Thursday, 30th April 2026

Hon. Members, let us proceed. Clerk-at-the-Table, read out the First Order. We will skip Order No. 5 as we await the Members with Papers. We shall return to it thereafter.

Next Order.

We have a Statement requested by Hon. Umul Kheir Kassim. Is the Member in? I am informed that the Member requested a deferral. So, we shall proceed to the next one. There is also a request by Hon. Eric Wamumbi. However, I can see he is not present. We shall, therefore, proceed to the next one, requested by Hon. Anthony Mupe, the Member for Rabai, who is in the House.

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 Environment, Forestry and Mining regarding alleged pollution and environmental degradation in Rabai Constituency, arising from the operations of Jumbo Steel Mills Limited and Mombasa Canvas Limited.

Article 42 of the Constitution guarantees every person the right to a clean and healthy environment. Further, Section 3 of the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, Cap. 387 obligates every person to safeguard and enhance the environment. Despite this, residents of Rabai Constituency have raised serious concerns regarding the operations of Jumbo Steel Mills Limited and Mombasa Canvas Limited, which are reportedly emitting harmful pollutants and discharging toxic substances in the area. These emissions are adversely affecting surrounding communities, including school-going children, patients in nearby health facilities and other vulnerable groups. Additionally, there are growing concerns regarding the possible contamination of water sources and long-term environmental impact on land, livelihoods and ecological sustainability in the affected areas.

It is against this background that I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining on the following:

Thank you. That will be marked to the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Mining. Maybe, Leader, you can give an undertaking on behalf of the Committee as to when it will be ready.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. Probably two weeks after our recess, they will get their response. Thank you.

Hon. Members, I will go back to Order No. 2.

Hon. Members, as you are aware, the Parliament of Kenya is affiliated with the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) , a global organisation of national parliaments committed to promoting democratic governance, institutions, and values in response to the needs and aspirations of the people. To this end, I wish to bring to your attention that the Parliament of Kenya, in partnership with IPU, will co-host the Regional Parliamentary Seminar on Climate Change and Methane Emissions Reduction from 15th to 16th May 2026 at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi. Discussions at the seminar will focus on strengthening the role of African parliaments in climate action, reducing methane emissions, and promoting sustainable development. The seminar theme, Enhancing Public Understanding and Parliamentary Action on Methane Reduction in Kenya, will bring together members of parliament from across Africa, as well as technical experts and representatives of the executive, research institutions, development partners and private-sector actors involved in climate change. For the record, this House will be represented in the seminar by Members largely drawn from the relevant House Committees and Parliamentary Caucuses. Hon. Members, you will agree with me that Parliament continues to play a critical role in advancing the climate action agenda and promoting sustainable development through legislation, policy approval, financing, and advocacy, among other initiatives. I, therefore, urge the Members who have been selected to represent this House at the seminar to not only participate, but also showcase the contribution of this House and the country in matters relating to climate change and methane emissions. The House is accordingly informed. Thank you. I also take this opportunity to welcome and recognise the following schools that are seated in the Speaker’s Gallery: Olerai Schools from Kajiado West Constituency, Kajiado County and Kuikui Primary School from Baringo North Constituency, Baringo County. I will allow the Hon. Ngogoyo, Member for Kajiado North and the Hon. Makilap, Member for Baringo North, to welcome the schools on our behalf. Thank you.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise on behalf of other Members to welcome the schools present from Baringo and Kajiado County. Allow me to say that the Olerai School has a heavy presence both in Kajiado North and Kajiado West. It is one of our best-performing schools or one of our good schools in Kajiado. I tell the students from all over that the National Assembly is the institution that makes laws. I came to this Parliament just like you have come today and the Lord has taken me through to also serve as a Member of this National Assembly. Mine is to tell you to work hard, be committed, be disciplined and in the near future, you will find yourself serving this country in this National Assembly. To your teachers who have accompanied you and to your schools, we wish you well. Those who are candidates this year, we wish you well. Those who are not candidates, when it is your time, we will also wish you well. As a Member of Parliament for Kajiado North, which the Olerai School also has a presence, I wish to welcome you to this National Assembly. Welcome. Thank you.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. On behalf of my colleagues, Members of Parliament, led by our Chairman, Hon. Sirman who is seated with me here, I take this opportunity to welcome Kuikui Primary School to the National Assembly of Kenya, together with Olerai Schools of Kajiado, heavily represented by my good friend Hon. Ngogoyo and Hon. Sunkuyia. Kuikui is an old school founded in 1956 and continues to do very well in co-curricular and academic activities, producing many Kenyans who are working in this country, including one working with the Affordable Housing Programme called Kaplich Barsito, among other Kenyans who continue to do well in our country. I tell all the students from Kuikui and Olerai Schools that the sky is the limit. You can see our Deputy Speaker is an honourable lady. All the girls who are there, work hard so that one day you will sit where our Deputy Speaker sits and become a Member of Parliament, like those of us who are here. You are welcome to the House of Parliament, together with your teachers, led by Mr. Cherop, the Board of the school led by Chumel and even Minakwang or Musa Toroitich and all the parents who have found themselves here. Well done, work hard when you go back and one day you will find yourself in the House of Parliament. Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Thank you very much for welcoming the students on behalf of the House. Hon. Members, again, I will exercise my discretion so that we continue with Order No. 7. We have requests for statements and responses. Hon. Mark Mwenje, I think you are first on the list.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to request for a Statement regarding the prolonged breakdown of the Ardhi Sasa Platform and the disruption of land services at the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning. Pursuant to the provision of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Lands regarding the prolonged breakdown of the Ardhi Sasa Platform and the disruption of land services. The Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development introduced the Ardhi Sasa Platform to digitise land administration and

improve efficiency, transparency, and public access to essential services such as land searches, title registration, transfers, lease applications, cautions, charges, and rent payments. However, for the last two weeks, the platform has reportedly been down, paralysing operations within the Ministry and halting all land-related transactions. As a result, citizens, investors, financial institutions, advocates and developers have been unable to process transfers, conduct official searches, register titles or complete transactions that depend on timely digitised approvals. As a result, many have suffered financial losses due to delayed payments, breached contracts, stalled projects and uncertainty over ownership documentation. The problem has repeatedly worsened due to the shortage of ammonia paper, which has lasted for nearly two months. This paper is critical for blue-line printing used in producing survey maps, grid plans, site plans, and cadastral drawings. The absence of the paper has severely affected survey and mapping services, delaying subdivisions, adjudication processes, land registration and the issuance of ownership documents. These failures have exposed serious gaps in planning, procurement and service delivery within the Ministry. It is against this background that I request for a statement from the Chairperson of the

Thank you. That will be responded to by the Departmental

Committee on Lands. Hon. Naomi Waqo, you can give an undertaking because there is no one

Hon. Deputy Speaker, two weeks after resumption from Recess, the Hon. Chairperson will respond.

Thank you.

Next, we have a Statement by the Member for Mandera East, Hon. Hussein.

threats from unidentified individuals over the preceding month. Notably, prior to his abduction, Mr Ismail, who hails from my constituency, Mandera East, had reported receiving information which is available on social media and in Police records from a Tik Toker regarding a credible plot to abduct him and tragically, the concerns were realised. Consequently, his family is experiencing significant emotional trauma due to the uncertainty surrounding his safety and current whereabouts.

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

Thank you. That is marked to the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security. Hon. Raso is here.

Thank you Hon. Deputy Speaker. We will respond in the second week after recess.

Thank you. There is also a request for a Statement by the Member for Mombasa County, Hon. Zamzam Mohamed. She is not present, so we will pass that. Next, is a request for a Statement by the Member for Malindi, Hon. Amina Mnyazi. She is also absent. Let us have the request for a Statement by the Hon. Member for Kitui County.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding unlawful detention of the body of Mr. Joseph Komu Maundu by the Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) .

Hon. Deputy Speaker, the late Mr Joseph Komu Maundu, a resident of Kyamututa Village, Katilinge Sub-Location in Kitui County, died on 9th December 2025 while undergoing treatment at the KUTRRH. At the time of his death, he had accrued an outstanding hospital bill of Ksh1,201,181. Since his demise, the hospital has detained his body and demanded that the family offsets the pending bill as a condition for its release.

The action taken by the hospital is contrary to Section 137 of the Penal Code Cap.63, which makes it a criminal offence to hinder burial of a deceased person without lawful authority. In addition, courts have also held that there is no property in a dead body, rendering continued detention of bodies by medical facilities for purposes of debt recovery unlawful. Despite these judicial pronouncements and the law, the practice continues to persist across various health facilities, including KUTRRH, causing immense distress and humiliation to bereaved families.

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

Thank you. Who will take this on behalf of the Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Health? I see Hon. Pukose. Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, proceed.

Thank you Hon. Deputy Speaker. The request for a Statement will be responded to two weeks after resumption from recess.

We can move to the request for a Statement by the Member for Mwea Constituency, Hon. Mary Maingi.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock regarding the plight of rice farmers in Mwea.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, rice farmers in Mwea have expressed deep concern over reluctance by the Kenya National Trading Corporation

(KNTC)

to purchase over 30,000 bags of homegrown Mwea Pishori rice, currently held in stores. Instead of supporting local farmers, the KNTC is reported to have imported approximately 250,000 metric tonnes of rice from foreign countries.

Disturbingly, the imported rice is, allegedly, being repackaged by unscrupulous traders and sold in the Kenyan market under the false label of Mwea Pishori. This practice has caused a sharp decline in local rice prices and left the produce by Mwea rice farmers unsold, thereby exposing them to the risk of massive post-harvest losses. Additionally, the Government has not paid farmers for approximately 2,000 bags of Mwea pishori rice delivered to Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) . The delay in payment undermines trust in Government, threatens sustainability of rice farming in Mwea, and risks the livelihoods of rice farmers. The situation calls for an urgent action to protect the integrity of Mwea pishori rice, ensure fair trade and uphold the dignity of Kenyan rice farmers who continue to produce quality rice with dedication.

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

Before I get the Chair of the Departmental Committee to commit, let Hon. Shinali be recognised to say something on that request for a Statement.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I thank Hon. Maingi for requesting that Statement. The KNTC falls under the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. I am aware that KNTC had requested to import rice, but they were denied. That importation was given to Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) . They are the ones who imported the rice.

Secondly, we had requested for funds to purchase local rice. We were told they would be provided in the main Budget. Hon. Maingi, I request that we consult further so that we make sure there are enough funds in the Budget Estimates to purchase local rice.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Which Committee is your request for a Statement directed?

Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock.

Where is the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock? Hon. Dido Raso, do you want to comment on the Statement?

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The people of Mwea grow a lot of rice, but they are not the real consumers. We are the real consumers. Our Hon. colleague has raised a very important issue for this country. When the farmer wakes up at 4 a.m. or 3 a.m. they pack that rice in sacks and go to the waterlogged farms. Then, there are middlemen who are there to exploit them. Let everybody who does a day’s job be paid and rewarded for that in this country. Unless that happens, the food producers of Kenya will lose morale or become demotivated, and will not put in a day’s work. For that reason, the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock must move with speed so that the answers she seeks are provided.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. (Dr) Wilberforce Oundo.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, let me also join the Member for Mwea who has raised this concern. I declare that I have a very strong attachment to Mwea, having worked on the project that resulted in adequate water for irrigation purposes. I request that she allows that question to be expanded to include all rice-growing areas. I speak so because Budalangi, where my mother comes from, grows a lot of rice. Anything that affects the distribution of rice affects them and me directly.

Just for procedural matters, once the produce is harvested, it ceases being an agricultural product and becomes a commodity in the market. The best Committee to handle the matter is the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives because that is a commodity in the market. With your wisdom, you will guide.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Nyakundi.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Hon. Maingi has raised a very pertinent issue. As a country striving to be food- sufficient, there is no way some people can import rice and allocate money for imports, instead of giving it to the people of Mwea, Budalangi and other places so that we mop up the rice and sell it to other Kenyans.

Once we come back from recess, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development should appear before this House and explain why we should import rice instead of buying it from farmers. They have worked very hard to go to the farm and give us food. It is there, but we import rice instead of buying it from farmers.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Do we have the Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock in the House? Do we have any Member from the Committee? They are certainly engaged in other parliamentary businesses within the precincts of the House. Do we have the leadership of the House?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock and his team will give the response two weeks after our recess.

Hon. Maingi, you will get a response in two weeks after recess.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

There is a request for a Statement by Hon. Eric Wamumbi which is in the Order Paper.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security regarding reported circulation of harmful adulterated alcoholic drinks in the country.

There is a growing public concern over reported circulation and sale of adulterated alcoholic drinks. It is claimed that several alcoholic brands from several manufacturers, including Best Classic Gin, Diamond Ice from Patiala Distillers Limited; Kibao Vodka and County Brandy from Kenya Wine Agencies Limited; and Chrome Vodka from East African Breweries Limited (EABL) , among others, may be adulterated or otherwise unsafe for human consumption.

These allegations not only pose a serious threat to public health and consumer safety but also threaten the commercial sustainability of the companies, if the products are safe for human consumption. They also question the effectiveness of relevant licensing authorities such as the Government Chemist, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority and the Kenya Bureau of Standards in enforcement, consumer protection and surveillance, including distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, 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. Dido Raso, on behalf of the Chair, Departmental Committee in charge of Administration and Internal Affairs.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. We will respond the second week after recess.

Second week after recess, Hon. Eric Wamumbi, it shall be.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Let us go to the Statement by the Nominated Member, Hon. Irene Mayaka, regarding delayed processing of Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning regarding delay in processing of VAT refunds and its implication on businesses.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the recent enactment of the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026 by this House effectively halved VAT on petroleum products from 16 per cent to eight per cent. This amendment to the law was necessitated to cushion households and firms from elevated transport and production costs, largely driven by global oil market volatility. However, this well-intentioned measure has caused a temporary mismatch between input tax paid and output tax collected by oil marketers, resulting in a VAT credit position also known as excess input tax that triggers a need for tax refunds. The input tax paid relates to operational, administrative and supply chain expenses such as transportation, storage, professional services and utilities subject to VAT at the standard rate of 16 per cent. This differential results in input tax consistently exceeds output tax, thereby placing oil marketers in a VAT credit position.

Section 47 of the Tax Procedures Act, Cap 469B, provides that refund on overpaid tax shall be paid within a period of six months from the date of ascertainment and, if the Commissioner fails to refund, the overpaid tax shall be applied to offset the taxpayer’s outstanding tax debt or future tax liabilities. However, in practice, many claims remain unsettled well beyond the prescribed period, with delays ranging for as long as multiple years. Consequently, a substantial proportion of business working capital remains tied up in pending refunds, thereby constraining liquidity, particularly for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises which are disproportionately affected due to limited access to affordable credit.

It is against this background that I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on the following:

The Chair, Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning? Anybody from that Committee? Hon. Lesuuda is not the Chair of that Committee. The Chair is very hardworking. I know the Committee is currently engaged with the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill. Could the leadership commit on when the response shall come to the House?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I commit that the response will be given two weeks after recess.

Hon. Mayaka?

Okay.

Yes, two weeks after recess the response shall be brought to the House. It is so ordered.

Next is a request by the Member for Laisamis, Hon. Joseph Lekuton that the Question be asked on his behalf by Hon. Naisula Lesuuda. That request has been acceded to by the Speaker.

Hon. Lesuuda, proceed.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to request for a Statement on behalf of Hon. Lekuton, the Member of Parliament for Laisamis Constituency. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health regarding the outbreak of unknown illness among students of Bishop Cavallera Girls Secondary School in Marsabit County.

On 19th March 2026, an outbreak of an unknown illness was reported among students at Bishop Cavallera Girls Secondary School in Marsabit County. Affected students exhibited symptoms including choking, difficulty in breathing, episodes of fainting, and swelling in the arm or hand, rendering some unable to lift the affected limb. They were transferred to Marsabit County Referral Hospital for treatment and monitoring, resulting in the hospitalisation of several students and the temporary closure of the school. A team of county public health officials visited the school on 24th March 2026, collected samples from food commodities and water sources. The samples were submitted to the National Food Safety and Nutrition Reference Laboratory for toxicological, chemical and bacteriological analysis to evaluate compliance with health standards and detect any contaminants.

Although the outcome of the analyses indicated absence of contaminants, barely one week following the school reopening on 22nd April 2026, about 100 students have reportedly exhibited symptoms similar to those observed during the initial outbreak. The recurrent incident exposes the school suspension of schooling to avert a public health crisis and imminent

permanent closure as a result of mass transfer by students for fear of contracting the unknown illness. The situation calls for urgent action to safeguard students’ health, prevent a broader public health emergency and avert closure of the school.

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

Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Education. Do we have anyone from the Committee to commit to when the

Committee on Health or the Departmental Committee on Education? I think it is to the

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I come from Marsabit. I understand the case and it should be given special attention. I believe the Committee should be able to respond in two weeks’ time after the recess.

Hon. Naisula, in two weeks, the response to the Statement will be brought to the House. Is that satisfactory?

Yes, it is, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

The next request for Statement is by the Member for Shinyalu, Hon. Fredrick Ikana.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the alarming increase in fatal hit-and-run accidents at Ilesi and Muraka centres along the Kisumu - Kakamega Road in Shinyalu Constituency.

Ilesi and Muraka centres along the Kisumu - Kakamega Road have increasingly become a road safety black spot, with frequent accidents, particularly hit-and-run incidents, being witnessed. These accidents, which occurred on various dates, have led to the tragic loss of lives, including but not limited to Velma Khasandi, Silas Andega, Paul Lijodi, Liliana Shilatukha, Wenslaus Okanga, Alaka Angelen Imala, Raphael Musimbi Murila and Benard Kassim

Shibelenje. These repeated fatalities at Ilesi and Muraka are reportedly linked to a combination of factors, including over-speeding by motorists, absence of speed bumps, inadequate street lighting, warning signage, lack of pedestrian walkways and crossing points. These have led to dangerous interaction between speeding vehicles and pedestrians.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the situation is aggravated by frequent hit-and-run behaviour by motorists, weak enforcement of traffic rules and apparent lack of urgent redesign interventions, despite the area exhibiting characteristics of an accident black spot. The continued loss of lives has caused great distress among Shinyalu residents, who have persistently called for urgent intervention to safeguard road users and pedestrians.

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

The Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. George Kariuki. He seems not to be in. The Vice-Chairperson of the Committee? He also seems not to be in. Do we have any Member of the Committee in the House? Again, all those Members are engaged in other Parliamentary business within the precincts. The leadership of the House, Hon. (Dr) Naomi Waqo, please commit.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. We commit that the Chairman will give the response two weeks after the recess.

Hon. Ikana.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I appreciate.

In two weeks after the recess. I advise the Chairman that the situation Hon. Ikana is speaking to, is affecting very many areas. There should be speed bumps when you approach a school and when you exit; when you approach a trading centre and when you exit. It has caused us many deaths across the country. Next will be the request for Statement by the Leader of the Majority Party. Statement to be requested pursuant to Standing Order 44 (2) (a) .

Hon. (Dr) Naomi Waqo, that will relate to the parliamentary business after this. I request that you take your seat. You will go into it after the responses to the requests before the House, are dealt with. There is the response to the request by Hon. Lillian Siyoi, Member for Trans Nzoia County, regarding shortage of fertiliser in Trans Nzoia County. It was supposed

to be brought to the House today by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, Hon. Mutunga.

Is Hon. Lillian Siyoi in the House? I note there is a bit of interest on this one. Ordinarily, I would have required the Chairman of the Committee to Table the response before the House for the Member to pick. But because of the importance of the matter and the issue it is dealing with, I will exceptionally allow the Chairman to put the report before the House, it being now a property of the House. This is so that those Members who are also affected or keen to make representations can do so. Proceed, Hon. Mutunga.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. This matter was put before the House yesterday. The Request for Statement was made yesterday. I contacted the Ministry immediately. Hon. Temporary Speaker, we have a liaison officer in Parliament with whom we work with. This morning, I had an activity at the Kenya Sugar Board because of other issues that are also upcoming, whose depth and breadth we needed to understand as a Committee. So, I left my Clerk Assistant to follow up with this issue. At around noon, he confirmed to me that the Ministry had stated that the Principal Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary were not in, therefore, they could not issue a response. That means that we have to wait until they are able to. I remembered the words of the Speaker that it is not the Cabinet Secretary who should respond, but the technical officers. So, it is unfortunate that they could not give us a response. Therefore, we will have to wait until the first week after recess for an appropriate response.

The Temporary Speaker did not hear your response.

I do not want to declare that the Temporary Speaker is out of order. He was very busy with other things as I was contributing.

Who is this Principal Secretary who can keep the business of the House pending? Where is he?

So, when was the request for Statement sought?

It was issued yesterday and the Speaker said he needed a response in one day. I tried to negotiate but the Speaker said that it is not the Cabinet Secretary who is supposed to give us a response. I tried my best to get a response, but I have been unable.

Let us have Hon. (Dr) Wilberforce Oundo.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, as the substantive Speaker put it yesterday, the response cannot wait. This is the planting season and fertiliser is expected. Therefore, the matter cannot wait. Is it possible for Hon. Mutunga to undertake to extract the Statement from the Ministry and share it with us through the Speaker even when we are on recess? That will help us apprise our people on the status of fertiliser distribution.

Hon. Mutunga, this is the sowing and weeding season when we need fertiliser the most. You have mentioned your struggles in engaging with the Principal Secretary and we truly commiserate with Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and his entire family. I doubt that the House’s business can be held hostage because a Principal Secretary did not sign on a response. That is unacceptable. I want to determine whether we can postpone this business or take measures against the Principal Secretary.

Let us have Hon. Dido Raso. Hon. Ali Raso (Saku, UDA) . Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Without buttressing your Ruling, we are not waiting for a Statement. We are waiting for something to be done. We are waiting to be informed that there is enough fertiliser, so that farmers can plant without delay.

I understand the Chairman’s struggles, but Kenyans are following the live proceedings of the House. The Ministry should have realised that on Tuesday and could have responded without being probed. When we come back from recess, we should be told that there is enough fertiliser in Trans Nzoia, which is Kenya’s food basket. That area should not lack fertiliser. They can lack other things but not fertiliser.

Let us have Hon. Mutunga.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The sticky issue in the Statement sought by the Member for Trans Nzoia is that subsidised fertiliser is being transported across the border to Uganda. We need to quickly investigate that issue. We need confirmation from the Ministry. The National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) distributes fertiliser. The distribution mechanism was developed after the registration of farmers. Their data was captured in KIAMIS and used to establish the distribution mechanism.

Transportation of fertiliser across the border indicates that there are some loopholes. That is why we need to investigate this matter quickly and correct it immediately, if possible. Based on what Hon. Oundo has said, I will follow up with the Ministry on Monday and Tuesday, get the response and bring it to the Clerk, who will distribute it to the Members of the House. That is possible.

I will pardon the Principal Secretary only for the reason given and only because the matter was remitted for him to deal with personally. This should never happen again. I am allowing it only because the delay involves the Cabinet Secretary, Mr Davis Chirchir and his family. He is the best, if not one of the best Cabinet Secretaries we have in the country. We condole with his family.

I direct that the Principal Secretary sends a response to the House one week after we come back from recess. Chairperson of the Committee, deliver that message to him. We need that response because it cannot wait. It is so ordered and directed.

Let us have Hon. Zamzam Chimba.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security regarding cases of Gender-Based Violence in Mombasa County. In the recent past, there have been incidents of Gender-Based Violence in Mombasa County, particularly involving children and women. These incidents have caused widespread concerns among residents and underscore the urgent need for intervention.

On 15th March 2026, an 11-year-old child called Gloria, who had been reported missing, was found dead in Manyani area in Kisauni, Mombasa County. Further, on 2nd April 2026, a 23-year-old pregnant woman was also found dead in Likoni Sub-County. Another 13-year-old girl from Mwakirunge, Kisauni was reportedly sexually assaulted. No arrests have been made relating to these deaths to date. These incidents reflect the growing threat of violence against women and children, and call to question the effectiveness of existing protection mechanism and law enforcement responses aimed in combating gender-based violence.

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

To which committee is the request for Statement directed to? Is it the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security?

The Chairperson of the Committee is engaged. Where is the Vice-Chairperson, Hon. Dido Raso?

Hon. Naomi Waqo, I hope you are not discussing your Marsabit matters in the Plenary, then you dispatch one another.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I commit on behalf of the Committee that the response shall be availed two weeks after the recess.

Hon. Zamzam Chimba, does that sound reasonable?

Yes, Hon. Temporary Speaker. But because of the urgency of the matter, I urge the Committee to bring the very best response after those two weeks.

Thank you.

The report from the Committee shall be brought within two weeks. Hon. Waqo, within two weeks means that if you have it ready on the first day after the recess, you can bring it. It does not have to wait for 14 days. Bring it as soon as it is ready.

We will do that. Thank you.

Thank you. It should be ready within two weeks after recess.

Next, is a response to the Statement request by Hon. Machua Waitaka regarding the effects of the ongoing United States/Israel-Iran Conflict on distribution of petroleum products in the country by the Departmental Committee on Energy.

consulted with the Clerk-at-the-Table) Hon. Gikaria, let me confirm if Hon. Machua Waithaka is in the House.

Yes, Hon. Gikaria.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I was ready on Tuesday afternoon but you directed that I must give the response today. Unfortunately, the Member of Parliament for Kiambu must be engaged elsewhere. However, I wish that you would grant me the permission to Table the response so that if it is not satisfactory, we can then amend.

I remember the concerns raised in the Statement. Could I by observation look at whether Members have interest to speak beyond the Report before I give my directions hereon?

It is sorted.

The position of the Hon. Speaker is that once the Report is brought, it is a property of the House. So, in some instances, even if the person who asked the question is not there, the Speaker can, on discretion and in public interest, allow the Report to be properly read before the House and for the Members to debate as representatives of the people.

Give Hon. Gikaria the microphone. The Members are not keen to say something. Will you table the Report? Hon. Machua Waithaka will benefit from that Report from the Table.

Most obliged, Hon. Temporary

Hon. Gikaria, you can proceed to Table the Report and you will stand discharged. There is nothing else.

Hon. Caroline Ng’elechei, you wanted to raise a matter concerning the greatest Kenyan to ever win the marathon so that the House can also say something about it. Please proceed. I hope he is also from Elgeyo Marakwet.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, every athletic winner in the Republic of Kenya, either lives in Elgeyo Marakwet or trains in Elgeyo Marakwet. This one trains in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise pursuant to Standing Order 259D (2) (b) to notify the House of the greatest achievement of the world record athlete, Mr Sebastian Sawe.

In the recent past, Mr Sebastian Sawe was a fast-rising Kenyan long-distance athlete, has participated in various international competitions, particularly in long racing events. His performance has been exceptional and reflects the Kenyan spirit of hard work, discipline and perseverance. Sawe is a distinguished long-distance runner who had risen to global prominence having made a remarkable marathon debut at the 2024 Valencia Marathon, winning the race in an impressive time of 2:02:02.

Building on this success at the 2026 London Marathon, he made history after clocking a sub-two hours’ time in the race, setting a new world record of 1:59:30. This extraordinary achievement firmly places him among the world elite athletes.

Mr Sebastian Sawe has demonstrated consistency, reliance and unwavering commitment to excellence. His rise in the athletic world has been motivated by discipline, determination and the desire to uphold Kenya's rich legacy in long-distance running. He is an athlete who we hope, could be emulated by our youth and everyone else. We whole-heartedly congratulate him for his remarkable achievement.

These achievements remind us that with steadfast dedication, resilience, focus and desire to succeed, anything is possible. He serves as a great inspiration, especially to young Kenyans aspiring to excel in athletics. It is on this basis that I wish to notify the House of this achievement by one of our own and request that the tributes of this House be recorded in recognition of his outstanding performance and contribution to the glory of our nation. Hongera Sawe.

I thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Members, you can see the Temporary Speaker is elated. I will give a few of us a chance to celebrate this legend.

Before I do that, let me recognise a number of students and the teachers of Kiurani Boys High School from Maara Constituency, Tharaka-Nithi County, the County of the Deputy President, Prof Kithure Kindiki.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to welcome Kiurani Boys High School which is from Maara Constituency, in Tharaka-Nithi County.

Kiurani Boys’ High School is one of the leading schools not only in Tharaka-Nithi County but also in our entire region. They have come in large numbers. They are the future leaders of this country. Today marks a significant day for Kiurani Boys High School as it is their first opportunity to visit and interact with the Kenya National Assembly. I am sure from their current performance, as they go back home, they will continue to work hard so that they can improve their performance and grow in leadership. Boys, welcome to the Kenya National Assembly and continue working hard because this is where you are equally destined to be. Karibuni sana.

They are welcome to the National Assembly to observe proceedings, and we wish them well. People often tell our students that the sky is the limit. When you are in the National Assembly, the sky is the beginning. We wish you well. Welcome Kiurani Boys High School from Tharaka Nithi County. We want many more like the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.

Hon. Mayaka. We are back to celebrating Sebastian Sawe. Please, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me thank Hon. Ng’elechei for bringing this Statement to the House. I join fellow Kenyans in congratulating Sebastian Sawe, who brought London to a standstill the other day when he ran under two hours. I love the way Kenyans celebrated this young man. The internet was taken by storm. All Kenyans were celebrating him for this very high achievement. We witnessed that when he returned to the country with Kenya Airways. He received a heroic welcome. Today, again, upon landing in Eldoret, his home area, he was honoured with a water salute.

At the State House, we saw him receiving Ksh8 million from the President, along with a brand-new car and special number plates. The number plate was 1.59.30, which is an extreme moment of joy for all of us. It brings a smile to all Kenyans. When one of us excels and is celebrated at the global stage, for us, it is a magical moment. Lately, we have been calling our country “Magical Kenya”, and truly, this is a magical country producing magical people to the rest of the world.

To Sebastian, congratulations. We celebrate you. We are proud of you and encourage you to go even further and better your time. On behalf of the people of Nyamira and the youth, I congratulate him and wish him the very best.

I thank you.

Thank you, Chairlady of the

Committee on Regional Integration. Now, let us have Hon. Zamzam Chimba.

Ahsante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda. Nami nachukua fursa hii kwa niaba ya wakazi wa Mombasa kumpongeza Sebastian Sawe kwa kupeperusha bendera ya Kenya kule London. Ni furaha kubwa ukiona dunia nzima ikisherehekea taifa moja. Wajua Kenya watu wengine hufikiria mambo mengine lakini sisi ikifika kwa haya ya kuwakilisha na bendera yetu, Wakenya huwa hawatudisappoint. Na si huyo peke yake bali wengine wote ambao waliwahi kupeperusha bendera yetu. Nimshukuru pia Mhe. Rais kwa kutoa zawadi kubwa. Hii ni kuonyesha kuwa baba wa taifa anajali hawa wanariadha ndipo akaona kuwa huyu anastahili kupata zawadi kubwa kama ile ambayo alimpa.

Kama Mama Kaunti wa Mombasa nampongeza sana Rais wa taifa hili na nimwambie kuwa juhudi zake kwa Wakenya zinaonekana. Usitetereke wala usiangalie nyuma. Wewe shika wanariadha, kina mama na vijana. Fanya kazi yako kama umetulia. Hapo mbele iko sawa na sisi tuko nyuma yako tunakupongeza.

Pia, sisi katika Kaunti ya Mombasa kuna mtoto wetu aliweza kuenda kule World Cup kama mfanyakazi. Nafikiria muliona yule Omar kutoka pale Changamwe ambaye alikuwa anasema, ‘Metro’. He was celebrated in the whole world. Mimi kama Mama Kaunti wa Mombasa nampongeza huyu mtoto ndani ya hili Bunge na nimwambie Rais kuwa pia mimi

nalia ngoa. Kama umemshika yule, Mombasa pia tuna yule mtoto wetu aliyeweka Kenya kwenye ramani kwa kufanya kazi kwa ustadi, heshima, na kupeperusha bendera ya Kenya.

Nampongeza sana Rais na nimwambie yale madebe matupu hayaishi kutika. Usiwafuate wala kuwasikiza. Wewe fanya kazi ya kusaidia Wakenya kule unakoweza; huku kwingine tuachie Mungu na nina imani hapo mbele utaweza kurudi kwa kishindo.

Ahsante sana, Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

There is no doubt that the investments made by the President in sports are huge. I was in Wajir and I found a very big stadium under construction, just after the Kitui one. I think they are over 25 now.

Hon. Naomi Waqo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker for giving me this opportunity as I join colleagues in congratulating Mr Sebastian Sawe. The entire nation is celebrating him. He made us proud, especially by breaking the world record. This morning, His Excellency the President awarded him Ksh5 million for the win and Ksh3 million for the gold medal. Our President has invested heavily and consistently shown his passion towards athletics and sports in general. We have many athletes from the Rift Valley and others are emerging from across the country. I will be happy one day when a young person from Marsabit will also win and make the nation proud, and be invited by the President of Kenya to State House. Even if I will be 80 years old, I will celebrate it. Today we are all proud of Sawe.

Last night, I watched his parents speak about him on Citizen TV. They described him as humble, responsible, and efficient in everything that he does. They are just celebrating him. The entire village and nation are celebrating him. Our President is passionate in promoting and awarding all the people that will win on our behalf. I want to encourage all talented people. At my age, I cannot even try. Those who have the talent and the age can try to make us proud. The President noted that this young man was in one of the schools he established about 15 years ago. That is not a long time. That means my small investment in my village can be recognised in a big way. I urge Members to invest in their communities so that young people can also learn and be nurtured.

Hon, Temporary Speaker, Sawe has made us proud, alongside many others who have continued to win. Kenya is known worldwide for athletics and other sports. Let us continue to serve our nation and give our best. Let us make the other 50 million plus happy with our performance. We celebrate this young man and I encourage young people from every part of the country to pursue their talents and become the next Sawe.

The Commissioner, Hon. Patrick

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I join my colleagues in congratulating Sawe. He has once again shown that Kenya is the home of champions. Like many others who train in the hills of Eldoret and Uasin Gishu with little hope, his hard work has paid off. He has broken the world record by running the marathon under the two-hour mark. That has not only brought glory to Kenya, but it has also proved to the world that Kenya is the home of champions. In Kenya, we have too many people with talents, including in Ukambani where I come from, where if you may remember, we had Cosmas Ndeti and Makau. Now we see Wanza running in marathons.

The national resources in sports are not equally distributed. In Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni there are no sports facilities. I want to challenge the Ministry of Sports on this one. Why are we not seeing sports academies distributed all over Kenya? We could be having marathoners and sprinters in Luo Nyanza, but because of inequality in the investment of sporting facilities, such talents are not realised. If you go to a place called Iten, every morning…

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Mutunga, what is your point of order?

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I am very surprised that a senior Member of Parliament and a Commissioner can stand before this House and say that there are no facilities in Kitui, when I know that a Super Stadium was opened by none other than His Excellency the President last year in Kitui. Does he come from Ukambani?

Hon. Patrick Makau, the concern of Hon. John Mutunga is that, unlike before, the current Government is really trying to build sports facilities across the country. A beautiful stadium was unveiled in Homa Bay, followed by another beautiful one in Kitui. I have told you that I know of a more beautiful coming up in Wajir. Unlike before when we counted Kamariny Stadium and others that I never saw, I know up to 25 international standard stadia have been built across the country. So, let us appreciate that even as we push for improvement. Continue.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I have a lot of respect for Hon. Mutunga, the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. You know, he borrowed his name from my community. Maybe that is why he has interest in knowing if in Kitui there are sports facilities. I want to tell him that that is a stadium. There is a difference between athletic camps and stadiums. If you go to Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet, there are good facilities for athletics. If I get one in Machakos, I will be the first one to point it out. It is not only Machakos, Makueni, and Kitui that I am talking about. We also have Taita Taveta, Wajir, and Moyale that borders Ethiopia, who are our competitors at the international level. What I am trying to say is that let us see how these facilities can be distributed equally in the country, so that even if we have an athletic camp in Eldoret, we also know that there is one in Narok and another one in Machakos. That is what I am saying. Stadiums are good and we want them everywhere.

Some time back, we had the Vision 2030 and we agreed that every county must have a state-of-the-art stadium by 2030, but that has not happened. Despite the shortage of resources in the country and the challenge of the Exchequer release that even Parliament is facing, I hope that in future the Government will equitably build sporting facilities across Kenya, so that we produce more Sawes across the country.

Hon. Dr Oundo, you will now celebrate Mr Sebastian Sawe and confirm if there is a stadium in Kakamega and Bungoma.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Let me stick to the accolades then I can go to those obiter dicta towards the end. On behalf of the people of Funyula Constituency and Busia County as a whole, and on behalf of all the parents of children of Sawe’s age, allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate Sebastian Kimaru Sawe for the splendid race he had in London and for breaking the world marathon record that made everybody proud.

I always make sure that I watch all marathons, be it London, New York, Berlin or Tokyo in Japan. I am a lover of athletics and I watch them during Olympics and international athletics competitions. Unfortunately, I missed watching the Sunday London Marathon because it was a momentous Sunday for us in Linda Mwananchi movement. We were lindaring Mwananchi in Kisumu dala. We stormed Kisumu and I did not have a chance to watch that race. However, I watched it later when my grandchildren showed me the race. It was a splendid race. Let me take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate Sawe.

I am happy that for the very first time, our heroes are being recognised in a manner never seen before. Congratulations to whoever organised the function that honoured Sawe. This should also be extended to any other citizen that will make Kenya proud at any given time. For the first time, we are focusing on an important thing that is uniting us as opposed to things that divide us and waste our time.

This country is full of talent. I wish, as Hon. Makau has said, we go out of our way and invest heavily in talent identification and nurturing to make sure that our boys and girls make careers out of their talents. In my constituency, we have people who can sprint and run long races, but as Hon. Makau has said, they have no facilities. People always think that people who can run fast and win medals can only come from a certain part of Kenya. That is not true. We have our own, Wanyonyi, who wins shot races. If we go out of our way to identify and get to know more athletes, we can do much better.

Let me also be on record that the first Olympic gold medallist in Boxing, Robert Wangila Napunyi comes from Funyula Constituency, specifically Butangasi in Sio Port. Personally, I do not have much muscles. So, I cannot box and that is the truth of the matter. I urge the Departmental Committee on Sports, Tourism and Culture; the national executive plus county governments… When the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) was allowed to undertake sporting activities, we saw sporting activities all over the country. However, I do not know who bewitched the county governments when they said they cannot do it. Nothing is happening at the moment.

Finally, let us continue to invest in sporting activities and sporting facilities. Sporting activities are a form of relaxation. It is also an investment that pays very well. It is indeed true that there is a stadium in Kakamega and Bungoma. We were promised that within six months we will have a stadium in Busia. The six months are coming to an end. I hope they will do some magic to extend those six months so that we continue living in hope. I hope that even Kamariny Stadium and the rest will come to pass during your lifetime as you serve in this Government. Congratulations to Sawe and all the coaches who practise with him, his managers, and everybody who contributed to his splendid success.

Thank you.

The Leader of the Majority Party takes precedence. Whenever he arrives, everything stops.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. You know, I was listening to this debate as I was coming from Bomet. Let me begin by congratulating, in a very hearty manner, Sawe, for the splendid performance in London and putting the name of our country on the world map. What he has done is not a mean feat. Breaking a world record is, indeed, something that deserves the accolades that he has received from all Kenyans of goodwill. Let me also congratulate the new management of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) for the very beautiful reception that they gave to Sawe and the Ministry of Sports for recognising our heroes who are putting our country’s name very high in the map of sports. It brings our nation together.

As I listened to this debate on my way here, I could not help but enjoy the moment of Kenyans coming together, forgetting where they come from to congratulate one of us, Sawe, without caring where he comes from. I took note of what the Commissioner, the Member for Mavoko was saying. I was a little perturbed because he was misleading the House saying that there are very good sports facilities in Uasin Gishu and Iten. Yes, there could be good facilities there, but I challenge the Member to name just one of them. Facilities in Iten are privately owned. Therefore, I wish that the Member for Mavoko and leaders in the great Eastern part of

Kenya would invest in sports facilities. It should not just be those from Ukambani, but all of us should begin investing in privately managed sports facilities. The Member for Elgeyo Marakwet County, who is here, can confirm to us that training facilities in Iten are owned by Kiplagat, Tegla Loroupe, and another one by a lady athlete.

As our athletes come back home, it is good to encourage them to reinvest their earnings at home and improve sports facilities so that we develop new talent. The young Sawe is a product of training facility investments that were made by those ahead of him. That should be a challenge to us. I say this because I am not an enthusiast of sports, but I have a young girl in my house, my daughter Mumbi, who just turned 19 two weeks ago. She is studying sports management and challenged me to start taking keen interest in sports. When she introduced the subject of sports management in my house, I asked her which sport she wanted to study, whether running or football. When we grew up, there were no such professions. These are new professions that are well paying. We must engage our young ones and learn from them. I have learnt a lot from my daughter regarding sports management and investment opportunities that exist in sports management field.

As an individual, I am challenged. I am actually looking for land to start investing in sports. This is the new frontier in investments and it has very good returns. Let us think about football games that we all enjoy like the Premier League. A number of people support Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City. All those are good teams. There are those who support Arsenal, just as my daughter does. I asked her why she supports Arsenal yet I hear it always loses. She told me that I was hurting her and she further told me I could not say that. I had to concede and become an Arsenal fan because of her.

I have looked at business opportunities that exist which the Government of Kenya, as you said Hon. Temporary Speaker, has realised and appreciated. We will tap into local talent by investing in sports facilities in Homa Bay, Kitui, and Wajir. That is why I disagree with my brother, the Member from Mavoko, that stadiums are the beginning point of nurturing talents. The people of Kitui would have never had a stadium where they can go and compete. They do not know what an international standard stadium or running track looks like, but they now have it in their county. Athletes from Nyanza and other parts of Kenya can now go and practice and train at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay. We will have new athletes like Sawe in the future.

I congratulate Sawe. The current administration has massively invested in development of sports facilities like the Talanta Stadium, which will be named Raila Odinga International Stadium. There are stadiums in Homa Bay, Kitui, Kericho and the upcoming ones in Wajir and Bungoma. These facilities will have immense benefits to our economy, not only physically, but also in development of talent and the huge investment that this administration has put in the Football Kenya Federation. It will bring sanity in management of football and athletics.

I must commend the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports, and the Arts and encourage them to continue developing new games. Last night, I was speaking to my daughter and she told me about a new game called Fadel, which has become very popular. I have seen a lot of investments in Nairobi. Very soon, somebody will invest in a Fadel facility in Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru cities. These are the opportunities I was speaking about. Congratulations to Sawe and Athletics Kenya. May we see them continue investing in young talent.

Thank you, Leader of the Majority Party. You forgot to mention the number and level of awards the President has been giving sportspeople. Our young people who played in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) left the games millionaires. The money has increased from one million to three million for each game.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the huge investment in awards the President has made is not just in CHAN, but also in boxing that had

been a forgotten sport in this country since the time of Wangila. Those who are older, like Hon. Oundo and I, remember Robert Wangila during the All-Africa Games in 1987. I know a number of Hon. Members here were not yet born. Since then, we now have Majembe and the other gentleman called Mbavu. I hear there is another upcoming match.

I must also encourage our other investors in the arts. I have seen a gentleman called Obinna in both the mainstream and alternative media, who helped organise the fight between Majembe and Mbavu, the Destroyer. We learn a lot. I saw my nine-year-old daughter scribble somewhere ‘Mbavu the Destroyer’. I thought she did not know who that was. When I asked her who that is, she asked me, “Did you not see the fight between Mbavu the Destroyer and Majembe on Obinna TV?” Therefore, our young people are following.

I must also commend the President because he supported that fight. We must continue supporting such upcoming sports, whether Fadel, boxing, volleyball, or even basketball. I have seen a lot of investment in basketball today. This is a new sports investment industry. That is why I encourage all of us to invest, like the President, in our constituencies. Let us give footballers in our constituencies good awards and encourage growth of other sports, not just football tournaments. Let us support darts and pool tournaments among others. I know many of us do that in our constituencies and we should continue to do the same.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Ruth Odinga is recognised to celebrate Sebastian Sawe.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I really appreciate the young man, Sawe. He comes from a village in Uasin Gishu and his father is a struggling maize farmer. He was actually brought up by his grandmother. This is very good example for us from where we come from. It is very important that this young man made it and did what he did. Kenya is very proud of him. In the past, when a Kenyan like Kipchoge Keino or anybody won, we would make sure that the whole country celebrated and it does not become an Uasin Gishu or a county-by-county affair.

I urge that we all come out right now and celebrate Sawe, as I am going to do. I am heading out for some refreshments and will celebrate Sawe in the best way. My people of Kisumu County are very happy, and they are expressing their desire to have a dancing competition that could go to the Olympics; na utaona vile wajaluo watafanya. I am proud of him, and everybody is proud of Sawe. Congratulations to him! I also congratulate the President for ensuring that the people of Uasin Gishu are going to be happy, and I hope all Kenyans can celebrate.

Thank you, and God bless you.

Do not challenge Hon. Ruth Odinga on the Lingala dance; she will win. Is that the Member for Banissa? Your contribution is the last, then we can return to business. Sawe has brought Parliament to a standstill.

Yes!

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. On behalf of the people of Banissa and the people of Northern Kenya in general, I congratulate Sebastian Sawe for an achievement that no human has ever attained under open race conditions. The last time a comparable feat was achieved, it was under controlled circumstances, when Kipchoge ran the famous INEOS marathon. Yes, the two-hour record was broken, but that was under controlled conditions.

I was reading an article yesterday that stated this record can still be broken, down to one hour and fifty-four minutes, and the only person who can reduce that record from one hour fifty-nine minutes and thirty seconds to one hour fifty-four minutes is Sebastian. We congratulate him, and we are proud of him. As we all know, sport is a unifying factor, and, indeed, given the backdrop of what is happening between our Akamba brothers and our Somali

communities, we need such activities to calm the nation. We will support and congratulate every Kenyan who achieves such a wonderful feat.

The other thing is that the people from my region are also known for their marathon- running abilities. I recall that 10 years ago, four men from my region chased down a cheetah, caught it, and took it to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

Hon. Kangogo Bowen, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Blue Economy, Water and Irrigation.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to also congratulate Sebastian Sawe for breaking the world record in the marathon. I am happy that as a country we are celebrating a Kenyan for breaking a world record. Kenya is a country of many talents; it is only that we have not taken sports and talent development seriously.

At the last Olympics, Botswana won the gold medal in the 4x4 100 metres relay, and the whole country declared a holiday for almost a full week to celebrate this great accomplishment. Kenyan athletes from the Rift Valley are doing very well. When we consider the western part of our country—Nyanza and the broader western region—in terms of football, they are among the best. Yet, when one visits some of our informal settlements and observes young boys playing football, one may wonder why these talented young individuals are not being scouted. These are remarkable talents. If we nurture them and invest resources, we can produce the best footballers in this country.

Similarly, if you look at communities like the Turkana in terms of basketball, some individuals from that region have gone abroad and excelled. We need to invest resources in sports. Today, the National Treasury will probably bring the Budget Estimates to Parliament before the end of the day. However, when you examine the budget allocated to sports, it is very little. We cannot nurture these talents without investing in them. So, as we celebrate Sawe this afternoon, Hon. Members, we must ensure that we allocate resources to the Ministry of Sports for the establishment of academies and talent centres. I join other Kenyans and the President in congratulating Sawe and all other Kenyans who have excelled.

Last week, at the Kipchoge Classic at Nyayo Stadium, I witnessed many Kenyans coming out to celebrate the 100-metre champion, Mr Ferdinand Omanyala, who ran an impressive time of 9.96 seconds. He is an outstanding performer. We celebrate all our athletes and young talents. I implore this House to allocate more resources to sports so that we can develop our young people.

Thank you.

Hon. Stephen Mule.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for this opportunity. I want to speak on behalf of our Departmental

Committee on Sports and Culture, and also on behalf of the people of Machakos Town and the

Lastly, let us have Hon. Mwashako.

Asante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda, kwa kunipa nafasi ili nimuenzi Mkenya mwenzetu, Sabastian Sawe, aliyeshinda mbio ambazo zilisemekana kuwa ni ngumu sana na kumaliza kwa chini ya masaa mawili. Sawe amedhihirisha kuwa no human is limited. Ukiweka nia na bidii, hakuna kile ambacho mtu hawezi timiza.

Sawe ameleta sifa kochokocho kwa taifa letu duniani kote. Mimi hata nimepata simu kutoka kwa rafiki yangu ambaye tulipatana kule London akiniambia kwamba Kenya tuna raha kwani mmoja wetu alishinda na kavunja rekodi kiasi hicho.

Nashukuru kuwa Rais ameweza kumtuza Sawe. Kama viongozi, tunafaa kutathimini wachezaji kama Sawe. Ninajua kwamba Bunge la Taifa limeungana kumuenzi, kumsifu na kumpa kongole Bw. Sawe. Hata hivyo, ni vyema tuwe makini wakati ambapo wachezaji wetu wanaleta sifa nyingi hivi tusije tukaharibu sifa ya nchi yetu. Tunaelekea wakati wa uchaguzi. Kuna mashindano ya kisiasa na mvutano haukosi. Wakati joto la kisiasa linapopanda sana, ni vizuri tuwaweke wakimbiaji hawa, ambao wameleta sifa nyingi, mahali ambapo wanaweza kuzungumza vyema kuhusu viongozi.

Mara nyingi, sisi tunawaharibia jina na ni makosa sana. Twafaa kuleta Wakenya wetu pamoja kama wanavyofanya wanaspoti wetu. Leo tunapoongea kuhusu Bw. Sawe, sote tuna furaha na uzalendo kwani mmoja wetu ameweza kuvunja rekodi ya dunia. Ingekuwa hivyo ndivyo tunavyohisi wakati tunapofanya siasa ingekuwa vyema. Siasa zetu zisiwe za kutugawanya ila ziwe za kutuunganisha na kuleta sifa na raha kwa wanachi wa Kenya.

Nimuhimu kuwatafuta na kuwaleta pamoja wanaspoti wetu, ambao wanaleta sifa nchini wakati tunapokuwa na uhasama wa kisiasa, ili tujue kwamba kuna watu ambao hawataki tugombane. Hata tuwaweke juu kidogo kuliko sisi. Sisi tunaitwa “waheshimiwa” lakini waheshimiwa wa dhati ni wakimbiaji wetu ambao wanaleta sifa nchini. Wanaleta sifa kwa bidii zao wenyewe. Leo hii, hakuna mmoja wetu hapa ambaye anaweza kujisifu kuwa amechangia

bidii ama kumfikisha Sawe alipofika ijapokuwa tunafurahia ushindi wake. Ninawaomba wanasiasa wenzangu tujifunze kutoka kwa wanaspoti wetu kwani wao wameleta sifa za kweli na za kukuza nchi yetu.

Watu wengi wamezungumzia Uasin Gishu na kusema kwamba kule Iten kuna facilities za wakimbiaji ambazo zimebobea. Ninaomba niwajulishe Wakenya kwamba hali ya hewa katika Kaunti ya Taita Taveta, mahali panapoitwa Ngerenyi katika Sub-County ya Wundanyi, ni sawa na ile ya Iten. Wanaspoti wengi ambao hufanya matayarisho yao kule Uasin Gishu wakati mwingine hufanyia matayarisho yao kule Taita Taveta kwa sababu altitude na hali ya hewa ya mahali pale ni sawa na ile ya Iten.

Kando na kuwekeza kwenye seheme ambazo wakimbiaji wanatoka, naomba uwekezaji sawa upelekwe hadi Taita Taveta. Pale Ngerenyi tulianzisha centre ndogo ya wakimbiaji kufanya mazoezi na tunatafuta hela. Kuna mmoja wetu ambaye alikuwa Mbunge na Waziri katika miaka ya awali, Mhe. Marsden Madoka, ambaye alianzisha Madoka Marathon kule Taita Taveta. Jitihada zake zimeweza kukuza vipaji vya wanaspoti wengi chipukizi, akiwemo mkiambiaji anayeitwa Panuel Mkungo. Tunamuenzi mkimbiaji kwa sabau ameshinda half marathon nyingi Marekani. Amekuza kipaji chake katika facilities zilizoko Taita Taveta.

Ninaliomba Bunge la Kitaifa kuwa tanapojadili Budget Estimates, ambazo tayari zimefika bungeni, tutenge pesa za kutosha za kujenga athletics training centre kule Ngerenyi. Tunahitaji Ksh150 billion. Nitaleta Mswada na kuliomba Bunge hili litenge hela hizo ili tujenge training facility kule Ngerenyi, Taita Taveta, na kwingineko Kenya nzima ili tuweze kukuza vipaji vya wanaspoti kama inavyofanyika kule Uasin Gishu. Tukifanya hivyo, nchi nzima itafanikiwa.

Ahsante, Mhe. Spika wa Muda.

Hon. Caroli Omondi, you have two minutes.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, give me a little more time. As you know, I am the only one in this House who still runs half a marathon every three days and a full marathon in every quarter of the year. Therefore, I know the pain. I am very happy to pay tribute to Sebastian Sawe on setting the sub-two-hour record of 1:59:30 at the London Marathon. I do not know whether the name Sebastian has a relation to, or has something special for, athletics because there was another famous Sebastian who set about nine world records and won four Olympic Gold Medals.

As we recognise Sebastian Sawe, let us also remember Ruth Chepng'etich, who also set a Women's World record at the Chicago Marathon in 2024. She finished in a record time of 2:09:56. There have been other great athletes, including Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum and Ethiopia’s Haile Gerber-Selassie and lady Assefa. Remarkably, we had Moses Kiptanui, whom many Kenyans may not remember. He is one of those athletes who made it to the centre page of Time Magazine as the fittest man in the world in 1992.

We also had the great Paul Tergat, who once told me that only a poor man can do athletics because of the pain associated with it. If you are rich and comfortable, you cannot engage in painful sports. Of course, we also have our very own Eliud Kipchoge, who also did the first sub-two-hour at INEOS self-competition in Vienna in 2019 at the age of 35. He clocked a record time of 1:59:40.2.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I suggest that the Government should take this matter seriously and copy what is being done in the United Kingdom (UK) . In the UK, they have something called the Pipeline of Future Champions. It is a futures programme which identifies potential athletes or sportsmen, provides coaches to them, gives them development plans and assistance and helps them to participate in competitions. We only recognise most of our athletes when they win. We come out to celebrate them and talk aloud about it, but we do not have a

futures programme. As a Member of the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture, we have recommended the establishment of such an institution.

I chaired a meeting of the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture two weeks ago. We considered a Bill by one of our colleagues, Hon. Cynthia Muge. Part of it is supposed to create an Honours Roll with an award scheme for world record holders. When Hon. Cynthia Muge's Bill is brought to the House, all of us should support it. We should not be waiting for the President to honour or award anybody who sets a world record. That is the gist of Hon. Cynthia Muge's Bill. We should have an Honours Roll through which to recognise any Kenyan who sets a world record, be it a record for hugging a tree or a record of the longest kiss in the world. There is nothing as tough and painful as running. I do it every three days. I will run 21 kilometres on Saturday. The recovery is not easy at my age, but I do it. Congratulations to Mr Sebastian Sawe.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Jane Kagiri. Hon. Members, do we agree that she will be the last one to contribute so that we all salute at once?

Yes!

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to congratulate Mr Sebastian Sawe for a job well done. I am known to many in this House. When I was in high school, I was a marathoner. Do not look at me differently because I used to do it very well. I stand to congratulate my counterpart who has done a very good job.

On a point of order, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Ng’elechei, what is out of order?

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. The burning issue is that I have just remembered the day Mr Sebastian broke the world record. All the newspapers and leading media houses in the world made him the headline except the Kenyan newspapers, where politics was the headline. I urge the media houses in Kenya to be patriotic.

On a point of information, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Order, Hon. Oundo! She is on a point of order.

I urge all the media houses and even Kenyans who have airtime to at least appreciate the young and upcoming Kenyans. It is not about politics each and every time for 24 hours.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, kindly protect me from Hon. Caroli. In fact, he is giving me a title that does not belong to me.

Hon. Caroli, Hon. Ng’elechei is our best female basketballer and best female netballer of the Bunge Team. She will be heard in silence.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I expected everything in Kenya to come to a standstill to celebrate him just the way State House and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) did. The Members of this House have also shown big support and appreciation for our athletes.

Thank you.

Conclude your contributions, Hon.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. Before the point of order was raised, I was informing this honourable House that I am a staunch Arsenal fan. However, every time I support Arsenal, I feel guilty because I would like to be a strong supporter of teams from my county, including Nanyuki Stars, Nyahururu Stars or Githiga Stars. As the Government continues to construct stadiums and places of sports activities, I believe we will grow our talents and become international renowned players, marathoners and sports people.

Finally, in support of what my colleague has said, it was very disappointing to see that none of our media houses, in the whole nation, thought it was important to cover the win by Mr Sebastian Sawe. It is a humble plea for us to be extremely patriotic as a country. We should appreciate and encourage the people who do good things for our country. In that spirit, Kenya will be known for the good things. It is not only the bad things that we need to speak about.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Next is Hon. Adan Keynan because of rank.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. One of the things that the framers of the current Constitution thought of was to have cultural diplomacy as one of our foreign policy pillars. They were not fools. I am sure some of them were your colleagues in the legal practice. Within that cultural diplomacy, there is sporting diplomacy.

Countries are known for different events. Kenya is lucky because we have inborn sportsmen and sportswomen. What we lack is the patriotism to encourage them so that we continue to create an international niche for this country as a sporting nation. It is not enough to commend them whenever one of us clinches an international title. Mr Sawe and many others have done it. As leadership, what have we done? As a country, what have we done to celebrate not only those who are performing but also young ones who still lack opportunity to join the international league?

I want the Leader of the Majority Party to listen. We must have a deliberate policy. The Leader of the Majority Party has an opportunity to implement the policy. Pursuant to our foreign policy, our sportsmen and sportswomen must be supported through budgetary provisions and incentives. The world is a global village. Many people will come and visit Mr Sawe’s village as part of international tourism because of the headline in The New York Times or The London Economic. These are things we must cultivate. The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports must do everything humanly possible to encourage our sportsmen and sportswomen.

Somebody asked me whether there are sportsmen and sportswomen in Northern Kenya. I said that we have some of the most talented youths in this country. The only thing they lack is an opportunity to showcase their talent. If this regime attempts to reach out to them, we will

have ‘Mohammed Sawe’ or ‘Khadija Sawe’ from Northern Kenya soon because they will have opportunity to nurture and showcase their talents.

This country is blessed in the sense that we have some of the best brains not only in the human resource capital but also in every field. Look at our neighbours. I like what our good lady has said. Patriotism is not something that can be forced. We must inculcate a culture of patriotism. We must be loyal to this country. We do not have a spare one. The only country that we have that protects and gives us an image, and which all of us are duty-bound constitutionally to promote, project and protect is my motherland, Kenya. I do not have another country. It is very dear. It must remain above our day-to-day political frames. That is the only way.

If you look at Israel, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and United States of America (USA), their citizens disagree on petty things. However, when it comes to anything that touches on their sovereignty or identity, they all coalesce around a common ground and decide that something goes beyond politics. In Kenya, we behave as if we have nothing else left. Therefore, I commend the Government. We are proud of Mr Sawe wherever he is. Continue being an example to many youths who lack opportunities.

My final word of advice to Sawe is that many youths have fallen into traps. I am sure that right now you are very famous. I know where you are. I am talking to you directly as a father. Where you are, you have made money and earned a name. Do not waste your money in clubs. Invest, marry, and train many others. That is the only way you will be a living example to many other youths. We do not want to hear that Sawe was in a club or somewhere else. I am offering this unsolicited, free advice as a father and as a grandfather. That is the only way we will be very proud of you.

To the parents of Sawe, this is the time to hold your son and guide him to the path of the many Kenyans who have got opportunities and succeeded. I wish you well, and I hope and pray that many other youths will succeed in the sporting field the way Sawe has succeeded.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Adan Keynan. I will not be given the position of Leader of the Majority Party if Hon. Jematiah does not say a word on this matter.

Member for Baringo County, you are recognised to celebrate Sebastian Sawe.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also take this opportunity to celebrate and congratulate our star of the year 2026, Mr Sebastian Kimaru Sawe. I come from the Kalenjin nation; the owners of the field. I come from Baringo, where Mr Tergat, who became an Olympic champion for a long time, comes from. He has trained many Kenyans all over the country at a place called Kabarnet. One thing about Kenya is that when we do it, we do it to our best. The Ministry should take this opportunity and recognise most sportsmen and women. We need to celebrate them.

It reminds me of the Moi era, when we were very young pupils in primary school. We used to listen to national patriotic songs that reminded us every day about our country. When you talk about agriculture, we had very good songs like “Kilimo.” When you talk about sports, we had songs that reminded us every time that we are Kenyans and Kenya is the only place we belong. I take this opportunity to also congratulate other sportsmen and sportswomen, not forgetting Mr Kipchoge, who held the record until Sabastian broke it. For the Kenyan Anthem to be sung everywhere, we have to glorify and congratulate them every day.

I believe that if young Kenyans are given opportunity, they will do marvellous things and perform even better. We will have more Sebastian-like people breaking records. We will also have a lot of opportunity to promote this country through sports and tourism. We will build this country and create a better society through sports, because nothing beats sports.

Thank you for the opportunity.

Hon. Wandeto.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also rise to send my very warm congratulations to Sebastian Sawe for the earth-shaking feat that he has achieved by running the marathon in less than two hours. Just to remind ourselves, modern Marathons debuted in 1896 at the Olympics. At that time, a gentleman by the name of Spyridon Louis ran the marathon in two hours and 58 minutes. That was a world record at the time. You can see that in about 130 years, the human race has managed to erase a whole hour from the marathon mark.

The sub-two-hour mark seemed an impossibility for the last 40 or 50 years until Eliud Kipchoge did it, though in a slightly assisted manner. For Sebastian Sawe to do it on a normal course, it is indeed a historic moment. No wonder this new record has been celebrated the world over. I agree with those who have said that, maybe, as a country, we did not celebrate him as much as we should have. I wish Hon. Jane Kagiri is here. Since Hon. Ng’elechei is still here, I can inform her that the only reason as to why our newspapers never put Sebastian Sawe in the headlines is that politics is our national sport. That is what we always put in the headlines. That is the national sport of Kenya. Politics is what we all play.

As a country, we have to do more for our sportsmen and sportswomen. We have to reward them better, provide more training facilities, and work on grassroots sports. It is sad that, as Members of Parliament, we lost the sports component of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) kitty to the county governments. This has compromised grassroots sports, be it football, netball, basketball that Hon. Ng’elechei plays, or even athletics. Maybe, this is something we need to look at afresh because as soon as the 2 per cent of the NG-CDF kitty went to the governors, we stopped seeing sporting activities happening at the grassroots level.

Talking about sporting facilities, again as a country, we must build facilities with sincerity. Sometimes we build stadiums not because we want to promote local sporting activities but because we are looking for opportunities for rent-seeking. For example, we all know that the Talanta Stadium project has a very questionable return on investment (ROI) . Let us build stadiums with the right intention. We must not build such facilities just to make money or for deals, but to promote sport. We must invest more in athletics, football and in every other sport.

Once again, I congratulate the young man. May he continue to rise. I hope he will do even better next time. May he be an example to many other Kenyans who aspire to join the Hall of Fame for their country and for themselves because it is possible.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I also take this opportunity to congratulate this very young man. At only 31 years of age, and such a great marathoner, he is now being referred to as the greatest marathoner of all times. This is a special message to many young people across the Republic - that, it is possible to do something, to succeed, and to achieve whatever you set your mind on. This young man is such an example. He does not come from a big family or traditionally running communities but through dedication, he has made Kenya proud.

As we take time to congratulate him, it is also time to celebrate the great country that we have. I know sometimes we face difficult times and there are issues that may not be working well, but we have great people and a great country. It is important that we celebrate that fact every now and then. In my constituency, we sponsor a football tournament every year for grannies—ladies above 60 years. When we did this in December, I was surprised. I thought I was fit. I was surprised to see grandmothers aged 70 and 80 playing very serious soccer. It is very important that we continuously encourage everyone across the country to keep fit, to be

athletic, and to be active in sports. I also encourage the Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah, to start participating in some sports like running, football, or netball. The other day when His Excellency the President mentioned something along those lines, some people took offence even though their names had not been mentioned.

Secondly, I congratulate the Kenya Kwanza Administration for the stadiums that are being built across the country. We have the Talanta Sports Stadium being constructed in Nairobi. We have a stadium being constructed in Kitui. Afraha Stadium in Nakuru is being upgraded. There are stadiums under construction in Kisii, Kisumu and Wajir. There are many stadiums being constructed across the country. That is why we say development does not need to be a favour. We need to develop our country equitably so that every Kenyan can feel the responsibility, and find joy in being a Kenyan. Once again, I congratulate His Excellency the President and this administration, for the many stadiums they are building across the country.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker.

Hon. Members, the Temporary Speaker joins you in registering his congratulations to Sebastian Sawe.

That is the beauty of sports. It brings all of us together and it has no equal. I rise under Standing Order 44 (2) (a) to make a Statement on behalf of the House Business Committee, which met on Tuesday, 28th April 2026 to prioritise business for consideration by the House during the next sitting week.

First, allow me to commend the leadership of the House, our Committees and Members for the dedication and cooperation exhibited in this Session so far as we come to the end of the First Part. There is no doubt that the collective effort and collaboration that we have exhibited as a House has enabled us to transact quite substantial business that required our consideration during the First Part of this Session.

Going by our Calendar (Regular Sittings) , we are due for a long recess commencing tomorrow Friday, 1st May 2026. We will resume our sittings on Tuesday, 26th May 2026, at

Thank you, Leader of Majority Party. Could we now revert to Order No.5, which is on Papers?

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

Thank you, Leader of the Majority Party. Hon. Members, I also wish to confirm that the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning has submitted the following documents together with the Estimates: The Draft Finance Bill, 2026; the Draft Kenya Revenue Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and the Draft Road Maintenance Levy Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Chairperson, Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.

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

Report of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on its Consideration of the East African Community, Custom Proposals for the Financial Year 2026/2027. This is the first time these proposals have come before this House. COFEC instituted proceedings against the National Treasury, and the court directed that, before any proposals are submitted to the EAC by the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, they must, first, be presented to this House for approval. Accordingly, the application measures being laid before the House constitute temporary adjustments to the EAC customs rates to address, among other things, domestic economic priorities. These adjustments are intended to protect local industries, safeguard revenue, and correct market distortions, including the undervaluation and miscalculation of imports.

I beg to lay.

Next Order. At Order No.8, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health is not present. Owing to the importance of this Motion, the reply is deferred to a future date.

Next Order. Chairperson of the

Committee on Delegated Legislation. We have Hon. Charles Onchoke in the House, who has

I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Delegated Legislation on its consideration of the Copyright

Tariffs, 2026, laid on the Table of the House on

Wednesday, 29th April 2026, and pursuant to the provisions of Section 18 of the Statutory instruments Act, Cap. 2A and Standing Order 210(4)(b), this House approves the Copyright (Consolidated (Music and Audio-Visual Works) Tariffs, published as Legal Notice No.6 of 2026, subject to the annulment of the following provisions in the Schedule to the Regulations—

Hon. Geoffrey Wandeto, please second the Motion.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I rise to second the Motion on the approval of the Report of the Copyright

Tariffs, 2026 – 2028, Legal Notice No. 4 of 2026.

First, I wish to commend the Chairman and the Members for a thorough and legally sound review of the Regulations. The Report before this House reflects a careful appreciation of both the constitutional and economic dimensions of copyright regulations in Kenya.

With those few remarks, I second the Motion and urge the House to adopt the Report of the Committee.

Hon. (Dr) Oundo, do you want to contribute to this? Hon. Naomi Waqo? Yes, another Motion. Hon. Kimani Kuria, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee in charge of Finance and National Planning.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I was discussing this Motion with the Mover. I am impressed that the Committee has proposed the annulment of most of those tariffs, as some would have hurt small businesses in this country.

This House must rise to the occasion to support entrepreneurship and businesses. At a time when there are many tariffs charged, for example, by county governments, it is interesting that some counties charge businesses fire extinguisher fees, yet they do not even have a fire engine. Sometimes they also charge fire engine tariffs, but when there is a fire, no truck is available to put it out.

I want to congratulate this Committee for proposing the removal of most of these tariffs. This House supports small businesses. When we say we are implementing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), this is one of the ways we ensure that small businesses are supported from the grassroots, whether barber shops, car washes, or salons.

Most importantly, it is good that this Committee has also recommended removing fees for political activities. This will allow more engagement, more freedom of speech, and greater political competition. It would be good if, even in the next election, there were as many parties as possible for any candidate, so that Kenyans could choose whom to elect based on merit, ethics, and skill set.

I was discussing political competition with some of my constituents this morning. I told them there is nothing wrong with people declaring their political affiliations. That is the beauty of our Constitution. What is wrong is when people are not given the freedom to support the candidate of their choice. So, if Hon. Wandeto is in the Wantam Movement, it is okay to be there. I know he will change his position very soon and also allow those of us in the Tutam Movement to remain comfortable. This is because that is the freedom of speech we need. When people go to vote, they choose their leaders. Some people, for example, from the mountain region, are facing a very difficult time. This is because they have been told that only one person will decide who gets elected and who does not. That is against the tenets of our Constitution, because the power to vote and choose leaders belongs to the people of Kenya.

Therefore, I want to echo the words of the President and say that nobody should be threatened that they will not be elected because of this or that. Our Constitution is very clear that the people shall elect their representatives. So, whichever political parties we belong to, I urge all of us to compete on ideas and ideologies. Whichever side of the divide we belong to, it is our democratic right to be there, and therefore, there is no need for any acrimony.

In any case, people who wake up to vote do not sleep in the same house, yet they all wake up and go vote for Hon. Waqo. People woke up from different parts of my constituency. They did not stay in the same homestead. They elected Hon. Kuria Kimani for season two, and now we are saying we are going to season three. There is something divine in that particular decision.

I do not think the way we find ourselves here in this House, or even the other leaders across the country, is just because we talk or campaign well. God actually chooses leaders, and people wake up to confirm the Lord's decision. Even people who are now trying their luck to come into politics, give your shots, give your best, but please also know that God chooses leaders. If God has decided it is you, people across the constituency and the country will wake up and vote for you.

In addition, I encourage young people to register as voters. Sadly, this particular mass voter registration has the lowest turnout, and yet the young people want their voices to be heard. Equally, whichever political affiliation, the decision will not come by how many tweets or Facebook posts you make. The decision will be on the ballot. That is waking up, going to the polling station and saying I am choosing this leader or that leader. If you have not registered to vote, you will, unfortunately, not have fulfilled that democratic duty.

It is important to mention that this is what our forefathers fought for. For a very long time, people were not allowed to vote. But our forefathers fought for this independence and said, let the people decide at the ballot box. All young people across the country, please register

as voters. If you are registered at a different polling station and want to change, go to the polling station where you are registered and change to your preferred polling station.

With that, I support and congratulate the Committee for doing a very good job. Thank you.

There being no further interest to contribute… Is that Hon. David Mboni? Please make your contributions.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. As you move forward to adjourn the House, I think this proposal is very important. This is because some of these levies, especially those from the counties, are overbearing on small businesses. Therefore, it is our responsibility as a House to ensure that small business people are protected. It is actually the middle-income group which moves the country forward, not the high-income group, because they are not consumers. Therefore, I think the proposal they have done is welcome. I agree with my Chair that people should decide who to elect, so that at least people have a voice. I support that proposal. Thank you very much.

The effect of what the Committee on Delegated Legislation has proposed in this report is that performance of music copyright in both audio and visual forms will be chargeable under the Act except for situations where they are used in hairdressings, salons, bars, carwashes, barber shops, retail shops and in political events, campaigns, launch parties, unveiling candidates and manifestos.

There being no more interests by Members to contribute, the Report being clear, the Mover is called upon to reply now.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I appreciate my colleagues across the aisle's contributions. The Committee noted that many agencies want to raise rates and fees, making it very expensive to do business in this country. One way to encourage small businesses and investors is to set reasonable; affordable rates. They will then be able to engage in business without many problems. The Government is supposed to create an enabling environment for business, promote economic growth, and eliminate unemployment, particularly among the youth of our country.

With those few remarks, I beg to reply.

Next Order.

Hon. Members, the Chairperson of the

Committee on Regional Integration requested that we defer debate on this Motion to a future

Hon. Members, for the convenience of the House, this Motion is stepped down for consideration at a future date. Next Order.

Hon. Members, I have acceded to the request by the Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation that this Motion be stepped down for consideration at a future date. He is engaged in other parliamentary business. Next Order.

Hon. Members, for the convenience of the House and noting the amount of work ahead of the House as we proceed to recess, the consideration of this Motion is stepped down to such time as the House Business Committee shall schedule for transacting it. Hon. Members, congratulations on the good work that you have done as you proceed to be with your constituents during the recess.

Hon. Members, the time being 5.40

Published by Clerk of the National Assembly