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{
    "id": 706717,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/706717/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 141,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Abongotum",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 165,
        "legal_name": "Asman Abongutum Kamama",
        "slug": "asman-kamama"
    },
    "content": "At the close of business on Tuesday, 27th October 2016, the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly had not received any submissions touching on the suitability or otherwise of the nominee for appointment to serve in the position of Chairperson of NACADA. Briefly, the Committee made observations as follows: (i) The nominee has significant experience in public service having served for many years in the military and in the corporate security sector. (ii) The nominee has very good working knowledge of the public service and has exhibited this by his service in the military and private sector where he worked in close coordination, cooperation and collaboration with Government security agencies. (iii)The nominee has the requisite leadership experience having facilitated major security conferences, forums and workshops including crisis and disaster management programmes in 2007 and 2008. As a representative of the oil industry, he was part of the inter-ministerial security coordination team. He is also the founder and executive director of the Institute of Professional Security Studies (IPSS). The nominee exhibited excellent communication and interpersonal skills. He came across as an eloquent and articulate individual. For those of you who have the report, the nominee has been exposed to several courses especially in the United States of America (USA) and Asia. I take note of a recommendation letter that was written by the Lieutenant-General serving in the Army of Pakistan who really commended him for being a great team player and a very efficient military officer. The nominee has no integrity concerns as indicated in his records. The nominee has also a lot of experience in the private sector as the chairperson of Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), a very serious team in this country that is involved in ensuring that the private sector operates within a very good business climate. He is also on the sub-committee of security in KEPSA and has participated in the development of Secure Kenya concept that will be valuable in enhancing the participation of the business community in the campaign against alcohol and drugs. Very briefly before I conclude, the work of the Chairperson of NACADA is very important in this country. As Kenyans, we all know that one of our greatest challenges is the consumption of illicit brews and proliferation of hard drugs that have really consumed many young people. This position is very important because the Chairperson has to work extra hard to ensure that drugs are eradicated in our cities, especially in Mombasa and Coast Province, parts of Nairobi and in our major cities. The candidate should know that he must eradicate drugs and consumption of illicit brews in this country. Those illicit brews are killing more Kenyans compared to terrorism. It is one of the greatest enemies of this country. I reckon that the Act has several weaknesses especially when it comes to enforcement of laws having to do with chasing drug barons in this country. We are ready, as a Committee, to ensure that the NACADA Act is amended so that this Authority is given real teeth to deal with drug barons. Lastly, I want to thank Hon. Mututho, the former Chair of this Authority. He worked very hard and with a lot of zeal to ensure that consumption of illicit brews is controlled in this country. It is unfortunate that there were some loose ends and they were not able to work closely with the secretariat. As they say, a new broom sweeps better. I hope the new broom will work very closely with the secretariat to deliver on their mandate. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}