Thursday, 23rd April 2026

Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell.

Hon. Members, we now have quorum to transact business. You will also receive a Supplementary Order Paper.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 43, I rise to make a General Statement regarding concerns raised by teachers during the recently concluded trade union elections. I wish to, first and foremost, express my sincere gratitude to teachers across the country for the confidence they have shown in me by re-electing me as the national Chairperson of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) . I am deeply humbled by this renewed mandate and remain committed to advancing the interests of the teaching profession and strengthening the education sector.

During the elections, teachers drawn from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and KUPPET deliberated on a wide range of issues affecting the profession and the sector at large. Key among the matters raised were the management of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) , implementation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) , recruitment and promotion of teachers, teachers’ welfare, the restructuring of the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) , and the timely disbursement of school capitation funds.

Teachers across the country have underscored the urgent need to strengthen governance and professionalism within the sector. In particular, they have called for a appointment of a substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at TSC to ensure stability and effective leadership, as well as the separation of its employer and regulatory roles through the establishment of an independent professional body for teachers. They further urge the accelerated implementation of the Ksh38 billion CBA in two phases as promised by the Executive through adequate

budgetary allocations, alongside the transition of 44,000 intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms, and the promotion of at least 50,000 teachers annually to address long-standing stagnation and declining morale.

Concerns were also raised on curriculum, healthcare and examination management. Teachers are advocating for the decoupling of junior secondary schools from the current comprehensive school structure to allow for greater autonomy and efficiency. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the Social Health Authority (SHA) proposing either reversal to the Minet Medical Scheme or the establishment of an independent mechanism for comprehensive medical cover for teachers within SHA.

Additionally, teachers have called upon KNEC to ensure the timely payment of dues to invigilators and supervisors for the marking of examinations. Notably, the 2025 national examination officers have not been paid. Teachers further sought the protection and expansion of hardship allowance areas, harmonisation of municipality allowances and the regulation of acting appointments by capping them at six months with payment of full responsibility allowances during the acting period.

Finally, teachers emphasised the need for the timely and full disbursement of capitation funds at the rates of Ksh22,200 for senior schools, Ksh15,000 for junior schools and Ksh1,400 for primary schools to support the effective implementation of school programmes and ensure stability across the education system.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Omboko Milemba. That being a General Statement, it elicits no joyriders or debate. We take it as presented.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security regarding the disappearance of Mr Adan Hared Lohos from Garissa Township Constituency. On 26th November 2023, Mr Adan Hared Lohos, a police officer, disappeared under mysterious circumstances after he was last seen at his residence in Garissa Town. This incident was reported at Garissa Police Station under OB No. 38/28/12/2023, yet his whereabouts remain unknown to date. The prolonged disappearance of Mr Lohos has caused immense distress and anguish to his family and raises concerns regarding the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms as guaranteed under Article 29 of the Constitution. It is further reported that remittance of his salary was discontinued on 30th September 2024, thereby leaving the family without a source of livelihood and compounding the hardship occasioned by his disappearance. It is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on the following:

Thank you, Hon. Dekow. How can a policeman disappear without a trace like that? Yes, Hon. Raso.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. In fact, that period is very long. He is talking of November 2023. But the Standing Orders are also clear that within a certain period, if an officer disappears or cannot be traced, there is always a report that the officer ceases to be an employee. It has not been reported that he died or is in some sort of custody. But he will not be paid and neither will his family. But we will respond…

When can you respond?

First week after we resume.

Okay. Hon. Dekow, you know that under the law, if you do not see or hear of him for seven years, then you can go and take a death certificate.

Hon. George Gachagua.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock regarding the delayed contractual payment to Gouanzhaou Construction Company Limited for the construction of the Ndaragwa Horticultural Project in Ndaragwa Constituency.

In the year 2016, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock, awarded Gouanzhaou Construction Company a tender for the construction of the Ndaragwa Horticultural Project under the Smallholder Horticulture Marketing Programme (SHoMaP) through tender number MOALF/SCMD/SDA/2/2015/2016. The company commenced works on 9th May 2016 and successfully completed the project on 26th August 2016. Thereafter, several inspection meetings were conducted and concluded on 18th October 2016, which confirmed that the works met the required contractual and technical standards. However, despite the project's successful completion, to date, the contractor has not been paid for works amounting to Ksh16,470,112. This prolonged delay in payment has caused severe financial hardship to the company and has adversely affected the livelihoods of the employees. Additionally, the handover of the project is yet to be conducted, and the market currently, remains unused. Consequently, local traders continue to operate from open spaces and makeshift stores, notwithstanding the completion of the Ndaragwa Horticultural Market.

It is against this background that I request for a statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock on the following:

Yes. Where is the Chairman of Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, Dr Mutunga? Any member of that Committee? Leader of the Majority Party, I am told this matter was before the House a year ago, so we do not need to take too long on it. Tell the Chairperson to bring a response on Wednesday afternoon.

Next week?

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you. Hon. Adhe Wario, Member for North Horr.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs regarding the Implementation of Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in North Horr Constituency.

On 30th March 2026, IEBC rolled out the ECVR exercise across the country, with the objective of facilitating mass voter registration and related services through stations set up in all the 1,450 Wards in the country. However, the implementation of the exercise in North Horr Constituency has been constrained by logistical and infrastructural challenges arising from the vast geographical size of the Constituency. North Horr Constituency is the largest Constituency in the country, spanning 39,000 square kilometres, which is three times the former Central Province, with wards that are expansive and characterised by limited infrastructure and internet connectivity.

While the Commission deployed voter registration clerks in the station, these efforts remain inadequate in light of the distances involved and the limited logistical support available to facilitate effective mobility across the wards. Additionally, other services such as voter transfer and changes of particulars are largely restricted to the constituency headquarters. This is because the Commission's internet source is located to in that location. This has imposed significant financial and logistical burdens on the residents, many of whom have to travel long distances to access these services. Noting that the ECVR exercise is scheduled to conclude on 28th April 2026, these challenges risk undermining an enjoyment of the political rights and the right to equality, as guaranteed under Articles 27 and 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kenya.

It is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs on the following:

Thank you, Hon. Wario. Is Hon. Murugara in the House? Okay, anybody from the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs? Yes, Hon. Member. Can you bring a response the first week after recess?

Yes, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you. Hon. Members, allow me to acknowledge in the Public Gallery, Kalya Academy from Bureti Constituency, Kericho County and Green Mount School from Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega County. Hon. (Bishop) Khamala has requested me to give him a minute to welcome the school from his Constituency.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I wish to take this opportunity to welcome one of the best-performing schools in my Constituency, Green Mount School, together with their principal and teachers. This is one of our great iconic schools that has posted wonderful and excellent results that have always put our Constituency at the top.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you. On behalf of the House and myself, we welcome the students, their teachers and those accompanying them, to the House of Parliament.

Leader of the Majority Party, your Thursday Statement.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (a) , I rise to present the following Statement on behalf of the House Business Committee, which met on Tuesday, 21st April 2026, to prioritise business for consideration during the week, and business coming before the House, the following week.

With regard to business scheduled for Tuesday next week, the House is expected to continue with consideration of the following Bills, should they not be concluded today:

Thank you, Leader of the Majority Party. Let us dispose of Order No. 2 before we proceed. Members on their feet, take your seats.

Hon. Members, you will recall that on Wednesday, 22nd April 2026, I apprised the House of a formal complaint regarding allegations of bribery levelled against the Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, Hon. Wanami Wamboka, CBS. Consequently, I referred the matter to the Committee of Powers and Privileges for investigation and suspended Hon. Wamboka from the Chairpersonship of the Committee for the duration of the inquiry

In order to ensure continuity in the discharge of the Committee’s mandate, I directed the Leader of the Minority Party to nominate an interim Chairperson of the Committee by midday on Thursday, 23rd April 2026. I wish to notify the House that I have since received a letter from the Leader of the Minority Party conveying the nomination of Hon. Dick Maungu, Member for Luanda, to serve as the interim Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education.

In this regard, Hon. Dick Maungu, shall become the interim Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education with immediate effect, and shall serve for the duration of the inquiry by the Committee of Powers and Privileges, or until resolved otherwise by the House. This interim arrangement will safeguard the uninterrupted work of this critical Watchdog Committee, whose mandate remains time-sensitive and central to the House’s oversight responsibility.

As the interim Chairperson, Hon. Maungu is expected to ensure that the work of the Committee proceeds efficiently, impartially, and strictly within the confines of its mandate, while upholding the dignity, integrity and public trust bestowed to the House and its Committees. For avoidance of doubt, Hon. Dick Maungu assumes all powers, rights and privileges bestowed upon a Chairperson of a Committee by the Standing Orders and resolutions and practices of the House. This appointment is made purely in the interest of preserving the effective functioning of the Committee and should not be construed as prejudicing the outcome of the Inquiry currently before the Committee of Powers and Privileges.

The House is accordingly guided. Hon. Millie Odhiambo.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I was not in yesterday when this arose. Perhaps for my information as a Whip, I just wanted to

know how long the suspension is, or rather, the duration. Also, sometimes, as women, we are invisible, but I sit here as the Whip of the Minority Party.

Thank you.

You are never invisible. You are the most visible Member in this House, Hon. Millie. To be fair, you have just arrived this morning from Istanbul, have you not?

Yes.

When the matter was actively being prosecuted, you were not there. Your leader is the Leader of the Minority Party. Under the Standing Orders, he is your leader until you tell us otherwise. He is the one who has nominated Hon. Dick Maungu.

Hon. Members, Orders 8, 9 and 10, are purely procedural Motions to be moved by the Leader of the Majority Party, and we should dispose of them within the shortest time possible. Call out the Orders.

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

THAT, pursuant to the provisions of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act (Cap. 6) and the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, this House resolves to extend the period for the inquiry into allegations of bribery against Hon. Jack Wanami Wamboka, the suspended Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, by period of fourteen

Hon. Speaker, fair administration action is a constitutional matter. We also passed a law that regulates that constitutional right to every Kenyan. Issues of powers and privileges are serious in this House. As you know, some of the most high-ranking Members of this House compose that Committee. Therefore, we must look at a colleague’s issues with a toothcomb because it could be you or me. We need sufficient time to look at all corners, all coins and all involved issues.

I second the Motion that we have enough time to look at this matter. I thank you so much.

Thank you. Hon. Members on their feet, take your seats. Hon. Mandazi, take your seat.

Put the question.

Should I put the question?

Yes.

Next Order.

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

THAT, this House resolves that the Hon. Samuel Chepkong’a, CBS, MP, chairs the proceedings of the Committee of Powers and Privileges on behalf of the Speaker for the purposes of the Inquiry into the allegations of bribery against the Hon. Jack Wanami Wamboka, CBS, MP, the suspended Chairperson of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education. Again, this is a Procedural Motion. As the Deputy Speaker indicated in her Communication yesterday afternoon since the Report will still come back to Plenary where you or the Deputy Speaker will be chairing. The Speaker happens to be the Chair of the Powers and Privileges Committee. As Hon. TJ has indicated, this Committee has very seasoned members amongst the most ranking Members of the House.

The Committee has Hon. Gonzi Rai, somebody like Hon. Lekuton, and Hon. Moroto, who I think is serving his fifth or fourth term. We have one first-term Member who is a lawyer—Hon. Njeri Maina, Member for Kirinyaga. We have a very good blend of seasoned Members, Commissioners like Hon. Faith Gitau, old hands or seasoned ranking Members like Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri who is doing his fourth term. The Committee has Hon. Jessica Mbalu who has served in the Speaker's Panel and Hon. Farah Maalim who has served as the Deputy Speaker of this House. Therefore, this is indeed a council of elders, so to say. It has a good blend of even fresh and younger blood so that even first-term Members of Parliament can learn on how to deal with such matters. We were very deliberate when setting up this Committee so that we have continuity and even first-term Members.

I also ask the House that we agree with yesterday’s Communication that Hon. Chepkonga, a seasoned lawyer and a ranking Member of this House, chairs the Committee on behalf of the substantive Chair of the Committee, who also happens to be the Speaker.

With that I beg to move and request “the Hon. Chief Justice”, TJ Kajwang’, Member of Ruaraka to second.

I am also waiting to join this council of elders. I guess it is the reason I am being asked to second the Motion. I have been around for quite some time. I second the Motion. This is the best it can get. We had an issue such as this during your predecessor’s period. We had not modelled an Act and the Standing Orders on procedure to deputise or designate somebody else for this. We had a very rough time because Speaker Muturi had a practical issue. I am the Speaker here, voted in by these Members, I cannot sit on judgment over some of your issues.

Here I am the Chairman of the Parliamentary Service Commission. It would be a conflict of interest to stand in judgment over some of these issues raised. We went around the Standing Orders and looked at the law. We nominated the then Deputy Speaker, Hon. Moses Cheboi, to chair the Committee. Now it is easier because the law and procedure have been remodelled.

This is the best it can get. You are not only aware of the Constitution but also the Conflict of Interest Act that we passed the other day. You are also a Kenyan who generally comes from the place where our mentioned colleague comes from. It will be in people's heads how you chaired this. Something will have to happen, whichever way it goes. You are a Kenyan and we are also in this context. It has been very thoughtful of the Leader of Majority Party to bring this Motion to take balances of all involved issues.

I second the Motion that we should designate a seasoned Member to be the Chair of the Committee. Thank you very much, I second.

Order, Member on his feet. Take your seat.

Put the question.

Do I put the question?

Next Order. Hon. Nelson Koech.

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

THAT, pursuant to the provisions of section 13 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F) relating to extension of period for consideration of nominees for appointment to a public office, this House resolves to extend the period for consideration of the nominee for appointment as High Commissioner to Ottawa, Canada by a period of fourteen (14) days from 14th May 2026.

Who is seconding you?

Should I proceed as a… Sorry, it is a procedural Motion.

Yes, it is a procedural Motion.

This request is purely procedural and is intended to allow the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations sufficient time to conclude its consideration of the nominee, Mr. Humphrey Wattanga. The Committee, having considered the request for extension, including a request by the nominee himself for additional time, and being satisfied that it is consistent with the provisions of the Act, the Committee has resolved to seek additional time to ensure that all aspects of the nominee’s suitability are comprehensively examined. The Committee remains committed to conducting a thorough and diligent review process in keeping with its oversight mandate, so that all relevant issues are adequately addressed before a final determination is made.

The position of High Commissioner to Canada is of great strategic importance to our country, particularly in advancing diplomatic relations, trade, and international cooperation. It is therefore imperative that the approval process is not only timely, but also thorough and well considered.

I now request my able Deputy Chairperson, Major

Sheikh Abdullahi Bashir, to second the Motion.

Hon. Major (Rtd) Bashir.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. This morning, as a Committee, we had exhaustive discussions and deliberations on the vetting process.

Which Chair? Proceed.

As you are aware, the Act allows 28 days for the Committee to dispose of this matter. However, it also provides for an additional 14 days within which to extend consideration. We deliberated on this and agreed that we require this extension to enable us to conclude the matter thoroughly and as expeditiously as possible. Therefore, I second this Procedural Motion.

Thank you. Hon. Members on your feet, take your seats. Hon. Leader of the Majority Party, take your seat.

I put the Question?

Hon. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this Report. It is true that you constituted a Committee to investigate and establish what is ailing the small-scale tea sector. We undertook that task.

One of the key findings is that there is a systemic problem, especially in the West of the Rift. This problem is largely caused by tea hawking in the region. The proliferation of private factories preying on tea produced by smallholder farmers has created an existential threat. It has become very difficult to enforce proper quality control within Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) -managed factories in the area. This is because there are about 71 factories competing for the same produce as KTDA factories. Therefore, we urge the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Tea Board of Kenya, to curb this menace of tea hawking. Some of these factories are being licensed irregularly, as they do not have the requisite tea bushes to sustain their operations.

It is also imperative that farmers elect leaders who can safeguard their produce and earnings. Allegations of mismanagement, including leaders convening meetings merely to earn

sitting allowances, can only be addressed by electing competent and accountable individuals. We urge this House to prevail upon the State Department for Agriculture to implement the necessary measures and ensure that regulations under the Tea Act are enforced, to promote proper governance across the value chain. I beg to support the Report and urge that its findings be implemented to the letter.

You are done? Hon. Passaris are you queuing for this? No. Hon. Gideon Mulyungi, you are not for this. Hon. Milemba.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. When this issue of tea pricing first came before the House, there was significant concern, especially from Members representing the Western region. It appeared as though one region was being disadvantaged while another was being favoured. Yesterday, the Motion was deferred to allow more Members to contribute. It is therefore surprising that there is limited participation today. From what I have gathered, it appears that the management of tea factories in the Western region has not been effective.

The people elected as directors hold very many meetings at the expense of the farmers. Therefore, much of what would have been earned by farmers as dividends is instead earned by the directors themselves. I am speaking about this so that farmers and Kenyans listen and become part and parcel of this debate. A number of directors from the West of the Rift Valley are the same panellists that lease or hire their vehicles to tea factories at very exorbitant prices. That therefore makes profits that would have gone to dividends of farmers get lower and lower.

Further, a number of tea factories produce their own power. However, the factories are not allowed to use the power they generate to run their factories. Instead, they have to connect it to the national grid before it is again resupplied to them. Therefore, they do not benefit from the power they originally generate in order to reduce costs. It is advisable that a law is drafted for the sector to allow factories to use their own generated power. That will reduce their cost of production in that particular space.

There are things that are not being done right in the West of the Rift Valley. I urge Members of Parliament from the West to pick up this matter. This is because the Mover of the Motion was very clear on a number of items that make the East of the Rift Valley tea become more expensive and earn more dividends than the one from the West. This will be for the benefit of our farmers in Mudete, Bunyore and other environs in the West whose farmers are crying that tea prices are very low. The interrogation by this Committee was very important. This Report needs to toothcomb so that we come up with a final product that will help tea farmers.

The Report also touches on marketing of tea. It is not marketed as branded. Instead, it is just marketed holistically. Further, the tea is mainly bought by only two markets: Egypt and Pakistan. These are issues I wish Hon. Members from the tea-growing areas to seriously act on as they contribute to this Motion so that we may make farmers from those areas get the correct dividends.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you. Hon. Pukose.

Thank you Hon. Speaker for allowing me to contribute to the Report of the Committee.

I come from the tea growing areas of Kapsara, Cherangany and Munyaka. We also have tea farmers in Saboti, Kapretwa area. These are some of the areas we call West of the Rift Valley. The other areas where tea is grown is what they call the East of the Rift Valley. This subdivision makes it very difficult for farmers in the Western region. I attribute that to the leadership, the directors, farmers elected to represent them. Matters to do with pricing, tea marketing and how farmers can be helped are not new. This Report is a wake-up call for directors and the leadership of tea-growing areas especially within the Western part. Many

farmers put a lot of effort in cultivating the crop, buying fertilizer to top dress, tea picking, but at the end of the day, the returns are very low. That discourages them.

Farmers go through a very difficult road network. I thank His Excellency the President for recently advertising the construction of the road that runs through Mwaita, all the way to Kapsara, Arba all the way to Kesegon. It will make it easy for farmers within that area to take their tea to Kapsara Factory. That will be a milestone for Trans Nzoia. This is because tea reaching markets has been problematic become of the poor road network. During rainy seasons, trucks get stuck thus they are unable to deliver the produce in time to markets. As a result, we end up with wastage that contributes to low earnings for farmers. Even their bonuses get lower. More often than not, farmers depend on what they are paid and the bonus that is saved and paid at the end of the year.

We also thank the Government of President Ruto for lowering prices of fertiliser. When the price was lowered from Ksh7,000 to Ksh2,500, farmers were able to increase productivity. At the same time, their returns became better. Many farmers face difficulties getting fertiliser from the National Cereals and Produce Board. This morning, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Nabiswa Ward, Hon. Jamanuru, called informing me that farmers in his area had been waiting for top dressing fertiliser for the last two weeks. Those responsible for transportation of fertiliser to Kitale National Cereals and Produce Board need to wake up. Farmers should not be straining especially now when we need the fertiliser for top dressing both for maize and tea. This is a big let-down. I call upon those responsible to make sure that they act accordingly.

With those comments, Hon. Speaker, I support the Report. Thank you.

Hon. CNN. Not CNN, but NN. We have CNN and NN.

NN is the County Member of Parliament for Embu County.

So, the other one is CNN.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. Again, I stand to add my voice regarding the Report of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture.

What do you mean by saying you stand again? Have you spoken on this?

No, it is my first time. I support the Report by the Departmental Committee on Agriculture. I would like to state that it is not about the West or the East, but about the quality of tea that farmers grow and the representation of farmers in the West and East. When I campaigned in 2022 in Embu County for the County Member of Parliament seat, one of the things I talked about was tea prices and how well directors and management of tea factories would ensure that tea farmers get good prices.

It is not about the West; it is about the management of directors in the counties where tea is grown in the West. In the East, for example, Rukuriri Tea Factory leads in payment of bonuses to tea farmers alongside Mongania and the other tea factories in Embu County. It is all about management. I urge tea farmers in the West to ensure that the directors or the managers they elect to manage and represent them in the tea sector are well versed with what they are required to do. Otherwise, if they continue electing self-interested directors who ignore farmers interests, the West will continue making noise as the East continues getting good prices for their tea.

I support the report by the Departmental Committee on Agriculture. I urge people in the East to ensure that they continue to attain the right quality and quantity of tea so that they continue earning better prices, not only now, but also in future.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Komingoi.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. First, Bureti Constituency is one of the tea-growing regions of this country, situated in the west of the Rift Valley. I agree with the recommendations of the Committee. However, I want to highlight the concerns of farmers from the west of the Rift Valley. It is not true that we do not produce quality tea. It is also not true that we receive equal treatment in the KTDA system, as suggested by the Report. We are aware that there is only one managing agent of tea factories, namely KTDA. Its managers can be transferred from one region to another. Therefore, the question of expertise and factory management lies entirely with KTDA.

It is true that once a farmer plucks tea and KTDA accepts it at the tea-buying centre, the onus of ensuring quality tea rests with factory management, which is managed by KTDA. The question on factory management in the west of the Rift Valley should be looked into more carefully because it is being used as a cover-up to imagine that tea from that region is not good.

The second observation made by the Committee is that the west of the Rift Valley is far from Mombasa. Therefore, they incur higher costs of transportation, insurance, and freight. If it is true that regions such as Kisii, Western Region, and Kericho are too far from Mombasa where the auction takes place, then the Committee should recommend opening another auction centre in the west of the Rift Valley. This will allow buyers to buy tea directly from the farmers for the sake of reducing their costs. Therefore, KTDA is responsible for opening up markets to ensure access to all farmers.

There is also another misnomer that there is so much tea hawking in the west of the Rift Valley, contributing to low prices or low-quality tea. For the record, there is no factory in the west of the Rift Valley operating below capacity. Because of high rainfall, we are able to produce more tea per bush than the east of Rift Valley. Therefore, tea production does not cause tea hawking. It does not affect the quality of tea.

Hon. Speaker, there is also the question of KTDA’s investment in power production. It is not true to say that KTDA has done everything possible to support power production in the west of the Rift Valley. The people of Kericho, particularly in Bureti Constituency, through four factories—Kapkatet, Chelal, Tebesonik and Litein—contributed nearly Ksh1 billion almost 10 years ago to a power plant that has not been completed by KTDA to date. This means farmers pay high costs, despite having made contributions that are not earning any interest and without any penalties being imposed on the contractor. We are being told that because of time and inflationary tendencies that have accrued in the construction sector, the project will cost even more. Where did KTDA take the monies contributed by farmers in the west of the Rift Valley? There are no power plants to support energy supply in the region!

Recommendation number two says that the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum should implement the law on power wheeling. This law exists, and its regulations were passed by this House. Therefore, that recommendation does not stand. The KTDA manages all factories in this country that have subscribed to them. The people of the west of the Rift Valley will not sign new contracts with KTDA until they tell us the parameters and key performance indicators which they should comply with and make sure that they contribute before we pay them. This is not a free service. Farmers pay KTDA to manage factories; from transportation at the tea-buying centres to processing, transport, and selling tea.

I hope the Committee makes stronger recommendations on KTDA’s management. There are even rumours that the marketing department of KTDA is partisan. Those are some of the issues we thought this Report would bring out. The farmers are saying that the marketing department of KTDA is marketing tea largely for another region. We do not know to what extent this is true. We will raise these issues so that people know whether there is bias or not. If the management is biased, we should create two managing agencies in KTDA. We should create a department that markets tea from the west of Rift Valley and another one for the east

of Rift Valley. At the end of the day, we will all be seen to be doing the right thing and accepting the cost as it is.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Rindikiri, what is your point of order?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, this is a House of records and facts. You cannot bring a serious allegation without substantiation. That allegation about bias by the marketing department is not presented properly. He needs to substantiate it with facts. We are dealing with a very serious matter in this country. Tea has an important economic advantage. Please, let us not try to bring populist statements.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, this Report was on inquiry into the pricing of tea in Kenya.

Order! The allegations are

I have raised that issue because farmers are raising concerns. This Report needed to have come out conclusively and openly for it to be trusted. If you do not raise a matter that farmers have raised on the ground, how do we trust the Report? We want a Report that can be implemented.

This is a Parliamentary Report from a Committee of Parliament that is not drawn from one section of the country. It is my presumption that it is broad-based and represents the whole country. That is another matter that you need to interrogate. Proceed.

Finally, I am raising an issue on the management of the Tea Board of Kenya.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

What is your point of order?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, it is very unfortunate that a Member of this House would want to take the Floor to prejudice the public. First of all, there is no region called west or east. I say this because I am a director at one of the factories in the Kiambu region. Every factory goes to the market by its Garden Mark. There is nothing called tea from “east of Rift.” Tea is taken to the auction in Mombasa at the East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) , and it goes by a Garden Mark—Kambaa, Kagwe, Theta, or Mogogosiek. Tea goes by its own name. Therefore, you cannot prejudice the public by claiming there is favouritism in marketing a certain tea.

Second, the role of marketing tea has been legislated by this House and is assigned to the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) , not KTDA. The KTDA (Management Services) is merely a management service. I sit on the KTDA Holdings Board, which is a private company in the realm of private…

Order! The common practice in this House is that if you are going to cite something where there is an interest, you declare the interest before you start contributing.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am guided. It is important that I do that now.

What is the interest?

I am a tea farmer. Therefore… The Temporary Speaker

: Are you a member of KTDA?

Being a tea farmer, I am an elected director in Kiambu. I sit on the boards of Theta Tea Factory, Ndarugu Tea Factory, KTDA Holdings, and…

Are you contributing or are you now on a point of order?

Hon. GG Kagombe

: I rose on a point of order to clear the image…

Get through with the point of order. Have you contributed to this matter?

Yes, I have contributed to this matter. The role of marketing lies with the TBK, and not KTDA. Even as you say here that two separate entities would be created to market tea from one side and the other, it is important to understand that the company being referred to is a private company. Therefore, even as we discuss it, we must understand that it falls within the realm of private…

You have made your point. Hon. Komingoi, conclude.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. You see, this Report clearly states that there is “West of Rift” and “East of Rift,” and that was the basis for the enquiry. Therefore, it cannot be ignored.

That is the prevalence here.

Yes. Finally, there is the question of recommendation number three: that factory management should replace all dilapidated, inefficient machines. You would recall that in the previous Budget that we are implementing right now, this House allowed some monies to be used by factories and were to be accessed as loans. That is one of the key ways we can leverage support now for the east or west of the Rift, or any other factory for that matter, to replace its equipment, make it current, and improve efficiency in production for the purpose of reducing costs in the factories. Otherwise, I leave it at that.

Thank you.

Member for Chuka/ Igambang’ombe Constituency, Hon. Ntwiga

I am a tea farmer. I think I am the biggest tea farmer in my constituency, and I represent tea farmers from Chuka/Igambang’ombe Constituency. This matter is very serious, and it pains me when I hear people trivialising it. I want to thank Hon. Kagombe for clarifying that when we go to the market, people market tea according to the quality they produce in their factory. Every factory in every region elects its own directors. So, if you go as a region and elect directors who are dealers and brokers, you end up in a situation where the richest people are tea brokers, and then you start putting everybody in that mess. It is for people to go back and elect good directors. That is where it starts, before we go to the top. I have been telling my people this in my constituency.

You do not elect somebody who does not even know where the auction happens in Mombasa. We wanted to bring you a report that has also been given by a third party. You know, those are the old men and women we are electing in the village as directors. The tea auction is so complicated that they cannot even understand how the dollar exchanged last week. They do not even understand what is happening in Pakistan or Iran, which are some of our biggest buyers. The directors people elect in the village are people who are given reports that have also been provided by a third or fourth party. So, as we solve the tea problem in this country, it is high time our people elected capable people who can see through the conmanship in tea marketing. Even in the East, people think it...

Just for the interest of the Chair, are you suggesting that they elect farmers or they elect brokers?

They should elect a farmer, but a farmer with the capacity to understand what goes on. You do not elect a farmer who sits in his house and waits for a report, and is told that today it has been bought at this price.

So, you elect a farmer who has knowledge of tea brokerage.

Yes, a farmer who has access to information. Second, even the price that people see as if it is too much for the east, is not. Last year, the bonus we got was Ksh50. It is still little, even for that east. If you look at the market prices of tea in the international market, no farmer, whether they come from east or west, should earn less than Ksh70 to Ksh80 per kilogram, if the marketing of tea and brokerage is removed and brokers are reduced in the chain of marketing. So, the problem is the people we elect and the very many brokers in the tea marketing chain.

I support the Report.

I can only see interest from Hon. Wandeto and Hon. Munyoro. Hon. Wandeto will go first, and then Hon. Munyoro will be the last one. I will then call upon the Mover to reply. Proceed.

Hon. Geoffrey Wandeto (Tetu, UDA) Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity to also contribute to the Report on…

Order! Hon. Rindikiri, Hon. Member for Chuka/Igambang’ombe, and the other Member from somewhere in the Rift Valley. Consult in low tones.

Hon. Geoffrey Wandeto (Tetu, UDA) Thank you. I would also like to contribute to this issue on pricing of tea. From the outset, since you have asked Members to declare their interests, my interest in this matter is that I am a tea farmer, a very small-scale tea farmer. I also come from a constituency where about 50 per cent of my people grow tea. I am a product of coffee and tea, because I was educated from the proceeds of coffee.

The issues being raised here are very important, and I think all of us in this House want one thing: a better outcome for our farmers. It is very important that we do not play cheap politics with this matter, as we have just seen somebody trying to do. He has attempted to divide the country along regional or tribal lines.

Tea is a commodity, and as has been clarified, it is sold in the international market. To the best of my understanding—and those more knowledgeable here, like Hon. Kagombe, can correct me—tea is sold based on quality. I would like to mention that in my own constituency I have only one tea factory, Gathuthi Tea Factory, and it consistently performs among the best in the country. In fact, last year it declared the third-highest bonus in the country. My directors tell me that while some factories are still selling tea for January, they are probably already done

selling tea for March, because it is based on quality. Since it is an open market, a willing-buyer, willing-seller system, pricing is based on the quality of tea.

Some of the factors that contribute to the quality of tea may not necessarily be factory based. It could be things like the soils in an area. Some of those things have a bearing. But it could also be other factors like processing, the nature of the factory, and things like that.

Coming to how we can improve the earnings from tea, tea has traditionally been handled in two ways. There are the bigger farms that own their own factories, and most of them happen to be in the Rift Valley and western regions. Then there are the smaller factories, which are basically managed or given management services by KTDA. However, in KTDA’s system, we have also had a lot of inefficiencies. KTDA has, in the past, done a lot of non-core business thus taking a lot of the farmers’ earnings. This includes running insurance companies, operating stock exchanges in Dubai, and providing transportation services among others. So, how can we improve KTDA to focus on its core business? It is a private company, but it handles what is largely a public good because tea is grown by millions of small-scale farmers. For a long time, KTDA has attempted to push the Government away from its management. What I would suggest in the Report is this: how can we improve oversight of the affairs of KTDA?

The other issue, is that tea is sold weekly. So, we have always wondered why farmers are paid very little monthly and then only receive a bonus once a year. For example, last week I received a bonus of only Ksh6. Now I have to wait for the main bonus, which may be paid at the end of the year yet the tea I picked last month has already been sold.

Lastly, the Government has also interfered with this crop through what I would call poor diplomatic initiatives. For example, what we have been doing in Sudan with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has cost us the Sudanese market. So again, the Government is not without blame. It has taken actions that have compromised the tea market.

Overall, I rise to support that we should do whatever we can to improve the plight and earnings of our hardworking tea farmers.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. (Technical hitch)

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support the Report. I come from Mt. Kenya West and my constituency is Kigumo. We have three tea factories. This discussion is important because even in my constituency, we do not get the same pay across the different factories. There are many factors that determine the price of tea. Tea is sold at the auction house. It is tested. You cannot force a buyer to like your tea. Buyers always prefer the tea that tastes better.

From history, we have seen that our tea is preferred. That is why it commands a higher price. About 95 per cent of our tea is sold abroad. This tells you that, even if you try to divide this into Mt. Kenya or east and west tea zones, the issue of tea will remain with the buyer. For those who consume wine, a sommelier will prescribe a premium wine over another based on taste. Taste cannot be disputed. The buyer will always go with what they prefer.

I am saying that one of the things we need to agree on is that factories are empowered to decide who brokers their tea. Each factory chooses its brokerage firm. Once they make that decision, they cannot come back and say their tea was sold poorly or that the prices were wrong. I will still insist that we will never accept, as a region, any proposal that fixes tea at a certain price and then adds a premium. Tea must command its rightful price. If it is premium, then it must get a premium price. I repeat, tea is sold by taste. If our tea has consistently been better and preferred by buyers, then we cannot be blamed for that.

Second, there is the issue of altitude. As has been raised, factors such as soil, altitude, and climate all determine tea quality. How high is the area? How cold is it? What is the climate?

All these factors matter. In my region, we do not encourage tea hawking. Once you allow hawking, people stop picking quality tea. They pick anything and sell it to brokers outside the system. Our tea has been controlled and I maintain that it must remain controlled so that we continue producing premium tea.

I am unhappy when I hear people say that some regions are given preference. As I said, I have three factories. The best factory in this country, consistently, is from my constituency. It is called Gacharage. Its tea is premium. The next factory, Ikumbi, gets a slightly lower price. We do not complain or demand equal pay. The difference is due to quality. So, I support.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Next, let us have Bishop.

Thank you, Hon. Temporarry Speaker. While I support the Report, I wish to appeal to this House. The complaints from tea growers across the country should not be wished away or downplayed. There is a need for a deeper inquiry into this issue. We cannot say that those who originally recommended tea-growing areas in Kenya were wrong. Either something has changed over time or something is not working. We need proper research. A scientific report should determine whether the issue lies in the soil, harvesting, factory processing, or storage at the auction.

I have also heard from contributions in this House that some teas are better marketed and attract international demand. However, there are still many complaints. These complaints must be given a fair hearing and proper understanding. There is real discomfort among farmers. I come from an area neighbouring tea-growing zones and we hear these complaints all the time. Dismissing them will not help. We must speak to the interest of farmers and do better research. We must avoid turning this into politics of east versus west. Instead, we must listen to the farmers. Some of us have been asking: If KTDA cannot give satisfactory answers to all farmers, why not consider another organisation to market tea for some regions? Perhaps, a different approach could address the problem. If we keep doing the same thing in the same way, we may not get different results. I appeal to the Committee and this House to listen to these concerns. They may not have been expressed in the best way, but they deserve proper research and attention. It will not serve Kenyans if we dismiss them.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Next is Hon. Rindikiri.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I do not come from a tea-growing zone, but I will make a few observations as a consumer of tea. One thing we must acknowledge is that tea prices have gone up. This is due to several factors, including Government intervention. One factor is the reduction in the influence of too many tea brokers. Another is the improvement in the quality of Kenyan tea, especially from high-quality regions.

There has also been a reduction in input costs, particularly fertiliser. Many other interventions have contributed, including efforts to expand markets. I commend our high commissions and embassies for organising exports and promoting Kenyan tea abroad. One of the worst mistakes we could make is failing to capitalize on the economies of scale. Dividing the KTDA or any other institution into two to satisfy regional interests will not change the tea quality. We stand to lose in the Western region because their tea is not of high quality. Secondly, areas which produce very high-quality tea still have pockets which produce low quality tea. For example, Kigumo, in Murang’a, has three of the largest high quality tea regions in the country but there are still sections that produce low quality tea. I visited there. They take advantage of the blending concept, which is what the auction is all about. The Western region benefits from areas with higher quality tea. We need to be very sensitive. We cannot trivialize the issue by saying that one region is being disenfranchised by another. We should focus on how to continue improving tea quality. That is key.

We also need to enhance research, so that we start processing tea. Some regions in Western Rift Valley produce very high-quality tea. That will solve some of the challenges, going forward. Institutional reorganisation and politics should not jeopardise farmers’ benefits. This is a serious discussion. The tea sector is one of the backbones of our economy because it earns us foreign exchange and provides employment. It is a serious industry because it supports manufacturing and value addition. We should not trivialise the tea business.

Let us have Hon. Mwirigi, the Member for Igembe South.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to also add my voice to the debate on this Report on the inquiry into the pricing of tea in Kenya. The Committee has given us its findings on why tea from the Western Rift Valley Region earns less than tea from the Eastern Rift Valley Region. Tea quality matters greatly. I served in the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock in the last Parliament. We visited the Western Rift Valley Region to engage in fact-finding. We discussed the grading of tea. Tea quality begins at the farm and continues to the factory. If proper grading is not done at the farm, you will not get a good grade in the factory. That is one of the issues affecting tea prices. Secondly, directors elected by farmers must be informed about current trends, including pricing and how the tea auction in Mombasa is conducted. This so that they can be in tandem with the happenings, from the auction to the farmers. Thirdly, the tea quantity supplied to factories matters. If the quantity is low, the factors of production will rise, which will in turn lower the price per kilogramme of tea that farmers receive. The Committee’s recommendations should be followed to the letter, so that farmers can get better prices. Tea is one of the key foreign exchange earners in this country, and farmers should benefit from it. The KTDA must also be transparent. Farmers should be informed when tea prices are high or low. There are two tea factories in my constituency, namely, Kiegoi Tea Factory and Igembe Tea Factory. Farmers receive relatively good payments due to the high quality of tea produced. However, the Government should also expand markets, so that farmers can earn more. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Fair enough. I now call upon the Mover to reply. Hon. Millie, are you replying on his behalf? Where is Hon. (Dr) Mutunga?

I am here, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want to thank all the Members who have contributed to this Motion. The pricing differentials were a huge issue in this House just before we adjourned for the December recess. That is what led to the expansion of the Committee to incorporate Members who were extremely vocal on the matter. We formed a broader Committee to look into those issues. Tea matters are close to our hearts. Tea is produced across many counties in this country. Amazingly, we have a dichotomy where KTDA factories in Western Rift Valley get less pay than those in Eastern Rift Valley. However, this does not mean that all the factories in the Western Rift Valley Region are performing poorly. Some are performing well. We agreed with the Members who were extremely vocal about the pricing issue, and who had all sort explanations on how to change our approach. They suggested that Members from tea producing areas in Eastern Rift Valley should go to Western Rift Valley, and those from tea producing areas in Western Rift Valley should go to Eastern Rift Valley. Members from Western Rift Valley who visited Eastern Rift Valley

took about one-and-half days of exposure before they were satisfied. That is because they realized that the problem was neither with the KTDA as an institution, nor with the farmers. The problem is compounded and largely linked to disregard of tea quality assurance protocols. I am not a member of the KTDA, neither am I here to defend it, although I produce some tea. However, before I became a Member of Parliament, I attended global conferences where on three separate occasions, the KTDA model was hailed as exemplary and as one that has performed wonders in the world. Many tea-producing countries were encouraged to come to Kenya and study it. That means KTDA is doing the right thing. However, if a few factories decide not to do the right thing, and instead make poor choices that disadvantage their farmers in terms of tea pricing, then you cannot blame the KTDA. More than half of the factories under the KTDA are doing extremely well. The other half is not doing well because of compounded issues, which we laid out yesterday. I am happy that Members can see the truth. I urge those who believe that the KTDA is the problem to look deeper and understand the underlying issues. They should accept the fact that if people are not delivering quality tea, they must be prevailed upon to deliver quality tea.

A few issues came out yesterday. I want to highlight only two of them. One of them is picking any variety that comes by because it is high producing without caring to compare it with other varieties that at the end of the day measure up to the desired quality. I have in mind varieties of tea that are high yielding and do very well in most of the ecological zones, but have different fermentation requirements from most of the other varieties. When you plant such tea then you produce processed tea or mint tea of poor quality as a part of it will not be fully fermented.

The tea that we sell to the rest of the world is not necessarily raw material. It is a product that is ready for consumption. If it is a product that is ready for consumption, we cannot force people to take it if they think it is not of good quality. People prefer tea from certain factories. Some factories have, indeed, sold their tea in advance up to 2028. They have their tea already booked in the future market. They were told that if they will produce tea in 2028, it will be bought by paying part of its fees whereas other farmers have their tea lying in Mombasa because they decided not to be disciplined.

I want to highlight the issue of discipline in terms of the management of the factories. It comes in three ways. The first one is the composition of the board members of the tea factories and the committees at the factory level. It is important to have people who have knowledge, interest and experience in the management of tea factories because they deal with the management of farmers' dues and the entire continuum of collection, processing and marketing of tea. So, if choose people who are not sufficiently educated to be in charge of the factories – I have nothing against anyone although in this country we sometimes say that anybody can do anything – it will be wrong. Someone who has no experience cannot inform, guide and advise. That is happening a lot in the Western Rift Valley tea factories.

Another issue is the appointment or selection of the board members and directors of the tea factories. In the Western Rift Valley, electors lean a lot more on who is most popular and not necessarily who produces the best tea. In Eastern Rift Valley tea factories, the electors will ask what experience a candidate has, the size of his farm and whether his tea has ever been rejected. However, in factories on the Western Rift Valley side will pick anybody because he has a popular backing. We should not politicize tea. Tea needs to come out as clean and of good quality as a commodity because people will pay for tea they consider to be good enough.

Finally, on added costs. There are cases of conflict of interest on the part of factory directors. Instead of allowing the factory to run under the guidance of the managing body, which is KTDA, they try to influence. They want their vehicles to be brought in. Factory vehicles are towed and their vehicles are hired to collect tea. First, they hold the factory vehicles and get other vehicles. That is double investment. It is double input. Some of them want their

wood to be bought. Others want so much to be done for them instead of allowing the factories to run appropriately.

It is a bit surprising that the Honourable Members who were very vocal are not in this House today to debate this Report. Some of these issues can be very emotive. The House was charged to a point of imagining that the Committee was not committed to its work. The Committee Members are very well informed in matters of tea production; thus, they generated this Report.

With those very few remarks, I reply.

Next Order.

Who was on the Floor when this debate adjourned? Is there any Member who is interested in contributing to this debate? Nobody?

Under the circumstances, I will ask the Mover to reply. The Chair is not in? Hon. Mulyungi, if you are the Chair, I direct that you reply.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Allow me to thank the Members who contributed on this Motion yesterday. Their comments and suggestions will go a long way in enriching future Reports of the Committee. The National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) is the only visible Fund that has positively impacted the lives of communities all over the country. It is a Fund whose projects are visible in every village in Kenya, contrary to other funds like the devolved funds of county governments. It is a Fund that must be protected at all times in the interest of all Kenyans, communities in the villages and schools.

With those few remarks, I beg to reply.

Hon. Members, under the circumstances, I will put the Question.

Next Order.

Where is the Chairman of the Committee. The Vice-Chair is here. Member for Chuka/Igambang'ombe Chuka, where is your Chairman?

Hon. Patrick Ntwiga (Chuka/Igambang’ombe, UDA) : Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. My Chairman is not here because he lost his father.

Proceed, you are equally qualified.

It is good that I inform Members that we will be having a fundraiser at the All-Saints Cathedral today at 6.00 p.m. to assist him.

My condolences and sympathies to him.

Hon. Patrick Ntwiga (Chuka/Igambang’ombe, UDA) : Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Departmental Committee on Health on its consideration of Public Petition No. 21 of 2025 regarding access to healthcare by cancer patients in Kenya, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 8th April 2026. Public Petition No. 21 of 2025 was submitted by the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO) representing over 70 civil society groups and thousands of cancer patients. It was tabled in the National Assembly on 7th October 2026. The Petition was referred to the Departmental Committee on Health for consideration.

Cancer is one of Kenya’s most significant public health challenges. The country records approximately 44,000 new diagnosis and over 29,000 cancer related deaths annually. Breast cancer and cervical cancers affect women while prostate cancer is the leading diagnosis among men. Therefore, equitable access to affordable and comprehensive cancer care is a matter of public importance.

The petition highlights systemic failures under the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) and proposes urgent reforms in cancer care financing. The petition raises several challenges encountered by cancer patients under SHA, including the reduction and inadequacy of the cancer benefits package, bureaucratic delays, system failures, poor communication, lack of transparency, suspension of services due to pending bills, and emotional and mental strain.

The petitioners prayed that the National Assembly, through the Departmental Committee on Health:

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Cancer is a very serious disease in this country. It has impoverished families, caused separation, and shattered livelihoods. It has also contributed to the loss of foreign exchange, as many people travel abroad seeking treatment. In some areas, it has depleted human resources. For example, in my constituency, certain areas have been significantly affected. The government is making efforts to study and determine the causes of this disease in those regions. The Committee has presented this Report in good faith. Cancer is a national crisis that requires urgent attention. The Committee is deeply committed to this issue because people must receive treatment for the reasons outlined in the Report. This Petition is timely, as every Kenyan is entitled to quality treatment, particularly for cancer.

The Petition emphasises on the need for establishing treatment centres in all regions in the country. Further, the Committee calls for enhancement of research to determine the root causes of cancer, increased availability of trained specialists, and adequate supply of medicines. It is, therefore, very important that the country improves standards of cancer treatment and care.

With those few remarks, I second the Motion.

Member for Funyula, you may have the first bite of the cherry.

I had expected the Member for Wajir North, Hon. Saney, who has many patients from the North-Eastern region affected by cancer, to contribute.

Proceed, Hon. Saney.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Cancer is a prevalent disease globally and has left many patients terminally ill, placing a heavy burden on households. When illness persists for years and treatment costs are prohibitive, the economic consequences for families, particularly in developing countries, become severe. In Northern Kenya, there have been concerns about toxic materials and waste being deposited in some areas in Wajir and Marsabit Counties, leading to a rise in cancer cases.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in this country, accounting for approximately 7 per cent of deaths. The most common types include oesophageal, prostate, cervical, and colorectal cancers. The Report highlights transitional challenges from the NHIF to the SHA, which have disrupted access to care for many cancer patients. It was also observed

that the SHIF provides lower benefits compared to NHIF, which had a specific provision for cancer. This indicates the need to strengthen the SHA to adequately address these concerns. There are also significant bureaucratic barriers. Accessing treatment remains difficult, with registration processes posing a major obstacle. As a result, patients miss critical treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The disease relapses once you miss those critical treatments. This exacerbates the progression of cancer in the body. There was a need to remove those bureaucratic registration requirements, at least so that cancer patients can have easier access.

Hon. Abdisirat Khalif, I thought you wanted to contribute to this Motion. I see you walking out of the House. Can you come back and contribute to the Motion, as you requested? Proceed, Hon. Saney.

Further, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) had outstanding bills in some facilities before SHA was operationalised. Outstanding bills interfered with cancer treatment at affected facilities nationwide. That worsened the prevalence of patients and the quality of their treatment. There is one other big problem in the country. There was a lack of drugs in our public facilities despite the SHA covering patients. People had to buy drugs from chemists out of pocket.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am sorry I was interrupted. Kindly give me more time.

Proceed. You have an additional minute.

Thank you. People had to buy drugs while they had a cover. That is a mockery of SHA. You cannot be insured, yet you are told there are no drugs. Thereafter, you buy the same drugs out of pocket. That means the insurance package will be irrelevant, and cancer treatment will be expensive. With those observations, there is a need to increase the oncology package under the SHA compared to its predecessor, the NHIF. There is a need to consolidate the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) with the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF) to enhance treatment.

There is also a need to devolve cancer treatment to all the counties of this country. We need to cascade treatment of cancer cases to the 47 counties of this country if we are to forestall or reduce the prevalence of cancer. We do not have to refer terminally ill people to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi, which bears the burden of all referrals.

With those few contributions, I support the Report on the consideration of Public Petition No. 21 of 2025.

Hon. Abdisirat Khalif, you share a name with a giant—the late Abdisirat Khalif, who was in the Parliament of Kenya from 1969 to the 1970s.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. That is well noted. Cancer is a serious disease that is causing nightmares in this country. The disease can really set us back unless we take it as seriously as we do. Some areas in this country have serious challenges with this disease, especially in Northern Kenya. Once, there was a school of thought that said foreign countries had deposited hazardous materials in those areas. Maybe that is the cause of the disease's spread in that region.

First, this country needs to ensure that we understand what we are dealing with. Especially by having research institutions that can inform us on the variants of the disease. We also need public awareness that lifestyle changes can help curb these diseases. We should also have funding. The country must fund treatment of cancer through infrastructure, training and public awareness to reduce the effects of the disease. Our country needs to deal with situations

before they reach levels that cannot be handled. Kenya always deals with emergencies. Disease controls are not harnessed or discussed, and people are not prepared to ensure we tackle problems before they cause negative effects on economic development and lives.

Therefore, I agree with the Motion to contain the disease and give preference to areas where it is causing havoc. Especially in Northern Kenya—Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Marsabit, Isiolo and Turkana. Those areas already face challenges in developing healthcare systems. We need to assign more resources and funding to curb diseases in those areas.

With those few remarks, I thank you very much for the opportunity.

You have not disappointed those who knew your namesake. Thank you. Proceed, Member of Funyula.

Thank you. Let me sincerely take this opportunity to thank the Departmental Committee on Health for listening to this Petition, prosecuting it, and bringing a Report to this Floor. As you are aware, Petitions often go unattended for months or years. They are already overtaken by events by the time they are being presented.

The petitioner, the Kenya Network of Cancer Organisations (KENCO) , clearly presents a very compelling and heart-rending case in this Petition. I am sure many of us seated here, and the many Kenyans watching us now, have at one time or another been cancer patients, known somebody who has been a cancer patient, or lost and buried somebody they knew who died of cancer. I am one of them. By virtue of my position as a Member of Parliament of a rural constituency, many times I carry the emotional burden whenever I visit cancer patients. I attend burials of those who have lost their lives to cancer and many cases where we are invited to contribute funds to treat cancer patients.

There are very compelling statistics, but in many cases, we rarely believe them. First of all, cancer is very expensive. Paragraph 18 of the Report says, “The direct cost of comprehensive treatment for this patient easily exceeds Ksh3.8 million. This demonstrates beyond any doubt that the current SHA cancer cover of Ksh550,000 per year is grossly insufficient to provide equitable access to care. Reducing the oncology package is not just a technical policy change. It is a life and death decision for thousands of Kenyans”.

The Report also provides very chilling statistics that Kenyans must be aware of before we start. In paragraph 17, they say, “A recent survey of 118 cancer patients and caregivers found that 60 per cent had exhausted their SHA cover before the end of the year, with 35.8 per cent exhausting their benefit in less than three months and another 34.5 per cent within three to six months”.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, we were sold a great story by a very good storyteller. That SHA was the panacea to all medical problems in this country. We were told that, with free primary health care and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF) , we would safeguard all Kenyans. However, this Petition has unmasked a package of lies and has revealed that the current provisions amount to a direct ticket to death in the event of a cancer diagnosis.

We have also been told that under the old NHIF, there was a combined package. If an individual exhausted their cover, they could rely on their spouse’s package. The current system is segregated and dichotomous; you can use your spouse’s cover only after exhausting your own, which further complicates matters.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I kindly ask for just one more minute.

Give him one more minute.

As we stand here today, Kenyans need to be aware that we face two significant issues. This message is directed towards the Executive, the Departmental Committee on Health, and the President, who has travelled extensively, both abroad and within Kenya, promoting the positive aspects of the SHA while neglecting to mention its downsides.

Firstly, the coverage for cancer is insufficient. If you are diagnosed with cancer, you must seek alternative funding to see through your treatment. Secondly, hospitals declining to treat patients under the SHA due to delayed payments also poses a death sentence for many Kenyans. Nevertheless, we support the Report and its recommendations, and we hope the Ministry will act to implement them.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Mheshimiwa Kombe.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me time to contribute to this debate on the Report. From the outset, I wish to congratulate the President on his initiative towards providing universal health care for all Kenyans. Unfortunately, those managing the fund do not always burn the midnight oil to ensure timely payments. Had it not been for the SHA, I would have lost my brother. He fell ill while I was out of work, engaged in the petition and by-election campaigns. Following his diagnosis, treatment was initiated, and the SHA covered all the expenses except for the bed charges, as he had been admitted to a private hospital.

The cry here is for greater coverage for cancer patients. We must advocate for an increase in medical cover so that they receive adequate treatment and timely payments. Let us call a spade a spade. We should appreciate even the smallest of improvements we have achieved. In this instance, I acknowledge that the SHA has its shortcomings, but we must recognise the progress made. Let us move forward and ensure that even those without jobs can benefit from the SHA, provided they have registered with it.

Cancer is an accumulation of dead cells in the body. Unfortunately, these dead cells tend to accumulate at specific points. For instance, if they settle in the throat, this results in throat cancer. If they accumulate in the brain, we refer to them as a brain tumour. Similarly, when they gather in the prostate, we say that a person has prostate cancer, and the same applies to cervical cancer and other types. We should take this opportunity to encourage everyone to visit hospitals for testing. I urge those of us in Parliament to make time for gym sessions and to seek reflexology services. Reflexology tends to stimulate the lymph glands, which help disperse the dead cells that accumulate in specific areas.

Is there anyone else who wishes to contribute? Hon. Naomi Waqo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to lend my voice to the important Report on Public Petition No. 21 of 2025 regarding access to healthcare for cancer patients in the country. I also wish to thank the Committee and the Chair, and I express my condolences for the passing of his father.

Cancer is an issue that we should all be concerned with as a country and as leaders. I come from Marsabit, where we have a significant number of cancer patients. When cancer strikes a family, the impact is felt not only by the patients but also by their caregivers. We are well aware that cervical cancer is a leading concern, affecting many of our women. Breast cancer similarly takes a toll on women, while prostate cancer and colorectal cancer are also on the rise. Many families have suffered due to this illness. It is important to note that cancer is among the top three killers in Kenya, with nearly 47,000 new cases reported each year.

That is why I said we should all be concerned about the rate at which cancer is spreading. Again, we know very well that about 32,000 Kenyans die annually as a result of cancer. This is a huge problem. A caring Government should be concerned about this. We know very well that when cancer hits, as I said, families, relatives, and friends go through financial distress. Most of the time, especially in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) areas where we have a large number of patients, they sell the few animals they have, their small plots, or everything they have. In the end, the only thing that helps them is the fundraising people do for them, since they often have to travel to India.

I have visited several families in my county, including friends and relatives, and many have also visited us. My mother died of cancer; that is why I feel the pain, because I know how it feels. The report states that it concerns access to health care for cancer patients. Imagine a patient in North Eastern, where we do not have equipment in all our hospitals. People are forced to travel 300 kilometres to get first aid. That is why I support this Report.

Let us make it easier for cancer patients to access drugs and health care. When diagnosed early enough, patients can even be fully treated and survive. However, with late diagnosis, which is reported all over Kenya, patients are likely to die of the illness. We should give this all the attention it deserves and ensure that all hospitals in the country are equipped…

Give her one more minute.

We should ensure that all hospitals are well-equipped and staffed with qualified doctors. So that we can provide adequate care to our people and ensure they receive the medication they need. Apart from that, we also need to propose a counselling programme for the caretakers.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support.

You need more than just one cancer centre in your county. I think it is around 68,000 square kilometres, right?

Yes.

That is equivalent to the combined size of Rwanda, Burundi, and several other countries.

Yes.

Clearly, you need more than one cancer centre.

Our county is the largest; we need more than one cancer centre.

Give the microphone to Hon. Mwirigi, the Member for Igembe South.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also want to add my voice to the Departmental Committee on Health Report on cancer. Igembe South Constituency leads the Republic of Kenya in the number of cancer cases. I have witnessed many of my constituents suffer due to delayed service payments. Even though the Government has added funds up to Ksh800,000 for cancer services, some services are still underpaid. There is a need to allocate more funds to these patients, as most of them come from very poor families where raising funds takes a long time. Even when they fundraise, they do not collect enough to cover hospital bills.

As the Committee has recommended, it would be good for the Government to increase funding so that once patients are treated, facilities can continue running. Sadly, the Government takes too long to reimburse facilities after they submit their claims. As a result, when another patient goes there, their treatment is delayed. The ministry should rectify this.

The Government has done a good work in Meru, where the construction of a cancer centre is ongoing, though it has taken longer than expected. The ministry should fast-track and complete this project so that people from the region can access these services nearby. Most patients are suffering because the facilities where they are supposed to be treated are located in urban areas, yet they do not have the money to cover travel costs. Even as we agree that the SHA is a working, we should declare cancer a national disaster and treat it differently from other diseases. We should make treatment free for cancer patients.

With that, I support this Report.

Are you from a miraa-growing region?

Yes.

You realise there is a correlation between miraa and cancer; anyway, that is beside the point.

I want to add something. Officials from the Ministry of Health in Meru visited Amwamba Primary School, which has asbestos, and noted that this is one of the causes. The Ministry of Education should act with speed to have the asbestos removed.

We should also look at the role miraa plays in this. You have been doing your people a lot of injustice.

Let us first hear from Hon. Mulyungi; he came before you.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to support this Report. I thank the Committee and the Chair for tabling it. Cancer has turned out to be one of the worst diseases in the country; it is even worse than coronavirus….

Can I interrupt you?

Yes, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Please take your seat. I wish to recognise the presence of students from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) from the Lang’ata Constituency—you all know where it is located.

Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri, UDA) : I am a resident there.

You reside there? Are you a Catholic? Who is a Catholic here? Let me give the first shot to the Catholics to welcome the students from the Catholic University, not that you have a monopoly. After that, we will have Hon. Rindikiri, who neighbours the University.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me take this opportunity to welcome students from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) to the National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya. This is the House mandated by the Constitution of Kenya to make all the laws, approve budgets and oversee the Executive. In the architecture of the legislative arm in this country, the National Assembly is more or less like the upper House because it is the holder of the purse. The Senate represents county governments while the National Assembly represents the people of Kenya in the entire country. You are welcome to watch debate and scrutinise how we debate. I encourage you to work hard so that most of you can come and sit here as representatives of the people of Kenya to make laws that give hope and improve the welfare of the people of Kenya. You are all welcome. God is good all the time.

Hon. Rindikiri.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I would like to welcome our neighbours, the students from the prestigious Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) . From the onset, I would like to clarify that even if they bear the name ‘Catholic’, all Kenyans are admitted to that institution. I thank the University for producing some of the best skilled graduates and people of Kenya. We are not short of it yet; we need more skills. I congratulate this university for maintaining a very high standard of discipline. Since the commencement of this University, we have never had situations like we have experienced in other universities. I believe that for them to come here today to see what normally happens in Parliament, is another step forward for them to become better citizens of this nation. I thank the students and the management of the institution for finding it good to visit Parliament so that they can see where the laws of this country are made. We wish that

some of the students can join the Kenyan Parliament in future by becoming either Members of Parliament in the Senate or the National Assembly.

I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Except that the Chair does not quite agree with the Member for Funyula that this is an Upper House. Whenever there are two Houses, the rules are different. But you can say that this is the House that carries the biggest burden.

No. Hon. Mulyungi, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As I was saying, cancer is one of the worst diseases in the country. It has become worse than COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS. It is a painful killer disease and an expensive one to treat. Many poor and middle-income Kenyans cannot afford treatment for this disease. Kenyans have been subjected to frequent fundraisers to support cancer patients. Even Social Health Authority (SHA) does not fully cover cancer patients. Therefore, patients are forced to go to their pockets and their relatives to source for more money to pay for their care.

Cancer is wiping Kenyans day in, day out. In my view, this disease should be declared a national disaster because it is widespread. You have heard that it is even in Marsabit County. Where does cancer come from in Marsabit? This is a disease that the government should support and make sure that SHA covers cancer treatment fully, without subjecting patients to additional health care costs. In short, cancer treatment should be free in Kenya. Therefore, I encourage the Committee and the government agencies to make sure that this Report is adopted and acted upon.

Even as we discuss healthcare and the killer disease, back in my constituency which is your neighbour, elephants have invaded. I do not know what Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is doing. They have eaten all the food. All the crops are gone. We depend on crops; food from the farms, and not camels or elephants. Therefore, from the floor of the House, I am asking KWS to make sure that all those elephants are taken back to their habitat. They do not belong in Mwingi Central. Thank you and I support.

Hon. Eve Obara.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Subject to Standing Order 96, I request that the debate be adjourned. Thank you.

Fair enough. Hon. Temporary

Next Order.

Commission in Rwanda and the East African Health Research Commission in Burundi, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 5th November 2025.

Where is Hon. Chairperson? The Chairperson of this Committee is not in the House today. I direct that this matter be put in the Order Paper at a convenient time when the Chairperson is present. Next Order.

Where is the Leader of the Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) ? This is equally a very important matter. I direct that this matter be placed in the Order Paper at an appropriate date in the future, when the Leader of the Delegation is in the House to move the Motion. Next Order.

Where is the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, Hon. Kimani? He is not in the House. I equally direct that this matter also be placed on the Order Paper at an appropriate date in the future.

Order, Deputy Whip of the Majority Party, Hon. Naomi Waqo. You should listen to the Temporary Speaker. You are the Deputy Whip of the Majority Party and you must ensure that your generals, the Chairpersons of Committees from your side, are in the House to move these Motions and Bills.

I direct that this matter also be placed in the Order Paper. Inform Hon. Kimani that he had better be present on that particular day. Next Order.

The Leader of Majority Party in the House, Hon. Ichung’wah. Could you also ensure the same with Hon. Ichung’wah to make sure that he is in the House to move a very important Bill like this one.

I direct that this matter be placed in the Order Paper at an appropriate date in the future, when Hon. Ichung’wah is in the House.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Next order.

Chairperson, Committee on Implementation. Hon. Naomi, what happened to your… Are they generals or majors? What happened to the leaders of your Committees? There must be an important…

Hon. Temporary Speaker, as you are aware, we have so many things happening at the same time in the country and even around Parliament. That is why many Members are out of the Chamber.

Thank you.

Fair enough. I direct that this matter also be placed in the Order Paper at an appropriate date in the future, when the Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation is in the Chamber. Next Order.

At least this time the Member is here. Hon. Mulyungi, proceed and move your Motion. Give him the microphone please.

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

THAT, this House adopts the Twelfth Report of the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee on its examination of the audited accounts of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund for constituencies in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo and Bomet Counties for the financial years 2013/2014 to 2022/2023, laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 4th December 2025.

Just so that we are clear on certain words, there could be no difference between consideration and examination, but there could also be a difference between them. The Motion reads ‘consideration’ and not ‘examination’ like you said. Could you read it again, verbatim.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I am well guided. I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, this House adopts the Twelfth Report of the Decentralised Funds Accounts Committee on its consideration of the audited accounts of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund for constituencies in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo and Bomet Counties for the financial years 2013/2014 to 2022/2023 laid on the Table of the House on Thursday, 4th December 2025. Hon. Temporary Speaker, this 12th Report covers the examination of the Reports of the Auditor-General for the Constituencies in the Counties of Uasin Gishu…

It is just that the practice is that when you are moving a Motion or a Bill, you read it word for word as it is printed in the Order Paper.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This Report covers the examination of the reports of the Auditor-General for the Constituencies in the Counties of Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo and Bomet. In total, the Committee examined reports for financial years 2013/2014 to 2022/2023, clearing a significant backlog to ensure our oversight is up to date. During this examination, the Committee held sittings with Fund Accounts Managers (FAMs) and the CEO of the NG-CDF Board. We scrutinised issues regarding the lawfulness and effectiveness of use of public resources in all the constituencies highlighted in those counties. Allow me to highlight some of the key observations and findings made by the Committee:

On budgetary control and under funding, we noted that money from the National Treasury came late to the constituencies, causing delays in the implementation of projects. The Committee recommended that the National Treasury should release funds on time.

On unsupported balances of Project Management Committees (PMCs) , we also noted that whenever committees disburse funds to PMCs, they do not follow to know what balance has been left out. Therefore, we made a strict recommendation that bank balances should be returned, and any money in the account should be returned to the main account for purposes of use by the constituencies.

We also noted that documentation of expenditures was not very adequate, and this is related to the training of Fund Managers. We indicated that Fund Managers should be regularly trained on the documentation of their expenditures. Also, we noted that statutory compliance was not followed. Some fund managers were not deducting statutory deductions and remitting them to the Kenya Revenue Authority, KRA, the tax collector, and we made it compulsory that fund managers must comply with the law.

Based on these findings, the Select Committee on National Government Constituencies Development Fund has made several other recommendations which ought to be followed by the fund managers in preparing accounts and reporting to Parliament for examinations, which are detailed in our report. Therefore, the Committee recommendations are aimed at strengthening the internal controls of the constituencies and ensuring that the backlog of audit queries is cleared and does not recur in the future. Once we clear an audit query for a constituency, it should not recur because now the fund manager is conversant with the problems of bookkeeping records.

We remain committed to ensuring every shilling allocated to the devolved funds benefits the intended mwananchi. I wish to thank my Committee Members, one of whom is seated next to me, for their support in my Committee and for ensuring that these reports are written, and also the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Speaker for supporting us.

Therefore, with those few remarks, I beg to move and request Hon. Hussein Barre to second. Thank you.

Hon. Hussein Barre.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to second, and I wish to add a few comments on the same. I wish to congratulate and give commendations to my Chairman, Hon. Gideon Mulyungi, and his Committee, who have been going through these reports, which span from 2013 to date. I must commend them for the diligent approach they have taken to this, and they have come very far in going through a number of National Government Constituencies Development Fund, NG-CDF, projects of different constituencies. I want to commend them to continue with the same spirit.

Having said that, I would say that NG-CDF is one of the most important developmental funds which are very well felt in the entire country. I should say the percentage of money that is allocated to the NG-CDF should probably be considered to be increased, because as compared to the counties that get quite a large chunk of money from the exchequer, the little that goes to the NG-CDF is very well felt. If you go around the country, you see the labelling that is everywhere in security infrastructure and schools, and the number of students who are being held in schools, and the number of bursaries which are paid.

It means this is a very important fund, and an increase will go a long way to help Kenyan youth. I know there are quite a number of people, both activists and people who probably do not understand how this fund is very important, who are calling for the disbandment. But I must say, with these funds facing challenges, we will have a number of people who are being supported now in school staying out of school, and crime will increase in this country. So, only increasing upwards will be the thing to consider, but not any other approach to this.

With those few remarks, I second.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I know the work of this Committee is quite enormous, but I have a problem because we have national auditing bodies that audit various constituencies. Some of the findings in Reports are not very good. Let me give an example. When funds are disbursed late, and that is what I expected their Report to reveal, it causes lateness in implementation of projects. That is something this Report should bring out or rather the Committee…

When the funds are disbursed late, yeah?

When funds are disbursed late, it causes a chain-effect on implementation. I have perused the Report, including that from my constituency, but I have not come across where they say funds were disbursed late and that therefore caused late implementation of projects. Reports usually says that it is incomplete. But there is no justification for that statement. That is something the Committee needs to take into consideration when they present their reports here.

We pay bursaries to institutions that could be hundreds of kilometres away from our constituencies. For example, you could be in Garissa, but pay bursaries for students in a university in Mombasa, in Kisi or in Bondo. The Report states that there is no evidence of that. That could be okay, but as the Committee in charge of implementation, it is upon them to advise on the best methods of getting evidence that needs to be provided so that a constituency is not told it has not accounted for money spent on such bursaries. When people out there read such a report, they do not know the difference between a fund manager and a Member of Parliament. Usually, a Member of Parliament is bashed and not the fund manager. We need to come up with mechanisms that make business cheaper for the NG-CDF management committees.

Transportation of cheques from Buuri to Mombasa is very expensive and takes time. Sometimes financial managers of receipting institution are not very cooperative causing delays.

There is also another thing the Committee needs to fast track. A majority of Members here have been told that they spend a lot of money putting up ICT hubs. I am proud of myself because we have six complete ICT hubs of high standards. But this Report only covers 2023. We were told that computers will be delivered. Going by the current speed, we may complete the term of this House without showing that some constituencies have complied and have constructed ICT hubs.

The Committee needs to come up with a system of being current or reporting up-to-date information. Some Members are not here. We are now looking at the Report for 2022/2023 Financial Year. When will we receive Reports for 2023/2024, 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 Financial Years? That is what Members are most interested in. When we discuss Report for 2013/2014 Financial year, the majority of Members were not in the House. The Committee strives to give us information, but it should indicate the pace at which it intends to be up to date.

I thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Fair enough. There being no further interest, I will now put the question.

Hon. Members, there being no other business in the House and the time being 5.37 p.m., this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 28th April 2026 at 2.30 p.m.

Published by Clerk of the National Assembly