Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell. (The Quorum Bell was rung) Hon. Members, we can now transact our business. Clerk-at-the-Table, proceed.

Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Leader of the Majority Party, I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:

Reports of the Auditor-General and Financial Statements for the years ended 30th June 2021, 30th June 2022, 30th June 2023, 30th June 2024, 30th June 2025 and certificates therein in respect of the following:

Next Order.

Hon. Members, before we go to requests for Statements, allow me to acknowledge, in the Public Gallery, Tinderet Education Centre, Tinderet Constituency, Nandi County; Moi Kaptemagal Secondary School, Mt. Elgon Constituency, Bungoma County; Guba Muslim School, Mvita Constituency, Mombasa County and Ndere Julia Academy, Vihiga Constituency, Kakamega County. In the Speaker's Gallery, we have, Bunyore Girls' High School, Luanda Constituency, Vihiga County and Lake Primary School, Kisumu Central Constituency, Kisumu County.

The Member for Luanda Constituency has asked me to give him an opportunity to welcome Bunyore Girls' High School. He can do the same for all of us, for all the other schools. The Member for Tinderet, as well, wants an opportunity. So, I will give a chance to Hon. Melly as well. On Bunyore Girls, I will give a chance to one Hon. Member only. I have given the one who came first.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. Allow me to take this great opportunity to welcome all the students.

Is Bunyore Girls' High School in your constituency or in Emuhaya?

Bunyore Girls' High School is in Luanda Constituency, but it serves the nation.

Go ahead.

Bunyore Girls' High School, a national school, which sits in Luanda Constituency, is one of the best schools in this country. On my behalf, let me take this opportunity to welcome them to this House. I also welcome all the other great learners who I see both in the Public and the Speaker's Galleries.

Hon. Speaker, allow me to encourage them that education is the only way that can make them different because it is said that education is an equaliser. Being learners who aspire to great positions in the future, whether as CEOs, great businessmen and women, Members of Parliament or any other position they may wish for, the only way for them is to work hard in school so as to achieve their dreams.

Ninawakaribisha sana. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Tinderet, Hon. Melly.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I take this time to welcome all the students to the House this afternoon, on behalf of Hon. Members. This House, for the last four months, has seen an unprecedented number of students visiting. It is in this House that they actually get their aspirations, motivation and learn that Parliament is the third arm of Government and thus they can see practically how we make laws.

Tinderet Education Centre and many other schools that have come here are premier schools that many Members of this House attended, Bunyore Girls' High School included. The First Lady is an alumnus of that particular school. That gives testimony of how important a visit to this House is for students of various schools.

Tinderet Education Centre has seen over 95 per cent of its learners go to university since it was founded. So, in effect, coming to Parliament enables students to learn practically and see things, not only through reading, but also by seeing how processes go on in this House. I urge teachers and schools to continue visiting Parliament as a of way of practical learning.

Thank you.

Thank you. We will end there. Hon. Members, we have recorded a very large number of students visiting our House. Last week alone, we recorded over 12,000. In the last four months, we recorded close to 150,000 students visiting this House. That shows the interest young Kenyans have in what we do here. On my behalf and on behalf of the House, I welcome the students, their teachers and those accompanying them to the House of Parliament.

Yes.

I know you by a different name.

My name is Hon. Mejjadonk Benjamin Gathiru.

Is Mejja a pseudo name?

No. My name is Hon. Mejjadonk Benjamin Gathiru.

Go ahead.

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 Administration and Internal Security regarding the status of operationalisation of Nairobi Sub-County Administrative Units and gazettement of additional administrative units.

Through a Gazette Notice dated 11th November 2025, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration restructured the administrative framework within Nairobi City County by establishing 17 sub-counties. The restructuring was intended to enhance service delivery, strengthen coordination of Government services and improve the implementation of national programmes at the grassroots level. However, many of the newly established administrative units continue to operate without adequate infrastructure, personnel and operational resources. The lack of office facilities, staffing and logistical support has constrained the effective delivery of Government services within the affected sub-counties. Further, numerous proposals submitted to the Ministry for the creation and gazettement of additional administrative units to respond to rapid population growth and urban expansion remain pending thereby denying residents the benefit of accessible and efficient Government services.

Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on the following:

Thank you. Where is the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security? Hon. Owen Baya, inform Hon. Tongoyo to bring a response in two weeks’ time.

Much obliged, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Kipsanai.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(C), I rise to seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental

Thank you, Dr. Nyikal. When can you bring a response?

Hon. Speaker, admission to KMTC is done through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS). That means the matter should be dealt with by the Departmental Committee on Education.

Hon. Melly, when can you bring a response? (Several Members raised their hands) I can see a few hands, but that is straightforward.

Yes, I will take it up immediately and bring a response in two weeks' time. We are going to the admissions season, so we need to clear the issue faster.

In fact, the question that Kipsanai is raising is not admission, it is policy. It is not the numbers. Do you have a way of giving quotas to constituencies or counties that have sacrificed their resources to build institutions to accommodate children from within the area subject to the standard set on admission qualifications, numbers of the college, and so on?

Yes, that one goes back to the Departmental

I direct that this matter be dealt with by your Committee and Hon. Nyikal's Committee.

Yes, that is okay.

Next is Hon. Joshua Kandie.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(C), I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding optimal utilisation and expansion of Eldoret International Airport.

Hon. Speaker, Eldoret International Airport serves both domestic and international flights, supporting passenger flights and significant cargo operations, especially for agricultural exports. The Government has, for the past two years, embarked on plans to expand and upgrade the airport to enable it to accommodate large-bodied cargo aircrafts, increase cargo payload capacity, facilitate direct export of fresh produce to international markets, and reduce transportation costs currently incurred by exporters transporting cargo to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. However, the proposed expansion is yet to be implemented, thereby denying farmers, exporters, and businesses the anticipated benefits of the expansion.

Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on the following:

Thank you. Chairperson of the Department Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. GK, I saw you enter. When can you bring a response?

Hon. Speaker, I will respond in about two weeks.

Thank you. Hon. Members, I have approved Statements by Hon. Ken Chonga and Hon. Karemba, but you two hold your horses. I want to dispose of a few Orders on the Order Paper, then we shall come back to Hon. Karemba, Hon. Chonga, and then responses to Statements. Clerk-at-the-Table, go to Order No. 8 and dispose of the Orders up to No. 15. (Several Members entered the chamber) Members on their feet, take your seats.

Next Order.

Hon. Wanjala.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. First, I apologise for my absence when this Motion came up for debate. I was away attending a funeral of a relative. I extend my gratitude to you, Hon. Speaker, for deferring this matter until today. I beg to reply, and I urge this House to support this Motion. It is critical to ensuring effective implementation of all Petitions and Motions passed by this House.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Members. (Question put and agreed to)

Thank you. Hon. Members, when we get to Order No.16, there is a request that in that Committee of the whole House, we stay Business Laws (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No.51 of 2024). The Leader of the Majority Party and the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning have indicated that they will be ready next week. So, we will stay that. Hon. Owen, if you are here, we will deal with the Public Participation Bill and the Plant Protection Bill.

Let us go back to Statements. Hon. Ken Chonga.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44(2)(d), I rise to make a Statement on the challenges facing Export Processing Zones (EPZ) workers, together with the residents of Mtepeni Ward, Kilifi South Constituency.

Hon. Speaker, following the result of upgrading of Mtwapa to municipality status, EPZ workers as well as residents of Mtepeni Ward have sought clarification on the development plans and infrastructure improvements that will benefit them. There is a pressing need to strengthen the security around EPZ companies, workers’ residential areas and the routes used by the employees, particularly those reporting for early morning shifts or leaving work late at night. Increased police presence, adequate security lighting together with improved security measures are required to protect these workers as well as the area residents.

Hon. Speaker, a significant number of EPZ workers are engaged on very short-term contracts, at times lasting only one month to three months, resulting in serious job insecurity for workers, together with their families. There is need to investigate the widespread use of such repeated short-term contracts to ensure that employment terms comply with the labour

Yes, Mama Zamzam.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika. Nami pia naongezea nikisema kuwa wafanyakazi wa EPZ wamekaa na matatizo mengi na wanafanya kazi katika sehemu ambayo ni tata sana. Wanafanya kazi masaa mengi sana na mshahara wao ni duni sana. Izingatiwe kuwa kuna wakati pia nilileta malalamishi ya wafanyakazi wa EPZ Mombasa County katika Bunge hili na mpaka leo sijaweza kupata majibu mwafaka. Hata ile contract ambayo wanapewa, mtu amefanya miaka kumi na tano lakini kila baada ya miezi mitatu ama miwili ndio ana renew contract wakati ambapo kanuni za leba haziruhusu. Mshahara ni mdogo. Mtu amefanya kazi kwa zaidi ya miaka 20 na mshahara wake ni elfu kumi na tano na kila baada ya miezi mitatu, anaambiwa awe ana renew contract. Pia wanatoka kazini usiku. Wengine tumepata visa pale Mombasa County. Wafanyakazi wa EPZ wamepigwa na wakora na wamekatwa mapanga. Usalama wao ni mbaya sana na pesa ambazo wanalipwa pia ni duni. Ukiangalia wengine hata hospitali hawawezi kwenda kwa sababu ya hali duni.

Kwa hiyo, na mimi ninasema Wizara ya Leba iangalie kanuni na sheria ambazo zimepitishwa katika Katiba yetu ili kuweza kuwalinda wafanyakazi wa EPZ.

Nikimalizia, nimeona watoto wangu wa kutoka Nyali Primary School wako hapa na mimi kama Mama County wao, nawakaribisha.

You are out of Order. The Speaker does not know that there is any person from Nyali in this House until we acknowledge them. That is when you can seek to speak. Hon. Ken Chonga, I just noticed that you are asking for a Statement to the Committee that you chair. Leader of the Majority Party, do you hear that?

Hon. Speaker, if you look at my Statement, I rose pursuant to Standing Order 44(2)(d). It is not that I am requesting for a Statement. Rather, I am saying I am going to engage the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, the National Employment Authority, and other relevant institutions regarding the wages and the conditions of service.

So, what you are doing is you came to play to the gallery because you could have done that without coming to the Floor.

I am the Chairman of the Departmental

You got my message. It is okay. Take your seat.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Karemba.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 44(2)(c), I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock regarding payment of Ksh322.5 million by the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) to Oriole Homes Limited on 18th May 2026.

In May 2025, Oriole Homes Limited, a company associated with the Sanjiu Group, was awarded a tender to supply 99,000 tonnes of NPK fertilizer to KTDA under a Government- backed subsidy programme. Though delivery was delayed, it was completed in August 2025 and the Agency paid the full contract value of approximately Ksh9 billion bringing to a close the contractual obligation.

On 28th January 2026, approximately five months after fulfilment of the contractual obligation, Oriole Homes Limited sought an additional amount of Ksh322.5 million, being foreign exchange loss arising from the delivery delays, which it allegedly characterised as force majeure. The KTDA Board considered the matter and declined to approve the payment. Notwithstanding this position, full payment of the additional amount was subsequently made on 18th May, 2026. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has since launched an inquiry and on 28th July 2026, summoned five current and former officials of the Agency to produce contract documents, board and tender committee minutes, and the financial records associated with the tender.

Hon. Speaker, it is against this background that I seek for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock on the following:

Hon. (Dr) Mutunga, when can you bring a response? There will be no joyriders on this.

Hon. Speaker, in two weeks’ time.

Did you say two weeks?

Yes.

Okay. Bring the response in two weeks. Hon. Members, before we move to response to request for Statements, allow me to acknowledge the visiting schools. In the Public Gallery: Ndiuni Primary School from Tharaka Constituency, Tharaka-Nithi County; Cheplasgei Primary School from Emgwen Constituency, Nandi County; MCK Abothuguchi Boarding Primary School from Central Imenti Constituency, Meru County and Bikeke Comprehensive School from Kiminini Constituency, Trans Nzoia County.

In the Speaker's Gallery: The Nyali School from Nyali Constituency, Mombasa County; Soni Complex School from Awendo Constituency, Migori County and MM Shah Academy from Mvita Constituency, Mombasa County.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika. Nachukua fursa hii kuwakaribisha wanafunzi wote ndani ya Jumba hili; Jumba linalotunga sheria; na haswa watoto wetu wa kutoka Mvita, MM Shah Academy na wale wa Nyali School, niwaamabie Mama yenyu leo niko Bunge kwa sababu ya kuzingatia masomo.

Naniweze kuwaambia kuna wengine watakuwa kama sisi na wengine maprofesa, mapresident na wengine anga zingine. Lakini yote niweze kuwaambia wanafunzi kuwa yataka nidhamu na kuweza kufuatilia ule msukumo ambao umeweka katika maisha yako. Uwe na ndoto, unataka kuwa nani katika maisha yako? Kama Mama yenu kutoka Mombasa Kaunti, mimi nawatakieni kila la heri. Mmekuja huku, muangalie vile tunavyoangalia mambo ya Bunge ya kutunga sheria na Mwenyezi Mungu awaregeshe nyumbani nyote salama, watoto wote ambao mko hapa. Mfike nyumbani salama na walimu wote nawashukuru kuwaangalia hawa watoto wetu.

Asante sana, Mhe. Spika.

Asante sana. On behalf of the Speaker and the whole House, we welcome the students, their teachers and those accompanying them to the House of Parliament. Let us now go to response to request for Statements.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Donya? What is out of order? Give Hon. Donya the microphone. Proceed, Hon. Donya.

Hon. Speaker, I have heard you say that it is time for responses. I raised a Statement concerning the university to the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education four weeks ago. I have not received a response. I have been expecting the response, but up to today, I have not received it. If you can remember, today is 11th August. By this time next year, we will be counting the results. So, I need my response before then. Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Donya. Leader of the Majority Party, I saw Hon. Melly here. Where has he gone? Is he here? (Hon. Moses Kirima raised his hand) Yes, Hon. Karani.

That is Hon. Kirima.

Sorry, Hon. Kirima. I always mistake you for Hon. Karani. Wakili, go ahead.

Hon. Speaker, I also inquired about the issue of land gathering and consolidation along the Meru and Tharaka-Nithi County borders, as it pertains to my constituency. We had seen that the activity is taking place and had inquired from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Lands, but the response has not been given, and the activities are still taking place.

We are just holding people from community clashes. We cannot call them tribal clashes because they are from the same community. But now, what do we do? Because the Statement and the answers have taken a lot of time. We were given two weeks to have a reply. Now, this is the fourth week.

Point made. Is Hon. Nyamoko or anybody from the Departmental

Okay. Thursday of this week?

Yes, this week. Also, he should respond to Hon. Donya on the same Thursday. Is Hon. Chege Njuguna in the House?

He must be in America.

He is not here. So, the Statement is stayed.

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Speaker, you know, the Member for Kandara is fond of listing Questions and Statements, but he is never in the House. I know he has challenges and he is always in the United States (USA). I would really seek your guidance because these Statements keep coming up here.

What does he do in the USA? I have no record of giving him permission to go to the USA.

Hon. Speaker, I am certain if we checked our records, the Member for Kandara is hardly ever in the house. Hardly. I even wonder who represents the people of Kandara here. As much as they may have their Woman Representative who can speak for them. I would really plead that instead of deferring this Statement, we should just drop it altogether.

Statement dropped. (Hon. Chege Njuguna’s Statement dropped) Hon. David Mboni, Member for Kitui Rural, are you in the House? I see you are in the House. Hon. Tongoyo, are you ready with this?

Yes.

Go ahead.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I will try to summarise because it is a long one. This is in response to a Statement sought by the said Member of Parliament for Kitui Rural concerning the death of Mr Joseph Mung’au Iluu. I respond as follows:

On 6th of February, the Adjutant National Police College, Embakasi A Campus reported at Embakasi Police Station vide OB No.2/6/2/2026 stating that on 5th February 2026, Mr Joseph Mung’au Iluu who was an electrician at the college had allegedly inflicted a throat injury upon himself using a kitchen knife within the campus premises.

Very well. Member of Parliament for Kitui Rural, are you in the House? Proceed with your interrogation.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. For those who have done econometrics, there is something called the multicollinearity problem. That is, when you try to sort out an issue, you create more issues that are even worse than the one you are supposed to solve. I have three issues arising from that Statement.

First, in the Statement, it is alleged that the victim inflicted a throat injury on himself using a kitchen knife. Who is this person alleging that the deceased inflicted the injury on himself? The Statement has not addressed that issue. Secondly, it also states that statements were recorded from 22 witnesses, including police officers, family members and workmates. These incidents happened on 5th February 2026 at an Administration Police College, where there is security. But up to now, where is the report? From 5th February to now, that is five months. Where is the report?

In the Statement, it also states that there was no foul play. Yet, on my mobile phone, it is clear that this person was slaughtered. Just like this case, in the 1990s, we had a situation in which somebody was murdered, but the statement from the police was that the person had killed himself, poured acid on himself and burned himself.

I reject that Statement. I totally reject it. In fact, if I were the Chairman, I would not have read that Statement. It is a half-baked Statement. Thank you very much.

Chairman, there are three issues you have to respond to. Proceed and respond to them. I hope you were following.

I was. Hon. Temporary Speaker, to be honest with the Member for Kitui Rural...

Let me do justice to that. You may take your seat. Let me hear a comment from the doctor and then you.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. From what I have heard in the explanation being given, a very disturbing aspect is emerging. It was suspected that this person was mentally unwell. He was taken to a health facility, where admission to an institution was recommended so that he would be taken care of. However, he was not admitted because he declined, and his family had to be informed. That in itself amounts to gross negligence.

We have heard you. Chairman, you may now proceed and give your comments on the three issues.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. To an extent, I want to agree that the response given is a little disturbing. The Member of Parliament showed me the photo on his phone, which purportedly is of the victim. However, given the circumstances of the said victim being mentally disturbed in a police facility, I just beg for patience. Let us wait for the investigation to take its due course. I know six months is still a long time. However, I want to assure my colleague, the family and the country that we are going to get to the bottom of that situation and come back with a satisfactory response in due course.

Very well. So, you are agreeing that the response is not fully satisfactory, but the investigations are going on? We will rest that matter there and wait for the investigations. (A Member spoke off the record) Yes, Hon. Member, what is it? Is it on the same? Is it a point of order?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I made a request for a Statement on affordable housing last year. However, I was told to redo it again this year with a promise of a response in two weeks after recess. I am requesting your intervention because I have yet to receive a response. I also requested for a Statement on 18 girls who were sent home from Kiganjo Police Training Institute. I was promised an answer within two weeks after recess. I do not know where the response is.

We have heard you. Is the Chairman, Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, in the House? Any Member of that Committee? The Leader of the Majority Party, make sure that the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works, brings a response to that request for a Statement. (Several Members consulted loudly at the Dispatch Box) Order Member! All the Members consulting in front of me, you are a little bit too loud.

I have asked the Leader of the Majority Party to make sure that the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works brings a response to the request for a Statement by the Hon. Suzanne Kiamba, which is yet to be brought to the House. On her second request for a Statement on the 18 girls, the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Affairs, can you comment on the same?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, that is among the several requests for Statements sought that we are still waiting for responses from the ministry. We are doing our best to see whether the ministry can fast-track it, so that we get the responses in the course of the week.

Very well. However, I now instruct you to expedite that so that the Statement can come to the House.

Let us now move to responses to requests for Statements. We will start with the response on frequent power outages and the state of electricity infrastructure in Malindi Constituency by Hon. Amina Mnyazi, Member of Parliament, Malindi. The Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Energy, Hon. Mulanya.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I have the response. I do not know if the Member is in the House to receive the response.

Is Hon. Amina Mnyazi in the House? She is not in the House. Table the Statements.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I will Table it.

We move to the next response. It is a response to a request for a Statement on delayed electricity connection in Malinya area by Hon. Bernard Shinali, Member of Parliament for Ikolomani.

Is Hon. Bernard in the House? Very well, Hon. Bernard is in the House; you may proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I have a response to the question raised by the Member for Ikolomani regarding the delayed electricity connection in the Malinya area. Regarding the reasons for the prolonged delay in connecting electricity to the Ikolomani Constituency Industrial Development Centre at Malinya Market, despite completion of the required infrastructure and payment of connection charges, the response is as follows:

The Micro and Small Enterprise Authority, on behalf of the Constituency Industrial Development Centre at Malinya Market, applied for an electricity connection under reference E243/120/21/120/092 and was issued with a quotation amounting to Ksh1.8 million. Subsequently, partial payments totalling Ksh1.7 million were made in March 2022, and a sum of Ksh1,001,000 was paid on 20th May 2026 towards the connection, leaving an outstanding balance of Ksh127,262.

The full quoted amount was not settled within the quotation validity period of 90 days. The quotation lapsed in accordance with the applicable connection procedure and was reviewed to reflect prevailing costs at the time of implementation. Following the review, a new quotation amount of Ksh1.8 million has been issued, resulting in the outstanding amount required to facilitate completion of the connection being Ksh149,043.

The delay in completing the connection has, therefore, arisen from the outstanding balance on the connection charges and the subsequent review of the quotation after expiry of the original validity period. The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) remains committed to facilitating the connection and has continued to engage the customer to expedite the completion of the process.

Question No.2 is on the status of the electricity connection works, including the responsibilities of the respective agents involved and the specific timeline for completion of

Very well. Before Hon. Shinali takes to the Floor, allow me to acknowledge the presence of the following schools, both in the Speaker’s Gallery and the Public Gallery.

In the Public Gallery, we have: Victoria School, Kisumu Central Constituency, Kisumu County; Bethel Junior Academy, Kesses Constituency, Uasin Gishu County; and Genesis Highway Junior School of Kisumu East Constituency, Kisumu County. In the Speaker’s Gallery, we have SOS School, Nyali Constituency, Mombasa County, and Tareni Day School, South Imenti Constituency, Meru County.

Let me ask the Member for Kisumu East, Hon. Shakeel Shabbir, to welcome all the schools.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. It is my honour to welcome Genesis Highway Junior School. Hon. Oron, Victoria School is also here. We spent our younger days there. On behalf of my colleagues, welcome to the House, together with the other schools. This is where laws are made.

Thank you very much.

Great, Hon. Shabbir, on behalf of the Speaker. (Hon. Edith Nyenze spoke off the record)

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I have just stood to seek your indulgence. I actually requested for a Statement…

Order. Just take your seat first. On behalf of the Speaker and the House at large, let me welcome all the schools who have visited Parliament and wish you safe travel as you go back to your various schools.

Yes, we can hear the Member now. Proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I just wanted to seek your indulgence. I actually requested for a Statement from the Ministry of Energy concerning 40 transformers from Kitui West Constituency. It is now more than two months since I sought that Statement. I am just requesting your indulgence so that I can know the status.

Very well. The representative of the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Energy is in the House. Therefore, Hon. Mulanya, when you speak and reply to Hon. Shinali, you may also speak to that matter. Hon. Shinali, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Hon. Mulanya is not giving us an accurate answer because the first quotation was Ksh765,000, which was paid. By the time it was paid, it was adjusted by another Ksh1 million. When the million was paid, they adjusted it by Ksh125,000. When I requested this Statement, it was Ksh149,000 to be topped up. The first quotation was in 2022. We are in 2026. Kenya Power is inefficient. We have to call it what it is.

We are not able to make any progress in developing our institutions. The Kenya Power delays in connecting electricity and removing poles from roads when we are constructing. We have one road being constructed, launched by the President, and the work is ongoing. The contractor has decided to leave Kenya Power poles on the road and continue with the work. It is time this House and the Executive looked into the issue of electricity connectivity, such that it is no longer a monopoly. Kenya Power is enjoying a monopoly and this is why we have this.

Secondly, the institution that has been built and equipped with machines by MSEA has no security. It has been vandalised. If they connect electricity now, we are not even sure that the machines will work. It is time Kenya Power, when paid, is given a limited time within which they should connect power. I call upon the Chairman and the committee. Hon. Mulanya, I want an accurate answer. I want proper timelines. You cannot sit on Ksh1.7 million and say you cannot connect because of Ksh140,000, which Kenya Power has just adjusted now. Which figure is bigger than the other? Is it Ksh1.7 million or Ksh140,000?

I submit.

Hon. Mulanya will be dealing with the figures. I hope he has heard you. Let us hear Hon. Maungu on the same.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to also add to what Hon. Shinali said. This is with regard to some inefficiencies being witnessed by Kenya Power. We have programmes that were initiated around 2024: The Last Mile Connectivity Programme. We went to our people, did public participation, and we had many programmes. It was a very good programme that was going to uplift connectivity, especially in the western part of this country, but Kenya Power has been unable to expedite or ensure that this work is done.

The President had a very good intention of ensuring that Western Kenya has power. But Kenya Power is somewhere, either in terms of inefficiency or lack thereof. We want the Departmental Committee on Energy to really sanction Kenya Power and know the status of the

Very well. Yes, let us hear the Hon. Member here on the same. Joyriders, you can take a little time. It is overwhelming now.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to join the two Members, Hon. Shinali and Hon. Maungu, in highlighting the inefficiency in Kenya Power. Even Hon. Maungu is talking about a project as recent as 2024. In my constituency, I have been pursuing five projects which were supposed to be implemented in

We have heard you, and you have really delivered your point. Hon. Oundo, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This issue of the Last Mile Connectivity Project through Kenya Power seems to be a very well- designed scheme to frustrate Members of Parliament. Hon. Mulanya is very much aware that this project for Busia was launched in his constituency by the President. I think it must have been in 2023 or around then.

In my constituency, I had about 27 projects. Since then, I have only accomplished two. It is an embarrassing situation. When we say the Government is inefficient, people think we are making baseless claims. In fact, every Kenyan can see. How can it take more than two years to complete a small project? How inefficient can a government be? Can we make efforts to ensure this work is completed so that if there is any trace of respect for this Government, we can talk about it?

Let us hear from the Member for Igembe Central, and thereafter we will conclude with the wakilis. Take one minute.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to add to what my colleagues have just discussed. In my constituency, Igembe Central, there are electricity poles that have been erected, and some have been lying along the roadside for the last three and a half years. Whenever we talk to the contractor and Kenya Power, they always give flimsy reasons. Last time, they said they had imported cables and other electrical materials, but they had not been exempted from taxes. I think KPLC should do their work. I also implore the Departmental Committee on Energy to move fast because they are putting the Government to shame. The President declares that he has given a constituency Ksh500 million for electricity, and thereafter, nothing happens. We only see the poles. The community, who are the supposed users, are left wondering whether they are supposed to use the poles for electricity. It is really embarrassing. The KPLC should wake up.

Very well. Finally, Hon. Member.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

No. I gave the opportunity to another Hon. Member.

Is there someone else on that side?

Yes. I know you are a senior counsel, but this is Hon. Gichimu’s chance. Proceed, Hon. Gichimu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I must thank this Government for being deliberate about connecting as many Kenyans as possible to power. What is lacking is the capacity of the contractors who have been given this work. The World Bank has provided money for maximisation and last-mile connectivity, but you still find the contractors who are given the work dilly-dallying in implementing the projects, yet the Government means well for Kenyans.

I believe that is an area we need to check on. I agree with my colleague who said that the Cabinet Secretary and the Chief Executive Officer who implement the Last Mile Connectivity Project (LMCP) in this country should come for a kamukunji in this House. I believe that money is available, but the implementing agency is slow. In my constituency, I have eight stalled projects. No poles have been delivered, and no connections have been done. However, I have been able to connect about three or four households. Others like Emmanuel Muchungwa, Kariru Gathiru and Kibure are still stalled. This is an area that requires urgent intervention.

Hon. Martha, you have one minute.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for your indulgence. I want to ride on what other Members have said and to support Hon. Gichimu. The REREC team visit a site, create designs and request paperwork, which creates hope that electricity will be connected. Thereafter, out of 100 people, they say that they will only connect

Finally, senior counsel.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I think we should call KPLC and REREC to order. We may say that the Government is inefficient when we know for sure that these responsibilities are delegated to REREC and KPLC. This is exactly where the problem is.

When they give hope to citizens, then they disappear; that cannot be service delivery. The CEOs and whoever is in charge should be called to account. They should either rectify problems or be shown the door. We say this because there is a hue and cry over electricity supply everywhere in the country. We cannot bury our heads anymore. We know that the National Treasury is about to release the budget. We must see REREC and the KPLC all over the country supplying citizens with power, including in Tharaka Constituency.

Thank you very much.

I think it has been flogged enough. (Hon. Owen Baya spoke off the record)

Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, I will speak to you regarding this matter shortly. In fact, the whole matter will revert to you. Hon. Mulanya.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I have noted the concerns my colleagues have raised regarding this issue, and in response to the issue raised by Hon. Shinali, the Member acknowledged that the payments were made in two instalments. He admitted that the first payment of Ksh765,884 was made on 9th March 2022 and the second instalment of Ksh1,001,000 was made in May 2026. This was made outside the contractual period of 90 days. That is why KPLC revised the quotation from the initial amount of Ksh1.7 million to Ksh1.8 million, requiring the customer to top up a further sum of Ksh149,043. That is the position. If there are any other issues, we will follow up with KPLC so that we can give the Hon. Member the accurate position.

Regarding the other issues raised by my colleagues…

They are overwhelming.

Pardon?

There are many issues.

Yes. The issues raised by Hon. Maungu, Hon. Hilary, Hon. Oundo, Hon. Karitho and Hon. Gichimu are related to the EFDP II project. We raised this issue last week with the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Energy and the CEO of KPLC.

Regarding why particular projects were delayed, what Hon. Oundo said about the project that was launched by the President in my constituency in 2023 is not true. It was actually launched in 2025. The true position is that KPLC was experiencing problems with the donor funding element. The donors initially required that all invoices by the contractor be approved outside Kenya, which was in France, and that issue was resolved early this year.

Another issue reported to the Committee at last week’s meeting was that the contractor was experiencing problems with the supply of electricity poles. We advised the Principal Secretary to liaise with the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum to expedite the contracting of the poles and the materials required so that these projects can be completed. The Committee is expecting a report this week, and therefore, I am not in a position to give a proper response right now. The Committee is equally concerned about this delay and is waiting for the response.

On the issue raised by Hon. Wangari regarding surveys by REREC, we have taken note of the same. The Committee will follow up with REREC so that these particular services are done properly.

Very well. We must execute and complete this business. Yes, Hon. Shinali.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I totally disagree with Hon. Mulanya. I was very clear. Hon. Mulanya is giving misleading information. The MSEA was issued a first invoice of Ksh765, 844, which they paid. By the time they paid, a review was done, and there was a top-up of Ksh1 million. They paid and now there is also another review...

He has said it was outside the contractual period.

No, that is not true.

Proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, you cannot pay anything less of the invoiced amount. The Kenya Power & Lighting Company will always ask you to pay in full. I request Hon. Mulanya to obtain accurate information as he provides it to

Very well. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, you wanted to speak to this matter.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Issues of electricity connectivity and power supply are very key because they will take us to Singapore. If we must walk on that path and drive in that airspace to Singapore, then one of the drivers we must have is electricity connection and supply. We have two fundamental organs, namely, REREC and KPLC, which are supposed to help us achieve this milestone. However, what I see from both REREC and KPLC is a lot of inefficiency.

The KPLC should be driven by business, because it is now a private enterprise. Every business enterprise is looking at profit. Profit does not come without customers. It is customers who give you money, allowing you to make profit. The KPLC is letting down the country and themselves. If REREC completes installation of the infrastructure, but KPLC does not provide metres, how do they expect to make enough money to pay their workers’ salaries and everyone else? We probably have the wrong people at KPLC. They are letting down the company and their customers. You cannot have a Managing Director at KPLC who is not driven by profit. Profits can only be realised when you have enough connections.

In fact, I envisaged that KPLC should be pushing REREC to ensure all these social power projects are implemented, so that they get more customers. If they do not do that, then I do not understand which business school they attended. This country must move forward. The KPLC must also move forward. Energy companies in this world make more profit than telecommunications companies. However, in Kenya, telecommunications companies are making more profit than energy companies. From the Floor of this House, I would like to tell KPLC to pull up its socks. Pull up your socks. You need to do this, so that Kenyans benefit from having electricity. When we talk about Kenya beyond Vision 2030, we are talking about power connections. That is what we need. This country should not have even one village or one house without power at this level of our development. We should not.

On the other hand, REREC also needs to have more innovative ways of raising funds. They should not just sit and wait for the Exchequer. The REREC should not just sit and tell a Member of Parliament: " We do not have enough money and, therefore, we cannot connect." Why are you there? You were formed to ensure that you do the right things, including looking for innovative ways of obtaining funds to connect homes to electricity.

The people of Kilifi North always ask me: “When are we getting power?” I am in the Government and I am happy to be in the Government. However, REREC should not let us down. They have a mission and a mandate. They should not just sit back. Supposing the Exchequer does not give them money, will they shut down the company? Will they just keep on receiving salaries? The REREC must do their job, the job for which they were created. If they do not, they should ship out.

I think you should have extended this beyond lamentation. I gave you this last chance as a leader. As a leader, you must interrogate this matter. Lamentation is everywhere. You can see Hon. Makau is on his feet. Everyone wants to speak on KPLC. Hon. Members, please, write specific questions between now and the time when the Leader of the Majority Party will call the Chief Executive Officer, the Principal Secretary of Energy and REREC to come to the House, so that Members can deal with this matter once and for all. This matter concerns every Member.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the Cabinet Secretary for Energy should be accompanied by the Principal Secretary and the two Chief Executive Officers.

Thank you, Hon Members. We will rest the matter there, so that we may proceed with other business.

Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Makau, what is it? We have closed interventions on this matter. Please, give Hon. Makau the microphone.

Thank you. Any time you see Members from both sides of this House concerned, it is a matter that is affecting Kenyans. I commend the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party for what he has said. The way KPLC and REREC are conducting their business leaves a lot to be desired. I am happy to hear him say that he finds it very difficult to explain to his constituents what is happening despite being in the Government.

When the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary come to this House, they must tell us clearly where the problem is so that we may, as a House, align the budget with the pressing needs. We should begin by looking at the needs of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) in terms of transmission of electric power, how it gets to REREC and finally how KPLC comes in.

In fact, I feel very embarrassed by KPLC. They are totally confused. Even now, they do not know the regions. I have seen them in Joska in Mavoko. Previously, KPLC managed Joska from Ruai, which is in Nairobi. Now, they have transferred those functions to the Tala office. The same people from KPLC are going to Joska and telling them they have stolen meters from Nairobi yet they are the ones who installed those metres. They are also the ones who sold them the meters. They are disconnecting homesteads from electricity as a result of their inefficiency.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I completely agree with you. We need to invite the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to come and tell us how much money they allocate to these two power agencies - REREC and KPLC.

Very well. Hon. Members, do not let yourselves down. Please, document what you are now telling me so that on that day, you come with specific questions about your constituencies. I am also affected and, therefore, I will be doing the same.

Let us move to the next response on registration of community groups and community- based organisations (CBOs) by Hon. Joyce Kamene. This will be responded to by the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Social Protection. Are you in the House?

Yes.

Is Hon. Joyce in the House?

I am present.

She is in the House. You may proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. On 17th June 2026, the Member for Machakos County, Hon. Joyce Kamene, requested for a Statement regarding registration of community-based organisations.

On action being taken by the Ministry to ensure implementation of a user-friendly platform to streamline the registration process for community-based organisations, popularly known as CBOs, the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizens Affairs, through the Directorate of Social Development, is mandated to register community groups and community-based organisations as per the Kenya Groups Registration Act, Cap 108A, Laws of Kenya.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 1 of 2025 and the Government’s directive on digitisation of public services and mandatory use of the e-Citizen platform for Government fees and charges, the Directorate operationalised the Community Development Management Information System (CDMIS) as the official platform for registration, management and oversight of community-based organisations.

The CDMIS is integrated with e-Citizen to support online application submission, electronic payment, document verification and approval processes. However, the system is not yet fully end-to-end as issuance and collection of registration certificates are still done manually. Despite this, the digitised process has significantly reduced manual handling, improved processing efficiency and enhanced transparency and accountability.

In addition, the State Department has diversified service delivery channels through Huduma Centres, where applicants may apply for registration and collect registration certificates near home. The decentralisation of service points has improved accessibility, reduced travel costs for applicants and brought services closer to communities across the country.

To improve usability, the State Department continues to refine the system through simplification of application workflows, reduction of unnecessary data entry requirements and enhancement of the user interface to make it more accessible to users with varying levels of digital literacy.

The system is also being strengthened through ongoing enhancements focused on stability, cyber-security, data integrity and interoperability with other Government systems to ensure reliable and secure service delivery. Overall, the implementation of CDMIS, supported by e-Citizen integration and continuous system improvements, has enhanced efficiency, accessibility and transparency in the community-based organisation registration process.

On whether the Ministry has undertaken a review of the registration process and related costs to ensure efficiency in delivering services to low-income communities and vulnerable populations, the Directorate of Social Development undertook nationwide public participation during the development of the Regulations to the Community Groups Registration Act, Cap.108A.

On the draft Community Groups Regulations, a regulatory impact assessment was also conducted and a statement prepared since it was noted that provisions of the Act relating to registration of groups would impose significant costs on the community. During this process, stakeholders raised concerns relating to registration requirements, administrative procedures and the prescribed fees. These views were systematically collected, consolidated and considered in the review and refinement of the Draft Regulations to ensure that they are responsive to the needs of community groups, particularly low-income and vulnerable populations.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Order, Vice-Chairman. As a seasoned moderator, you know when a Member rises on a point of order, we hear them. Let us hear what is out of order.

I have a lot of respect for the Vice-Chairman. Hon. Mutai is the only person who is guaranteed to have a seat here next year. We have just concluded discussing Kenya Power and the electricity connectivity issue. How can community- based organisations in our constituencies apply or pay electronically yet they neither have access to cyber services nor electric power?

You are out of order. You are completely out of order. As a seasoned Member of this House, you rose on a point of order and I gave you the respect you deserve. You know when you should have risen to speak to this matter. Indeed, I would have given you a chance.

Proceed, Vice-Chairman.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for protecting me from my friend, Hon. Makau. He should have allowed me to finish giving the response, so that he could interrogate it.

As I was saying, the review process has been structured to ensure that the registration framework is conducted in line with the provisions of the Community Groups Registration Act, Cap.108A. The process is efficient, transparent and responsive to the needs of low-income and vulnerable communities while maintaining accountability and sustainability in service provision.

On measures put in place to ensure…

You need to summarise.

I am finishing. I am on measures put in place to ensure that we support vulnerable groups to facilitate formal recognition without

Hon. Kamene.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, indeed, I have heard the reply, but I am not satisfied at all. First, the charges that the Vice-Chairman has spelt out are not what is on the ground. I can tell you for sure that last month, I was with the women groups as they were registering and we were asked to pay fees as follows: Ksh5,550 for the e-Citizen; Ksh2,000 for updating the system; Ksh1,000 for certificate of training for the groups; and Ksh200 for printing of certificate. So, when the Vice-Chairman says that community groups pay only Ksh5,000, I do not understand what he is talking about. As we know, these are vulnerable women who are trying to come together and start off their small empowerment projects. For them to be recognised, we need to give them standard prices. If it is Ksh5,000 let it be it. Do not bring in some added fee that does not appear in the regulations.

When you say that these community groups should be registered on e-Citizen, I ask myself how women in Lungulweni can get there. Where will they get these services from? I have been to many places in Kithukini and the women keep on asking the same question. Why can these systems not be improved? I know the Government is trying to improve on the service accessibility, but a lot has to be done. Can the Committee find out what these charges are? What the Vice-Chairman has told us is not what is happening. There is a big difference between Ksh8,250 and Ksh5,000. Please, let us protect our women. Let us help the women to come together and start self-empowerment activities so that they can support themselves at the grassroots.

Hon. Makau.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I am sorry for deviating from the matter being discussed, but this issue has hurt me so much that I remembered how Kenya Power & Lighting Company has disadvantaged Kenyans. On the issue of CBOs, I have a proposal to the Vice-Chairman. We realise that it is not easy for all CBO members who would wish to apply, register or renew their groups. They do not have the luxury of carrying out all these processes because of being disadvantaged by lack of connectivity of both internet and electricity. I request my good friend, the Vice-Chairman, to inform the Ministry and the relevant authorities charged with that function that some of the forms could be distributed through the County Woman Representatives or the local administration - chiefs and assistant chiefs. The groups can apply through those offices and then the forms can reach the relevant offices so that Kenyans can benefit from wherever they are, however local or interior. Vice-Chairman, we need to promote our groups. If we must realise the dream of going to Singapore, it begins by us empowering the women and the youth of this country.

Hon. Gichimu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also appreciate the social fabric that self-help groups provide at the local level. They need to be supported. I must commend the Ministry because it is working on the regulations. The Committee, where I sit, chaired by Hon. Chepkonga, is an advisory committee. It can only consider what has been brought before the Committee. I request the Vice-Chairman that his Committee fast-tracks this matter by ensuring that the Ministry brings the regulations to the House for consideration. I am happy Hon. Joyce Kamene, who sought the Statement, also sits in that Committee. We will consider the regulations and make sure that the groups pay a reasonable amount which is not exorbitant for them to operate.

Hon. Mutunga.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I would like to add my voice to the issue of forming groups and the way they are handled by the offices, especially the social development office. We have decrees that indicate the number of people who should join these groups. Sometimes, it is difficult to share benefits, especially in the declared funds like Women Enterprise Fund and Youth Fund. The money is very little, sometimes Ksh100,000 for 30 people. It is good for the regulations to capture the numbers by way of reducing. There is nothing wrong with having a group of five if they can agree to do the work so that when they share this money, it makes sense.

The other issue is the turnaround time. Sometimes registration of groups delays in public offices because, for instance, the officer who is supposed to sign the forms is not in the office. It takes months before CBO officials are assisted. They find themselves having to go back to the offices to check whether those officers are back. It is important for officers in public offices to realise that people are wasting time going to these offices. I have heard cases in my constituency where officers have deliberately delayed women groups from progressing because they are not available. This is not right. It is good to be sympathetic to these CBOs. Payments aside, they also need to be proactive and responsive to women groups.

Vice-Chairman, this is a very good question from Hon. Joyce Kamene. Even in our areas, we do not hear of Ksh5,000, but Ksh7,000. You could also speak to how the information would be transmitted back to the constituencies and the lowest level that those are the costs that should be charged.

Proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I thank Hon. Joyce Kamene for the passion on CBOs because we all understand that women and all vulnerable community members are the foundation and engine of economic development at the grass root level.

The charges that I was attributing to are not the same ones that Hon. Joyce Kamene is talking about. I am talking about the charges that have been proposed in the regulations. What I was reading could be different from what Hon. Joyce Kamene is saying because the regulations are yet to come into force. They are currently at the Attorney-General’s office for processing and transmission to Parliament. When the regulations are brought to the House and processed by the Committee on Delegated Legislation, the official fees payable will become applicable across the country. That way, we will remove the brokers who charge Ksh8,000. The regulations are intended to clean up existing mess where dubious charges which cannot be accounted for keep on springing up from all corners of the country.

I also agree with Hon. Makau that this issue is connected to Kenya Power because power carries the fibre optic. If we do not take deliberate action to make power available in all corners of the country, this issue will be a deferred dream. Secondly, on the issue of the presence, every so often we appear before the Budget and Appropriations Committee for enhanced resources to make sure that we have sub county social development officers in every constituency. However, in this House, priority is given to roads, brick and mortar while leaving

As we raise the matter, I want to indulge Hon. Millie Odiambo because she sits in the House Business Committee. Hon. Millie, there are regulations lying at the Attorney-General's Office on fees to be charged for registration of community groups. If you could, please, raise it at the House Business Committee so that it can be undertaken by the Speaker, this will help many people.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I will take it up.

Thank you. Next Order.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move: THAT, the Bill be amended by deleting Clause 3 and substituting therefor the following new Clause—

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move: THAT, the Bill be amended by deleting Clause 6 and substituting therefor the following new clause—

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move: THAT, Clause 8 of the Bill be amended by deleting subclause (1) and substituting therefor the following new subclause—

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I like the amendments so to speak but I am just apprehensive because by using the words “reasonable notice”, we are giving room for discretion and mischief. I can assure you that the courts will be flooded with cases with requests for definition of “reasonable notice” given the nature of the matter at hand. This provision is open-ended and is likely to be abused. I know you are better in these terms of reasonable time, and you can get a better term so that it becomes certain. As it is, it is so uncertain and will water down the purpose and intent of this Bill.

Thank you. The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Very well. Member for Gichugu.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I support the amendment. The reasonableness is a term that is usually used in law. You may not categorise all the instances where public participation is to be undertaken. It, therefore, depends on the

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Chairlady and Hon. Gichimu. That is exactly what reasonableness means. We would have put a timeline, but it may not be effective. In some cases, we may have provisions that public participation has to be done within a year. If we put 30 days, that becomes unreasonable. In other cases, public participation may have to be done within seven days. If we put 14 days, again, that becomes unreasonable. Therefore, the best thing to do is to leave it to the discretion of an arbiter like a judge. When the matter is taken before him, he will consider whether the timelines given were reasonable or not.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Hon. Members, allow me to put the question.

(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) (Clause 8 as amended agreed to) (Clauses 9, 10 and 11 agreed to) Clause 12 The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and legal Affairs.

I beg to move:

THAT, Clause 12 of the Bill be amended by deleting subclause (2) and substituting therefor the following new subclause—

I beg to move:

THAT, the Bill be amended by deleting Clause 14 and substituting therefor the following new Clause— Access to documents. 14. A responsible authority shall facilitate the public with prior access to the documents relating to the matter under consideration in a public participation exercise and may include simplified versions of the documents where appropriate. I propose that the clause be amended as per the Order Paper with a slight addition of the following words, “and may include simplified versions of the documents where appropriate.” The entire clause will now read, “A responsible authority shall facilitate the public with prior access to the documents relating to the matter under consideration in a public participation exercise and may include simplified versions of the documents where appropriate.”

The rationale is to provide prior dissemination of information and simplified versions of information to promote meaningful and effective public participation. Exactly that. (Question of the amendment proposed)

I support the amendment. The provision will prevent the ambushing of participants in a public participation with information which they are supposed to contribute to.

(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) (Clause 14 as amended agreed to) Clause 15 The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Mover.

I beg to move: THAT, Clause 15 of the Bill be amended—

I beg to move: THAT, the Bill be amended by deleting Clause 17 and substituting therefor the following new clause— Publication of specific public participation guidelines.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

The Chairman of the Committee is being as clever as he is. Normally, he is a good man.

However, honestly speaking, human beings and persons hold those offices. They are not just ordinary institutions, so to speak. There are persons who move them and get them working. Removing criminal liability is essentially telling a person that you have given them a free licence to break the law and the Constitution. It is not tidy.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Very well. Hon. Gichimu.

In a previous clause, we said that we would limit public participation to an institution and not any officer of an institution. That way, in case of any problem, the institution will be answerable depending on the matter at hand. Therefore, laying criminal liability against an individual beats the entire purpose of having institutions responsible.

I believe we should remove it as the Chairman has proposed. Institutions will then be answerable depending on the person mandated to handle the issue. We do not know exactly who within an institution will be mandated to conduct public participation.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Hon. Mutunga.

Under institutional management and practice, there is always a proviso for the governance organ that makes certain decisions on who should bear liability. Therefore, we are better placed giving the institution that mandate than placing responsibility to the individual running an institution at that point in time.

(Question, that the words to be left out be left out, put and agreed to) (Clause 20 as amended agreed to) The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): It is important to note that the proposed amendment by Leader of the Majority Party falls automatically. (Clause 21 agreed to) New Clause 20A

THAT, the Bill be amended by inserting the following New Clause immediately after Clause 20—

Court may void exercise. 20A. The High Court may void a public participation exercise conducted in wilful violation of the provisions of this Act. (The New Clause was read a First Time) The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Mover, move Second Reading.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move that the New Clause 20A be now read a Second Time. The New Clause 20A is an introduction to cure what Hon. Oundo is worried about. I also beg to move a slight amendment to the New Clause 20A to add the following words after the following words “this Act”: “After considering representations from a responsible authority.”

This means a person wishing to void any public participation exercise will be free to go to court, but will not get an ex parte order. If it is given, it is not the final order. The court will be under obligation to hear representations from the responsible authority regarding exactly what took place. The rationale is to provide that any public participation exercise conducted in wilful violation of the provisions of this Bill may be voided by the High Court after hearing representation from the responsible authority.

We have used the word “void”. It may be voided. It means it is not void ab initio until somebody goes to court for voiding. This is purely because there are instances that may arise when public participation may be necessary, but it cannot be conducted. For example, in the cases of emergencies, tragedies, and plagues that may bedevil the country.

I beg to move. Thank you. (Question, that the New Clause be read a Second Time, proposed) The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Hon. Gichimu.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. I support that amendment, as moved by the Chairman. Akin to voiding of public participation by the court is also what we do as the Committee on Delegated Legislation. We do not criminalise the person who did not do proper public participation, but we move to annul before the House, if the proper procedures for public participation were not followed. That amendment is quite good because it addresses the issue and concern that has been raised by Hon. Oundo.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Hon. Oundo, does the Member for Gichugu speak for you?

No, he does not speak for me. He speaks for the people of Gichugu and himself. I speak for wananchi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. I am trying very hard to understand the intention of Hon. (Sir) George. If the intention is to water down the Bill, then, probably, he has succeeded. If, however, it is to strengthen public participation, as required under the Constitution, then we are doing a very great injustice to Kenyans.

The spirit of the Constitution is that any matter that has direct impact on Kenyans must be taken for public participation. The way the clause is drafted here, it seems it will be discretionary. Somebody, an authority, will decide whether to do it or not, and then look for clever ways to go and defend that decision in a court of law. You are making it extremely cumbersome, expensive, and denying Kenyans the right to express themselves on their matters. It might get your way, but I would like to alert Kenyans where the details are. Take care. We are being taken for a ride.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Hon. Chairman, do you have something to add?

Thank you very much, Hon. Chairlady. Hon. Oundo is misunderstanding this clause. Constitutionally, public participation is mandated for every law, public policy, and whatever every person has to do. However, it is not mandatory in all circumstances because there may arise cases where we are unable to do it. For example, in case of an emergency, pandemic in the country, or other urgent matters that need to be

Hon. (Sir) George is making the matter even worse than I thought it should be. Hon. Temporary Chairlady, contemplating that you can proceed unconstitutionally for some flimsy excuses makes it a sad day for Kenya. If you look at how he has moved the amendments as opposed to what is in the Order Paper, it means that when the matter is in court, to determine the validity or otherwise, it cannot give an ex parte injunction. It means that a decision arising out of an impugned process can still be executed and the matter can be taken to court. It is a dangerous provision. We are literally killing the spirit of public participation, as envisaged in the Constitution of Kenya. There can never be any situation that can negate a constitutional provision. There can never be!

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Chairlady.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): What is out of order, Hon. Murugara?

Hon. Oundo is totally wrong to say there cannot be any instance when we can move without public participation. We have those instances. For example, if we are attacked by a foreign sovereign power today and, therefore, we have to go to war, the Constitution makes provisions on how the country can go to war, including how it is declared. There is quick legislation that has to be done. Surely, Hon. Oundo, we cannot conduct public participation in that instance.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Member for Gichugu. Hold on, Hon. Oundo.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, it is true that public participation is a requirement under Article 118 of our Constitution. What lacks is the law on the procedure of this public participation, but it is now before this House. The procedure has been properly given.

If someone offends that law, is Hon. Oundo saying that the court cannot void it? If someone does not follow the right procedure of public participation, as required by the law that we are coming up with and the regulations, does it mean this Parliament will just ignore it? There has to be a procedure of annulling and addressing the authority to rectify it. If you do not meet the requirements as per the law that we are making today, then, the court can void that public participation for having not adhered to the Constitution and the law which we are making today.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): I know you have referred to the

Yes, if you give me Tigania East, I will have a problem.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. I want to refer to what has been said by the Chairperson. A law must be very clear and precise. Whereas this law is meant to guide and provide the procedures for public participation, it should be specific. In areas where the Chairperson said that there are exceptions, I agree with him that there are exceptions. There are times when you cannot carry out that public participation, but I would suggest that we be specific about which circumstances so that the law is not abused.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): I see the Busia team seems to agree. Hon. (Dr) Nyamai.

Thank you. I have so many mics. Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I want to address this issue and tell Hon. (Dr.) Oundo that I would not be worried if you drive on the principle that the Constitution is always supreme. That is a very important concept and I am happy that you are listening. If this law offends the Constitution, the Constitution reigns supreme. Therefore, you should be a little worried about this. The High Court may void public participation that is conducted in wilful violation of the provisions of this Act, but this Act is inferior to the Constitution.

Therefore, the amendment that Hon. (Sir) George Best is trying to make is actually in tandem with what is constitutionalism. We need to support it and move forward.

(Question, that the new clause be read a Second Time, put and agreed to) (Question, that the new clause be added to the Bill, put and agreed to) The amendment proposed by the Leader of the Majority Party was similar, so it falls automatically.

(Proposed amendment by Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah dropped) Clause 2

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): There is a proposed amendment, Hon. Chairperson.

Yes, thank you very much. Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

No, Sir. George is my friend. On this, I agree with you, totally. You see, we, as Linda Mwananchi, engage the people on a daily basis. So, now when you use the word ‘engagement’, it warms my heart.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Chairlady. We do have an amendment proposed for the Long Title of the Bill. I beg to move:

THAT, the Bill be amended by deleting the Long Title and substituting therefor the following Long Title— A Bill for AN ACT of Parliament to provide for the conduct of public participation; to give effect to the constitutional principle of participation of the people enshrined in Articles 10(2), 69(1)(d), 118, 174(c), 184(1)(c), 196, 201(a) and 232(1)(d) of the Constitution; and, for connected purposes. What we are doing is purely to provide for Article 174(c) to be included in the Long Title. Your recollection would be that we had Article 174 introduced in one of the amendments. It is why we wanted to have it amongst the other Articles that are in the Long Title.

I beg to move. The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): You introduced it at Clause 3.

Alright, Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move that the Committee do report to the House its consideration of the Public Participation Bill (National Assembly Bill No.44 of 2025) and its approval thereof with amendments.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Very well. (Question proposed) (Question put and agreed to)

Yes, Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, the Bill be amended in Clause 6 of the Bill by deleting paragraph (g) and substituting therefor the following new paragraph—

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, Clause 12 of the Bill be amended in subclause (1)–

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, Clause 31 of the Bill be amended in sub-clause (2) by deleting the words “County Executive Committee Member” and substituting therefor the words “county government”. The reason is that we would like to change from the County Executive Committee Member to county government to give the county government flexibility and assign responsibilities accordingly.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, Clause 34 of the Bill be amended by deleting the words “County Executive Committee Member” and substituting therefor the words “county government”. The reason is that we want to create that flexibility for the county government to assign responsibilities accordingly as county governments vary in their arrangements.

The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Very well. (Question of the amendment proposed) (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) (Clause 34 as amended agreed to) (Clauses 35 and 36 agreed to) Clause 37 The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Chairperson.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, Clause 37 of the Bill be amended—

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, Clause 51 of the Bill be amended in the opening statement to subclause

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, Clause 52 of the Bill be amended by inserting the word “pest,” immediately after the words “with any” The reason is that we would like to provide clarity. (Question of the amendment proposed) (Question, that the word to be inserted be inserted, put and agreed to) (Clause 52 as amended agreed to) (Clauses 53, 54, 55 and 56 agreed to) Clause 57 The Temporary Chairlady (Hon. Martha Wangari): Mover.

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, Clause 57 of the Bill be amended by deleting subclause (1) and substituting therefor the following new subclause—

Hon. Temporary Chairlady, I beg to move:

THAT, Clause 2 of the Bill be amended—

I beg to move that the Committee report to the House its consideration of the Plant Protection Bill (National Assembly Bill No.28 of 2025) and its approval thereof with amendments. (Question proposed) (Question put and agreed to)

Hon. Chairperson.

I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Public Participation Bill (National Assembly Bill No.44 of 2025) and approved the same with amendments.

Mover of the Bill.

I beg to move that the House do agree with the

Thank you very much. I beg to second.

Thank you. (Question proposed)

Put the Question. (Question put and agreed)

Chairperson, please, approach the Table. I would like the Chairperson to report on the second Bill.

I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Plant Protection Bill (National Assembly Bill No.28 of 2025) and approved the same with amendments.

Mover of the Bill.

I beg to move that the House do agree with the

I second that the House agrees with the Report. (Question proposed) (Question put and agreed)

Next Order.

Hon. Members, there was no balance of time for any Member. Any Member who is ready may go on and contribute to this. Proceed.

Sorry. I am on my foot to move my Motion. I have no interest in this.

Okay. In that case, since there is no further interest in this, I call upon the Mover to reply. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.

I beg to reply on behalf of the Chairperson.

Hon. Members, for the convenience of the House, I defer putting the question to another time as the House Business Committee will schedule. (Putting the question deferred) Next Order.

Hon. Members, just like the earlier Motion, there is no balance of time for any Member. Anyone willing to participate in this Bill may go ahead. Hon. Owen Baya, do you have interest in this?

No, I want to reply. Where is the Chairperson? We did a good job. It was debated very well. And having acknowledged that, it is time for the Mover to reply.

Thank you very much, Deputy Leader of the Majority Party. There being no further interest in this, I call upon the Chairman, Hon. Daniel Wanyama, Member for Webuye West Constituency. Please, go ahead and reply.

Thank you. I thank the Members who participated and contributed immensely to the Second Reading of the County Library Services Bill (Senate Bill No. 40 of 2024). Without saying so much, it was great that Members gave their contributions. I also thank Members of the Committee who were very dedicated up to the submission of the Report of this Bill. I thank the stakeholders who gave their submissions that made this Bill what it is today.

Finally, allow me to reiterate that the Bill intends to provide a legal framework for the establishment, development, management and coordination of county library services. It seeks to promote literacy, life-long learning innovations, research, and preservation of knowledge and cultural heritage. I assure Members that during the Third Reading of the Bill, the Committee will consider the contributions and issues raised. All the amendments will be accommodated. I, therefore, seek the support of the Members when the time comes, so that the Bill may proceed. I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Thank you very much, Chairman. Hon. Members, for the convenience of the House, I defer putting of the question to another time. (Putting the question deferred) Next Order.

Chairperson, please, proceed.

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

THAT, this House adopts the Interim Report of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on the enquiry into the importation of raw sugar by Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited. The Committee is undertaking an enquiry into the importation of raw sugar by Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited (MSRL), pursuant to Article 95 of the Constitution and Standing Order 216. The Committee resolved to undertake the enquiry following a media expose alleging that MSRL had imported 27,000 metric tonnes of harmful sugar from South Africa, which had been repackaged and distributed for sale in the country.

The purpose of the enquiry is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the importation, transportation, storage, refining and distribution of raw sugar by MSRL as well as the broader sugar importation landscape in Kenya. It is also intended to determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations and licensing conditions, with a view to protecting consumers, safeguarding Government revenue and strengthening regulation of the sugar sector.

In undertaking the enquiry, the Committee held meetings with the National Treasury and Economic Planning, the State Department for Trade, the State Department for Industry, the Sugar Board, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), MSRL and local sugar manufacturers. The Committee also conducted inspection visits to the Port of Mombasa, the Nairobi Freight Terminal Outer Port and the MSRL premises in Kisumu. These engagements enabled it to review documentary evidence, inspect the storage facilities and assess the status of the refinery.

Hon. Gichimu.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to second the Motion moved by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Shinali. As I second, let me add that when a court finds that there is likely to be irreparable damage, interim orders are always issued. We also have a responsibility. When Parliament finds that the public is likely to suffer irreparable damage if a certain situation continues, we also come up with an interim report because the main report might take a while before it is concluded. That is why this Report is very important. We realised that in the process of our investigations, there are no regulations governing the importation, transportation, storage and processing of raw sugar in this country. Once we discover an illegality, it is our responsibility to make sure that the public is also protected by preventing any possible diversion of raw sugar which may be consumed by the public. The repercussions or consequences might be very dire, in terms of the health of our public.

Even as the licences were being issued, our investigations established that there was no board. The law requires that the board is supposed to issue licences for the importation of any sugar, leave alone raw sugar. It is important for us to prevent any kind of movement or processing of this sugar because the institution that was mandated to issue licences was not in existence.

Another issue that came up during our investigation is that this sugar is not even boarded and is likely to spill over from whatever point. This sugar is scattered all over. Some sugar is stored in Mombasa, Nairobi Inland Container Deport (ICD) and Kibos in Kisumu while the other bit is on transit. Therefore, establishing what has been processed and what is being transported is very difficult.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, without belabouring the point, the responsibility of this House is to protect the public where there is a likelihood of the public suffering from the raw sugar as explained by the expert. It is contaminated sugar and requires further processing to remove impurities. So, if this Committee and the House leave this issue to be dealt with the business people, we would be putting the public to risk. I, therefore, urge this House to support the Committee pass this interim report so that we can expedite the remaining part of our investigation and come up with a conclusive report on the way forward.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Gichimu. Order, Hon. Members. (Question proposed) Hon (Dr) Nyikal.

Hon (Dr) James Nyikal (Seme, ODM): Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support this interim Report. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am back. Not more than two years ago,

Thank you very much, Hon (Dr) Nyikal. Although I do not have much voice when I sit here, I would have wanted you to go further if it were possible; tell us the consequences of consuming such as a medical doctor. However, your time is up and I think you did very well with the time you had.

Hon. Marianne Kitany.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I stand to support the interim Report by the Committee and urge the House to also support it. I had an opportunity to sit with the Committee and I heard the players in that industry talk about the sugar industry. I also heard the President of the Republic of Kenya talk about it, the progress and the strides that have been made. For the first time, farmers in this country are being paid within five days after their cane reaches the market. For the first time, we had stopped or reduced importation of sugar because of the production of sugar in this country. The recent importation of what we call raw sugar for the purposes of further processing to industrial sugar which is sugar to be used in confectionaries, is what the Committee was looking at.

One of the issues that came out is that regulations to manage that process, have not been put in place. Further to that, the amount of the said raw sugar that have been imported totals to about 27,000 tonnes. Some of the players in the industry have said that is their six-months production. That is sugar they would have sold in the market in a normal way after they have bought cane from farmers. If the sugar, by any chance, is allowed to get into the market and compete with the sugar that is currently being produced in this market, it will destabilise the

Can I give you a minute to conclude your remarks?

Thank you very much. Where regulations are not in place, the Committee has requested that they be put in place within 60 days of the adoption of this Report. We have also asked that the sugar that is already in the company be processed and reports be produced to the Committee and to the relevant agencies based on the guidelines that have been set by the Kenya Sugar Board, so that we can monitor the sugar and ensure that it does not leak into the market. That is meant to protect the Kenyan mwananchi.

Thank you. Hon. John Gitonga, Member for Manyatta.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also rise to support this Report 100 per cent. When we talk about sugar, it is a sector that has a history of corruption in this country. It is also a sector where Kenyans have risked their lives due to corrupt unscrupulous business people. Just a few years ago, we had issues with mercury in sugar. What gets my interest is the repetition of these issues in this sector with the mention of serious problems affecting Kenyans. In this country, we have issues with a lot of diseases that people do not know where they are coming from. Experts have linked the sugar industry as a contributor to these issues. As I look at the Report, I ask myself a lot of questions.

First is how a company can bring raw sugar into this country without traceability, as the Chairperson has said, and bring it all the way to the port. Not only that, but also the tax waivers that had been given to this company and others against Import Declaration Fee (IDF) and the Railway Development Levy (RDL) raise a lot of questions that we need to ask. We know very well that among the things happening in our nation today is that many people in senior offices are involved. We need to investigate even the Cabinet Secretary for the National

Okay, I will add you a minute.

Thank you. As I was saying, Vision 2030 was very clear on ensuring that our farmers are able to supply sugar that we can surely trace to Mumias and other places. The importation of sugar has remained a cartel business that has led to…

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

What is out of order, Hon. Owen Baya? Hon. Mukunji, please, wait, there is a point of order.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I would like to say this. You see, facts are very important, and they are the basis of how a Member contributes in this House. It should be on facts.

Hon. Mukunji, who is an honourable Member, was elected by members of his constituency to do honourable things. One of the honourable things is to have facts and figures. Not to speak plainly without any statistics and dismiss and say that we import. The production of sugar in this country has increased tremendously, while the prices have fallen. I do not know which century he is speaking from, and whether he belongs to this country or another. He ought to be informed to leave the propaganda that he inherits from whoever has tied his coattails. When you come to this House, leave propaganda out and speak facts. He should table for us the data that he is talking about. But the data that we know shows that the production of sugar has gone up. Mumias Sugar Company, Kibos Sugar Company and all the other companies that were dead then are producing sugar. Farmers are paid and they are happy.

When Hon. Mukunji came into this House, the Speaker, Hon. Wetang’ula, bestowed upon me the honour of mentoring him. But he ran away to be mentored by the wrong people. It is on record that Hon. (Dr) Moses Wetang’ula bestowed upon me the honour of mentoring him. He is still a young man trying to grow in this space. He needs to follow up and follow through. I will mentor him and make him a better leader and legislator so that he speaks the truth and facts, for him to be seen and regarded as one of those young, upcoming leaders. Lately, he keeps going down and down. I pity and feel so sad for him. I ask the people to send him home where he belongs so that he can learn a few lessons that will probably bring him back after a decade.

Well, I think your point is on being factual. That was the point of order that you were raising, though you did not make

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I really do not get it. Why do you and the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party have to interrupt me, then you tell me that I have 30 seconds? I am very clear on what I am saying.

You need to note that this is a House of records. You had finished your time and asked for one more minute. I granted it to you.

What have I done with the minute?

Then make use of your one minute. You have it now.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I quote figures when I need to. I am allowed to say and indicate clearly unless someone challenges me on my contribution with contrary facts.

As I was concluding, I had clearly said that the sugar sector has been taken over by cartels. This is the sector used by many, including some Members in this House, to make quick bucks and ignore the Kenyan people. It is not only sugar, but also the rice sector being farmed by our people in Mwea. There are also a lot of licences being issued. These licences are killing the farming.

Your time is up. Hon. Eckomas Mutuse, Member for Kibwezi West.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Report that has been tabled by the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives on the inquiry into the importation of raw sugar by Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited. The sugar subsector is very important in our economy. As Kenyans would appreciate, there have been a lot of investments and reforms.

To begin with, this Parliament, led by the Member for Navakholo Constituency, enacted the new Sugar Act that has led to significant reforms that have revived an industry that was once dead. As we speak today, the production of sugar has increased. In 2024, it increased to about1,000,915 metric tonnes of production in a year. In 2025, it dropped a little bit because of unfavourable weather conditions. This year, it is projected that we are likely to hit a million metric tonnes of production. Consumption of domestic sugar in our country is about 1.1 to 1.2 metric tonnes, meaning that there is a deficit that has to be compensated either by way of importation or by other means, like using other sugar-related products to meet the sugar needs.

The Committee inquired why sugar was being imported and whether the importation of that sugar was justified. One of the suspicions was that people are hiding under the guise of importing sugar for industrial purposes when in fact, they are diverting that sugar into the market for domestic consumption. While we support the Committee on the importance to curtail those who are importing sugar and possibly diverting it into the market, we have to be very categorical in protecting our farmers. Fundamentally, our farmers are the primary focus. They must remain the primary focus of our Government. Many of us have heard His Excellency the President pronouncing himself on the several occasions he has visited the western Kenya sugar belt, especially Mumias, that he will fight cartels. Many of us can remember him saying: “Kuna mambo matatu…” It is out of that pronouncement by the President that we have revived our sugar factories that had died. To make business sense, our sugar factories have been leased to private investors. As we speak today, farmers are getting money out of farming sugar. They are getting good returns and they are paid in time; between seven and ten days.

Thank you very much. Hon. Harrison Kombe, the Member for Magarini.

Asante Mhe. Spika wa Muda kwa kunipa nafasi ya kuongeza sauti yangu kwa Hoja hii. Mwanzo, naunga mkono Ripoti hii ya Kamati kwa sababu ni muhimu tuhakikishe kwamba tunawalinda wananchi wetu kwa kuwapatia vyakula ambavyo vimethibitishwa kuwa vinafaa. Sukari ambayo haijasafishwa, kihawia, inaweza kuwa hatari kwa sababu ya vitu ambavyo vimo ndani yake. Chembechembe za vyuma vinaweza kuwa ndani yake. Isiposafishwa vizuri, inaweza kutuletea madhara kama vile kisukari, saratani na magonjwa mengine mengi.

Cha kusikitisha zaidi kwenye Ripoti hili, katika taarifa hii, Kamati inatueleza kwamba hata halmashauri inayohusika na kupeana ruhusa ya kuagiza sukari kutoka nje, pia hiyo yenyewe haikuwa kamili. Haikuwa inatosha kujadili na kupeana ruhusa kwa kampuni ya Mombasa ili iweze kuagiza sukari. Ningeuliza Kamati, hata inaporudi kuendelea na uchunguzi wao, mwisho, pendekezo ambalo lingeweza kufaa kwa halmashauri hii ni kwamba iweze kuvunjiliwa mbali kwa sababu ya kukosa maadili na kwenda kinyume cha sheria.

Tukizingatia kwamba Kenya kufikia sasa inatoa sukari nyingi kabisa, hakuna haja ya kuagiza sukari tena. Ndiposa Waziri akaweka kwamba hakuna ruhusa ya kuagiza sukari kutoka nje. Ni kwa sababu tunataka pia kuwalinda wakulima wetu na kuwapa motisha waweze kusonga mbele. Hivi sasa, punde tu wanapopeleka miwa yao kiwandani, baada ya muda mchache wanalipwa fedha nzuri, kiasi cha kwamba hakuna malalamishi. Wanaweza kujikimu kimaisha kisawasawa na vile ambavyo Serikali inajizatiti kuona kwamba raia wake wako katika hali nzuri.

Nazidi kusisitiza kwamba Kamati, mwisho wa kuisha, ihakikishe kwamba hii halmashauri imevunjiliwa mbali na, panapo majaliwa, wengine wachaguliwe ambao wataendeleza gurudumu hili la sukari vyema pasipo ufisadi.

Asante.

Hon. Members, I do not see any further interest in this. I would like to call upon... (Hon. Rozaah Buyu spoke off the record) I do not see your card anywhere. Do you have an interest in this? (Hon. Rozaah Buyu spoke off the record) You may go ahead and make your contribution.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, thank you for indulging me. I tried to replace my card, but I did not manage to do it on time. Thank you for

Thank you. Deputy Majority Whip and Woman Representative for Marsabit County, Hon. Naomi Waqo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support this Report. I congratulate the Committee for giving it all its attention and for guiding the nation on what needs to be done. Many sugarcane farmers in Kenya suffered for many years, but the Committee’s recommendations provided in this Report will give a lot of guidance. I congratulate the Committee for investing their time and talent into this and for guiding the nation.

I also encourage the farmers. Our Government, especially our President, is very passionate in transforming the sugar sector and providing a lot of support to give farmers relief and to make farming and selling their sugar easy. As consumers, we also need to concentrate on our production to ensure that the sugar we buy is refined as recommended in order to care for our health. I confirm that I support the Committee and its Report.

Thank you, Hon. Naomi. There being no other interest in this. I would like to... (Hon. Mary Emaase spoke off the record) Hon. Mary Emaase.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to support the Report of the Committee. I do not have my card. I come from a sugarcane-growing region. Sugarcane is the only cash crop that majority of the farmers in western Kenya depend on. For the first time, our farmers got a bonus thanks to His Excellency the President, William Samoei Ruto. When I look at this Report on the inquiry into importation of raw sugar, the Committee is doing a good job. When you conclude the report, we will support it. I hope you will make some serious recommendations.

Hon. Owen Baya, Deputy Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I would like to contribute to this debate on sugar. From the outset, I support the Report on the enquiry into the importation of raw sugar by Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited. I congratulate the Committee and Parliament for taking a proactive role in protecting farmers. This is a pre-emptive measure. People imported raw sugar into the market without following the right steps. It looks like people tried to sneak in sugar so that they could divert it into the local market. I congratulate Hon. Shinali and his Committee for this Report. He is a veteran politician, and his constituents must re-elect him because he is doing a good job. He has represented them well in this Parliament.

For many years, sugar has been the bastion of cartels in this country. These cartels have benefited tremendously while killing the local farmers. Mombasa and many stations have been what I would call, softly, a scene of crime for many years. When the current Government started looking at the sugar sector, we have seen a rebound; a huge rebound such that today farmers are happy, and consumers of sugar also are very happy because the prices of sugar have gone down. Production by farmers has gone down, yet there is more income.

Secondly, there will reach a point where Hon. Mary Emaase, who comes from a sugarcane-growing area, said that farmers will enjoy a bonus. I think that is very significant, but statistics are everything. If you look at the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Kenya's processed sugar production rebounded by nearly 22 per cent in early 2026, reaching 348,143 tonnes between January and May. This recovery follows a sharp slump in 2025, when total annual factory output dropped significantly due to a cane shortage. The farmers are not producing enough cane.

However, thanks to the programmes by this Government, where we have subsidies on fertiliser. The price of fertiliser has reduced from Ksh7,500 to Ksh2,500, which means there is enough fertiliser available, along with programmes that rescue the factories that for many years were closing down due to various issues, such as how cane is bought and whether farmers were being paid. If you start paying farmers well, then cane can be produced. We can see that when the President intervened through his popular mambo ni matatu, there has been a rejuvenation in the sugar sector.

The sugar sector is one of the sectors that is rebounding. Today, I can comfortably walk into a supermarket and buy Mumias Sugar, Kibos Sugar, Kabras Sugar, Sony Sugar and Ramisi Sugar from the coast. Sugar is there. We never used to have these options. Imagine the number of jobs that have been created by reviving this sector and its contribution to the GDP in the country. We have a Government that knows what it is doing. We have an administration that has the brain. We have an administration that has the wherewithal to take this country and the sugar sector forward. We will not allow cartels, small people, people who think they can play tricks, like these guys called Mombasa Sugar Refinery Limited, using some small companies to stick sugar into the market. We must protect farmers by ensuring that no sugar is imported.

I will add you a minute so that you can conclude, especially because you are using statistics, something Hon. Mukunji did not do.

Yes, he did not use data and statistics. If you look at data, in 2026 delivery of sugarcane to the factories increased by 25.1 per cent to

Your time is up. I think you have really made your point. Hon. Member for Baringo County.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also want to put in a word on this inquiry. This is the perfect chance to protect sugar farmers. This is going to revolutionise factories. This will turn sugarcane farming into a profitable activity, resulting in increased yields. Farmers will be motivated as we will have put an end to the cartels in the market, thus encouraging higher production, hence creating more employment opportunities. I do not want to dilute what Hon. Baya has contributed on this by providing statistics. I support this inquiry.

Thank you very much, Member, for Baringo County. Hon. Members, there being no other interest in this Motion, I will now call upon the Mover to reply.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to thank those Members who have contributed. I know many others would have wanted to contribute on this Motion. I want to inform them that when we bring our final report, it will be conclusive. It will have far-reaching, serious recommendations because we intend to go far and wide to make sure that this sugar sector and sugar industry are streamlined and the necessary laws are put in place. We want to protect the farmers and the public. We want to protect their health and economic matters. As at now, the sugar industry has already created a lot of employment. We do not want to create unemployment because if the sugar factories are not selling, that means they have to downsize on their labour force.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to reply.

Hon. Members, for the convenience of the House, I defer putting of the question until another time when this Motion will be scheduled for that purpose. (Putting the question deferred) Next Order.

Hon. Members, the Chair is not in the House to execute Order No. 20, so it is deferred.

Next Order.

Hon. Members, this Order is also deferred because I cannot see the Chairperson of the Special Fund Accounts Committee, Hon. Mulyungi. He is not in the House.

Next Order.

Chairperson? This Order is also deferred because the Chairperson is in another business of the House.

The Chairperson Departmental Committee on Labour is not in the House. He is attending to another business of the House. So, the Order is also deferred. (Bill deferred) Next Order.

Hon. Members, the Order will face the same fate that has befallen the others. The Chairperson, Committee on Implementation, is also out attending to a different business of the House.

Next Order.

Hon. Members, that Motion is also deferred because the Chairperson is not in the House.

Next Order.

Hon. Members, the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Energy is also not in the House. So, that Motion is also deferred.

Hon. Members, the time being