Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 635479,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/635479/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 63,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Eng.) Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise on a point of order to seek your guidance on a matter that borders on the responsibilities of this House. Article 95 (2) says:- “The National Assembly deliberates on and resolves issues of concern to the people.” Our Constitution in Article 254 (1) states:- “As soon as practicable, after the end of each financial year, each commission and each holder of an independent office shall submit a report to the President and to Parliament”. Hon. Speaker, there are several provisions in our Constitution which require holders of constitutional offices to prepare and submit reports to Parliament. I want to refer to one in particular - the one on the Controller of Budget - which says that every four months, the Controller of Budget shall submit to each House of Parliament a report on the implementation of the budgets of the national and county governments. I raise this matter because very many times, the Leader of the Majority Party has been bringing reports from holders of constitutional offices and, particularly, from the Controller of Budget. Those reports actually contain matters that concern the people of Kenya and in keeping with our mandate as Members of the National Assembly in resolving matters that concern the people of Kenya; I was just wondering how we are supposed to deal with those reports. That is because the Constitution provides that those reports be tabled here, but it does not say within what time they should be debated or, indeed, after they are debated, what kind of resolutions we are supposed to make on them. Having walked through this Constitution for a number of years, I think it is now important - so that it does not just become a ritual - that reports that are brought here and the Leader of Majority Party dutifully tables them here--- There have been cases where we have been embarrassed. Reports have been tabled here when some committees are not around and so, no action is taken on them. Would it not be in order then that when those reports are tabled, at least, the House Business Committee provides a framework where we can have a discussion on them? Some of them, like the Reports by the Controller of Budget actually contain matters which concern the people of Kenya. It is important that as the representatives of the people we get a way to pronounce ourselves over the reports, even if it comes to making a decision on it. That way, the House can make a pronouncement. Hon. Speaker, I just want your guidance on this matter and how we can deal with these express provisions of the Constitution. Thank you."
}