majority Party.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, I just want to ask our Majority Party something. He has been doing very well. I commend him because we have seen the House struggling with quorum during his period, but getting it within time. He has done very well.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, you have been a very serious lecturer. It is only fair that the Member recognises that you were a lecturer. You taught. You graduated and became a lecturer; a very serious lecturer for that matter. Again, you know I might not get another chance. Let me also thank you. We have seen you sitting for long hours, especially when we have Committee of the whole House and now we have the Committee of Supply. I expected you to take a minute off. Since you have not taken it, I can only take it that you are a strong woman. May you live to continue serving this country.

Thank you. I am very strong and ready to serve. Yes, Hon. Whip of the Majority Party. It was a good break.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. That intervention was important. It is valid. It is a good one. It accords you where you belong. It is not easy to get a PhD. I have struggled pursuing a PhD and I am still struggling. Therefore, it is important to recognise you as a lecturer. I accept that.

Why I mentioned the issue of a teacher is that teachers are going to school and the TSC is not recognising those who attain undergraduate level certification. This is somebody who has struggled from being Primary Teacher 1 (P1) , who is a certificate holder, to diploma teacher and eventually studying further to attain a university degree. However, the TSC does not recognise such achievement immediately. It is important that we speak to the TSC through this time of supply. Let them get enough resources so that teachers who go to school and back to class can be recognised and given what is due to them. Let it be a motivation. Let the SRC liaise with the TSC, both of them being independent commissions, and support the growth of teachers who go back to class to attain a certain level of study.

Thank you, Members.

Let us hear the Member for Kitui Central, Hon. (Dr.) Makali Mulu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. As I support the supply to this important commission, it is important to observe that a lot of uniformed officers are doing jobs which should be done by civilians. How I wished that we provided more resources to recruit civilians to do those jobs being done by the uniformed officers, so that uniformed officers do what they are trained to do.

Member for Mwea.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady, again, this is a Commission that we oversee. The amount that has been allocated to this particular Commission year by year has not been adequate for them to execute their mandate. As I said earlier, the issue of gender equality and ensuring there is no discrimination in all sectors of our country is an important factor, yet the Commission that is supposed to be checking on that has always received money which is under Kshs500 million. It is my hope that in the coming years, we will realise the importance of this Commission and give it enough resources, so that the issue of gender and discrimination becomes an issue of the past in the country. I support.

Member for Navakholo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I thank the Budget and Appropriations Committee for approving this amount of money to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) . However, IPOA should be a bit abrasive and aggressive. It should not only serve the police officers, but can also go beyond them. For instance, look at a situation where a Member, while campaigning, decided to ridicule police officers. That is something in respect of which IPOA is supposed to move in. Two days have lapsed, but we have not seen any action taken. It is not only meant to arrest officers, but also to protect those who are unnecessarily against the officers.

We now need to see IPOA moving in to protect police officers as well. We want to give them this money so that they can move forward strongly.

Very well.

Hon. Members, you must be aware that we were dealing with the Votes and Programmes from the Executive. We are now moving to the Judiciary.

Hon. Githinji Gichimu, Member for Gichugu or the 3Gs.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I support the allocation of money to this Vote. As a Member of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, I have witnessed instances where the Judiciary was really struggling. I am also a practitioner in the field and I have seen magistrates operating in chambers because of lack of court rooms. In future, the Judiciary should be sufficiently funded as this is a full arm of the Government that requires great attention, so that they can continue dispensing justice and make the wheels of justice turn as expected by Kenyans.

So, I support and urge Parliament to, in future, fully support the Judiciary so that it can discharge its obligations.

Let us hear Hon. Kanini Kega, the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Thank you so much. I support and concur with my colleague, Hon. Gichimu, that we need to allocate more resources. I remember the Committee had also recommended that we add more resources considering that this is an election year. There will be enhanced activities in the Judiciary and for sure, they will need more resources. The soonest we get a Supplementary Budget, we will definitely consider the Judiciary because theirs is an extremely genuine case.

I also agree with him that we have not sufficiently resourced this very important arm of Government. However, as we move forward, we will do so.

Let me hear the Member for Igembe South.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. The Judiciary has not been well funded for a long time. Let us approve this funding, but also add them more funds with time for them to operate well.

Finally, let us have Hon. Wachira Kabinga.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. In the recent times, we have observed that resources allocated to the Judiciary are directly proportional to the services they are offering, more so on employment. I wanted to remind the Chairman of the JLAC that two years ago, we discussed the possibility of having a court in Kandongu in Mwea West Sub-County, Mwea Constituency, but I was looking at the Budget Estimates and I did not see any provision for the project. I am hoping that either here or in the Supplementary Budget, we will get allocation for that court. Our people are suffering travelling all the way to Baricho in pursuit of justice. Others travel all the way to Wang’uru. It is high time we brought services closer to the people as they had allocated land for that amenity.

I am surprised that Members are raising their hands. Let us have Hon. Mwalyo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I also support that the Judiciary should be added more money. In my constituency, I gave them the old office of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG- CDF) , so that they can renovate and make it a magistrate’s court. However, up to now, they have not done so for lack of money. So, I support that the allocation to the Judiciary should be enhanced so that they can function properly.

With that debate from Members, allow me put the Question.

Hon. Members, we are through with the Judiciary. We now move to Parliament.

Hon. Members, this has to be corrected on the Order Paper. It is 30th June 2023. It must be on Hansard. On the Order Paper, it is indicated 2022.

Hon. Members, for the purposes of the Hansard, allow me, again, to propose the Question because of that correction.

THAT, a sum not exceeding Kshs8,785,000,000 be issued from the Consolidated Fund to complete the sum necessary to meet the expenditure

during the year ending 30th June 2023 in respect of Vote 2041

.

Next Vote.

Hon. Members, we are through with the Committee of Supply on the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2022/2023. I, therefore, call upon the Chairperson of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, to move reporting. Give him the microphone.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairlady. I beg to move that the Committee of Supply do report to the House its consideration of the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2022/2023 and its approval thereof without amendments.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has considered the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2022/2022 and approved the same without amendments.

The Temporary Deputy Speaker (Hon. Jessica Mbalu): I call upon the mover to move for agreement with the report.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I beg to move that the House does agree with the report of the Committee of Supply on its consideration of the Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2022/2023 and, pursuant to the provisions of Article 221 of the Constitution, section 39 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012 and Standing Order 240A, approves the issuance of a sum of Ksh2,103,838,811,446 from the Consolidated Fund to meet the expenditure for the National Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary during the year ending 30th June 2023 in respect of the Votes as contained in the Schedule.

I take this opportunity to thank the Chairpersons and Members who have been part of this entire process. I also throw a challenge to the Chairpersons and Members who have missed this critical session. This is the most critical part of Budget making. Sometimes you hear colleagues out there talking about the Budget, saying some Ministries have not been allocated enough resources, but some of those Members are never here for this critical session.

I also take this opportunity to thank you so much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for the splendid job you have done and in record. I thought we would be here until tomorrow. I register my appreciation on behalf of the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

With those remarks, I request the Vice-Chairman, Hon. Shinali, to second. The Temporary Deputy Speaker

: Hon. Shinali.

Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I thank you for this chance. I congratulate the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Departmental Committees that burned the midnight oil to process the Budget in record time. Without saying so much, I second.

Of course, for obvious reasons, we are not in a position to put the Question. Therefore, I defer putting of the Question.

Hon. Members, allow me to thank you for sitting this late doing a very good job. Congratulations to the Committee for very well prepared and presented Budget Estimates. In the interest of time, and this being a House of procedure, we will adjourn.