Wednesday, 29th April 2026

Serjeant-at-Arms, ring the Quorum Bell.

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

Committee on Delegated Legislation, Hon. Chepkonga? Hon. Gichimu, the Vice-Chairman?

I have no idea, Hon. Speaker, but let me try and find the Chairperson.

Go ahead and do so. Next Order.

Hon. Lillian Siyoi, Member for Trans Nzoia County? Hon. Irene Mayaka.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to seek a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock regarding the devastating effects of the rapid spread of the dodder weed (Cuscuta species) in Kenya.

The Dodder plant is an invasive plant that poses a serious threat to agriculture and environmental sustainability. Dodder spreads quickly through seeds and stem fragments, making it difficult to control once established. Most herbicides have proven ineffective, forcing farmers to manually cut, uproot, or burn infected plants, which significantly increases labour and farm management costs. It attaches itself to host plants, penetrates their tissues, and draws water and nutrients, eventually weakening or killing the plant.

Research by institutions such as the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) has identified Dodder as a major threat to tea, coffee, avocado, citrus, fruit trees, and other crops of economic importance. The weed is rapidly spreading across Western, Rift Valley, Eastern, and Lake Basin regions, with Nyamira County among the most affected tea-growing areas. In areas such

as Sironga, Marindi, and West Mugirango, farmers have reported widespread infestation of tea bushes, leading to plant drying, reduced green leaf deliveries to factories, and declining farmer earnings. This invasion is projected to cause major agricultural losses, threaten livelihoods, reduce tea productivity, and undermine food security in affected regions.

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

Thank you, Hon. Irene. Any Member from the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock? I do not see Hon. (Dr) Mutunga. Hon. DK, are you from that Committee?

Yes, tell your Chairperson to bring the response the first week after recess.

Well noted, Hon. Speaker.

Hon. Pauline Lenguris? Hon. Ibrahim Sane? Hon. Josses Lelmengit. Member for Emgwen.

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 Transport and Infrastructure regarding a fatal road accident that occurred at Sirwa Yala along the Chavakali–Kapsabet section of the Eldoret–Kapsabet– Chavakali Road (C39) , and the status of the ongoing maintenance works on the same road.

On the night of Wednesday, 22nd April 2026, a tragic road accident involving a Homeboyz bus travelling from Kakamega to Nairobi occurred at Sirwa Yala. According to official reports, the bus overturned, resulting in the loss of one life and leaving thirty-three (33) passengers injured. This unfortunate incident adds to the growing number of fatal accidents reported along this road, which has, for a long time, remained in a deplorable condition. While the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) had initiated maintenance work on the Chavakali–Kapsabet–Eldoret stretch, it is deeply concerning that the work has reportedly stalled. Sections of the road were excavated and left unattended for over a month, narrowing the carriageway and exposing motorists to great danger due to a lack of proper signage and traffic management measures. It is claimed that the accident occurred at one such unsafe section.

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

Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, Hon. GG, when will you bring a response?

Hon. Speaker, we will respond in the first week after recess.

Thank you. Hon. Ibrahim Saney? Hon. Pauline Lenguris? Hon. Lillian Siyoi? First, I apologise to the House for coming late. We called you twice.

I apologise to the House for coming in late. I was delayed by a traffic jam, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you.

Chair of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, Dr Mutunga. When can you bring a response? This one is very urgent if what the Hon. Member is saying is true. I want a response tomorrow. We are recessing tomorrow, the 30th April 2026. Right?

It may not be possible for us to get it tomorrow because I am aware that the Cabinet Secretary is out of the country.

The Cabinet Secretary does not go with the office. I want you to give us a preliminary response tomorrow at 2.30 p.m., because we are undermining food security in the country if what she is saying is true.

Yes, the Cabinet Secretary does not go with the office. I will try my best to pass the message today so I can see how quickly they respond. I agree with you. Thank you. I will do that.

For the last time, Hon. Pauline Lenguris and Hon. Ibrahim Saney.

Hon. Ngogoyo.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I rise to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure regarding the construction of link roads to the Ngong-Suswa Highway.

While the Ngong-Suswa Highway was developed to decongest traffic along existing corridors and provide a faster alternative route to Narok, Bomet, Kericho, Kisii, Nyamira, and the wider Nyanza region, its intended benefits are yet to be fully realised, largely due to the incomplete construction of link roads that are critical for the connectivity and accessibility to the highway.

The Ngong town-Oloolua-Kiserian 46 Road remains incomplete, thereby limiting access to the highway, forcing motorists to rely on already congested roads. It is against this background that I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure on the following:

Yes, Hon. Sunkuli. Do you want to joyride on that? Go ahead.

I request to joyride because the road from Ngong to Narok and onwards, which the Member is referring to, is very important. It seems to be falling apart already. Some parts of it need to be repaired. More fundamentally, because it is now a major highway, could Safaricom try to place its boosters there? One cannot reach any network for half of that road. We must place much importance on that road and its link roads.

Hon. GK, when can you bring a response? Do not limit yourself to the two link roads. I think the point Hon. Julius Sunkuli is raising is legit. A highway like that must have a network in place in case of emergencies or any issues arising therewith.

Is the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Regional Development in the House? Hon. Lochakapong, are you ready to respond to Hon. Edith Nyenze’s request? Go ahead.

Yes. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. This is a response to the Statement regarding the effects of floods experienced across the country, which will be in two parts. One is a response by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. The Cabinet Secretary of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes has responded to the second part. I have just compiled the responses into one.

This is a response to a request for a statement by Hon. Edith Nyenze, Member of Parliament of Kitui West Constituency, regarding the effects of floods currently being experienced across the country and the measures the Government has undertaken. In particular, the Member sought a Statement on the following:

How long is that?

I think maybe about three minutes or so. So, the State Department for Special Programmes is mandated to provide food relief and essential supplies to affected populations during a crisis. This includes ensuring the timely provision of both food and essential...

We know their mandate. Tell us what they are doing.

During the February-March 2026 rains, which occasioned serious flooding in some parts of the country, several households were adversely affected, thereby necessitating urgent government humanitarian interventions.

In response, the State Department for Special Programmes undertook immediate relief measures to support affected households, providing food supplies and essential non-food items, reaching a total of 92,570 beneficiaries across the affected areas. The assistance targeted the most severely affected and vulnerable households in Nairobi, Kisumu, Migori, Tana River, Homa Bay and Siaya Counties with the objective of cushioning displaced families, preserving

their dignity and welfare, and meeting their immediate basic needs, pending the restoration of normal livelihoods. The intervention specifically included the distribution of food commodities alongside critical households and hygiene items, such as blankets, mattresses, soap and sanitary towels, particularly to families affected by the floods.

Hon. Speaker, the State Department provided relief support as follows. In Nairobi County, a total of 8,950 50kg bags of rice, 6,635 50kg bags of beans, and 10 50kg bags of maize were distributed. In addition, affected households received 8,645 blankets, 4,535 mattresses, 510 cartons of soap and 55 bales of sanitary towels. In Kisumu County, the government supplied 2,750 50 kg bags of rice, 3,120 50 kg bags of beans, and 900 50 kg bags of maize.

Further support included 1,170 blankets, 540 mattresses, and 80 cartons of soap. In Migori County, assistance comprised 2,400 bags of rice, 2,860 50 kg bags of beans and 900 50 kg bags of maize, alongside 2,470 blankets, 1,020 mattresses and 1,000 cartons of soap. In Tana River County, the Government distributed 1,200 50 kg bags of rice and 1,040 50kg bags of beans to affected households. In Homa Bay County, support provided included 2,750 50 kg bags of rice, 3,120 50 kg bags of beans, and 900 50 kg bags of maize. In Siaya County, the Government delivered 600 50 kg bags of rice, 1,040 50kg bags of beans, and 650 kg bags of maize.

Overall, across the affected counties, the State Department distributed a cumulative total of 18,550 bags of rice, 17,815 bags of beans, and 3,310 bags of maize. In addition, 12,285 blankets, 6,095 mattresses, 690 cartons of soap, and 55 bales of sanitary towels were provided to support displaced and affected households.

Hon. Speaker, in conclusion, the State Department continues to provide relief assistance to populations affected by disasters and crises across the country, while focusing on addressing the most urgent humanitarian needs of affected households.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Thank you. Hon. Nyenze, are you satisfied we move to something else?

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to thank the Chairman for the response. It is good and detailed, but I have a few points to note. Actually, this one sounds like just a classic ministerial statement. It lacks information on how the Government is being proactive in preventing these floods that cause so many deaths.

Hon. Speaker, I note that recurring floods in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya, including the Lake Victoria dykes, point to chronic failures in the enforcement of building regulations, waste management, and riparian land protection. I also note that relocation efforts have historically been slow and have always been resisted. So, what can we do to arrive at a final, proactive solution? This is because we have so many high-rise buildings coming up, which is good, but we do not seem to have proper planning for the sewerage system. That was my concern. We should come up with long-lasting solutions.

Thank you for the response. However, I did not receive the second response in writing.

Hon. Peter Lochakapong, I think that is just a compliment to what you said. We can leave it there. Thank you, Hon. Nyenze. I will come back to Orders No.5 and No. 6 for Delegated Legislation and Hon. Pauline Lenguris at Order No. 7, but let us first dispose of Orders No. 8 and No. 9.

Members on their feet, take your seats.

Mover.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to move that the Forest Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No.38 of

Hon. (Dr) Oundo.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to second.

Hon. Members, on your feet, take your seats. Hon. Bowen.

Yes.

Members on your feet, take your seats. Hon. Ngogoyo, take your seat.

Mover.

Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Mover, Hon. Tandaza, I beg to move that the Crops (Amendment) Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 8 of 2023) be now read a Third Time. I request Hon. Naomi Waqo to second.

Hon. Speaker, I beg to second.

We will go back to Order No. 5.

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

Thank you. Next order.

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

THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Committee on Delegated Legislation on its consideration of the Copyright (Consolidated Music and Audio-Visual Works) Tariffs, 2026, laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 29th April 2026 and pursuant to the provisions 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:

Thank you. Call out, Order No. 7.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker.

Can you register your apologies to the House for coming late?

I am sorry, Hon. Speaker. We were handling the issue of declassifying Samburu from a hardship area to a moderate one. It is a big issue. That is why all Members from Samburu were not in the House. I am sorry for being late, and thank you for giving me another chance.

Hon. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 44 (2) (c) , I wish to request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Roads and Infrastructure regarding the status of road infrastructure in Samburu County, specifically the Rumuruti– Maralal Road.

The Rumuruti - Maralal Road is currently in a deplorable condition, particularly along the stretch from the Posta area to Maralal. The poor state of the road has occasioned loss of life, destruction of property and high operational costs for motorists due to frequent accidents. The Road has structurally compromised sections, rendering it hazardous, especially during heavy rainfall. The continued deterioration has adversely affected accessibility, the movement of goods and services, emergency response, and the overall livelihoods of residents of Samburu County and neighbouring areas who depend on the Road for transport and Commerce. In addition, there has been a delay in the construction of the Maralal–Baragoi and Kisima Roads, which has negatively affected accessibility, the movement of goods and services, and the overall livelihoods of Samburu County. These roads were commissioned by the President in November 2025, but to date, no progress has been made.

It is against this background that I request a Statement on the following:

Hon. GK, when will you bring a response?

Hon. Speaker, we will bring the response after recess.

When will you bring it after recess?

We will bring it during the first week. If we do not bring it then, we will do so before the end of the second week.

Thank you. Hon. Siyoi, what is out of order?

Nothing is out of order, Hon. Speaker. I request to ride on the Statement Hon. Lenguris has requested. Today, I have realised that almost three Statements are about road safety. I request that a question be added to the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. I do not know whether it is under his purview or the Ministry of Health. When most accidents happen, there is no rescue. How can we help people who are involved in accidents? We are losing too many lives due to negligence.

Stop interrupting me.

When you are on the Floor of the House, do not address your colleagues.

Thank you. I request the Chairperson to add that question and respond to it, so that we rescue our people and respond swiftly when accidents occur.

Hon. GK, is that question within your purview?

Hon. Speaker, I agree with my colleague. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) should step in to make rescue operations easier for accident victims. We will engage them to give us a response.

Thank you. Hon. Naisula.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to ride on the Statement requested by Hon. Pauline. I ask the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure for timeframes. We do not want generalities in terms of the Statement that will be presented here. We want to know when, or by when, so that we can hold the Chairman and the State Department to account for what will be done regarding the issues raised.

Chairman, can you respond on the first Thursday, upon resumption from recess?

That is possible, Hon. Speaker.

That will be on 27th May.

Correct.

Thank you. Hon. Saney

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I apologise for being late.

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 Tourism and Wildlife regarding incidents of human-wildlife conflict in Wajir North Constituency.

There have been numerous cases of human-wildlife conflict resulting in fatalities in Wajir North Constituency. In 2022, the individuals, namely Mrs Abdiah Bellow Abdikadir, identification card No. 29XXX68; Mrs Katra Abdi Hassan, death certificate No. 13XXX32; and Mr Yusuf Omar, identification card No. 01XXX27, were attacked by hyenas and succumbed to injuries. Mr Omar's case was reported at Malkagufu Police Station under Occurrence Book No. 03/1206/2022, yet no compensation has been provided to date. The cases demand urgent action from the relevant authorities to ensure justice, support bereaved families, and mitigate ongoing human-wildlife conflicts in the Constituency.

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

Thank you, Hon. Saney. Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife. Is there any Member of the Committee? Hon. Ruweida.

Tumesikia na tutafuata. Hizi kesi zimekuwa nyingi sana. Naomba Wabunge wenzangu waweke pesa nyingi kwa bajeti.

Umesimama kwa niaba ya Mwenyekiti, sio?

Ndio.

Mheshimiwa, tuambie ni siku gani utaleta jibu la hilo swali, na si kuanza kujadili jibu la hilo swali.

Mhe. Spika, jibu tutaleta baada ya likizo.

Shukran.

Pia, kesi ambazo zimeletwa kwa Kamati ni nyingi sana. Zote zinataka pesa. Kwa hivyo, tuweke pesa nyingi katika bajeti ndio watu walipwe.

Asante, Mhe. Spika.

Kamati yako inashughulikia makadirio ya pesa za Wizara yenu.

Ni kweli tunaweka, lakini ikifika katika Kamati ya Bajeti, mambo yanabadilika. Hiyo pesa inayohitajika ni zaidi kuliko ile tumeweka.

Okay, we will get a response when we resume from the long recess, Hon. Saney.

Next Order.

Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. Hon. Major Bashir, are you the one moving the Motion?

Yes.

Go ahead.

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

THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations in its Report on the approval hearing of a nominee for appointment as the Ambassador to Vatican, the Holy See, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 28th April 2026, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 132 (2) (e) of the Constitution, Section 20 (2) of the Foreign Service Act (Cap. 185E) and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F) , this House approves the appointment of Dr Julius Murori Mbijiwe, PhD, as the Ambassador to the Vatican, the Holy See. Hon. Speaker, in exercise of the Committee’s mandate under Standing Order 216, the Committee conducted an approval hearing for the nominee on Monday, 27th April 2026. It subjected him to a rigorous vetting process, including public participation and integrity verifications by all the relevant statutory bodies. The nominee was found to comply with the constitutional and statutory requirements, including Chapter 6 of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity.

The Committee examined the nominee's academic background, professional experience and performance during the approval hearing. Dr Mbijiwe presented a strong academic and professional profile. He has a PhD in project planning and management. He has extensive experience in leadership and governance. His tenure in Meru County Assembly, coupled with his current role as Chief of Staff in Meru County, demonstrates practical competence in negotiation, stakeholder engagement and public finance oversight. These experiences, alongside his involvement in various negotiations, reflect skills that are directly transferable to diplomatic practice, particularly in mediation and consensus-building.

On the significance of the Vatican mission and its cost-benefit analysis, Kenya does not have a stand-alone Embassy in Vatican City. Instead, its relations are handled through non- resident relations via its Embassy in France. Establishing its first resident diplomatic mission in the Vatican, the Holy See, marks a significant shift in how it manages relations with one of the world's most unique diplomatic entities. We note that Kenya has now become the first East African country to post an ambassador to the Vatican, the Holy See.

There are many other countries, but in East Africa, Kenya is first. However, the Committee raised notable concerns with the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. In its

report on the Supplementary Budget Estimates No. 1 for the financial year ending 30th June

global diplomatic network, strengthened collaboration in peace-building and humanitarian efforts, and increased soft power influence through faith-based partnerships, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has not yet provided detailed, comprehensive and evidence-based justification demonstrating that these benefits sufficiently outweigh the establishment and operational costs.

Despite these concerns raised by the Committee on the cost–benefit analysis of the mission itself, the individual who has been vetted stands well-suited to undertake this role. In addition to his professional qualifications as noted earlier, the nominee’s active participation in church leadership was viewed as a significant asset. Given the Holy See’s unique blend of religious authority and diplomatic influence, his familiarity with Catholic doctrine and institutional culture is expected to facilitate effective engagement and relationship-building.

Furthermore, he acknowledged the importance of the Vatican in Kenya’s social development landscape, particularly through its contributions to education, healthcare and peace-building initiatives. However, the Committee raised some concerns regarding the nominee’s preparedness for the role. During the approval hearing, certain gaps were observed in his articulation of Kenya’s foreign policy priorities. His understanding of the Vatican’s unique diplomatic context appears to require further development. While he expressed a willingness to learn and to seek advisory support, this suggests a need for additional preparation to ensure that he will effectively represent Kenya’s interests at the Holy See, an institution whose diplomatic engagement is shaped less by conventional statecraft and more by religious doctrine and canonical governance.

Hon. Speaker, the nominee informed the Committee that he is willing to learn and ensure that by the time this House approves his appointment and he is posted to the Vatican, he will be able to understand more about diplomacy.

In conclusion, the Committee identified no legal impediment to the appointment, noting that the nominee’s demonstrated leadership experience, integrity and willingness to learn provide a solid foundation upon which the requisite competencies may be developed. I therefore urge this House to adopt the Committee’s recommendation and approve his appointment as ambassador to the Vatican, the Holy See.

I beg to move and request Hon. Kirima to second the Motion.

Hon. Moses Kirima.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I rise to second the Motion on the approval of Dr Julius Murori Mbijiwe for appointment as Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to the Vatican, the Holy See. The Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations undertook the approval hearing of the nominee on Monday, 27th April 2026, in accordance with the Constitution, the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act and the Standing Orders of this House. The Committee confirmed that the nominee satisfies the constitutional and statutory requirements for appointment to state office, having been duly cleared by all relevant statutory bodies.

The Committee further notes that the nominee possesses a strong academic background and has demonstrated leadership experience in public service, particularly in governance, public finance oversight and stakeholder engagement.

With those few remarks, I second the Motion.

Yes, Hon. Sunkuli.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I wish to support the Report of the Committee. The new ambassador is not known to me personally, but I have

read his credentials. I support this appointment because you, Hon. Speaker, having been the Minister of Foreign Affairs, know that for a long time…

And having appointed you as the Ambassador to China.

I am forever grateful for that. We do not have an Ambassador to the Vatican. Our diplomatic rules do not allow us to have an ambassador in Rome to represent us at the Vatican. Affairs at the Vatican have been handled sometimes from France and other European countries. Now, the nuncio is an ambassador, and therefore the Vatican itself has an embassy in Kenya. Therefore, in terms of reciprocity, it is quite timely to have an ambassador at the Vatican. The Holy See have often been managed through non- resident accreditation from European missions.

Many Kenyans destined for Rome visit Vatican City for pilgrimage and other purposes. There is, therefore, a need for a Kenyan diplomat to assist them. Many Kenyans, including priests and laypeople, work at the Vatican. I commend the Government for having direct accreditation through a resident diplomat at the Vatican. It is going to be very important for those of us in this House who go to the Vatican in August to have our retreat. We are happy that this is happening. We commend the Committee for getting an individual who is well qualified. I ask the Committee not to continue doubting the viability of the Vatican City as a diplomatic destination. They could also be accredited to other nearby places that are relevant to this purpose.

I support.

Hon. Rahim Dawood.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. From the outset, I support the nomination of Dr Julius Mbijiwe to the Vatican. Vatican City State was established in 1929 through the Lateran Treaty, signed by the Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. The Holy See has more than 100 nuncios in the world. It is one of the largest. Although it is not a member of the United Nations, it has special observer status. I was in the Vatican a long time back and prayed there, including at the Sistine Chapel. Hon. Sunkuli, you said that you are going there in August. I would like to accompany you to go and pray there, even as a Muslim.

The committee has been told about Dr Julius Mbijiwe, and I wish to confirm that I have known him for more than 15 years, especially his charity and Pro bono work. I remember in 2021, when he called me to his Ward, because he was the Member of the County Assembly (MCA) at that time, we went to a church next to Umoja Hospital, where I gave him two hospital beds at a cost of Ksh600,000, which he donated to the hospital. He reciprocated and later came to my constituency in Nkabune Catholic Church, where we did something for the church and the parish priest. So, he is a good man in terms of generosity to the people.

Secondly, the importance of the Holy See or the Vatican cannot be gainsaid. They have done so much for this country. I can proudly say I am a product of the Catholic Church, because for more than 70 years, we have had a relationship with the Catholic Church. Most churches within Meru County and Tharaka Nithi have had their building materials supplied by my father, so they are there in the medical field. We can see hospitals and dispensaries. We are not looking at what they can give us in monetary terms, but what they have done within this country and all over the world goes a long way.

The head of the Holy See, His Eminence Pope Leo, is a leader of 1.4 billion people. I cannot say there is any head of state in this world who has such a big population as the Pope. I can see, Hon. Speaker, that you want to inform me of something.

No, go on.

Hon. Speaker, when the Departmental Committee of Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations casts doubts on the viability of the Vatican, I think it will prove itself, because we already have a nuncio in Kenya,

that is the ambassador for the Holy See. We visited with you, Hon. Speaker, when we had gone to pay respects for the late Pope. It is about the influence which will be given through the ambassador, and I believe the ambassador-designate, Dr Julius Mbijewe, is up to the task. He should get this appointment for this country and not just for Meru. He is going on behalf of the whole country, and he should bring us what is available from the Holy See. With those few remarks, I strongly join my colleagues in congratulating him once we approve. Thank you,

Hon. Dr Mwiti.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this vital approval. I concur with the report that has been done by the committee. Personally, I have known Dr Mbijiwe for over 10 years. We are neighbours back home, and I have interacted with him quite often during various meetings at the county level. Dr Mbijiwe’s credentials speak for themselves. He has a PhD, and during his tenure in the county, he has exhibited a great loyalty to the county administration. For the years I have known him, he has been very efficient and very effective in his duties that he has performed within the county.

Being nominated to the Vatican is a source of pride for this country because it marks the first time we have a representative there. Kenya needs to safeguard our people travelling to the Vatican, and having a representative over there is very important. We thank the President for nominating him, and I am sure he will make this country proud.

I concur with the committee and also recommend the approval of Dr Mbijiwe.

Hon. Rindikiri

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I support this report and state that the Vatican is a very important nation in its own right, being the centre of the Catholic faith on earth. To qualify to be there, someone needs strong negotiation skills. I notice that Dr Mbijiwe has been in the county assembly and is now serving as the chief of staff. That position requires someone with strong negotiation skills. We believe that when he goes to Rome, he will be able to negotiate on many issues, particularly in religion, education, and even some cultural aspects.

We need somebody with the ability to network, and knowing Mbijiwe, he is somebody who can fit in any kind of environment. We may argue that he does not know Italian, but I think he has the capacity to network with other ambassadors and representatives at the Vatican. The Holy See is the centre of Catholicism, as I have said. Catholics play a very great role in matters of education, morality and in peacekeeping, so it is a very important institution. I believe that his vast experience will enable him to be part of the great network and the great issues that affect the Catholic religion.

Mrs Kudu spoke about peace on earth. I think this is very important and the Catholic Church plays a very great role in international peace. Therefore, there is a need to be included in that peace, particularly through the Catholics. By having Dr Mbijiwe there, who is a practising Catholic, we will join the global peace-building initiatives. We know for sure that there are issues that we need to promote, both in Kenya and in Rome. I have seen the Pope traversing the world on peace missions, and Kenya is not isolated in the international agreements. I believe that with Dr Mbijiwe being there, the Kenyan position in the international arena on peace negotiations and agreements will be expounded.

Dr Mbijiwe is a very willing learner. I am sure he will adapt very easily because he is very adaptable. He has been a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) . He returned to class and later became an administrator at the governor's office. I have no doubt that he is the best- suited ambassador to represent Kenyan interests at the Vatican. Hon. Speaker, I know your other name is Papa wa Roma. Now that we have a Kenyan ambassador, I wish you could take a majority of these Members, including myself, to Rome. Many Kenyans who go to the Vatican

do not even know which places to visit. They get there and blend in like other tourists. Now we know where to go and eat ugali at the Vatican.

With those few remarks, I support the nomination. He is the best person for the job as the pioneer Kenyan Ambassador to the Vatican.

Let us have Hon. Susan. Hon. Susan Ngugi

: Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me this chance to contribute to the Special Motion. I wish to express my appreciation and thank the President for appointing my colleague as the Kenyan Ambassador to the Vatican. I have known Dr Mbijiwe for quite some time. Between 2017 and 2022, he served in the Meru County Assembly, while I served in the Tharaka Nithi County Assembly.

Dr Mbijiwe did not start being a leader today. He was previously a high school teacher. He held many leadership positions in the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and served very well. I observed him during regional meetings, where he stood firmly for every decision he made.

I also wish to encourage all Members that you can rise from the bottom to the top. I started as a Member of the County Assembly, and I am now a Member of Parliament. I am still aiming higher. Some people ridicule and demoralise those who rise from the bottom to the top. Dr Mbijiwe was once a Member of the Meru County Assembly. He served as the Chief of Staff, and he will now serve as the Kenyan Ambassador to the Holy See. I congratulate him and encourage everyone that they, too, can rise to wherever they desire.

Indeed, Hon. Susan. Everybody has a legitimate right to go up the ladder. As Lenin said, the only job you start at the top is digging a hole. For all the rest, you start at the bottom and climb up.

Let us have Hon. Muthoni. Before she contributes, how much more time do you want us to spend on this Motion? After she contributes, I will give an opportunity to one more Member to contribute, and then I will call upon the Mover to reply. Is that all right?

Yes.

Excellent. Proceed, Hon. Muthoni.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to thank His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Kenya, for picking this special person, Dr Julius Murori Mbijiwe, to serve at the Vatican, the Holy See. I have known Dr Mbijiwe for close to 25 years. He was a committed physics and mathematics teacher for 14 years. He served our country’s teachers as the Executive Secretary of KUPPET. He was enrolled at the St Pius X Minor Seminary in Nkubu, having served as a page boy at an early age. If there is a dedicated person who has served the Catholic Church with zeal, it can only be you and him.

Dr Mbijiwe will be the first East African to serve as an Ambassador to the Vatican. Without any doubt, I am sure that he will serve our country with the honour and dignity required of a Catholic faithful. As the Meru community, we are proud because when history is written, we will have the distinction of being the first community to produce an Ambassador to the Holy See. We will now proudly visit the Vatican knowing that we have someone there to hold our hand.

I support the Special Motion.

Let us have Hon. Saney.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I am a Muslim, and I respect all religions. The appointment of Dr Julius Mbijiwe to the Holy See greatly impresses me, especially since it comes during a period of global chaos. I know the Pope stands for peace, conflict resolution and a harmonious, integrated global community. The nomination of one of our own to the Vatican, the Holy See, will contribute towards global peace. Once the Strait of Hormuz is opened, the world will be free to trade. The superpowers will not always

have their way. Every country, however small, can contribute to the well-being of society. It is time that we nominated somebody to contribute to global peace, as espoused by the Pope.

I now call upon the Mover to reply. Proceed, Hon. Bashir.

Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I want to thank all Members who have contributed favourably to the Committee’s Report. They have espoused the need for us to have an Ambassador to the Vatican, the Holy See.

As you are aware, the Pope is not only a symbol of unity among Catholics but also a global icon of peace. He recently talked about the right to life and peace in reference to the war in Iran. Unfortunately, he was rebuked and even attacked on social media for doing so. It is unfortunate that certain world powers can rebuke the Pope. We support peace. As we send our nominee to the Vatican, he will join other ambassadors from across the world to enhance peace and security.

I beg to reply.

Next Order.

I beg to move the Motion that this House considers the nominee for....

Hon. Mathenge, you start this way: “I beg to move the following Motion…” then read the Motion as it is, then start your discourse.

Thank you for the guidance. I beg to move the following Motion:

THAT, taking into consideration the findings of the Departmental Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity in its Report on the approval hearing of nominees for Appointment as chairperson and members of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 29th April 2026, and pursuant to the provisions of Article 250 (2) (b) of the Constitution and Sections 3 and 8 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act (Cap. 7F) , this House approves the appointment of the following persons as chairperson and members of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission—

In the course of the hearings, the Committee also considered the nominees' understanding of the mandate of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission. It considered their ability to address emerging challenges such as hate speech, ethnic polarisation and inequality, as well as their capacity to contribute to strengthening national unity and peaceful coexistence. The use of social media, digital space and Artificial Intelligence (AI) was also one of the areas that the nominees were questioned about.

Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act and provisions of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, the Committee observed that the nominees demonstrated knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the portfolios to which they had been nominated. The Committee further noted that the nominees possessed the requisite abilities, academic qualifications, professional experience and skills necessary for appointment as chairperson and members of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).

Having conducted the approval hearings in accordance with Article 250(2) of the Constitution, Section 17(1) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, Section 8(1) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act and relevant Standing Orders, the Committee recommends that this House approve the appointment of the following nominees.

Dr Kepha Nyamweya Omae for appointment as chairperson of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission. He is a distinguished religious leader, an experienced organisational development scholar, a seasoned public servant and a public speaker. He has experience in leadership, governance, national cohesion and peace-building initiatives.

Dr Kepha has served as the presiding Bishop of the Redeemed Gospel Church of Kenya and chairperson of the Kenya Coalition of Church Alliances and Ministries. He has held public service roles, including membership in the Madoka Commission on the Kenya Prisons Service Reforms. He has served as a board member of the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA). He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management, a Master’s Degree in Leadership Development, and a PhD in Organisational Leadership. He has played a key role in the Interfaith Council in this country.

Next is Ms Josephine Kirion Eragae. This nominee started serving as a ward administrator in Isiolo and rose to the position of the County Executive Committee Member for Education in Isiolo. She has interacted with members of the public in settings where conflict and issues of gender-based violence are prevalent. She has 13 years of experience in policy development, stakeholder engagement and community-based programming, and possesses strong expertise in promoting peaceful coexistence. She has been a champion of empowering marginalised women in rural settings. Ms Eragae has been useful in advancing inclusive development. She has academic qualifications in education and leadership and is undertaking doctoral studies.

Mr Joseph K. Nguyo, nominee for appointment as a member of the Commission, is a seasoned educationist. He has served as a teacher in Taita Taveta, Nyeri and Nakuru, rising to the position of principal. He improved performance in a day school in Nyeri, in Tetu Constituency, and also one of the leading boys’ schools in Mathira Constituency. He later transitioned into mainstream public service, where he has established himself as an astute administrator, rising to the position of Senior Principal and currently serving as a Senior Deputy Secretary. In addition to all these responsibilities, he has also acted as Principal Secretary in two ministries.

Mr Jackson Swadi Kedogo, nominee for appointment as a member, started as an elected councillor in Mathare and later as an elected Member of the County Assembly (MCA) in Nandi. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Lake Basin Development Authority. In the County Assembly of Nandi, he chaired the Public Investments Committee and served for two terms as an MCA. Mr Kedogo has demonstrated versatility across different communities. The

fact that he was elected during the 2007 post-election violence in Mathare speaks to his resilience and knowledge of inter-community relations.

Dr Samuel Mwachiro Mwawasi, nominee for appointment as a member of the Commission, has 23 years’ experience as a lecturer in various universities, including Egerton and Taita Taveta. He holds a PhD in Economics and has extensive experience in consultancy work in administration, academic leadership, and research. He has served as Dean of Students and as a postgraduate research coordinator.

Next is Ms Irene Chepoisho Tulel. This young lady has the best in-depth knowledge of matters of cohesion and peace-building, and is a security expert. She has 18 years of exceptional experience at national and regional institutions, including advisory roles in peace- building architecture and counter-terrorism. She has worked with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as a Development Programmes Manager, and she has received several recognitions, including national honours and international fellowships for her role in peace-building.

Mr Hassan Billow Ahmed, nominee for appointment as a member, is a governance and development expert with wide experience, including working in war-torn Somalia. He has experience in market systems development, peace-building and stakeholder engagement in fragile contexts.

Lastly, Ms Teresia Jerusa Mwaathime Michael is an accomplished legal practitioner. She rose to the position of adviser to none other than our President on constitutional matters. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and an expert in governance with extensive experience in constitutional law. She has knowledge in mediation, arbitration, compliance and policy advisory. She has also served as a director of the National Rotary Board.

The suitability of these nominees, all of them without exception, impressed the Committee. Therefore, I urge the House to approve their appointment. However, allow me to add that we are at a time when the NCIC will play a critical role, especially in the run-up to the elections. The Commission must be adequately resourced to perform this mandate. The second element is that this Commission also needs to be given independence from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to function adequately. We see the ministry active through the National Police Service in areas that require cohesion and integration.

With that, I wish to request Hon. Agnes Pareyio to second.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I second.

Thank you.

Yes, Hon. Raso. Those who want to contribute, please press the intervention button. Those who want to contribute, please press the intervention button.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to support these nominees. I want to thank the Committee for this Report. Having read through it, the nature of the questions that the Committee posed to the nominees explains why the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is very important. It is like a referee in this country, or an equivalent to a lifeguard in a swimming pool. It is the one that watches what this country does in terms of political hygiene and our interactions, as we witnessed a few weeks ago when a young legislator stood before the head of State and told him he was not afraid of him.

As the Vice-Chair of the Committee pointed out, this Commission does not have the constitutional powers enjoyed by other constitutional commissions. If this commission is indeed useful, the House should move swiftly to have it incorporated into the Constitution, with prosecutorial powers to bring individuals before a court of law.

Marginalisation, social exclusion and ethnic mobilisation are the vices this Commission should address if Kenya is to remain a united State that accommodates all of us across our different shades, regions, political formations and ideological persuasions.

Reading through the resumes of all the nominees, one thing was common. Almost all of them have had the experience of being interlocutors in conflict or have witnessed a conflict situation. The Chairman nominee is a church member. He is succeeding Bishop Kobia, the immediate former Chairman. We therefore expect that he will be without fear. Now that he is from the church, he will come out forcefully and point out issues that our Constitution does not stand for.

There are other nominees in the Report who have been members of county assemblies. These are people who have worked at the grassroots level with common men and women to make communities a better place. They have a fundamental understanding of what makes Kenya tick and ache. In terms of education, I must confess that all of them have education qualifications that are prescribed by the Act. They all met the criteria.

There were questions about hate speech, conflict of interest, and whether they could come forward to speak out against a situation that is not in keeping with what NCIC stands for. I believe most of them answered those questions ably. In a year’s time, we will be heading to a general election. Most of the questions that were posed will likely arise during elections.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has its work cut out for it and must stand on its own two feet to protect this country. This country is bigger than all of us. It is bigger than politicians and anybody else. It should not be afraid to carry out its duties. Indeed, it operates under the Ministry of Interior, in one way or another, due to its enforcement powers. However, that should not make them mute when they learn that the Ministry of Interior is failing in its constitutional responsibilities. I ask the House to support this Report and the Commission in terms of funding. The Chairman said that to give this institution teeth, it must be well-funded so that it can make this country a better place for all of us and for future generations. With those remarks, I beg to support.

Thank you.

Thank you. Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri, the Member for Laikipia East.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I stand to support this Report. I have looked at it, and it is well done. It seems the Committee took its time to individually look at each and every nominee. When you go through this Report, there is no question about the suitability of the nominees. They are very experienced in the fields that they come from. They have met all the constitutional and statutory requirements.

If you look at how this Report has been written, it is clear that the Committee considered each nominee individually. It looked at their experience, background and where they come from. They are all qualified. They have interacted with other Kenyans in one way or another and have worked across the country. Therefore, they will complement each other. Looking at their credentials, professionalism and training, they come from different backgrounds. So, when they sit together as a team, they will clearly see the national issues.

I have looked at their representation, and they come from different regions. They are ethnically diverse and have also worked in different regions across the country. Almost all of them have worked in different parts of the country, including six hardship regions. That shows they have interacted with communities across the country.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, it is important for us that this Commission is being constituted when elections are nearing. In the next 14 months, they will have to be monitored closely. Their credibility will be at stake, as the country's atmosphere is boiling at very high temperatures. Therefore, I ask them to take their work seriously. They must ensure that they are fair in their judgment. Whatever they do should be guided by the rule of law. They should serve this country

as Kenyans, not where they come from or who can influence them. This should not be the case in this Commission.

Their independence from the Ministry is also very important. When you give them work to do and then want to monitor or supervise them, they will not be impartial. One way to let people work is to give them independence, which comes from how they are facilitated. As Parliament, we have a responsibility to ensure that this Commission is well-resourced to enable it to do its work independently. That support must come from their mother Ministry and from us, so they can work without coercion.

Lastly, the two-thirds gender rule is well represented. I believe that when the time comes to pick their deputy, they will adhere to the gender rule and ensure that we have at least one person of a different gender to deputise this able chairman, whom we are about to approve today.

With those few remarks, Hon. Deputy Speaker, I support.

Next is Hon. Oku Kaunya. I think you are a Member of the Committee.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to this Motion. As a member of the Committee, I agree with our Chairman that the nominees presented are generally qualified under the law. I especially wish to highlight the diversity of this Commission's members. They are from various diverse ethnic communities. At the same time, they present a very good, diverse mix of ages and experience that will enable them to steer the Commission toward its intended goals.

I want to highlight two of the nominees. One, Jackson Swadi Kedogo, impressed us greatly. This is a nominee whose background, especially the social, family, and educational aspects, was difficult. Despite that, he was able to work through it and eventually earned a degree in later years. The interesting bit about this particular nominee is that he has vast experience in public management spanning over 30 years, yet he is a mix of what a real Kenyan should be. He hails from Vihiga County, where he was a leader by election; he was then elected as a Councillor in Nairobi; and later served as a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) in Nandi for 2 Terms. That is a very interesting mix. This is a real Kenyan.

This particular candidate has vast experience. He hails from near the border of Nandi and Vihiga, which is prone to frequent conflict, especially cattle rustling. The nominee demonstrated to us that he played a key role in resolving some of the conflicts. Therefore, his vast experience will help this country and the Commission in addressing some of the intricate ethnic and community-based conflicts.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, one of the other nominees is Teresia Jerusa Mwaathime Michael. This is a young nominee, about 32 years old, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with vast experience from the areas and places she has served. Currently, she serves as a Technical Advisor in the Executive Office of the President and also serves on the National Lottery Board. This nominee impressed the Committee with her extensive experience, particularly her knowledge of constitutional law and other legal areas. She will be very useful in guiding this Commission, especially in areas related to law, and will be particularly aware that the National Cohesion and Integration Act is being amended in this House to better enable the Commission to perform its functions.

I also want to indicate that the Commission’s greatest clients are Members of Parliament and political leaders. Indeed, with the amendment of the law, the Commission will have teeth to bite. But I wish to emphasise that the Commission's work should be much more preventive. We therefore urge the nominees presented for approval in this House to go in with vigour, especially now that we are facing the election in the coming year.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I want to emphasise one point. As their clients, we also have a role to ensure that national integration and cohesion are maintained. The Commission cannot

in itself manage unless we, the leaders, behave responsibly. I am saying that because, as we are aware, I have a Statement before this House and before your Office, concerning a Hon. Member of this House, who, on the 12th of February, while the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration was here, alleged that a division belonging to my Constituency, Teso North, be transferred, including myself, as a Member of Parliament. This Member, Hon Waluke, is a neighbour. When Hon. Members raise conflictual issues which have no legal basis in public, that becomes hate speech. It is inciting the communities that have been peaceful for a very long time against each other. As clients, I urge leaders to measure their words even as we go into the coming political duel.

Lastly, the issue of goons has been a major topic lately. We are the main creators of goonism. I urge that, as leaders, we take politics responsibly and avoid the use of goons and gangs. I also urge the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to be alert and do his job, because what happens sometimes is that hooliganism and gangsterism arise when there is a lapse in the functioning of formal institutions. When the security sector fails to provide cover to leaders and ensure that meetings are held peacefully and safely, those leaders resort to using young people to cause harm. I urge the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to step up security management in this country, so that, as we approach elections, we have a peaceful one.

I thank the Members of this Committee who worked tirelessly. I also thank this House for supporting the proposed nominees so that they may be approved. They are up to the task.

Thank you. I support.

Hon. Irene Mayaka.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to also support the Report and the nominations of the members of the NCIC.

First of all, I take this opportunity to thank the President for the very diverse list of nominees that we received. As you can see, all eight nominees come from different regions of this country, demonstrating the true diversity of our nation. We, therefore, thank the President for that consideration.

Second, I wish to thank the Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity for the good work done in vetting these nominees. We watched live as the nominees expressed themselves and demonstrated the different skills and knowledge that they possess.

Third, I wish to congratulate the eight nominees, led by the Chairperson, Dr Kepha Nyamwea Omae, who comes from the Gusii Region. He is competent, like the other nominees listed. I urge the new nominees, as they take over office following the exit of the previous commissioners, to take their work seriously. We are about to enter an electioneering period, and some of the roles and responsibilities they hold relate to issues of discrimination, conflict resolution, public awareness and hate speech management. As we all know, when we approach an election, people tend to become very sensitive, and tension rises. We therefore urge the Commission to take responsibility not only for creating awareness but also for being vigilant in its work.

This Commission is also mandated to ensure equal opportunity within our country, not only in employment but also in terms of cohesion. Now that its members have been drawn from different regions of this country, they should ensure that part of their responsibilities is to ensure that all opportunities available in this country are distributed equitably among Kenyans from different regions. We do not want to be a country that focuses on having one particular region benefit from the different resources and opportunities available. We want to be a country whose leaders actively encourage and ensure that opportunities are spread across the country.

When you look at the qualifications of these individuals, it does not matter where they came from. They all went to school, obtained sound qualifications, and have worked in

different parts of this country, gaining valuable experience. I therefore believe that, given their diversity, experience, and suitability, they will take this role seriously and set a very good example.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, in summary, I congratulate the new nominees and assure them of this House's support upon approval. I also urge them to carry out their work with the utmost diligence, commensurate with their qualifications and suitability.

With those few remarks, I support and submit.

Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Motion.

This Commission is one of the most critical in our country, especially at a time like this, in the run-up to the general elections. I say that because we risk losing this country at every general election, owing to crises manufactured by political leaders. There is usually a precursor to that. It stems from statements made by political leaders in public forums, on our vernacular radio or television stations; things said that are clearly geared towards incitement, especially incitement based on our ethnic divisions.

The other truth is that Kenyans are a united people, and they have no reason to divide themselves along ethnic lines. It is political leaders who divide them along those lines. This Commission was envisaged to independently deal with matters that pose a threat to our national cohesion. But the previous Commission, I am sorry to say, was part of the problem. It tolerated all manner of nonsense from political leaders and from media houses that aired careless statements geared towards inciting people along ethnic lines.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, even now, political leaders in this country are saying all manner of things that in no way promote our integration as a nation or cohesion amongst our people. The NCIC is charged with ensuring that all of us, collectively and individually, take responsibility for what we say, especially in public. I do not refer only to political leaders; this applies to all those with a voice. I say this having listened to some of the things being said on many of our vernacular stations: very insightful things, inciting one community against others.

This is the only Commission that can save this country. As we approve these nominees, I have gone through the curriculum vitae of all of them, and they are very qualified, with strong backgrounds, starting with the Chair, Dr Kepha, whom I know as a distinguished leader in the church and beyond. I want to tell Dr Kepha Nyamweya that I noticed his organisational leadership skills and the proven track record during the vetting process. He demonstrated a track record of interfaith peacebuilding and mediation. I hope we see that in action from him as the Chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) .

I know the previous Commission had its issues. For instance, there was one young lady who served as a commissioner but was actively involved in politics. I believe she thought that because her term was coming to an end, and she wanted to run for political office, which I can assure her she will not get and will lead no one. She showed a great deal of irresponsibility in the office she held. If you cannot uphold a high office such as that with the integrity it deserves, and I am sure the people of Murang’a County were watching her and are aware of that, they know she lacks the integrity to hold any other office, including that of an elected leader.

One must respect the office they hold before seeking another. Today, I cannot claim that I want to hold another office while disregarding the one I currently hold as a Member of Parliament and as the Leader of the Majority Party. I say this because those appointed to this Commission must understand that they are required to uphold the office with the respect and dignity befitting a constitutional commission. They must not involve themselves in partisan politics. Whatever the Commissioner from Murang’a was doing was wrong. I am told she would even openly say that she is waiting to be chased away to evoke public sympathy and get elected. Woe unto her. We know her and her “conwomanship” if I may call it that.

Again, all these stems from the kind of people that the Commission was associating with. People who are clueless about leadership and thrive on spreading hatred and ethnic division. If you follow someone who has no direction, whose only avenue to leadership is through spreading hatred, ethnic division and insulting others, what does that say? They insult everyone, from the President to the Deputy President and even others, including me.

I know such characters. I have seen them come to my Constituency and claim that I had said they should not come there, yet they still showed up. It was quite childish. From there, they went to Hon. Wamau’s Constituency and went as far as saying that she should go and make tea for President Ruto in Sugoi. That is inappropriate. They even went on to boast that they had set foot in her Constituency despite allegedly being told not to. The very next day, they went to Mwingi West in Kitui and, with a straight face, claimed that the Member for Mwingi West, Hon. CNN, had sent them a message telling them not to show up there with Kalonzo. These are outright lies. And I wonder, when someone lies in one place, do they not remember what they said the previous day, to avoid repeating the same falsehoods in Mwingi or Maragua? They should have some sense of decency. At the very least, if they must lie, they should not do so with such a straight face. They should at least, look down kidogo at times. Apologies for mixing languages.

I say this because I have now seen a Commissioner of the NCIC adopt the same culture of lies, selling ethnic hatred, imagining that it will create an opportunity to lead people; they will lead nobody. They can never lead anywhere if all they thrive on is hatred. We desire a cohesive and integrated society as the people of Kenya. That is why, in 2010, when we enacted our Constitution, we established the NCIC. The people of Kenya desired to live together harmoniously as one nation, our motherland, Kenya. No one desired to be singled out or labelled based on where they come from. Yet today, we seem to have such a short memory. There are individuals who want to take us back many years.

I heard someone claim that what happened in 2007 led to the birth of a new Constitution in 2010, and to the establishment of commissions such as the NCIC. On the contrary, we did this because we wanted to end the culture of communities turning against one another and instead have a cohesive, integrated nation where any Kenyan can live anywhere within our borders, feel safe, own property, work, and coexist with others as one people.

I am certain that the great people of Kenya can see through each one of the leaders. They know those who do not mean well. They can identify those who peddle hatred, those who promote ethnic division and those whose only agenda is to hurl insults from one village to another in their rallies. Such people have no agenda, vision, or policy proposition on how to move our country forward. All they offer is hatred. The people of Kenya can see through them, and they know they will go nowhere. That is why I reiterate that they will go nowhere. They will lead no one in this country.

The composition of this Commission is good. We have young people, middle-aged individuals and senior members coming together. Additionally, the regional balance is also commendable. We have representation from the Nyanza, North Eastern, Coast, Central, and Eastern regions of Kenya. It is a good blend. The composition of the commissioners gives us confidence that they will have the opportunity to build a commission that will help the nation remain cohesive and strengthen national integration. They can only achieve this if they take their work seriously, hold no bar and spare nobody. No one is above the law, including myself. If I say anything that threatens our national cohesion and integration, action must be taken against me or any other person who says it. We only have this country, and if we lose it, we have no other.

I support these nominees. I have great confidence in many of them. I know three of them who have served elsewhere in public service, and they performed exceptionally well. Among them is Dr Kepha, who has served diligently within the religious and faith sector and

demonstrated strong leadership. I hope that as the appointed Chairperson of this Commission, he will rise to the occasion. He will be the face and spokesperson of the Commission, steering it in the right direction.

When we were co-chairing the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) with my good friend, Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka, the former Vice President, not the Kalonzo who wrote a letter here, there are many people who came and proposed that NCIC is one of the constitutional commissions and that we should merge with the National Gender and Equality Commission and Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC). These feelings emanated from what Kenyans saw as the output of this Commission. Many people feel that it is not living up to what it is envisaged in the Constitution 2010. Therefore, it is a challenge to the new commissioners that they must live up to the expectations of our constitutional dispensation of 2010. They should have teeth to bite. They do not have prosecutorial powers, but they have the power to summon people and recommend prosecution to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). There are those who defy them like that ethnic bigot and criminal. They must relay that to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Inspector General of police to arrest and take them before the Commission to answer the accusations that are levelled against them.

As political leaders, let us be cautious of what we say in public. Let us know that when we incite people, we will not be there when they are fighting, and we will not be safe. Let us be cautious when we sell hatred. If you have nothing else to sell other than hatred, please look for something else to do other than look for political leadership. There are so many ideas you can sell to Kenyans. Get an agenda or idea on what you can sell, but not hatred.

In conclusion, there is a group of confused people who call themselves an alternative government. How can you be an alternative government when you have no idea of anything, other than insults and selling ethnic hate and divisions? The best you can do is move from one place to the other, talking about people. You talk about Hon. CNN from Kitui and then the Governor of Mombasa, Hon. Abdullswamad. If you are a man, why do you focus on other men?

Government to enjoy. Probably, that is why he thought enjoying is stealing from the Government. We thank God and Kenyans because that character is out of the Government today.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I support this Motion and Hon. Wandeto in moving Kenya forward.

Next is Hon. Wandeto, then I will give an opportunity to Hon. Julius Melly.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I tried to catch your eye on a point of order because I felt the Leader of the Majority Party had moved away from the Motion on Approval of Nominees for Appointment as Chairperson and Members of NCIC. He talked about a completely different topic. I do not know what cohesion has to do with three-quarters of the speech that the Leader of the Majority Party has given.

I support this Report. I am happy because Dr Kepha Omae is nominated as the Chairperson of this Commission. I know him. I have listened to his many sermons. He is a very seasoned leader in both the religious and political circles. NCIC is a very important Commission. It is a creation of the Constitution. It is important now that we are only 15 months away from the General Election. The political temperatures are starting to heat up.

I would like to remind NCIC that for a long time, it has focused on a very narrow mandate of hate speech. I agree that it is very important, but there is a broader mandate they can focus on, as well as other issues that are abused in this country every day. One mandate is to ensure fair access to opportunities, but NCIC does not address this. The other one is focusing on marginalised communities in this country. This is another area that NCIC does not focus on. For example, access to public opportunities in this country is a very debatable issue. Some communities feel they are unfairly underrepresented. NCIC does not raise a voice on this. Therefore, I would like to ask the incoming Chairperson not to focus on hate speech every day. It is important, and I will talk about it. NCIC needs to focus on this broader mandate and ensure that every Kenyan feels we are one nation, that everyone has a stake, and that they are well represented in this country.

When dealing with hate speech, NCIC is accused of being partial in its enforcement. Depending on which side of the political divide you come from in this country, there are things you say and get away with. There are things you say, and a fleet of Subarus will arrive at your house either late at night or very early in the morning. This is the partiality that is seen in NCIC. Sometimes, the Head of State uses unpalatable language, but the NCIC does not call him to order. However, whenever someone from the other side of the political divide says something, they are always ready to condemn. Therefore, partiality is an issue.

The other issue is enforceability. NCIC is a toothless dog. When will they move from issuing warnings to deterring impunity? They need to do a little bit more to deter it in this country. Since we will have General Elections next year, we must remember the lessons from

On a point of order, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Leader of the Majority Party, what is your point of order?

Hon. Deputy Speaker, I do not know why Hon. Wandeto is inviting me to interrupt him. Is he in order to assert that I have used this Floor to enhance hate speech? I have never done so. He is also casting aspersions on you as the Speaker, because if I had said anything that constitutes hate speech, any Member is at liberty to interject and invite you to rule me out of order! Therefore, I ask Hon. Wandeto to substantiate at what point I said anything that constitutes hate speech, and if he cannot, he should apologise and withdraw the statement.

I may describe a person as having a black heart or being evil, but who is that person? It is true that there are people with black hearts, dark souls, and even murderous culture. Those are facts, and they live among us. Some may even be political leaders propagating hate speech, ethnic hatred, and division. So long as I have not mentioned anyone by name, Hon. Wandeto cannot make such assertions, especially as statements of fact. In line with our Standing Orders on statement of fact, unless he can substantiate and quote The Hansard, since everything we say here is captured, he should withdraw that statement on reference that I have propagated hate speech. I do not. I am one leader who is very cautious about what I say, especially about things that he claims happened to this country in 2007.

I agree with him, and that is why I was applauding by foot thumping. What he said is true: it is the small things we say on vernacular stations or the small things political leaders say in vernacular, imagining others are not listening, but they are inciting people against others. He knows those who say such things, and he knows that I have never said anything that incites one community against another. I seek your direction that if Hon. Wandeto does not withdraw that reference to me as having propagated hate speech, he must be forced to substantiate by providing The Hansard of where that hate speech is.

Hon. Wandeto, proceed.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for ruling that there is nothing untoward in what I said.

I have not ruled on anything.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, you did not give me any directions.

That was a point of order. I am now listening to you. Continue with your submissions.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. What I am saying is that, in this House, if I can put it generally, we must be careful about the words we use. We are all Kenyans, whether black, white, blue or otherwise. No one knows the colour of our hearts because you may need to conduct a surgery to determine the colour of one’s heart. That is the point I was making.

I would also encourage the Leader of the Majority Party to avoid using some words. When we speak of “black men” or “black or dark hearts,” we are Africans, and the dark and black colour is very dear to us. Whenever you describe us in any other terms, we start wondering how you are addressing us. Many people in the world do not like our colour, and it is sometimes associated with evil and things like that. I encourage the Leader of the Majority Party that in future, should he wish to describe whomever, he can use terms that are African, since it is very un-African to use our colour.

In conclusion, we are witnessing rising political temperatures across the country. No side of the political divide is entirely innocent in this exchange. We are seeing a lot of harsher

words being used against one another. We call upon the NCIC to start early and have some teeth to bite. Do not just summon people or write letters. Let us see real action and become an actual tool that can deter hate speech, ethnic tension and some of these things that have happened in other countries.

The reason this institution was created in our Constitution is that we learned from others, and we do not want to see ourselves moving in this direction. I rise to support the appointment of the commissioners. I also agree with the Leader of the Majority Party that the roles of some commissions in this country seem to overlap. While this may not be a debate for today, every commission appointed in this country must demonstrate its value. They take a lot of taxpayers’ money, and we keep some of these commissioners very well. Therefore, they must demonstrate their value for the hundreds of millions or billions of shillings that we allocate to them every year. We must start seeing returns on investment in terms of the actual delivery of their mandates.

With that, I rise to support the Motion and wish Dr Kepha Omae and his team all the best, especially as we approach the election year. Thank you.

Hon. Julius Melly.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I wish to thank the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity Committee for a job well done. Chapter 15 of our Constitution established NCIC with the intention of holding the Republic as one. Kenya is a diverse nation, with many communities, religions, and ethnic backgrounds. Yet we share a common aspiration and accord to move forward together as a unified nation.

The Committee has done a commendable job, more importantly, in the procedures for approving nominees as per the Constitution. The members who have been appointed, especially stressing the need to be one as a Republic and why this Commission is critical... This country, like any other household or family, is bound to have conflicts, especially as we move towards elections like we are right now. There are a number of people who make many utterances and talk that can split this country. That is why the drafters of our Constitution saw it fit to establish this Commission. The choice of its membership is equally important: that we have individuals of high integrity, from all corners of the Republic, and of repute in society.

Our Republic has undergone many upheavals: 2002, 2007/2008, and every other time after elections, we have a cycle of violence resulting from utterances and incitement. At times, the individuals involved are supposed to be brought to book and be answerable for their actions. What NCIC does is to hold our society as one. A number of leaders, more importantly, politicians, at times, put this country at risk. I recall the late former Vice-President, Professor George Saitoti, who reminded us that the Republic is more important than an individual. That is why, when members of the political class or a particular group make inciteful statements, we must take action against them, irrespective of their political standing in society. We need to ensure the nation stays united. There are several symbols of national unity. One of them is the Presidency. Another one is this House, where Members are elected by Kenyans from all parts of the Republic to represent them.

The NCIC is tasked with investigating any utterances that do not support or show respect for the institutions of government that hold this country together. This has been seen. The retired Bishop Kobia took a number of steps whenever an issue arose that threatened the peace and stability of this country. One of the appointees, Dr Kepha Nyamweya Omae, is a renowned church minister. He has many leadership qualities. The position he has been given is one of responsibility. It is time such a person is given this position. It is also important that, as we move towards elections, members of both political divides and those out to incite Kenyans against one another are brought to book.

Another example is Mr Jackson Swadi Kedogo. He was a member of the defunct Nairobi City Council. He was also a Member of the County Assembly (MCA) in Nandi County,

where I come from. I know him personally. I know him as a grassroots mobiliser and leader. He comes from the border between Nandi and Vihiga. That is the region which is prone to clashes and conflicts. He has personally participated in bringing cohesion among the two communities that reside along that border. Note that he is originally from Vihiga, but because he was a likeable man, he was elected as an MCA for Kabwareng, and served in the Nandi County Assembly for two terms. This was because of his reputation, his leadership skills, and, more importantly, because he was a man of the people. He will bring his skills to this commission and to this country to help the areas that are prone to conflict. His skills and understanding will be of much importance.

The NCIC is very important because we not only face political conflicts but also face issues arising from land clashes, border disputes, and many other issues. As much as they require the intervention of the provincial administration and internal security, some of these issues stem from clanism; differences like those we have seen in Kilgoris and other areas where people fight over grazing rights or water. These cannot be solved solely through the intervention of the police and the military. Sometimes it takes the wisdom of the commission to bring societies together.

There are so many issues in this Commission's in-tray: things this country needs as we move forward. That is why this House needs to ensure we approve the nominees and have them in office on time. It is so that they can run and solve the issues that affect this country. Not just now, but also into the future.

Lastly, I also want to wade into areas where politicians, like the former Deputy President, did. Every other time, he is very disrespectful to the Head of State. He is very disrespectful toward offices, and, more importantly, even toward the office he once held as Deputy President. It is not the office of one individual; it is the office of the Republic of Kenya. The fact that he dismisses or disrespects our current Deputy President every other time, even in intonation and talk, is a demonstration that he is a candidate to appear before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, so that he is accurately grilled to know that whatever he says and whatever he does can affect and cause conflict in this country.

I want to thank the Committee for the work well done and for choosing the people from across the country. All of them are from the former eight provinces. Every other region of this country has been represented in this Commission. In fact, they will bring cultural differences, knowledge, and know-how, so that we can integrate as one country, one Kenya, and move forward.

Thank you, and I support this Motion.

Thank you. Hon. Charles Ngusya.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for this opportunity. Mine is just to support, because I have just perused this Committee Report, and I can officially declare that what they have done actually meets constitutional and statutory requirements, based on the appointments of the State officers. I would like to start by congratulating the Committee on its good work, which was led by my friend here, Hon. Duncan Mathenge. You have done a fantastic job on these issues for this important Committee.

I would like to start by thanking His Excellency, the President. I have looked at the Committee remit on that gender rule. It has also met the issues of representation of regional and ethnic diversity, and also the leadership and integrity. I will go straight to singling out one of the commissioners, a member, Ms Jerusa Mwaathime. This is a lady who has immense experience despite being here. I remember meeting her. I know her and the value she will contribute to this Commission, based on her integrity, professional training, and academic credentials. She is a distinguished lawyer and is currently working as an advisor.

I would like to remind this Committee that one of the key issues they have never addressed is the equality of opportunities and the distribution of resources. We would like to

see them actively advising the Government, especially the President, on issues of resource distribution, which is a clear mandate stipulated by the Constitution. Most of these Members, and even the Chairperson, meet the academic requirements very well. Their professional experience has really impressed me, and that is why I support this Motion.

Regarding their backgrounds, we have thoroughly reviewed the Report, and none have a conflict of interest or have appeared in any court of law. I am sure we have elected those who are competent to serve on this Commission.

I will keep my notes simple. An issue just arose recently in Mwingi, at least this week. We have been experiencing border disputes, and it is high time this Committee advised the National Land Commission. They ought to work together to ensure that border disputes in this country are managed through the promotion of national cohesion.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, given that the Kamba community has been attacked by other pastoralists in the Tana River, this Commission should play a significant role in resolving the dispute. Otherwise, without labouring the point, the Committee has followed constitutional and statutory guidelines in examining the suitability of persons to serve on this Commission. I fully support and congratulate the President again for appointing these people based on their ethnic and regional diversity.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker.

Okay, Hon. Lochakapong, Member for Sigor.

Yes, thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the Committee's Report on the approval of the Chairperson and members of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) .

From the Report, the Committee has observed that the Chairperson and members have met the requirements for appointment as commissioners. When you look at the names presented and the Report as given, these members represent the diversity of Kenya, which is very good. However, I just want to mention that, from the Report presented by the Chairperson here, Irene Tulel from the North Rift demonstrated the best in-depth knowledge of peace, conflict resolution, and management. She has extensive experience in that area. I think that is something that she will bring to that Commission. When you look, generally, at the nominated persons, each one of them has something unique that they are bringing to the Commission. So, this is a very good blend.

Again, according to the statistics provided, 79 Kenyans expressed interest in serving as Chairperson of this Commission. Six hundred and forty people applied to be members, and of those, eight Kenyans were selected for the Commission. Therefore, there is a lot of expectation. They should know that Kenyans will expect a lot from them as they perform their mandate.

There have been issues that have been raised in relation to this Commission, especially those who are leaving. They have always been complaining that they do not have the power to handle their mandate effectively. From the Committee, there is an amendment in this House that proposes to give them more power or teeth so they can deliver on their mandate and meet the expectations of Kenyans. Otherwise, with that, I support and wish them well as they take up their role as commissioners of NCIC.

Hon. Member for Wajir North.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. The National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008, is a product of the 2008 statutory instrument. I think with time, it is important that it is amended to make it amenable to the 2010 Constitution, if there is a need.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, it is commendable that for the first time, Wajir County has the first commissioner on this Commission. Commissioners should reflect the face of this country, and so they come from all the regions. I may pair the Commissioner from Wajir with the one from Isiolo. We come from a very fragile area. It is always under clashes because of conflicts

arising from pastures, and where peace is tenuous. Having two commissioners from Northern Kenya ensures the Commission has the capacity to handle conflicts arising from pasture, water, and boundary issues. Although the latter may not be within their mandate, they can deal with it in liaison with the Commission that is mandated to do so.

Further, the Commission has the very important role of upholding our country’s societal values to prevent ethnic discrimination, promote national cohesion and harmony, and also resolve conflicts. However, despite appointing people with flowery Curriculum Vitae (CVs), professors, doctors, and experienced people with unquestionable competencies, Kenyans have still not got the desired results from this Commission. The Commission usually has knee-jerk reactions, only responding to outcries. With what is happening between Garissa and Mwingi, they have not put in place mechanisms to forestall such conflicts or early warning systems. Artificial Intelligence is an important modern tool that the Commission should employ to pre- empt the likelihood of such occurrences. They should not be reactionary.

The Commission also needs to mobilise resources so that peacebuilding around pasture- conflict areas is enhanced. The Commission currently falls under the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, but it needs to be independent. I congratulate the Mover of the Motion for proposing a Bill to make the Commission independent and divorce it from the Ministry.

We should also give it the power to enforce laws, so that it can deal with perpetrators of hate who interfere with our nation’s cohesion. We need to give it a prosecutorial role. The Commission should not be at the mercy of other agencies because the more they rely on other institutions, the faster our country will burn. We should improve the Commission to make it strong, formidable, reliable, and results-oriented. It should not always cry for help.

Most cases of discrimination and conflicts in our country are a result of inequality. Kenyans do not enjoy equitable development across the country. Some areas have been marginalised. There is inequality in employment. All those issues must be handled holistically if we are to be bonded and cohesive as one Kenyan community.

We also need to enhance or improve the maturity of our democracy. Politicians are the main source of the problem. They speak carelessly at funerals and in public rallies. If they could set the pace and be exemplary, the rest of Kenya could follow. Members of this House and those aspiring for leadership are the greatest source of hate speech. If such incidents can be condensed and well handled, we will have a cohesive country.

Since these eight commissioners have some of the best CVs in the country, they should showcase their importance and produce results for our country.

With those few remarks, I support the Report of the Committee.

Lastly, let us have the Member for Sirisia.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me a chance to also support this important Motion. In 2007, many people died before the new Constitution of 2010 came into place. I want to congratulate the Departmental Committee on National Cohesion for coming up with this Bill that will protect Kenyans from being coerced into doing things that are not right. The Commission has mostly been necessitated by the conduct of some politicians. We are reckless at times, either inciting people or communities, and that is how clashes happened in 2007.

This Commission, as we speak, should be independent. It should be delinked from the Office of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration. The 2010 Constitution makes it clear that every appointed commission should be independent. Therefore, this Commission should operate independently and should be given its own budget.

It will also help guide some of us politicians. I heard my colleague, Hon. Kaunya, complaining about land issues in Changara, and I wish he were here. We have invited the Cabinet Secretary for the Interior and National Administration to visit the area, particularly the

division that was gazetted in my constituency. That gazettement is what provoked the problems we are now witnessing between Hon. Kaunya and me.

Changara is in my constituency because when residents process their documents to obtain title deeds, the land board they use is in Sirisia, and thereafter, they go to Bungoma to collect their title deeds. Busia is a County just like Bungoma, yet for many years the people of Changara have been ignored. It has effectively been treated as a no-man’s land due to the long- standing dispute.

Now, when an officer from the Office of the President, Mr Osia, moved to gazette Changara to be in Busia, that action became the source of the current tensions. I want to assure my colleague that Changara falls under Sirisia. The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration should move with speed to resolve this matter. We do not want to be accused of inciting our people, neither I nor Hon. Kaunya. We do not want our people to fight. We are communities that have lived peacefully for many years, and that peace must continue. Our people should continue to coexist harmoniously. We have intermarried, and we should continue nurturing that unity between Tesos and Luhyas.

Therefore, I support this Commission. Some of the challenges we are discussing will be addressed through it. I happen to know some of the commissioners, indeed, three of them. I believe this is a strong Commission. The appointments reflect the face of Kenya. I urge the Cabinet Secretary to visit Changara at the earliest opportunity to resolve the problems affecting Sirisia and Teso North constituencies.

I support the nominees to the Commission.

Let us have the Member for Marakwet West.

Thank you very much, Hon. Deputy Speaker. From the outset, I support the Motion on the approval hearings of nominees for appointment to the positions of Chairperson and members of the NCIC. This is a very important Commission in our country. That is why we have an entire legislation, the National Cohesion and Integration Act of 2008, which was amended in 2012, to provide for issues related to cohesion and integration in our country.

Someone said that we have made hate speech the main mandate of this Commission. This Commission has a broader mandate that touches on ethnic discrimination, harassment on the basis of ethnicity, discrimination in employment, and access to public resources. Therefore, they must execute their mandate as provided for under the National Cohesion and Integration Act.

Qualified individuals applied for those positions, and the Committee vetted them. Their qualifications are not the issue. However, are they willing to ensure that the law is enforced? The Commission must ensure that our nation is cohesive. Our neighbour, Somalia, has literally collapsed. They have tried to resuscitate that nation for the last 40 years, but they face many challenges as a country. Despite ethnic hatred, Rwanda has picked up. The country almost collapsed until the current President and administration came in to stabilise it.

As commissioners assume office, they should ensure the Commission remains apolitical. They should not be involved in political activities. They should not fear victimisation or intimidation by anybody, be it at the highest level of Government, so that they can adjudicate matters objectively without any political leaning. We have seen people make certain statements at political rallies and public meetings that could divide our country and escalate political tensions. The Commission must understand that it has been established pursuant to legislation to protect individuals, communities, and the sovereignty and future of our country as we know it. I completely support the approval of the nominees, but they must be apolitical and perform their functions as provided for by the Constitution and the establishing legislation.

I agree 100 per cent with those who have submitted in this House that the Commission must be given autonomy. It must have decisional independence. They are currently housed under the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.

The reading, spirit, letter and intent of our Constitution envisage that constitutional commissions must be independent. The Commission must be given financial independence to have teeth so that it does not become a toothless bulldog. Let it act independently. Let it be independent. This House must allocate funds specifically to that Commission, rather than through the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, so that it can act independently and without any element of discrimination.

I support the letter, spirit and intent of this Motion. Let us approve this commission. Let it act and comply with the Constitution and all other enabling legislation. Thank you.

Hon. Catherine Omanyo, Member of Busia.

Thank you. I also support that this Commission must start working. In fact, I want them to start with Busia County.

Recently, we witnessed something that left our people wondering whether we belong to Bungoma or Busia County. Changara Division has always been part of Teso North in Busia County since I was born. My colleague, Hon. Waluke, has been causing confusion by encroaching on our land and purporting that the people who have settled in Changara Division have no Member of Parliament or a leader. He wants to be their leader.

It has brought about much conflict between our settlers in Teso North and Sirisia Constituency in Bungoma. The two places on the Changara boundary neighbour each other, Busia County and Bungoma County. We want the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to come in and start by settling our people.

I know Changara belongs to Busia County. He has been coming there just to get voters from this side to go and add to his numbers on the other side. We do not want to fight. We want harmony. We want peace. We love each other. We have intermarried. We have Bukusus and Tesos who have married each other. You cannot even tell who is who. The boundaries must be clear.

Hon. Wilberforce Oundo.

Let me also take this opportunity sincerely to thank the Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity for its thorough job in vetting nominees for the National Cohesion and Integration Commission. The nominees are Dr Kepha Nyamweya Omae as chairperson, Ms Josephine Kirion Eragae, Mr Joseph Nguyo, Mr Jackson Swadi Kedogo, Dr Samuel Mwachiro Mwawasi, Ms Irene Chepoisho Tulei, Mr Hassan Billow Ahmed and Mr Jerusha Mwaathime Micheal.

For historical context, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission arose from the 2007–2008 election mayhem and violence. The Kriegler Commission, which was called the Independent Review Commission and the Waki Commission, plus civil societies, like the one that produced a report titled "On the Brink of the Precipice: A Human Rights Account of Kenya's Post-2007 Election Violence," pointed towards ethnic mobilisation for political expedience as the cause of the mayhem.

For all it takes, out of the wisdom of the many recommendations of those commissions, it became important that we must have a commission even if it becomes a scarecrow, as it has always been. It was formed so that, at least, it can put checks and balances on our loose mouths, so to speak. We make outrageous and excessive statements at political rallies that incite animosity, hatred, disrespect, and disrepute toward the various political players.

Second, obviously, when the Act was drafted, it gave the Commission, under Section 25 of the National Cohesion and Integration Act No. 12 of 2008, a wide range of mandates and functions. If you ask any typical Kenyan, they will tell you all the past Commissions have only concentrated or narrowed down on a very minor aspect of their mandate, that is, hate speech.

Many politicians of various cadre, scale and persuasion have at one time or another received letters from the Commission to what I can say is merely scaring them because up to date—and I could be wrong, probably, I need to search—I do not know any person or politician who has been tried, convicted, jailed, fined or barred from holding public office as a result of any transgression committed under the provisions of this Act.

Therefore, as I stand here today, I call upon the new Commission, under the Chairman, Dr Kefa Nyamwae Omae, not just to be seat warmers in their term in the office. We want to see you, we want to feel you, and we want you to scare us sufficiently to prevent us from making hate speeches and discriminatory statements that literally can cause this country to implode. As we have always said, we have no other country. The only country we have is Kenya. When Kenya burns, as it did in 2007/2008, we all will suffer. What many of us saw in 2007 and 2008 is something that we never wish to relive. We just implore the Commission. Your work is cut out. We are going to have very contentious elections in 2027, akin to the contentious election of 2007/2008, when the principal actors in the immediate past elections had a very acrimonious fallout, and each vowed to teach the other a lasting lesson. So, the stakes are so high, and all that we are going to see are very heated exchanges and very tough words that might actually, if you are faint-hearted, cause a lot of distress and incite animosity.

Actually, the stage is being set. The goons that are now becoming part and parcel of our political discourse and political operations are setting the stage for mayhem. Therefore, I call upon the Commission. We are starting to use some very hateful words. We are calling others waganga, mtu wa vitendawili, and watu wa kung’oa reli. From where I sit, those statements are hate speech, even if you look at the definition in this particular Act. Another is ethnic profiling, like saying Luhya’s can never unite as long as they have eaten, and that they have no other ambition beyond that point. As Luhya’s, we feel that it is hate speech, discriminatory, and it should be a matter that falls within the purview of this particular Act. Saying that someone who is not circumcised can never lead this country amounts to hate speech. Unfortunately, I have never seen any leader in this country prosecuted and banned from holding office as provided for in this Act.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, one of the issues that keeps recurring, and is normally a hot potato, is discrimination in employment. About one-and-a-half years ago, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) was employing a number of junior staff to do clerical work. Contrary to the provisions of Section 7 of their Act, it was reported, and up to now nobody has ever refuted that assertion, that close to 80 per cent of the employees came from one ethnic community, yet the law is explicitly clear that no public establishment shall have more than one-third of its staff from the same ethnic community. Some of us feel very uncomfortable because some boards can hold a national function meeting in one ethnic language to the exclusion of others without shame. If we want to have a cohesive society, as individual members of society, we must walk the walk. As I always joke, if you want to contribute to national cohesion and come from the Coast, look for a wife or a husband from the West; if you come from Nyanza, look for a wife, a yellow yellow, from Kiambu. That way, our children will not know whether they are Luhya, Pokot or Turkana. They will just feel Kenyan. If you marry someone from your village, how will you become Kenyan? How will you feel part and parcel of Kenya?

As I conclude, I plead with my colleagues in the political space. There are some statements we have started making, whether on the privileged Floor of this House or outside, when we are given a microphone at a funeral or wherever, that are a harbinger of chaos. Please, let us check our words. The zoning we are talking about is mentioned in the Kriegler and the Waki Reports. The trumpets of zoning were part and parcel of what brought the mayhem in 2007/2008. Let us avoid this talk of zoning. If you are a capable politician, you must face your adversaries head-on. Zoning is defeatist. When you advocate for zoning, you are already

admitting that you have failed and that you are unable to galvanise your stronghold to vote for your candidates.

With those very few remarks, Hon. Deputy Speaker, I support approval for the appointment of the nominees. I wish them well.

The last Member on this is Hon. Mwashako.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to support the nominees for appointment to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) .

I join my colleagues in saying that this debate has come at the right time. We remain with less than 15 months until the next election. The NCIC came about as a result of the conflicts we had in the 2007–2008 post-election violence. When Kenyans gave themselves this Commission, we knew for sure we wanted a Commission that would not only take stock of what is not going right when it comes to our ethnic diversity and hate speech, but also a watchdog, a Commission that would understand and deal with issues even before they happen.

I am reminded of Martin Luther King, who once said, "We either learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools." We have over 40 different ethnic groups in this country. Each ethnic group has its strength, and in that strength, we build a country and nation. Kenya cannot be strong if one ethnic community is left behind. Therefore, every time we talk about our ethnic diversity, we should not only focus on the negative side of ethnicity. We should also emphasise the positive side.

NCIC is an important Commission in this country, but over the many years of its existence, it has not performed its duties well. One of the key mandates of the Commission is to promote inclusion and bring equity in appointments and hiring.

Hon. Deputy Speaker, we know that NCIC has been publishing documents even though it is not its responsibility. The documents gather dust on shelves. No one takes them seriously. As we approve these nominees' appointments today, they must wake up and do their work. They must implement their reports. When the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) was hiring recently, the NCIC said two communities accounted for 70 to 80 per cent of the jobs, while the rest of the country accounted for less than 20 per cent. Giving us such reports does not help anyone. If they do not enforce fairness by calling the leadership and management of parastatals to order them to comply with the Constitution, it does not help us.

The NCIC has given us very good reports indicating that some universities in this country employ almost 90 per cent of their workers from the surrounding areas, yet they are parastatals. If they produce good reports with no implementation, the Commission will not get anywhere. We use public resources to fund the operations of the NCIC. The public must get value for money.

Generation Z (Gen Z) in this country have demonstrated that we can run this country without thinking about where we come from or our tribes. When they demonstrated in 2024 and called us to order, as Parliament and the Executive, they transcended the boundaries of ethnicity. By the fact that they rose to that level, we, as leaders, must realise that our time is almost gone. If we do not shape up and realise that ethnicity will end with us, then we are wasting our time as we sit here. As we head to the next election, I call upon Gen Z to actualise this transition. They should not elect leaders based on the tribe they come from, be it the occupier of the highest office of the land or Members of Parliament. The Gen Zs must demonstrate that tribes do not matter anymore. We have a good number of Gen Zs in this country. Two million of them registered as voters in the recently concluded Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) voter registration exercise. If the Gen Zs and the youth of this country can raise their numbers to over 10 million, they can send all of us home if we continue using ethnicity to get into office or secure jobs.

Talking about ethnicity, there are communities in this country whose people do not occupy executive offices, which is sad. They do not get a chance to work in senior executive offices. This trend must end. The NCIC must rise to the occasion. It is unfortunate that we have such a country.

During the recent recruitment for the Kenya Prison Service warders, a majority of those employed came from a specific area of this country. It is very sad. During recruitment for the Kenya Defence Force (KDF), many young people are taken to the fields to run, only for the recruiting team to enlist between three and six youths in each sub-county. However, there is one particular sub-county where about 100 youths were recruited because one of their own sits in a high office in the Executive. As the NCIC carries out its work, it must recognise that the funds it uses to run activities belong to the public. It is appropriated by Parliament. Therefore, it is the taxpayers’ money. They must work and be beyond reproach. What they call ‘hate speech’ in Mombasa should be the same in Nairobi. If someone is perpetrating hate speech, it should not matter where they come from or the position they hold in government. I have seen cases that are outright hate speech, but some people are handled with kid gloves, while others are not. It is unfortunate.

I support the nomination of these individuals, but they must rise to the occasion and serve with diligence once they are appointed to these positions. We must bring this country together. We must unify it. I believe that one day Hon. Danson Mwashako will be elected President of this country, not because I come from Taita Taveta or a tribe that has very few people, but because I merit the position. The idea that the president must come from a certain community, whether large or small, must come to an end. As Parliament, NCIC must call us to order. They should rise and condemn hate speech from Members of Parliament. They should not look at Members from the side of the House they sit in. Even if it comes from someone who is a leader on the government side, it has to be called out. Hate speech is hate speech. The law should apply to everyone.

Thank you, I support.

Thank you. Hon. Members, we will close this debate. We will put the Question on a later date.

Let us move to the next Order.

I am sorry, the Mover has not replied.

Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I want to thank colleagues for their overwhelming support for the Report of the Committee and, in essence, for the appointment of the chairperson-nominee and commissioner-nominees of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, a few things have stood out. First, the face of Kenya is represented in these nominations. There is no region of this country that should feel that its interests have not been taken care of. Secondly, we have brought on board diverse experience, skills and competencies to the Commission. All the nominees have been following the

proceedings of this House as we seek to have their nominations approved. They have heard loud and clear what Members of Parliament expect of them. They must not fail Kenyans. The job is cut out for them. They also stated that Members’ expectations are very high.

The situation that this country went through during the 2007/2008 post-election violence has been revisited by several Members. The nominees must know that every Kenyan is looking up to them to ensure that our country does not go in that direction again. Unfortunately, the politicians have already started beating the drums of war. There are words of incitement that may lead to the disintegration of the country. Some politicians are already claiming that certain zones of the country belong to them. You hear people say, “This zone is our zone” or “These voting blocks are in my hands, I am the one who is going to deliver.” The language of kingpins and kingmakers is not good for our country as we head towards the next elections.

These Commissioners must understand that they are getting into office with the goodwill of this House. They must not squander that goodwill. They must assume office with confidence, but they should also realise that their competencies give them the necessary tools to diffuse the tensions that are building up in this country. They must redefine and prohibit the use of abusive language. They must discourage the use of certain terms in certain tribal dialects or native languages that incite people to hate certain leaders on account of this and that action. To rephrase the words of the late Hon. Prof. George Saitoti, this country is bigger than any of us. I hope that, once sworn in, this commission will ensure that those proverbial words come to life and are practised by every responsible Kenyan. The irresponsible ones must be removed from our midst, irrespective of the positions they now occupy or occupied in the past. The habit of people deciding to either appear or not appear before this commission on account of the positions they occupy now, or they occupied in the past, whenever the commission issues a summons, must come to an end.

Lastly, I want to appeal to this House. The National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008, was born out of the recommendations of the Kriegler Commission and our 2007/2008 post-election violence experiences. We have since enacted a new constitution. The Bill before this House is supposed to align the functions of this commission with the Constitution. It is also supposed to strengthen the capacity of this commission based on the lessons learned. Therefore, I want to make a very passionate appeal. Let us prioritise and fast-track the enactment of the National Cohesion and Integration (Amendment) Bill, 2026, so that the new team that will take office will have the necessary tools to shepherd this country in the direction we desire.

With those remarks, I beg to reply.

Hon. Members, as we proceed to the next order, I notify all Members engaged in business outside the Plenary of the House that the matters appearing under Orders 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 will no doubt be reached. Let them be available because today we are adjourning business at 9.00 p.m. All the movers in respect of these Motions should avail themselves so that the House can transact these businesses.

Next Order.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the House adopts the Report of the Mediation Committee on the National Disaster Risk Management Bill, (National Assembly Bill No.24 of 2023) , which is a Bill for an act of Parliament to establish the National Disaster Risk Management Authority and County Disaster Risk Management Committees to provide a legal framework for coordination of disaster risk management activities.

The Mediation Committee commenced its sittings on Tuesday, 31st March 2026. Pursuant to Article 113 (4) of the Constitution, the Committee was required to agree on a mediated version of the Bill and table a report within 30 days from its first sitting.

The Bill was published on 31st May 2023 and read a First Time on 9th August 2023. It was considered by the National Assembly and passed with amendments on 20th June 2024. Thereafter, it was referred to the Senate for consideration in accordance with Article 110 (4) of the Constitution and Standing Order 144 of the National Assembly Standing Orders. The Bill underwent First Reading in the Senate on Wednesday, 3rd July 2024. Subsequently, it was committed to the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations for consideration in accordance with Standing Order 145 of the Senate Standing Orders.

The Senate considered and passed the Bill with amendments. The Speaker of the Senate conveyed the decision of the Senate on the passage of the Bill to the National Assembly on 15th April 2025, pursuant to the provisions of Article 110 (4) of the Constitution and Standing Order 46 (2) of the Senate Standing Orders. The National Assembly considered and rejected the amendments from the Senate on 24th July 2025.

Consequently, the Bill was referred to a Mediation Committee, pursuant to Article 112 of the Constitution. The Speaker of the National Assembly appointed Members to the Mediation Committee on 19th August 2025, pursuant to Standing Order 149 (2) of the National Assembly Standing Orders. The Speaker of the Senate appointed Senators to the Mediation

Committee on 3rd November 2025, pursuant to Standing Order 166 (2) of the Senate Standing

(mc) carry out annual national drill exercises as part of disaster management preparedness. Concerning clause 27, the committee's observation was that the amendments sought to provide that the development and maintenance of an electronic database on disasters be done in consultation with the county governments. The Committee resolved to adopt the amendments with the modification that development of the electronic database be done in consultation with county governments, and the maintenance of that database be done by the authority. The Committee agreed with the following wording of the provisions, which was modified:

Hon. Catherine Omanyo, who is also the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, to second.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I beg to second the Motion on the Mediated Version of the National Disaster Risk Management Bill (National Assembly Bill No.24 of 2023) as moved by the Chairperson of the Mediation Committee, which was constituted pursuant to Standing Order 149 (2) of the National Assembly Standing Orders, and Standing Order 166 (2) of the Senate Standing Orders.

The passage of the mediated version of the Bill developed by the Mediation Committee is in accordance with Article 113 (2) , (3) and (4) of the Constitution, Standing Order 149 (1) of the National Assembly Standing Orders, and Standing Order 166 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders. If enacted, the National Disaster Risk Management Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 24 of 2023) will significantly enhance coordination and institutional effectiveness in disaster management.

The Schemes of Service for disaster management personnel have been submitted to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to professionalise and strengthen human resource capacity in the sector. If enacted, regional disaster management centres across the eight regions will be established to decentralise services and bring response mechanisms closer to mwananchi.

With those remarks, I second.

Thank you, Hon. Catherine Omanyo.

Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri. I see he intends to contribute to a different Motion. Hon. Danson Mwashako also awaits a different Motion.

Hon. Members, the Co-Chairperson of the Mediation Committee, Hon. Peter Lochakapong, moved the Motion so satisfactorily that no Member wants to contribute to it. Therefore, I want him to reply to the Motion as a mere formality because no Member has contributed to it. I will then put the Question.

Hon. Temporary Speaker, the understanding is that when a Bill has been agreed upon in a Mediation Committee and is tabled in this House and in the Senate, we just ask Members to adopt and approve it.

With those few remarks, I beg to reply.

Next Order.

Hon. Members, you have one hour and five minutes to conclude the debate on this Motion. Those who are interested in contributing to the Motion should press the intervention button. Hon. Jematiah, are you keen on contributing to the Motion?

Yes.

As Hon. Jematiah prepares to contribute to the debate, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health should be in the plenary to reply to the Motion.

Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Public

Nowadays, we lack physical activity, and we consume excess food. The other problem is that most food is mainly westernised. We have easy access to junk foods that cause people, especially children, to grow very fast. This disease does not discriminate by age, gender or status. It has become a serious problem. Exposure to food that is not nutritious is one of the contributing causes of cancer.

Pollution is also another factor. Environmental pollution has emerged as one of the biggest challenges. Industrial pollution, smoking cigars and the vapes that people carry in their pockets nowadays, which they use anywhere at any time, are examples. These have increased the risk of people developing long-term, non-infectious diseases. Cancer treatment is burdening our national budget. We are looking for ways to help our people take care of themselves. Specifically, we need to introduce nutritious food in schools to help our children across the country evade such diseases.

Lifestyle is also a contributing factor. Traditionally, people never used to eat all meals every day. Nowadays, people can access food anytime. The types of food eaten may ultimately contribute to cancer. Another factor is age. As a government, we need to find ways of ensuring that our aged people have good medical insurance so that if they are diagnosed with diseases like cancer, they can be treated. Such preventative measures can be put in place. We can help people with cancer get remedies that can enable them to take care of themselves. These are terminal diseases, but there are measures we can put in place to help people live comfortably with them or avoid them altogether.

For a better Kenya, we need to help with the budget, as Parliament, so that we can resolve most of these issues.

With those remarks, I support the Motion.

There being no more interest by Members to contribute to this Motion, this debate stands exhausted.

You want to contribute?

Yes.

Is that Hon. Yussuf Mohamed, the Member for Wajir West? Please make your contributions.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, for giving me an opportunity to contribute to the Motion on adoption of the Report by the Departmental Committee on Health regarding access to healthcare by cancer patients in this country.

Cancer is a well-known disease that is in every household nowadays. It has caused great pain and anguish to many Kenyans, regardless of where they come from. We know many people who are suffering due to cancer. Cancer treatment is very expensive.

I congratulate and thank the Kenya Network of Cancer Organisations (KENCO) for petitioning this House to at least help those who are suffering in this country. I also thank the Committee Members who went out of their way to make this great recommendation for the benefit of Kenyans. Cancer is a very serious disease. According to the Report, we have over 44,000 new diagnoses and over 29,000 cancer-related deaths annually. That is not a small number. The Committee has recommended that we increase the amount of money allocated by the Social Health Authority (SHA) for cancer treatment to Ksh800,000.

Their findings are very simple and clear. The transition from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the SHA was undertaken to advance universal healthcare. This Committee has identified consequences for cancer patients arising from the restructuring of coverage for oncology treatment, which has been reduced from KSh600,000 to KSh550,000

per person. The Committee came to the conclusion that cancer patients exhaust their SHA allocation before the end of the year. What they are recommending is that we increase the limit from KSh550,000 to KSh800,000. This might be sufficient for a person to get proper medication through the SHA.

The SHA is a very beneficial universal healthcare insurance entity that was needed in this country. Excluding or reducing the number of cancer patients has caused pain and anguish to so many households in this country. I support the recommendation made by the Committee to increase the funding for cancer patients and for patients suffering from other diseases.

With those few remarks, I support the Motion.

Yes, Hon. Catherine Omanyo.

Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I also support the Report of the Committee. I have had many friends who reached out for help because cancer treatment is prohibitively expensive. It costs families and friends a leg and an arm for one to pay the amount of money that is required for treatment. Many times, cancer patients are given so many appointments to keep visiting hospitals. The hospitals are even inaccessible. Most hospitals that offer cancer treatment services are in big cities, especially Nairobi. In many towns, we do not have medical facilities that deal with cancer. There is also a shortage of specialised nurses, oncologists and pathologists. We do not have enough of these specialists in the country. Talking of equality, a disease like cancer does not differentiate a rich person from a poor person. It just hits a family. The country should have a way to waive medical bills for cancer treatment. The country should have a way to treat such patients for free. The procedures involved in cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, cause depression among family members of patients. I like this Report so much. I just hope that, as a nation, we will get to a point where we will treat cancer patients for free.

With those remarks, I support the Motion.

There being no more interest by Members to contribute to this Motion, I call upon the Mover to reply. Do we have the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health in the House? Dr Nyikal is attending to other parliamentary obligations within the precincts. Therefore, the Mover will reply to the debate when the House Business Committee reschedules this business next time.

Next order.

Hon. Members, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Regional Integration had requested that the debate on this Motion be deferred to a future date. The request has been acceded to by the Speaker and, therefore, the debate on this Motion is deferred. Next Order.

Hon. Members, the Motion appearing under Order 15 will stand stepped down to be considered in the future by the House as and when it shall be rescheduled by the House Business Committee. I do so for the convenience of the House. It is so ordered.

Next Order.

Hon. Members, again, at the request of the Chairperson of the Committee on Implementation, the Motion appearing under Order 16 in the Order Paper of this afternoon is deferred to the future for consideration by the House.

Next Order.

Hon. Members, the Chairperson of the Select Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity had requested the Speaker to defer the consideration of this Motion to the future, and the request is acceded to. Therefore, the Motion appearing under Order 17 is accordingly stepped down to be transacted by the House in the future.

Hon. Members, there being no further business, the House stands adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, 30th April 2026, at 2.30 p.m.

Published by Clerk of the National Assembly