Thursday, 28th May 2026

Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell.

Hon. Naomi, where are the Whips?

Hon. Members, we now have a quorum to transact business.

Members on their feet, please, take your seats.

Chairperson of the then Departmental Committee on Education and Research had sought guidance on the interpretation of Standing Order 90 on:

Committee on Agriculture and Livestock in the consideration of the Bill in question. From the

records, it is apparent that the Hon. Member for Gatundu South did declare that he is a director of a company in the tea sector during proceedings of the Committee, in which he is a member.

However, a review of the Hansard of Thursday, 12th March 2026, when the Bill was partly considered in the Committee of the Whole House, reveals that Hon. Kagombe did make substantive contributions on governance of tea factories and the proposed framework for their management and oversight, without declaring his interest in accordance with the Standing Orders. The contributions were substantive and directly related to the provisions under consideration.

Without delving into the merits of Hon. Kagombe’s contribution to the debate and its possible influence on the amendments considered by the Committee of the whole House on the Bill, you will agree that the Member’s failure to declare his obvious interest casts doubt on the probity of the deliberations. Any reasonable citizen would rightly question whether the declaration of interest would have influenced the House in its consideration of the Bill.

I am persuaded, to some extent, that the concern raised on the failure by Hon. Kagombe to declare his interest is valid. Failure to address the concern may, in my view, cast any subsequent decisions taken on the Bill in an unfavourable light. As the House is yet to dispense with the Bill, an opportunity exists for the House to remedy the unfortunate and avoidable lapse by the Hon. Member. In this regard, I therefore direct that the Committee of the whole House on the Tea (Amendment) Bill (Senate Bill No. 1 of 2023) be done afresh without any reference to the proceedings of 12th March, 2026, on the Bill, at the appropriate time.

Hon. Members, Standing Order 107A (1)(e) provides that the failure to declare personal interest in a matter before the House or a Committee in accordance with Standing Order 90 constitutes an act of disorderly conduct. Paragraph (2) of Standing Order 107A empowers the Speaker to call a Member whose conduct is disorderly to order, and caution the Member or order the Member to withdraw from the precincts of the Assembly for a maximum of four days.

I note that the Hon. Member for Gatundu South is currently serving his first term in Parliament. I will assume he was not aware that, despite declaring his interest before the

Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, he was still required and obligated to declare the

On a point of order, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Millie.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for that clarity because, at one point, I was a bit concerned. I thought we had actually dispensed with the Bill, in which case it should have gone to court. However, given that we have not

dispensed with it, I think it is a good thing that it comes back to the Floor for consideration so that there is no doubt.

Yes.

On that note, I want to state, for avoidance of doubt, that on the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, I have consistently said that I have no child. However, I cannot declare interest beyond that, even though I know that during the prayer breakfast yesterday, there was a woman who had children at 62. I am not yet 60, but I have no intention of having a child.

You still have a chance.

From what I heard yesterday, I still have a chance, but I have no intention of having a child. Because of that, I cannot declare an interest. Therefore, there is no conflict because I have no intention of having a child.

I also want to bring to the attention of the House, as a Whip, perhaps you may have noticed, that our women Members of Parliament are not here, but they will be joining us shortly. They are attending the presidential launch of the ‘Every Woman, Every Newborn Everywhere Accelerated Plan’ and the ‘Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative’ to help us deal with the reproductive challenges women face and also to protect our children.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Did you say women Members of Parliament are not here, or some women MPs are not here?

Some women Members of Parliament, even though somebody like me… I am a man.

Yes, Hon. Ichung’wah.

Hon. Speaker, allow me first to commend you on that Communication, and to note that, in your Communication, you have opted not to take any action against the disorderly conduct of Hon. Kagombe.

Yes.

Being a member of my Coalition, I thank you for sparing him the rod. However, this should be no excuse in the future because the Parliamentary Service Commission, which you chair, conducted an extensive induction programme for all Members of Parliament, including our new Members of Parliament. Probably these are some of the things that we take for granted; that you do not find it important to declare an interest, especially in a matter where you have a pecuniary interest. The fact that Hon. Kagombe had a pecuniary interest in the tea sector means he ought to have declared his interest.

In not one, but three.

The three companies, as you said, are Majani Insurance Brokers, Theta Tea Factory, and KTDA Holdings Limited. May this be a lesson to the rest of us that we must declare any interest that we hold, especially where we have pecuniary interest. I say this because I also see a lot of these things happening in the run-up to the Finance Bill. Those with interests in betting companies are running all over, trying to lobby colleagues to support proposals, especially in the betting industry and in some manufacturing industries.

We, as House leadership, have resisted this. I also say this on behalf of the Whips on both the Majority and the Minority sides. We have resisted the desire by many Members to be placed on committees where they have pecuniary interests. I know these leaders are usually under immense pressure because people want to sit on committees where they have interests. That is the reason why the Clerk’s Office usually asks for our CVs when we are newly elected. So, we know where Members have pecuniary interests. Therefore, spare us the urge and pressure to place you on committees where you have an interest. We will continue to resist that pressure. I commend you for that Communication. More importantly, Hon. Speaker, you have taken decisive measures as the Speaker of this 13th Assembly to continue protecting the dignity of this House.

The other matter is the one brought before this House by the Public Investments

Committee on Governance and Education. The matter is now before the Powers and Privileges

Hon. Members, I encourage you to read and re-read the Conflict of Interest Act again that you passed in this House. It will help you.

Hon. Members, allow me one minute to acknowledge students seated in the galleries. In the Speaker’s Gallery, we have students from Itigo Girls High School in Chesumei, Nandi County, and from Njega Boys High School in Kirinyaga Central, Kirinyaga County. In the Public Gallery, we have students from Oiti Glory School from Kajiado Central, Kajiado County; Saint Anselm Mururi from Maara, Tharaka Nithi County; and Sere Olipi School from Samburu East, Samburu County.

On my own behalf and on behalf of the House, we welcome the students, their teachers and those accompanying them to the House.

Hon. Members, also allow me, on my own behalf and on behalf of the House, to welcome your colleague Hon. Ferdinand Kevin Wanyonyi, the Member of Parliament for Kwanza Constituency in Trans Nzoia County.

Next Order.

Hon. Members on their feet, take your seats. Hon. GK, take the nearest seat.

Hon. Members, I have a Message from the Executive. Under the provisions of Standing Order 42 (4) , I wish to report to the House that I have received a Message from the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning regarding the nomination of persons for appointment to the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Board.

In the Message, the Cabinet Secretary conveys that, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 15 (1) (a) of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Act, Cap 41 (4) (a) , he nominates the following persons for appointment to the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Board:

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. On my own behalf and the people of Suba North, I welcome back Hon. Ferdinand. Indeed, you have raised a very cardinal issue regarding communication, especially sign language and braille. But perhaps it should not be limited to Members who have challenges. It is a challenge that the entire Parliament should take up because we do not know when such situations may affect any one of us. I have actually seen situations where Members came into this House walking normally and later left with disabilities. We have now seen Hon. Ferdinand unable to speak. So, it is really a challenge for all of us to communicate effectively with people who are differently abled.

Thank you, Hon. Millie. Indeed, the tragedy in Gilgil is something that the House takes note of. Before I say something, Hon. Milemba Omboko.

Hon. Speaker, thank you for this chance. As we welcome Hon. Wanyonyi back, it opens up discussion within the labour sector on the need to have people who assist those who may not have speech or other abilities required to effectively execute their work.

We already have many such persons in the teaching sector, including caregivers who are currently struggling to get proper legal recognition so that they can be remunerated appropriately. A section of them is already remunerated, yes, but you can now see that Parliament may need to come up with proper legislation to address such situations which may arise even among ourselves. Caregivers and assistants can be legally recognised and properly remunerated for the work they do alongside persons living with disabilities. That situation has been very prominent in the teaching sector and has now come to Parliament. We should possibly consider solutions.

In conclusion, I wish to extend my condolences to the parents, students and the entire Utumishi Girls Academy fraternity, which was affected by the fire. I wish them the very best as they rebuild their community.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Let us have Hon. Oundo.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. On my behalf and that of the people of Funyula, I sincerely thank the National Assembly and the Parliament of Kenya in general for dedicating time and resources to ensure that our colleague Hon. Ferdinand Wanyonyi, recovers and can go on with his life. The people of Funyula have an attachment to Hon. Wanyonyi because his spouse comes from Funyula Constituency. We continuously prayed for his quick recovery because we knew that any eventuality would affect us just as it would affect the people of Kwanza.

Second, many learners are being affected by hearing impairment, as Hon. Milemba has said. There are about five cases of boys and girls in both senior and junior secondary schools in my constituency with hearing impairments. I hope Hon (Dr) Nyikal, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health, will provide policy guidance on how to address that issue.

Finally, I also join Kenyans in extending my sincere condolences to the families of the girls who lost their lives at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil. When the news filtered through in the morning, the energy and courage that I had mustered to attend the National Prayer Breakfast just dissipated. I decided to stay in the house and condole with the parents, guardians, and the entire school fraternity. Children should go to school to learn and acquire knowledge, not to die. To the entire Utumishi Girls Academy fraternity, ninasema pole sana on my behalf and that of the people of Funyula Constituency.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Let us have Hon. Robert Mbui.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to join my colleagues in extending my condolences to the families, friends, neighbours and everyone who has been affected in one way or another by the tragedy that has befallen our children. I also welcome back our colleague, Hon. Ferdinand Wanyonyi, Member for Kwanza, and wish him a quick recovery. My grandfather once suffered a similar stroke and later recovered. It is possible to recover and regain speech.

When I was injured after the 2017 elections, Hon. Wanyonyi was among the first Members of Parliament to visit me in the hospital. One of my legs was completely broken, so I had to be on crutches for several months. I asked Parliament to support me because I had limited mobility while on crutches. I could not even carry a plate of food. I asked Parliament to support me by providing me with an assistant during that period. I got a very interesting answer from the Parliamentary Service Commission. They asked me to register with the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) . I knew that my problem would not be permanent. Hon. David Sankok was a Member of the House, and he used to call himself my Chairman, but I refused because even though I would have enjoyed certain benefits from registering as a disabled person, it would not have been fair. The Parliamentary Service Commission may need to consider temporary cases of disabilities.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Unfortunately, Hon. Robert, as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission, I should inform you that the directive is contained in the Human Resource Manual Guidelines issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. For Hon. Samal, Hon. Tim Wanyonyi, Hon. Bishop Kosgei and Hon. Ferdinand to get support, they need a certificate from the NCPWD. Two Members asked for support with their disabilities. When we sent them for checkups as required by the law, the doctors declared them not to be disabled. So, that certificate helps. If you are the decent person I know you to be, once you have fully recovered and thrown away your crutches, you should return the certificate and inform the House accordingly.

Yes, Hon. Murugara.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker, for what you did for Hon. Ferdinand Wanyonyi, not once or twice, but on many occasions. I saw you visiting him in India to confirm his health status and wellbeing, and to ensure that he gets the best treatment. That is a good example of servant leadership. You must ensure that the people you serve are well cared for.

I associate myself with the sentiments expressed on Hon. Wanyonyi losing his voice. He needs special care and attention. Everybody knows Hon. Wanyonyi was one of the best debaters in this House. He contributed to debates on Bills and Motions; therefore, he needs to be enabled to continue doing what he does best.

Second, I also join the rest of the country in mourning those young angels of Utumishi Girls Academy who lost their lives. On my behalf and that of the people of Tharaka, I wish to extend my sincere condolences because those girls were innocent angels, but a fire tragedy has caused us intense grief. As we pray that their souls rest in peace, we also pray that we do the best we can as a country to support the parents and the traumatised girls who have been left behind. They require our care and attention so that their lives can return to normalcy.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Members, at Hon. Millie’s request and no doubt on behalf of the Member for Gilgil, Hon. Martha Wangari, who I saw on television in Gilgil trying to assist the families, we shall remain upstanding and observe a minute of silence.

May the souls of those little angels rest in eternal peace, and may those who were injured recover quickly.

Next Order.

Members on their feet, take your seats. I will convey two petitions to the House.

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

Chairperson of the Public Petitions Committee, Hon. Kitayama.

I beg to lay the following Papers on the Table:

Reports of the Public Petitions Committee on its consideration of the following—

I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, notwithstanding the resolution of the House of 11th February 2026, and pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 28

(4)

, this House resolves to alter its Calendar, so as to–

Hon. Junet.

Hon. Speaker, I second.

Hon. Mule and Hon. Naomi Waqo, take the nearest seat.

Put the Question

I confirm that this matter has been approved by the House Business Committee.

Next Order.

Leader of the Majority Party and Chairperson of the Committee on Selection.

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

THAT, notwithstanding the resolutions of the House of Wednesday, 5th March 2025, Thursday, 6th March 2025, Tuesday, 29th July 2025 and Tuesday, 24th February 2026, appointing Members to various Committees and pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 175, this House resolves to—

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to second the Motion. The committee changes were largely occasioned by the two new Members who joined us after the recent by-elections: the Member for Emurua Dikirr and the Member for Isiolo North. There is also the Member for Magarini, who was not properly placed in committees. We will have other changes after the by-election in Ol Kalou Constituency.

With those few remarks, I beg to second.

Members on their feet, take your seats. Member on his feet, talking to Hon. Wamacukuru, take your seat.

Do I put the question?

Put the question.

Next Order.

Let us go back to the Request for Statements.

Hon. Onesmus Ngogoyo, Member for Kajiado North.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security regarding the murder of Rev. Julius Ndumia Ngari, parish minister of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Tabuga Parish, Nakuru East Presbytery.

Reverend Julius Ndumia Ngari was reportedly murdered on the 4th of May 2026, within the PCEA Tabuga Parish in Nakuru North Sub-County, Nakuru County. This heinous and senseless act shocked the nation, the Christian fraternity and the people of Ongata-Rongai, where the late Reverend had been a long-time resident and serving as a minister. He served the community for over 25 years. Such acts of violence against religious leaders are deeply disturbing and unacceptable in a constitutional democracy founded on human dignity, equity and the right to life.

Article 26 of the Constitution guarantees every person the right to life. Article 32 protects the freedom of conscience, religion, belief and opinion. The killing of a clergyman in the line of duty not only violates these constitutional protections but also creates fear and insecurity among religious leaders who continue to serve communities across the country. Many members and clergy now feel unsafe and vulnerable while carrying out their pastoral responsibilities.

It is against this background that I seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security on the following:

Hon. Raso, how soon can you bring a response?

We will respond in two weeks, Hon. Speaker.

Two weeks, so be it. Hon. Members, before I call Hon. Leah Sankaire, allow me to acknowledge the following students in the Speaker's Gallery: P.C.E.A. Kambala School from Molo Constituency, Nakuru County. If you are in the Gallery, when you are called out, you stand up to be acknowledged. PCEA Kambala School, Molo and Apostolic Carmel School from Makadara Constituency, Nairobi County.

Thank you.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Labour regarding the payment of salaries and dues to former employees of East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC)

The East African Portland Cement Company Limited is a limited liability company whose core business is the production of cement under the Blue Triangle brand. The Company had entered into a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) dated 19th December 2014 for the period 2012-2015 with its unionisable employees through the Kenya Commercial and Allied Workers Union. However, the company failed to effect general wage increases to some unionisable employees as per the CBA, resulting in the case between Kenya Chemical and

Allied Workers Union versus the East African Portland Cement Company Limited (ELR Case No. 2119 of 2014).

The court ruled that the East African Portland Company was required to pay salary and allowance arrears to its contract employees, finding that they had been wrongfully excluded from the benefits of the CBA that covered permanent staff. Despite this judgment, the affected former employees have, for several years, been unable to secure enforcement of the decree for payment of the outstanding arrears of Ksh1.3 billion. The affected employees are apprehensive that the recent takeover of the EAPCC by Kalahari Cement, following its 27 per cent stake held by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), may potentially jeopardise their payments.

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

Thank you, Hon. Joyce Kamene. Chairperson of the Departmental

Committee on Labour? Is that Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a’s Committee? Whip of the Majority Party,

I will do so, Hon. Speaker. Thank you.

Member for North Horr, Hon. Adhe Wario.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental

Thank you, Hon. Wario. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Energy. Hon. Mandazi, are you in the Committee?

Yes.

When can you bring a response?

Hon. Speaker, we will bring a response in two weeks.

Woman Representative for Elgeyo Marakwet County, Hon. Caroline Ng’elechei.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms Sheila Chepkorir Tanui, a Kenyan citizen, in Sydney, Australia.

Ms Sheila Chepkorir Tanui, a 25-year-old Kenyan who hails from Elgeyo Marakwet County, died in Sydney, Australia, under unclear circumstances. Her family claims that on the evening of Sunday, 17th May 2026, Australian law enforcement authorities notified them that Ms Sheila Chepkorir had tragically passed away following an incident at her workplace, the Meriton Hotel. Initial reports allege that Ms Sheila fell from the 19th floor to the 4th floor of the hotel building. Regrettably, the family faced significant delays and limited communication from the Australian authorities and her employer whenever they sought clarity on the circumstances of her death, raising suspicion of a possible cover-up of the actual cause of Sheila’s death.

Hon. Speaker, the family’s fears were confirmed on 22nd May 2026 when its representatives observed that the condition of the body preserved at the Lahood Funeral Services in Greenacre was wholly inconsistent with the reported cause of death. Notably, the body had no visible injuries or fractures that would normally be observable on a victim of death by falling from a height of 19th to 4th floor, as claimed. These concerns, together with reported inconsistencies in official accounts, inadequate access to CCTV footage, witness statements and the absence of a transparent investigative process, have left the family and the Kenyan community deeply distressed and without satisfactory answers.

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

Thank you, Hon. Caroline Ng’elechei. Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations? Any Member? Hon. Timothy, can you bring a response?

With your permission, can I ride on that Statement?

Okay. Go ahead.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Are you a Member of the Committee as well?

No.

Okay. Go ahead.

Hon. Speaker, this is a sad incident. Sheila Chepkorir left Kenya on 4th April 2026. Barely two months thereafter, she was found dead in Sydney, Australia. This is a young lady who carried the family's dreams and aspirations. She hails from Marakwet East, and it is unfortunate that so far, there has been no major truth on the cause of Sheila's death.

I call upon the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations and the Kenyan High Commission to conduct thorough investigations and apprise the family of the cause of the death. As the Government, including this House, we have an obligation to protect the lives of our young people. I do not doubt that the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations will take this matter seriously and give us a report, preferably within a week, so that the family can bring this matter to a close.

Thank you.

The Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, how soon can you bring a response? It is about the death of a young Kenyan lady in Australia.

In two weeks, Hon. Speaker. Again, my apologies because we have the delegation from the House of Commons.

Two weeks is okay. Let us now have responses. Is the Member for West Pokot County, Hon. Rael Kasiwai, in the Chamber?

Present.

Hon. Raso, are you ready with this? The response to a Statement of the Status and Jurisdiction of Aroo Sub-County Administrative Unit.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. This is a Statement regarding the boundary dispute between Turkana and West Pokot Counties. Hon. Rael Kasiwai had requested to be informed on the following:

Hon. Kasiwai, you have heard the response.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I appreciate the Vice-Chairperson's answer. However, the Committee needs to visit the area to confirm whether the Act has been fully implemented. As it is, there is still a lot of uncertainty on the boundary. I also propose that the Ministry of Lands fast tracks…

The communities need to undertake their projects and develop their land.

Hon. Kasiwai, are you the Member of Parliament for West Pokot County?

Yes.

The Vice-Chairperson of the Committee has stated that this area is in Turkana. Did you hear him say that?

Yes.

Why, then, do you seek adjudication in a neighbouring county?

This is because of the constant conflict.

Did you hear what he said?

Noted, Hon. Speaker.

He said that the Districts and Provinces Act, which you ought to know, clearly places this area in Turkana. The Ligale Commission of 2010 also affirmed the same. You are a member of the vast West Pokot County, yet you seek adjudication in Turkana.

I am indeed well-versed with the Act.

It is up to you. Maybe you have extra-territorial jurisdiction. Hon. (Dr) Oundo.

Hon. Speaker, the issue of boundary disputes is very interesting. We have one country, Kenya, yet we face boundary disputes. I am not certain who has declared a boundary dispute in Busia County with Sirisia constituency in Bungoma, which we have not. I am sure the Chairperson is aware of this matter. We, the people of Busia, wish to make it extremely clear, with due respect to our colleagues from Bungoma, that Changara Division falls within Busia County.

Hon. (Dr) Oundo, I thought you were joyriding on the issue of Aroo in Turkana and West Pokot.

I am. The issue cuts across. Something is brewing. I have merely highlighted this matter. Some of our colleagues' statements regarding the Changara issue are unfortunate and unacceptable. We must resolve this issue.

The Chairperson of the Committee must consistently pronounce himself on this matter. Those boundaries were established when we delineated the counties in this country, as set out by the Ligale Commission. Nobody raised any concerns then. Why bring this up so late in the day? Because of political expediency, to appear heroic amongst your constituents in light of your dwindling numbers, you now beat the drums of war. Today, we attended the National Breakfast Prayer Meeting, and I thought you all prayed and are now saved. Why, then, are you discussing war? Why do you attend church? Why do you identify as a Christian if you dream of drums of war?

Thank you very much.

Yes, Hon. Raso.

Thank you very much.

Hon. Kirima, do you wish to joyride on this?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. The Chairman and my colleagues have raised the matter, and it affects nearly all parts of Kenya. In my constituency, the entire location has been claimed by my neighbouring constituency. This issue was settled back in 1992 by the Act that established the counties. At the same time, the Ligale Commission pursued the matter through arbitration and called all the parties involved. Since our forefathers had already handled the matter, some of us are trying to portray ourselves as heroes by attempting to seize neighbouring territories under the guise of fighting for their people, yet that is not the truth.

Hon. Speaker, this is something I am experiencing. One of my colleagues here is trying to make himself a hero by creating polling stations, schools, and other institutions within my area.

Which colleague?

The Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, Hon. Murugara.

Order! You are out of order. Hon. Kirima, if you want to discuss the conduct of Hon. Murugara, bring a Motion.

I will, Hon. Speaker.

Yes, Hon. Emaase.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for the opportunity to joyride on this issue of territorial disputes. It is a very serious matter. It is not only between West Pokot and Turkana; you will also find similar disputes between Busia and Bungoma. I want to echo what my colleague, Hon. Oundo, has raised. For instance, in Busia, Bungoma is now claiming Changara is part of Bungoma, yet the Ministry of Lands remains silent on this issue. Historical records and Acts of Parliament show that these areas are gazetted and belong to specific counties. We cannot keep quiet and allow this matter to continue and escalate. So, we…

Hon. Mary Emaase, hold your horses. To be fair to the House, the Area Member of Parliament for Teso North, Hon. Oku Kaunya, filed a matter with the Speaker. I passed it on to the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and they are seized of the matter. So, you are probably anticipating a debate. If you give it time, they will respond, and it will be brought to the House. But you are at liberty to say what you are saying.

I stand guided, Hon. Speaker. I wanted to emphasise the importance and urgency of addressing this issue, which is happening everywhere. In certain counties, there are disputes between constituencies. Matayos constituency is trying to claim part of Teso South, which is in Alupe, but we are trying to solve it. Therefore, the Ministry of Lands and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration should come together and address these disputes so that we can ensure communities that have been living harmoniously for a long time continue to do so.

Yes, Hon. Raso. Hon. Murugara, I have already ruled Hon. Kirima out of order. You do not have to belabour the point.

Thank you very much, Hon. Speaker. I have always discussed with Hon. Kirima that the issue of boundaries is determined by an Act of Parliament known as the Districts and Provinces Act, 1992. So, this issue that keeps arising about whether to grab or not is really non-existent. If you want to know the boundaries of your county, they are exactly as set out in your district as it existed in 1992. So, these are the things

we have. I do not know where this is coming from, because at that time we had locations and sub-locations which used to mark the boundaries between one district and another. The districts were supplanted by counties. So, when he claims that I am creating polling stations and locations, I really wonder where that is coming from.

Hon. Kirima is trying to incite people to go to court so it can determine the boundaries. However, such cases have been dismissed. It has been said that if you want to know a boundary, look at a certain Act of Parliament and the administrative records, because the administrators know where the boundaries are. Therefore, Hon. Kirima, I do not think there will ever be a time when you will change anything. We are all Kenyans, and we are entitled to live wherever we want. We only require a title deed, whether we are in Meru, Tharaka-Nithi, or wherever. But to say….

Hon. Rael’s Question has been adequately answered. She wanted to know where Arror is. We must put the record straight. Most of these boundary issues are largely in the pastoralist areas. Sometimes the pastoralists move around with the boundary, to the extent of displacing others. On the contrary, people from the agrarian parts of this country, such as Bungoma, Busia, Meru, and Tharaka, are settled. I believe it is time for some of those boundaries to be fully stated. To date, there exist two statutes governing boundaries: the Ligale Commission and the District and Provinces Act of 1992. If any Member in this House believes something is not right, they should bring a substantive Motion to the House so that it can be escalated to the Ministry.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Raso. Is Hon. Martin Pepela in the House? Yes, Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure… sorry. Hon. Mark Mwenje, I think I skipped yours, but I will come back to you. Is Hon. Mark Mwenje in the House? Hon. Murugara, are you ready with the response?

Yes, I am. Hon. Speaker. I also hope that Hon. Adhe Wario is here. I wish Hon. Gikaria were here, too. He raised a very urgent matter in a question, and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) answered it alongside the other responses.

Start with Hon. Adhe Wario’s.

It is a combined statement which answers each one of them.

For the two?

Yes, the first two. In fact, it starts with Hon. Gikaria’s really short question. I am going to read to him, and then I will answer the two others as it has been done. Kindly allow me to do an abbreviated version of it. It is a bit long, but it carries everything they want to here.

This is a statement in response to the request by Hon. Mark Mwenje, Member of Parliament for Embakasi West constituency, regarding alleged illegal voter transfer between Nairobi and Garissa counties.

they require any supplementary information, we can invite the IEBC to appear before the Committee so that their supplementaries can be addressed.

Very well, Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. Before I bring Hon. Mwenje, who is very ready to deal with this matter…

I will be bringing you. Before then, let us acknowledge the presence of the following schools in the Speaker’s Gallery: Kapsabet Girls School from Emgwen Constituency, Nandi County and Londiani Girls School from Kipkelion Constituency, Kericho County. I can see the Member is present. Take one minute to appreciate the students.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Are you on a point of order, Hon. Millie?

Let us listen to the Member for Emgwen.

Thank you, Hon. Millie, for allowing me. Again, thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. First, I would like to welcome all the students here, particularly those from Kapsabet Girls High School in Emgwen Constituency. I know it is a rare chance for you to be in this honourable House, so I am just encouraging you. Kapsabet Girls High School is one of the leading schools in Emgwen Constituency.

Great.

I am proud of them because they are very disciplined and hardworking. I encourage all the students here to work hard. Your future is bright. One day, you might be in this honourable House as leaders in the future.

Very well. Hon. Cherorot.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to join my colleague, Hon. Lelmengit, in welcoming both Londiani Girls Secondary School and Kapsabet Girls High School to this august House, where laws are made and passed. Londiani Girls High School is one of the leading schools in my constituency. We have many alumni who have gone through the same school and are doing very well. As Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon we have to change the world. I encourage our students to work hard to prepare for the future. This morning at our National Prayer Breakfast, we had a girl from Kenya High School who spoke so well. She really challenged the President to visit girls' schools as well. According to her, the President has been visiting only boys' schools. I encourage our President to ensure that all our girls in high school are also visited.

I also want to say pole for our girls in Gilgil who lost their lives early this morning. I condole with their families. May God be with you, encourage and comfort you.

Great. You need to be much briefer than that because these are just comments. Let us give Hon. Millie a chance, very briefly.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity. I welcome Kapsabet Girls' High School to the National Assembly as well. One of my cousins, who is like a sister, was a teacher there. Unfortunately, she has since passed on. I also welcome Londiani Girls High School to the House. I pass through Londiani a lot of times on my way to Suba North. To the Member who is worried that a girl from Kenya High School complained to the President today that he is only visiting boys' schools, worry not. I am going to visit all the girls' schools because I will be the President in

Great. I think that is done. We have had enough of that. Let us go to business, Members. Let us get the first bite from Hon. Mwenje.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I have had a chance to listen to the response to my Questions. In my opinion, IEBC’s responses to Questions 2, 3, and 4 are satisfactory. Just before I raise the main issue, I want to say that I have a lot of confidence in the new IEBC. I have confidence in that Chairman. I have confidence in especially one commissioner, Ann Nderitu, and even my returning officer in the constituency. I believe they are doing a good job.

Having said that, to use kind words, the response I got to the first issue was insulting. It makes it look as though I imagined what I raised. I had actually requested the Committee to invite me. They gave me a date of the 26th of this month, which is two days ago. They said that they would invite me when the IEBC were in the Committee, so I could raise these issues of illegal transfers. They are now saying that it cannot happen. If the Chairman had paid attention, we had a Member who was elected the other day in Embu County, which I believe is a neighbouring county, and I am glad he has won his petition. But the whole issue around that petition that forced a recount of votes was because some registrations were done when the IEBC register was closed. Therefore, these issues are happening. There was an exposé done by the NTV. Speaker Muturi gave some evidence. I also did, but I restricted my comments to this House because I did not want to raise this issue.

Let me give the Chairman these names. These are people from Embakasi West: Number one, Christopher Muteru, who lives in Mowlem, is now registered to vote in Ijara, Garissa. When I spoke to the Member of Parliament from Ijara, he told me that the polling centre called Bula AP Dispensary is at the farthest corner of his constituency. Number two, Muiru Mungai transferred to Garissa, Balambala, Danyeri. When I spoke to the Member, he told me this polling centre is very far-flung. Number three, Abraham Kigia transferred to Garissa, Ijara, Bula AP Dispensary. Mind you, these are people I know and who live in my constituency. Another one is Ken Mweni, who was moved to Garissa, Ijara Livestock Market.

How long is the list?

It is a long list. I have stopped.

Proceed, proceed.

Did I imagine these names for them to tell me that it is impossible? I do not want to raise these politics. Why are people from only one community being moved to these areas? This is the issue that I have. If you are moving these names to Murang’a or Kiambu, I would assume maybe they are voting in their ancestral homes. Garissa and Wajir are not their ancestral homes. Therefore, with due respect, let the IEBC not treat this as though I am accusing them. We are not in court. I want to give them this information. In my opinion, a third party is involved and using resources to confuse these young men, who will not get a chance to vote. I have to transfer these individuals back. I have refused to transfer them back so I can give them to the IEBC for interrogation. They will tell the IEBC what they have told me, that there is somebody somewhere. I am not accusing the commissioners or my returning officer, but someone is meddling. Mind you, this issue cuts across. It is in Embakasi North and Embakasi Central. I hope Hon. Mbui was listening to me, because he will also tell you that this issue is there.

Please, Chairman, just call me to a meeting where the IEBC is present, and I will give them the contacts for these people. Let them investigate and find out, so that we can sort out this issue. Otherwise, we are just laying the groundwork for endless election petitions after the 2027 elections.

I can see some interest. Let me just take two. Hon. Oundo, be brief. The first speaker had the leverage.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I want Sir George to listen carefully and convey this message to the IEBC. The integrity of an election is not determined on the day of counting. Allow me to paint a very clear, well-orchestrated scheme being played at the border points. I say so in relation to what Hon. Mwenje has raised. There is currently a program called Rapid Mass Registration that registers people as residents of Kenya and issues them identity cards. That is specifically happening in Teso North and Funyula. Somebody somewhere is transporting non-citizens and non-Kenyans to come and get identity cards. The moment they are given the waiting cards, they are immediately registered as voters in blatant disregard of the procedures. The Constitution of Kenya, in Articles 15 (1) and 15 (2) , says that for any non-Kenyan to be registered as a Kenyan by registration, they must first have been married for 7 continuous years.

Secondly, one must have lived in Kenya for ten consecutive years. In Funyula and Teso North constituencies, we are witnessing a very ugly spectacle. People are coming in lorries and matatus, and those guys cannot speak Swahili, English, or the local dialect. You wonder when they lived in Kenya for seven years. How do they conduct business if they have lived in Kenya for 7 years yet cannot read or write in English, Swahili, or the local dialect? How do they become Kenyan residents? How have they lived in Kenya for 10 years and still cannot read or write?

It might be expedient politically, but the danger we are exposing this country to is going to haunt us for 10 or so years after the people orchestrating it have long left office. It is a dangerous situation, and I hope it cuts across both electoral integrity and the national security of this country. With the fullness of time, I will bring a substantive Question to be answered. I hope nobody will kill it in the bureaucracy they practise in this Parliament.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

No, just bring a Question; it cannot be killed. The business here must be undertaken. I can see Hon. Wandeto. Very briefly, and then we go back to the Chairperson.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for the opportunity. The issue of our electoral integrity is very important. This country has even gone through very difficult times because of questions about our electoral integrity. As we speak, I think the ODM Party, of which Hon. Millie is a Member, is still waiting for servers from the last election to be opened. Electoral justice is a big thing.

When we hear of voters being transferred against their wishes or finding themselves registered where they did not wish to be, it is an issue that requires a thorough investigation. We do not want these sorts of casual responses coming from committees. We would like a thorough investigation, including those voters being called to appear before the Committee and to present the evidence they allude to. The 2027 election will be very consequential in this country. Already, some advances are being made by leaders or some Members of this House. Some have said that even if their candidate of choice does not win, they will still force him to win the vote. Maybe we are wondering whether this thing of moving, especially members of a certain community from where they voted, could be part of the voter suppression which is being organised.

Many people have come out clearly saying they will steal the election. These are very serious early warning signs. I hope the relevant committees can take this matter very seriously and not give casual responses in this House. Indeed, this could be a plot to steal the 2027 General Election. There are many, many signs coming out that indeed all is not well.

Chairperson. Order.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I start with Hon. Wandeto. If you ask a Question that appears casual on the face of it, you will get a casual answer. This is the reason lawyers would always give what is known as particularisation of a question, or giving full and sufficient particulars, so that you are able to receive a sufficient answer. Allegations made at funerals, harambees, and what have you are just allegations. They have no particulars. They do not have anything else.

That takes me to the joyriding by Hon. (Dr) Oundo. Here, we are dealing with voter registration, not registration of persons to receive IDs. Again, the way you are stating it is equally casual. You are saying that there are people coming there in lorries. They can neither speak Swahili nor Luhya, nor anything else. It borders on criminality. These are criminal elements committing crimes, yet you have not made a report. You need to go to the authorities and make a report, so that these matters are investigated. Provide particulars. You cannot just go there and say that last night you were told some lorry was seen somewhere ferrying people. Nobody will take you seriously.

Let me go to Hon. Mwenje. Hon. Mwenje, you have read out names, which should have been in your Statement. That is the reason you are complaining that there has been no investigation. Had you given those names in your request, you would now have answers about what your constituents, who belong to a certain ethnic community, did to end up where they are, if that is true. The way to cure it is to write a letter to the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs with those names, IDs and other particulars. Then we invite the IEBC to appear before us. You may be surprised to learn that, through the process I have described here, your constituents actually appeared before a registration officer, expressed their intention to go to Balambala or wherever they wanted to go, and that due process was followed, and they were moved.

How that happened, you say, somebody somewhere is inducing them. Let us have particulars of that particular somebody somewhere who is inducing them, who is committing

an offence, yet you are not complaining about it because you are not allowed to do so. However, if the inducement is done elsewhere, we do not know where, and one fine morning, a young man by the name you have given, Mwangi or Kamau, or whoever, appears before a registration officer voluntarily, out of his own free will, and says, “I want to be moved to Balambala.” The reasons, he states, whatever the reasons, he is now shifting base from your constituency to Garissa or wherever, and the registration officer is convinced that the application has merit. Believe you me, the IEBC will act on it.

Let us get full particulars. I assure you that we will have the IEBC coming over, and they will give a response. Thank you very much, because, at least, you have confidence in some of the commissioners. In fact, it is not just Ann Nderitu, all of them are determined to deliver to this country a free, fair, credible and justifiable election. Those allegations of rigging are wishful thinking by whoever is thinking that way. We want an election that is going to be believable to everybody, because an election is held at a polling station. That is going to be what we take forward. This House must also fund the IEBC. I have made that plea before, that if the IEBC is not properly funded, then you will hear cries and whinging, because it may not be able to do its work timeously.

Thank you, Chairperson. Your strength in that area has been the specifics, because this is a House of rules and order. Honourable Members, you can bring substantive questions, and they are dealt with using specifics. Hon. Mwenje did very well in terms of the names. I want to guide that when you invite the IEBC, it is not bad to invite Hon. Mwenje, because he is a Member of Parliament, and he can execute all these things right there, and by the time you come back here, it will be very, very well done.

What is it, Honourable Member? I have closed that matter.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Mine was just a request. Instead of Hon. Mwenje going to the Committee, the Chairperson should invite the IEBC to this House, because the question is cutting across all the constituencies.

Check on the people who need to come to the House. We have our Standing Orders, which guide us on who can be called here. Let us move to the next business. Is Hon. Martin Pepela in the House? If so, do we have the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure? Yes, I can see him there. You have a matter to execute. Hon. Members, allow the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure to execute this matter.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. On 12th March 2026, the Member for Webuye East, Hon. Wanyonyi Martin Pepela, requested a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding a tragic road accident along the Webuye-Kitale Road. I will just go straight to the responses.

The Member sought to obtain a report on any safety audit conducted on the road at Malaba Junction along the Webuye - Kitale Road, and if so, whether the area has been officially designated as an accident black spot. Following the accident, the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) reviewed the available crash data for the Malaba Junction along Webuye-

Kitale Road, while also taking into consideration the alignment of the road at that particular section that includes the climbing lane. The review indicated that the section does not qualify as an accident black spot.

Secondly, the Member sought to establish the measures being undertaken by KeNHA to enhance safety at the junction, including the installation of properly designed and clearly marked speed bumps, adequate road signage, clear road markings, reflective stands, and any other appropriate road safety interventions and timelines for the completion of the installation of those road safety measures. The Ministry of Roads and Transport stated that the previously installed road signs at the section have been vandalised severally despite sensitisation efforts by the Authority to deter the vice. The KeNHA has initiated additional urgent road safety measures at the Malaba Junction through the Performance Based Contract (PBC), including:

Very well. Proceed, Hon. Chairman. Is Hon. Ahmed Hassan in the House? He is not in. I would have asked you to proceed with the second response, since they are on the same subject. Let us have Hon. Pepela.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. First, I want to thank my friend, the Chairperson, for this response. However, I also want to raise a couple of issues. We have lost many people at this spot. Categorising an area as an accident black spot depends on the frequency of accidents that occur. We lost around 15 people, and we continue to lose more. I do not understand the parameters that were used to claim that this area is not a black spot. I challenge the Chairman to revisit their position and categorise this area as a black spot because we continue to lose many people.

Regarding the second response, in terms of the steps the Ministry has taken, I appreciate the efforts to re-mark the road and install warning signs. However, I had requested a comprehensive plan and measures to install warning signs and speed bumps, which have not been done. I challenge the Chairperson to move beyond the current steps and come up with comprehensive measures to reduce the number of accidents at this spot.

As far as the dualling of this road is concerned, I expected the Ministry to tell us that, if they are not ready to dual this road, they should at least plan to widen it, as its narrowness contributes to accidents. It is not fair for the Ministry to say it will not dual the road due to budget constraints. The House recently passed the National Infrastructure Fund, which can be used to widen this road.

Finally, I appreciate the Ministry condoling with the families that lost their loved ones. But that is not enough. I expected the Ministry to tell us that, beyond condoling with the families, they have taken steps to liaise with the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to conduct...

Order, Hon. Member. You are digressing. We dealt with this matter when the substantive Speaker was here. You have an opportunity to table a Special Motion next week, specifically to deal with that matter. I will support you as a teacher. So, please, confine yourself to the business before the House.

Yes, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I know that the Government is one of collective responsibility. Matters handled by one Ministry do not prevent that Ministry from liaising with another to develop a comprehensive response.

In conclusion, I expect the two ministries to work closely to thoroughly investigate the matter so that those families are compensated for their loss.

Let us have the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I have listened to my colleague. We will work together to ensure that the issues he has raised are addressed.

Very well. Is the Leader of the Majority Party in the House for his Statement? Maybe we shall still give him a chance to give the Thursday Statement when he comes in.

Here he is walking in. He must be more than ready. Let us get the Thursday Statement by the Leader of the Majority Party.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. My apologies. I was running down from the office.

Order, Leader of the Majority Party, just one minute as you settle down. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, you can bring the answers you had to the Clerks-at-the-Table because the Member of Banissa is not in the House. We can now invite the Leader of the Majority Party to proceed with his Statement.

Pursuant to 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, 26th May 2026, to prioritise business for consideration during the week and the business coming before the House in the following week.

Allow me first to officially welcome Members back from the short recess and further appreciate the leadership of the House and all Members for the dedication and cooperation exhibited so far. I look forward to the same dedication in this session after recess and in the very busy budget-making process, which is well on course. I thank the Members who took time during the working recess to consider the Budget Estimates tabled before the House on the last Thursday before the recess.

With regard to business scheduled for Tuesday next week, the House is expected to continue with consideration of the following Bills at various stages, some of which are listed in today’s Order Paper—

Very well. Next Order.

Next Order by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Before I can go to the Motion, allow me also to welcome all the students who have visited us and are seated in the Speaker’s Gallery. Amongst them are my two sons, Barchok Koech and Kipkalya Koech, and their friend, Negus. The two decided to come here today to see what we transact on the Floor of this House. For the knowledge of the House, their grandfather, the late Hon. Kipkalya Kones, was a four-term Member of Parliament. He was also in this House. Their grandmother, Hon. Beatrice Kones, was a Member of this House. She served for two terms.

I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations in its Report on the approval hearing of a nominee for appointment as High Commissioner to Ottawa, Canada, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 26th May 2026,

and pursuant to the provisions of Article 132(2)(e) of the Constitution, Section 20(2) of the Foreign Service Act (Cap. 185E) and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F), this House approves the appointment of Mr Humphrey Mulongo Wattanga, EBS as High Commissioner to Ottawa, Canada. In the exercise of this mandate under Standing Order 216, the Committee conducted the approval hearing of the nominee on Thursday, 14th May 2026, and subjected him to a rigorous voting process that included public participation and integrity verification by all relevant statutory bodies. The nominee was found to be compliant with the constitutional and statutory requirements, including Chapter 6 on leadership and integrity.

The Committee examined the nominee’s academic background. I must say he is very experienced and professional, with much experience and performance. During that approval hearing, we examined that the nominee possesses exceptional academic credentials, having studied at Harvard University and at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. I must mention that Mr Wattanga is an accomplished academician. In fact, he had been selected to study veterinary medicine at the University of Nairobi, but received a scholarship to the prestigious Harvard University, where he studied.

He also demonstrated extensive leadership and institutional management experience through his service as Commissioner-General at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), as Vice-Chairperson of the Commission on Revenue Allocation before that, and in various investment advisory and corporate finance roles he has held both locally and internationally.

The Committee further noted that the nominee demonstrated substantial understanding of public finance management, revenue administration, economic diplomacy, investment promotion, and international partnerships. During the approval hearing, he articulated a vision to leverage Kenya's strategic geographic position and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to position Kenya as a gateway for Canadian investment into East Africa and wider African markets.

Points to note which the Committee, after they invited him to appear, were convinced are as follows. The nominee had requested the rescheduling of the approval hearing. On this, I want to mention, particularly to all nominees that appear before Parliament, that they should not take for granted an invitation to appear before a Committee of this House. Sometimes they want to push the appearance, date, and that is expensive. First of all, having the nominees requires communication in the newspapers, and it costs about half a million to have such communication in the newspapers. It costs the taxpayer a lot of money. Nominees should take an invitation from this House for vetting very, very seriously.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, he requested a rescheduling of his appearance. While the Committee acknowledged the importance of continuity in public institutions, as he had requested, he was handing over his duties at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). Members expressed concern regarding the unprecedented nature of the request by a presidential nominee. The nominee's explanation was considered unsatisfactory by the Committee, particularly given the strategic importance and urgency ordinarily associated with presidential diplomatic appointments. Even as we discuss this, and I am sure it is going to come into the debate, it is important that we pursue a Motion that Hon. Ngusya CNN is bringing to this House, which has come before my Committee. It looks at those that are going to be picked to diplomatic appointments, and they should be considered on a ratio of 70:30. That is what his proposal is saying. I think this is important because it is not fair sometimes when a nominee is given an

opportunity by the Head of State. There are diplomats who have been waiting for such a position, and they will take the next minute to come for vetting, yet you have someone who has been given an opportunity, and he asks Parliament to reschedule his appearance before the Committee.

Nonetheless, we were convinced by his excuse, even though with so many question marks. Although the nominee demonstrated an understanding of bilateral economic relations and international engagement, the Committee observed that, to effectively discharge the responsibilities of High Commissioner, the nominee will require structured orientation and capacity-building in diplomatic practice, which is normally provided in foreign policy implementation and protocol affairs. The Committee also observed that the nominee exhibited composure, confidence and strong analytical capacity during the approval hearing. His exposure to international finance, multilateral engagement, investment negotiations and cross-border partnerships provides a useful foundation for strengthening diplomatic competencies.

In conclusion, Hon. Temporary Speaker, the Committee identified no constitutional or statutory impediment to the appointment of the nominee. The nominee satisfied the requirements relating to citizenship, integrity, professionalism, competence and suitability for State offices contemplated under the Constitution and the Foreign Service Act. Accordingly, the Committee recommended that this House approve the appointment of Mr Humphrey Mulongo Wattanga, EBS, as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to Ottawa, Canada.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I want to beg the gracious lady, the formidable Deputy Leader of the Minority, Honourable Millie Mabona, to second this Motion.

Thank you.

Sorry, Deputy Minority Party Whip, but she is running for President in 2032. So, I am just preparing her psychologically.

Yes, thank you, and thank you for noting that. Currently, I am the Minority Chief Whip. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Before I second, let me take this opportunity to welcome students from Moi Girls. I think they were called Highlands in the past. It is a school that has produced great women in this country, including Mama Ida Odinga, a great friend of mine. This is how we do business in the House, and when you see women in this House, I want you to know that, now that you see very many of us here, it has not always been like that. When I joined Parliament 17 years ago, we were only 17 women, so we hope that by the time you get here, you will be more than 100 women. I also welcome the family of Hon. Koech. You are doing a good thing because it is important for our families to be acquainted with the kind of work that we do.

I served with the late Hon. Kipkalya Kones and Hon. Beatrice Kones. I now serve with Hon. Koech, who is my Chairman in the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. Hon. Koech, you will become a clog in the President’s campaign because you are now a dynasty when you are not supposed to be one. Now that your wife is also running, you qualify as a dynasty.

Having said that, Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to second the Motion on the consideration of Mr Humphrey Mulongo Wattanga, EBS, for appointment as High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to Ottawa, Canada. The Committee undertook the approval hearing of the nominee on Thursday, 14th May 2026, in accordance with the

Constitution, the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, the Foreign Service Act and the Standing Orders of this House.

The Committee confirmed that the nominee satisfied the constitutional and statutory requirements for appointment to State office, having been duly cleared by all relevant statutory bodies in the country. The Committee further notes that the nominee possesses exceptional academic and professional credentials, having studied at the famous Harvard University. I wish the Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Ichung’wah, were listening, because he likes bragging about the Alliance High School. Now we have someone here from Harvard University, including Hon. Caroli, who attended Harvard. I also went to New York University, so do not boast too much in front of me.

Hon. Millie, both you and the Chair have spoken on the rescheduling of the nominee's appearance. That is a matter you may escalate to the Speaker, as all these processes are carried out in accordance with the Standing Orders, the Constitution, and the laws of this country. Such a rescheduling can carry serious implications. Therefore, I ask the Chairperson to escalate the matter accordingly.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As I rise to congratulate Mr Humphrey Wattanga, I also wish to make brief comments, especially on foreign policy.

Before that, Hon. Temporary Speaker, allow me to send my most sincere condolences to the families affected by the tragic fire at Utumishi Girls Academy. The incident has shaken the nation. We stand in solidarity with all affected families during this difficult and unfortunate moment. We also send a quick recovery message to all learners currently hospitalised in various areas. We are with them in our thoughts and prayers.

I also welcome all the learners present today. I commend them for finding time to come and see how we conduct our business here in Parliament. I also wish them all the best in their aspirations. I am sure a majority of them want to occupy these positions. We wish them all the best as they go through school. Let them know that as they go through school, they have a blank sheet of paper where they can write anything they want to become. Because age is on their side, they can become anything they aspire to be. I urge them to start early, lead clubs, and participate in school activities to hone their abilities, so that they continue to develop themselves.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, as we go to the agenda of the day, it is important that that we give due weight and consideration to our country's foreign policy. A country’s or a State’s self-interest is embedded in its foreign policy. Kenya, being a developing country, should primarily focus on trade, investments and production. Whatever we do to safeguard our national interests should always bear fruit for Kenyans. Economically, those benefits can only be realised if we truly embed our internal and foreign policies in ways and channels that spur investment, production, and economic expansion.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, because we are clear-minded on the current state of our country, looking at the data between Kenya and Canada, it is evident that trade between the two countries is almost equal. It is also marginal when we look at the comparative nature of what we do with other economies. We are talking about around Ksh20 billion in trade. More importantly, what do we trade with Canada? Looking deeper, Kenya’s exports to Canada are mainly coffee, tea and apparel. What we export to Canada is what would pass in terms of the calculation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) using the production formula as primary production. What Kenya exports to Canada is mainly in raw or primary form.

Kenya imports machinery, especially aircraft, from Canada. There is a point I am trying to make. If you look at how Canada grew - because it is way ahead of us in terms of GDP per capita - and the other countries that have grown, it is very difficult for a country to thrive on the basis of primary production. Therefore, as we debate foreign policy and the officers we second to our foreign missions, we should reflect on the need to make our economy more complex. Primary production is good. I am not talking about substituting, but increasing some level of complexity. As we trade using our primary production goods, we should continue to make our economy grow into other, more productive areas. In terms of production, the more you embed technology, the more productive you become and produce a high-quality product.

As we consider these scenarios, it is important to identify ways to add value to whatever we trade with Canada. We should also go further by making decisions that will make our economy much more complex and produce more complex commodities embedded with

technology, so we can earn much more. If you measure the volume we export and import, the balance of payment is almost the same. However, whatever we import is quite small in volume because it is technology-intensive.

Having said that, we also have to look at what we need now, even as we discuss the medium- and long-term plans I mentioned. As we try to make our economy complex, we can do something to increase the products that we trade with Canada. Look at our current situation. What are we selling more to the world? Number one is coffee, tea and floriculture. We also have tourism, in terms of service. I hope we can always do this as a country. As we send Kenyans to represent us in various missions, their target should be very clear. What we, as a country, need is to increase our trade volumes and trade worth, in terms of the amount that we earn.

As we send these Kenyans to represent us on various missions, they must have a target of identifying markets for Kenyan commodities. One of the missions and targets any person working for Kenya in any mission abroad must have is the amount of trade they bring in for our country.

Secondly, in terms of marketing our country, if you look at tourism numbers, Kenya is still too low despite the measures that have been undertaken. There are cases that show that if we get the right people to market our country, we can earn much more in tourism numbers. Even with the marginal increase we have had, we can do more. A country like Albania attracted 1 to 2 million visitors in the last decade. Through deliberate policies to grow tourism, Albania increased its tourism numbers within a very short time to over 14 million visitors. This is a country that is quite small compared to Kenya and is not as endowed as Kenya when it comes to tourism capabilities and what we can sell. Therefore, there are many things we can do with the capacity we have as a country, especially in marketing Kenya as the right place.

The other thing is about diaspora management. Currently, as we know, most of what we receive in Kenya is remittances. However, we must never confuse remittances with foreign direct investment (FDI) because we must pursue both. Whereas remittances are consumerism-driven, FDI is investment-intensive. It is time we also became creative in how we can make our remittances become more of FDI for investments, rather than only tokens for consumption that are sent back home.

As I conclude, I have seen a very robust curriculum vitae of Mr Wattanga. He was an officer in KRA. We have seen a lot of turnover at KRA.

We are adding one minute to you.

I was just trying to say that Mr Wattanga is an accomplished officer. As we know, he was removed from KRA. It is clear, as we always see, that we never give Kenyan professionals an opportunity to serve. I challenge all the senior people in Government, when we get these kinds of accomplished Kenyans and give them responsibility, it is not us leaders who should be advising our advisors. We should let the accomplished and competent do their work, rather than the mentality that we can do everything as leaders simply because we occupy high positions. We should give these kinds of Kenyans an opportunity to serve our nation, because they also mean well.

I thank you, and I hope we can also look at the welfare of Kenyans who work in our diplomatic missions and improve it. I submit.

Thank you. Is the Member in order to allude to the fact that we are the ones advising the Government? They are the ones advising, not us. They are experts. Anyway, I am in the Broad-Based Government, and it is a

mongrel arrangement, so I am somehow in Government. I am also Minority Whip, but I am also in Government, so I am sitting on the fence. I am in the opposition, am I not? I mean, minority.

In the minority.

Yes. Otherwise, it would have been changed to 'Majority Chief Whip,' but I am still the Minority Chief Whip. So, if I am fully, completely and absolutely inside, my title should change. But because it has not changed, I am a mongrel. Because of that, I am defending the Government even as you are very happy. I want to challenge the Member who says it is the Government advising experts. Has he not seen the way Hon. Mbadi is busy advising the Government on the streets, on air, at sea and on land? Hon. Mbadi is seriously advising the Government.

Very well. We shall proceed. That is banter and canter we allow in Parliament at any time.

Hon. Ndindi, I had added you one minute, and you did well. Let us hear Hon. (Dr) Oundo, who has been waiting; he is also a very good economist.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity you have given me to lend a word in the consideration of a nominee for appointment as High Commissioner to Canada, a Motion moved by the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations. Before I proceed, I find it very weird; let me use the word very ‘weird, for Hon. Millie Odhiambo, you can even see the struggle in her voice trying to defend the Government.

probably have made very good accountants general at the National Treasury to send them to a country where the bilateral relationship is a backwater. We do not have much to do with Canada. It might be a big economy, but they do not think Kenya is worth anything.

Just a quick Google search, and the volume of trade between Kenya and Canada is a mere US$110 million. Yet, the only things we take to Canada are coffee, tea, live plants, cuttings, and apparel. What we earn there is less than US$ 66 million, honestly speaking. And then we are taking such a decorated officer to go, waste time, and rot there. Sometimes decisions made in this country are very disappointing and frustrating. I know if he had declined to take up the posting, as many others have done before him, he would have been called all sorts of names by our colleagues here. As he goes out there…

Order, Hon. (Dr) Oundo. The Leader of the Majority Party has a point of order.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, you know Hon. (Dr) Oundo is a very good debater, and usually he has a lot of substance, but is he in order to be insinuating that there are Members in this House who attack nominees for no apparent reason? He just said that if this nominee had declined the appointment, and the nominee has not indicated he is declining, neither can Hon. (Dr) Oundo adduce any evidence to substantiate his statement. He has just insinuated that the nominee declined the appointment, yet the nominee has not indicated any intention to. Hon. Oundo has not adduced any evidence to substantiate his claim. It is not good to disparage Members by suggesting that some are attacking the nominees. A person is aware that they have been nominated, even before their name is tabled in the House. I have never heard any Member insulting a nominee.

Therefore, I would like to benefit from Hon. Oundo’s knowledge of any Member who has ever insulted a nominee. It will bring the House into disrepute if we appear to attack nominees who are merely nominees and nothing more.

Hon. Oundo, before you pick up from where you left, allow me to acknowledge the presence of students from Githunguri Girls High School in Kandara Constituency, Murang’a County, who are seated in the Public Gallery. On behalf of the House, I welcome the students to Parliament.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I was very careful with my words. I did not mention any Member in a manner that would warrant a substantive Motion. I have been very clear. This is my Second Term in this House. Luckily enough, I had read many books before coming here. Therefore, I am very careful with what I say.

Allow me to offer unsolicited advice to the new High Commissioner to Canada. There is very little we can do to improve trade relations and volumes between Kenya and Canada. There is nothing we can produce that Canada requires, apart from coffee, tea and a few other products. Even our apparel exports, other than those produced in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) , are not original brands. Therefore, I advise him to focus on two things once he gets there. First, he should focus on labour mobility. Countries in the Western Hemisphere have ageing populations and lack sufficient technical and general labour. Can he work hard to conclude the ongoing discussions on the labour mobility agreement between Kenya and

Canada so that our idle and jobless youths can get opportunities? The current Government promised them that jobs would flow like manna from heaven when it was sworn in. However, our unemployment levels are among the highest in the world.

Secondly, I advise him to focus on tourism. Canada is a rich country, and its citizens travel a lot for holidays. For some of us, like you and me, Hon. Temporary Speaker, because of the challenges in our constituencies and villages, the furthest we can go for holidays is Mombasa or Acacia in Kisumu. About two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit Morocco during a World Scout Parliamentary Union (WSPU) function. I was informed that Morocco receives about 20 million tourists annually, yet its coastline is relatively short, and it does not have a variety of tourist attractions. Egypt receives about 19 million tourists, largely because of the pyramids, while Kenya receives about 7.9 million visitors. Surprisingly, 2.7 million of them are foreign tourists. You can see how badly we are performing and the opportunities we are losing through our diplomatic missions. We send demoralised individuals who simply go there, hoping to return one day.

In conclusion, allow me to also join my colleagues in welcoming the students and learners who continue to visit the National Assembly to observe our Proceedings. This is what we do here: we debate, interject with one another intellectually, and do not become emotional. That is what we are supposed to do. When you debate outside there, do so maturely and objectively without getting carried away by emotions.

As I conclude, I wish him well. When I go to Canada, I will visit him and see how he is faring, as he represents Kenya.

Hon. Gathoni Wamuchomba.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for clarifying the name of the school that has visited. I represent the great Githunguri Constituency, and the names Githunguri and Kandara are a bit confusing. Nevertheless, I am happy to hear that the name Githunguri is spreading from Kiambu to Murang’a and other counties. No wonder they elected a great woman like me. I am here to convince this House that the nominee we have for Canada is the right one. I listened to my very good brother, Hon. Ndindi Nyoro from Kiharu, giving us tabulated data on how imbalanced the balance of trade is between Kenya and many countries. That is true. Our balance of trade with China, Canada, and Japan is not balanced. We can only balance it by sending our very best there, the best from the cream of the best. Therefore, even though the nominee has not proved to us that he has engaged in such activity in the past, his credentials indicate that he is the person who will ensure that the balance of trade between our country and Canada is addressed.

I am very excited because we thought it could not be done, but it has finally been actualised. The bridge between Kenya and China has been met by the recent historical trade benefit bridge, which was worth over US$4 billion. I am very excited about the kind of work that has been done by the representation that was sent to China. If the trade imbalance between Kenya and China has been corrected, we are sending the best of the best to also correct our trade imbalance with Canada. It is good to appreciate that our representatives in China have decided to introduce new packages that will provide good platforms for our farmers in tea, coffee, avocado, and macadamia nuts, so they can export duty-free to China. If that has been done in China, then papers are good. He can learn from the best. He can benchmark with his colleagues in China who have created an opening for our farmers. He can do so on our behalf with Canada. I, therefore, support the nominee.

Thank you.

Hon. Robert Basil.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. At the outset, allow me to extend my condolences to the bereaved families of Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil. It is sad to lose many young people who are so optimistic about life. Today, we are mourning them.

I support the Motion for the nomination of Mr Humphrey Mulongo. I want to disagree with my brother, Hon. Oundo, that he will be whining in Canada. I do not think so. When you look at the task ahead of him, one of them is to promote Kenya abroad. By promoting Kenya abroad…

Order, Hon. Member! Just go back and do the correct thing. You are now a seasoned Member of this house.

Proceed, Hon. Basil.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the specific role of Mr Mulongo is to champion Kenyan exports to Canada. I was extremely perturbed to hear that Kenya is earning almost nothing from exports to Canada. If I may make reference to the 2024 statistics, Kenya exported goods worth US$19.7 million and imported goods worth US$131.8 million. Canada imported goods worth US$58 million in 2024. That tells you that Mr Humphrey has some work to do. He needs to put more energy into promoting Kenya’s exports to Canada.

Importantly, Kenya is grappling with unemployment. Mr Humphrey can negotiate foreign investment deals right here in Kenya. I want to borrow a leaf from what happened in the United States of America (USA) . The USA has attracted foreign investors from China and many other countries. Kenya can do the same if we make it easier to do business here. Mr Humphrey can champion foreign investment from Canada to help open industries right here in Kenya if we create an enabling business environment for these investors to establish businesses.

Additionally, Mr Humphrey needs to build bilateral relations between Canada and Kenya. He can actually negotiate for visa-free movement of persons from Kenya to Canada. It has happened in other countries. Mr Humphrey should do that homework while in Canada. When I lived in the United States of America, there were situations of double taxation. In this case, Mr Humphrey needs to negotiate on double taxation agreements between Kenya and Canada. He has solid experience in taxation. That is why I disagree with Hon. Oundo when he says that the guy is not fit for this job. He does.

He also plays an important role in supporting Kenyan citizens living in Canada. Based on that duty, I also want to underscore some of Mr Humphrey’s notable achievements that I think would align with the responsibilities ahead of him. One of his notable achievements is the digitisation of the tax system at the Kenya Revenue Authority. He also brought institutional reforms to KRA and expanded the tax and compliance base. These notable achievements actually align with the assignment ahead of him. Of course, experience is acquired through work. Therefore, I am sure he will do well if given the opportunity.

Mr Humphrey is academically experienced in public finance, with qualifications closely aligned with foreign policy and the job he is supposed to do.

With the few remarks, allow me to congratulate him in advance. We look forward to seeing him register some remarkable achievements just as he did as a Commissioner-General of KRA.

I submit. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. John Gitonga.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As I make my contribution, I convey my condolences to the families that have lost their young ones in Utumishi Girls Academy. I also wish them a quick recovery to the children who are still in hospitals. On this difficult day, I offer my condolences to families facing a difficult time. It is incomprehensible to imagine losing a loved one, particularly a young person who is still in school. In the same breath, I also call upon this House to expedite the final passage of the National Disaster Risk Management Bill, which is currently under mediation. This Bill seeks to ensure that we have disaster management equipment free of tax, along with other essential provisions.

On a point of information, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Gitonga, there is a point of information from the Leader of the Majority Party.

I am open to being informed.

Proceed, Leader of the Majority Party.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Just to inform the Member for Manyatta that the National Disaster Management Bill, which I sponsored back in 2023, has completed mediation and will be assented to tomorrow morning.

Thank you for the information. While that is good news, I must emphasise the need to expedite the matter because a national disaster is something that cannot be anticipated. Nevertheless, preparedness is what this House must focus on. Similar to Canada, which has significantly increased its budget for disaster risk management since 2023 to ensure mitigation measures are in place for such events, we need to take proactive steps as well. Furthermore, as we discuss and congratulate Mr Humphrey, whom I have known from his time at KRA, it is important to discuss our foreign policy. I agree with previous speakers regarding the necessity for Mr Humphrey to enhance trade relations between Canada and Kenya. We should explore avenues to ensure that our agricultural produce reaches Canada with added value, thereby improving our trade.

Today, I woke up to news of an agreement concerning the quarantine of Ebola victims from countries such as the United States of America to Kenya. I find myself questioning such significant arrangements, given our current challenges in disaster and risk management, including basic measures like disease screening at our airports. It is concerning that while we face these difficulties, Kenya has voluntarily agreed to quarantine Ebola victims, a disease that can spread like wildfire. For example, if a patient is quarantined at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and a cleaner from Kibera interacts with them, the country could lose many people. Statistics indicate that nearly 80 to 90 per cent of Ebola patients do not survive. As a country and a House, we must reject this arrangement in the strongest terms.

This situation also raises questions about our preparedness. While we strive to maintain good relations with our brothers and sisters in the Western world, we cannot be doing the most.

We have just had a crisis involving our police officers going all the way to Haiti and ended up footing the bills in a very unfair way.

As we enhance our engagement with Canada, one of the things I like about the country is the fact that it is a superpower; yet you will not find it pushing or bullying such issues onto a developing country like ours. I wonder what informed the Ministry of Health and the President to try to place Kenya in such a big and significant risk.

I have read Mr Humphrey’s curriculum vitae, and I believe he is a man who has done good work at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). He should leave with his well-filled book, with what he is expected to achieve, as he moves to Canada to enhance our relations.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I support.

Mover.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I thank Hon. Members for their comments. Allow me to profusely apologise to my dependable Member, Hon. Millie, for referring to her as the Deputy Minority Leader instead of the substantive Whip of the Minority Party. She is a very useful Member of my Committee, and I appreciate her contribution today and always.

I also want to thank the Members, including those on my Committee. We undertook this exercise during the recess. While the rest of the Members were on recess, we were seated, undertaking this process. I also thank the staff of my Committee and the Hon. Members for their useful contributions. I hope Mr Wattanga will be considered and approved by this House.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to reply.

Very well.

Next Order.

Leader of the Majority Party.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 17 of 2025) be now read a Second Time. It is a very short Bill. It seeks to repeal Sections 191 (a) , (b) , (c) ,

Order, Hon. Millie and the Leader of the Majority Party. Proceed procedurally.

Allow me to take that again so that Hon. Millie may understand. It is an Amendment Bill that seeks to amend the Public Finance Management Act by repealing Sections 191 (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) , and (e) , which mandated the National Treasury to enter into stand-alone intergovernmental agreements for every conditional allocation received by counties. This created some sort of bureaucratic duplication because, before the National Treasury signs these intergovernmental agreements with counties, counties would have already signed the county participatory agreements, intergovernmental participation and partnership agreements with individual line ministries. The process, therefore, became a duplication. This duplication has created excessive bureaucracy, slowing the implementation of projects at the county government level. That is why every time we pass the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill, at the end of the Financial Year, counties complain that they have not expended the monies allocated under the County Governments Additional Allocations Act after the bill is passed. This is because they are forced to sign new agreements with the National Treasury, which must again go through the entire public participation process, even though they did so earlier. They must also undergo approval from the county assembly. This bureaucracy has hindered the effective and efficient implementation of projects at the county government level. This Bill therefore seeks to support devolution and ensure the proper utilisation of the resources allocated to counties under the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, as I stated earlier, this is a very short Bill. The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning conducted extensive public participation and engaged a number of stakeholders. Those who read the Report tabled some time back by Hon. Kimani Kuria will note that, through public participation engagements, all the stakeholders, including the Council of Governors, Commission on Revenue Allocation, National Treasury and individual members of the public, strongly supported this Amendment Bill because it enhances the efficiency with which projects are implemented at the county level.

The quicker the projects are implemented at the county level, the more services and goods reach the people. Whether they are conditional allocations that touch on healthcare or water, these are issues that are very sensitive to the people who are being served at the county level of government. All the stakeholders supported this amendment. In the Report, I do not see any concerns raised by members of the public or other stakeholders regarding the repeal of these particular Sections.

If you look at Clauses 4, 5 and 6, which repeal Sections 191C, D and E, they provide for the dissolution of the secondary procedural requirements for gazettement, Senate submissions and specific Controller of Budget funding requisitions linked to these repetitive agreements. As I mentioned, the bureaucratic and repetitive work at the county assembly level required the same agreements to undergo procedural gazettal and Senate submissions repeatedly. The entire process had to be repeated. Therefore, implementing these conditional allocations to county governments becomes too cumbersome.

As I conclude, I assure this House and the country that any changes to the PFM Act do not interfere with or undermine the oversight roles, mechanisms, or any constitutional safeguards that have been put in place. The oversight roles of the county assemblies, the Senate, this House, and the constitutional safeguards established by law are being compromised by these changes. Even in relation to the Controller of Budget, those safeguards will remain because all annual county government additional allocations will continue to be regulated, and the Controller of Budget will retain full oversight over all these funds. Therefore, no amount

of money, be it directly allocated under the Division of Revenue Act or received through additional conditional allocations, can be withdrawn from the County Revenue Fund under Article 228 of the Constitution without the explicit approval of the Controller of Budget.

That is why I said that no constitutional safeguard regarding the workings of the Office of the Controller of Budget is being compromised in any way. On the oversight role, the county assemblies will have to approve. They will engage in public participation on the Intergovernmental Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (IPCAs) signed by the line ministries. The only thing that we are removing is the duplication at the National Treasury level. This is because, for example, if it is an IPCA with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation or the Ministry of Health, that Ministry belongs to the national Government, and therefore doing the same thing over and over with the National Treasury is duplication.

Finally, allow me to take this opportunity to thank our Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. They went through these amendments and engaged in extensive public participation. They put in a lot of work. Many of those Members are now conducting public participation on the Finance Bill proposals. We look forward to receiving their report. I thank them in their absence for the work they have put in. This is one of the committees I mentioned that, during the recess period, has been very busy. I do not think there is a single day they have not sat throughout the three weeks of the long recess that we just came from. I must thank them.

I beg to move. I wish to request the Member for Tharaka, Hon. Murugara, to second the Motion.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I rise to second this Bill. By so doing, I fully associate myself with the speech of the Leader of the Majority Party regarding what we are doing today: amending by repealing. That is what this is called. We are amending the PFM Act by repealing five Sections that, to some extent, act as a bottleneck to conditional funds reaching county governments.

The national Government has always supported the county governments. We do this through various laws. These laws are meant to safeguard funds that are going to the county governments. They are utilised well for the benefit of our people residing in various counties. Today, we remove some bottlenecks regarding conditional grants, where they have had to sign a second or third agreement with the National Treasury when conditional grants are being issued. When we remove this, what do we expect in return? An efficient flow of money into the counties. This way, the counties will be able to deliver the services they are obligated to in a timely manner.

This was a bottleneck, and as a result, there was a trickle-down effect, slowly by slowly, because it was highly squeezed. We are removing it today. May we get a reciprocal flow of funds into the counties and start seeing the services that are supposed to be delivered by counties, being delivered on time? May we also see these funds used for what they are meant for since there is hue and cry regarding our counties. Every now and then, even in the press, our governors have been accused of mismanaging funds going to the counties. We pray and hope that this will not be abused, as we have sufficient safeguards to sustain Parliament's oversight role in safeguarding these funds. I support the Bill. Let us pass it so that the county governments can receive conditional allocations without these bottlenecks hindering them.

I beg to second. Thank you.

Hon. Ndindi Nyoro.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I am happy that Hon. Millie is still around. From the previous debates, I can see her struggle. She is actually lost. I do not even know whether Hon. Millie Odhiambo still recognises Millie Odhiambo as her name. Such a great mind should not belong to where she is. You know where you belong, Hon. Millie.

Going to the debate, it is good to align on the management of our finances, especially given the different levels of government, because, at the end of the day, money that belongs to the country belongs to the people of Kenya. It does not matter where you are serving them from. In fact, even as we give service to the people of Kenya as leaders in our various capacities, the people of Kenya never bother to know, and rightly so, whether it is the national Government or the county government. The Government must always work coherently to deliver quality service to the people of Kenya. Aligning on how we allocate public resources is important so we do not appear to be in competition. There should be coherence.

However, I do not wish to give many comments. One thing we must be aware of is that, under the Public Finance Management Act, which is a robust Act we use in various ways to manage our resources, it is important to note that it is not a book that exists only for convenience. Any law we make, including the Public Finance Management Act, is usually enacted because of historical incidents. Therefore, out of the laws, we try to streamline how things should be done in the future, which could now be the present. Therefore, even as we pass and debate these amendments, we must look at the content of the entire Public Finance Management Act and assess whether there is merit in taking credit for what it has achieved.

We realise, Hon. Temporary Speaker, that there is much that leaves much to be desired, especially in the management of development projects in Kenya. It is very clear what accounting officers should do regarding development projects. It does not serve the people of Kenya to allocate money to new projects when we have ongoing ones that are stalled. Building a classroom is a very good case for understanding how this is retrogressive for all of us. If you use NG-CDF money to build a classroom up to lintel level and you spend public money, and then you start another one and do it up to the foundation level, and then you do another one, a hall, up to the fourth course, until the Kenyan people can get utility out of the projects that we implement, all that is money lost. The utility of the money is in its use. The utility of some of these projects is only realised in use: if you do a road and leave it unfinished, then you start another one, and another one. We have to be forthright.

Even the Office of the Auditor-General can be very keen on this kind of malfeasance in the management of public resources. We have passed laws in this Parliament on how to manage our debt. By the way, Kenya's current laws permit debt up to 55 per cent of our GDP, with a variance of only 5 per cent, meaning a maximum of 60 per cent. But is that our current debt? It is over 10 per cent, more than that. We make laws, especially those that guide how we distribute public resources. This is so that we have order in the management of that money; so that we do not lose money; and so that we do not overburden future generations with current spending. Therefore, it is good that we keep pointing out public officers who go against the laws we have passed here in Parliament. Ultimately, laws must never be books that we keep on shelves in our government offices. They should be followed.

For example, honestly, why is Kenya’s debt more than 70 per cent, yet all our laws only permit up to 60 per cent? Who are these people who sign extra loans and take on more debt? Is it because it was the first time we passed these laws? I do not think so. They were meant for

something. And that something can only be achieved if we abide by the laws that we make and pass.

In conclusion, pending bills result from non-compliance with the Public Finance Management Act. The reason we have many people closing businesses here in Kenya is the vagaries of doing business with the government as vendors. Some people in government, especially accounting officers, work against the Public Finance Management Act. If we strictly followed it, the term 'pending bills,' which is dominant in Kenya, would not be there.

There is a spiral effect. When entrepreneurs are punished for doing business with the government, we continue to decimate the most important factors of production in the modern economy: entrepreneurship, ingenuity, and human ability to produce.

Therefore, as we debate, it is important that we look at it in its entirety so that we can ensure all officers follow the law, because we never pass laws to put in cabinets.

I submit, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Millie Odhiambo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. In support, I just want to respond to my good brother, Hon. Ndindi Nyoro, before I speak. I largely agree with him that I look different in my posturing as a politician for obvious reasons. This is because, since I joined Parliament, I have largely been in the opposition. We were in government for a short stint when we formed the government of national unity with the late President Kibaki and also with President Uhuru Kenyatta. But even in those moments, it was an uneasy place because it was not really our government. So, in a way, I agree with him. That is why I said earlier that I am kind of a mongrel.

I also urge the Hon. Member to look at himself. He is also different. When he was the Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, he was the greatest apologist for the Government of Kenya. If we juxtapose the things he said then and the things he is saying now, it is actually amusing. But that is the nature of politics. It is the same way I see people comparing the things that Hon. Mbadi and the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum used to say and what they say these days. They are now very different.

That is why, Hon. Temporary Speaker, sometimes I tell people to try as much as possible to practice politics based on principle, like myself, because it is very difficult to eat your words. Occasionally, I eat my words because human beings are fallible. That is because I go by principle. When I think something is wrong or I am fought, I remain quiet out of courtesy.

On our side, we are not used to this kind of thing. So even when we are supporting President Ruto, we strongly say, “We support Ruto, we support Ruto!” Why are we fighting even when we are supporting President Ruto? We should just say we support President Ruto. Let us not fight because we support him. Yesterday, I heard one of our leaders saying that we are going to war. I wondered who we would fight. Are we going to fight Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, who is not vying for the Presidency? We are fighting Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, who is rudderless. He does not know where he is coming from or where he is going because he has not been cleared to vie for any position. However, we are busy fighting him. That confusion is all over, especially in our Party. Let some of us who have been here for a long time relax and support quietly the way we do. Even if Hon. Ndindi Nyoro….

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Let us hear from Hon. Ndindi.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I respect Hon. Millie Mabona a lot, but this House keeps on attacking people who are defenceless here. It is not a

very good trend. They are not here. In our references to jokes, let us use the people who are there to defend themselves so that we can be fair to everyone.

Great. Hon. Millie, you may proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

On a point of information, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Please inform me. This is part of Broad-based Government. You can inform me.

Hon. Millie, do you want to be informed?

Yes.

Proceed, Leader of the Majority Party.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I have listened to Hon. Millie keenly, and she has not attacked anybody. In fact, she has only advised others. I do not know why people get jittery when they are advised. I heard others in the recent few days saying that since President Uhuru retired, he should not speak. Retiring does not mean that he is dumb and cannot speak. Nobody told him that he cannot speak. He has every right to speak as the fourth President of the Republic of Kenya. What people have a problem with is a former President undermining another sitting President, and attempting to use a community as his shield when undermining an administration.

We want the former President to speak. I will be very happy to hear him speak and tell us what was happening in River Yala when bodies were being fished out of there. I want him to speak and tell us what was happening when our economy was captured, and subsidies drained the entire economy. We drained our foreign reserves to below US$6 billion. I really want him to speak. Let us not be very quick to run to the defence of people whom we want to speak. There are things we want them to speak about. I would like to hear what the Fourth President has to say about when bodies were fished out of the River Tana, and two young Indians, who were working for President William Ruto, were brutally murdered at Nairobi Police Headquarters, and their bodies were dumped in the Aberdares. How did those two young Indians lose their lives? We want President Uhuru Kenyatta to speak. Therefore, Hon. Millie, you have every right to ask people to speak.

Thank you.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I hope I will be given more time because of the interventions.

Proceed.

I thank Hon. Ichung’wah for his parliamentary and political skills because he purports to inform me instead of Hon. Ndindi Nyoro. I hope he has become educated.

I support the Bill. Let me go to the core of this matter. Parliament is very interesting at this time. Hon. Ndindi Nyoro is doing excellently in opposition. He told me quietly that he had learned from me. He is a good student. I am struggling on your side, but I will get there.

Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah has explained the Bill very well. I do not need to go into details about it. It is supposed to clear the bureaucracy so that our counties get money quickly. However, as the leadership of this House, we are failing this country. I challenge my brother, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah, and all of us in leadership to take this issue seriously.

The other day, I was doing calculations. If you look at the amount of money that goes to NG-CDF and compare it with the amount that goes to the counties, even if you remove the running costs, the money that goes to the counties is almost five times the amount of money going to the constituencies. I would want to challenge…

You have a minute.

Thank you. Even though I support this because it enhances the counties' work and removes all bottlenecks, allowing them to work efficiently, can we first show accountability with what we have right now before we get those conditional grants? I am therefore challenging our governors: What will we remember you for? Will we remember you for singing very well, dancing very well, or jumping very well? Let us remember you for the lives that you have transformed.

I support.

Hon. John Gitonga.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This is a very important change. By God's grace, I will be the Governor of the great County of Embu

in 2027. This amendment ensures that resources that reach the counties do not face excessive bureaucracy and arrive in time for use. It is a welcome idea.

I agree with Hon. Millie. When I become the Governor of Embu, I will answer the question of where these monies have been going. This is because, as you say from your side of view, I also observe the same with county governments. I was doing a simple calculation for Embu County, and it has received over Ksh40 billion. As mentioned, it is about 10 times the NG-CDF resources allocated to Embu County.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, you can walk miles before you notice a project from the County Government of Embu. These conditional grants are among the resources that have transformed many of our counties. The cabro pavings we have seen in our small towns have been funded by the World Bank. We have projects such as the Kenya Informal Settlements Improvement Project (KISIP) and the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), which are resources provided by the Ministries. Many counties have been blocked from accessing these resources due to a lack of clear implementation plans. This House must note that these resources are provided by the Ministries, while procurement occurs in the counties. This raises a new question of oversight because you will not hear this House discussing projects under KISIP and KUCCPS through the Ministry of Housing, Urban Planning and Public Works.

While we are looking to expedite the flow of resources to counties, it is important that we ensure these resources are used properly to benefit our people. This also relates to what has happened in this House regarding the Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF) among the conditional grants. These are resources that this House was utilising to construct roads. There is a lacuna in terms of oversight. Our counties must work. It is now close to 16 years since the Promulgation of the New Constitution.

A dysfunctional county burdens its neighbouring counties. Today, almost all healthcare officers in Embu are on strike. The calls I am receiving indicate that Chuka Level 5 Hospital in the neighbouring County, Tharaka Nithi, is bearing the burden of the dysfunctional healthcare system in Embu County. This raises many questions. Devolution, as Hon. Millie and the late Raila Odinga, among others who pushed for it, envisioned, was meant to bring transformation that would be felt even by someone who has never been to this city.

On matters pending bills, you find crazy, nonsensical, unpaid bills in our county governments. We have seen people committing suicide, losing their lives, and others turning to drugs. I watched the drama of one young man in Machakos County crying like a baby and asking, “Why are you not paying me yet I did the work?” This is something that the National Assembly should consider. Disaster preparedness is among the areas supported through conditional grants. We have seen fire trucks donated to counties through these grants. However, when it comes to their usage and maintenance, there is always a challenge. That is why we need to relook these issues and ensure that, while amending the Public Finance Management Bill, we also address how we can strengthen accountability and the management of the resources utilised.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to support.

One more Member wants to contribute. Let us see if we can get him. Hon. Basil, you have a few minutes.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I will not take much time. Leader of the Majority Party, I am aware that we need to pass this important Bill. From the outset, I support this amendment Bill which seeks to repeal certain Sections of the parent Act. The Bill seeks to boost efficiency in the transfer of resources to counties, enhance coordination between the national Government and the county governments, and promote transparency. One of the key objectives of the Bill is to eliminate duplication of funding. In doing so, it promotes accountability in the use of revenue collected from taxpayers and resources allocated to devolved functions.

The Bill is also critical to improving project funding management by creating dedicated bank accounts for Government projects. That will enhance transparency and ensure proper utilisation of taxpayers’ money. Additionally, the amendments are intended to speed up the release of funds to county governments. I agree with Hon. Mukunji that there is significant wastage and a lack of accountability in many counties. It is unfortunate that while a Member may build a classroom in a school, the ECDE classrooms in the same institution remain in deplorable conditions. Parents then ask you to donate the classroom that you have built to the ECDE, which is against the law. Therefore, we should champion the proper use of resources allocated to counties and require governors to demonstrate value for money in the projects they undertake. Finally, I wish to emphasise that the Bill is critical in promoting service delivery, reducing corruption and curbing the misallocation of funds.

With those few remarks, I support the Bill.

Let us have the Mover.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. In the interest of time, allow me to reply by thanking all the Members who have contributed in support of the Bill because they appreciate the importance of strengthening devolution. As Hon. Ndindi Nyoro stated yesterday, we must support devolution. I am glad that he recognises that we should support devolution, which will enhance the efficient implementation of projects at the county level and improve the absorption of additional allocations appropriated to our county governments.

As Hon. Mukunji noted, I appeal to governors to account for the use of public resources and to ensure the timely implementation of projects to deliver value to wananchi within their five-year term in office. As Hon. Millie Odhiambo also mentioned, governors should ensure that they leave behind meaningful legacy projects that will outlive their tenure, whether they serve for one or two terms. They should avoid the situations we have seen around the country in which governors use county resources to give freebies to their supporters out of political expediency.

With those few remarks, I beg to reply.

Very well. I thank Members for the good quality debate, the candour and banter involved. You have made me happy. Hon. Members, we shall put the question at the next sitting.

Hon. Members, you may be upstanding. The time being 7:00 p.m., this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 2nd June 2026 at 2:30 p.m.

Published by Clerk of the National Assembly