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{
    "id": 1032168,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1032168/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 77,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Rarieda, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Otiende Amollo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13465,
        "legal_name": "Paul Otiende Amollo",
        "slug": "paul-otiende-amollo"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I fully support this Petition. I would really urge that the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, to which it is proposed to be committed, takes this matter seriously. First of all, it must be noted that our Constitution expressly prohibits any State officer from holding an account outside this jurisdiction, except where it may be permitted by legislation. To the best of my knowledge, we have not passed such legislation. That then leads to the conclusion that there is a blanket prohibition. It, therefore, means that by definition, any State officer who then is found to have such money will be doing what is unlawful. Therefore, by definition, such money ought not only to be recovered, but to be presumed to be surrendered to the State. Hon. Speaker, it is not necessarily true that every other Kenyan who hold accounts abroad may have acquired such money through the proceeds of corruption. However, there is a legitimate and heavy presumption that anyone who would rather keep their money abroad, most likely does not want to explain its sources. Therefore, it is quite imperative that we should look into that issue. This issue is emotive. In 2012, as the Ombudsman, I set out on a journey to just start by getting the list of those who, in this country, hold accounts abroad. Just that inquiry alone nearly cost me my seat at that point. It was quickly assured to me that I was overreaching, that there were entities that were actively looking into that and that within less than 30 days, they were not only going to disclose that list, but they were going to make efforts to recover that money. Eight years later, that has not come to pass. I remember the immediate Attorney-General Emeritus at one point assured the country that we were going to have sight of that list. He said so with much gusto and zeal. After one week, that zeal appeared to have gone down and to date, someone must have suggested that it is not a good idea to do that. Every serious country - and we have seen this in many countries including Nigeria, Ghana and elsewhere - that meaningfully pursues the idea of monies held abroad, usually gains results. I was particularly worried, and I would like the Committee to look into this, when about a year ago, 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."
}