HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1049748,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1049748/?format=api",
"text_counter": 284,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kirinyaga Central, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Munene Wambugu",
"speaker": {
"id": 13382,
"legal_name": "John Munene Wambugu",
"slug": "john-munene-wambugu"
},
"content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I have a bit of misgiving when I see the composition of the Board in Section 6. You will realise that from paragraphs A to H, apart from the chairperson and the director-general, all the others are principal secretaries. It is basically the Executive. I doubt whether this composition will have the intended effect if it is dominated by the Executive without putting people in academia and the corporate world, who are well versed with matters of libraries. We may need to change a bit about the composition of the board in the Third Reading, so that it does not look like an executive arm of the Government controlling the Kenya Library Service. However, I am quite happy with the qualifications, which are contained from Section 7 all the way to Section 15. The law is very clear that all those members of the board must, at least, have a university degree. They must attain, at least, apart from other qualifications, a degree from a recognised university. More so, the Director-General, who will be the Chief Executive Officer of the Board, the bar has been raised a bit. He or she should, at least, have a master’s degree from a recognised university. This is good because, after all, this is a Bill about libraries. Library is about reading and learning. So, ordinarily, the people heading that board should be people of high academic qualifications. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the other interesting and important section is Section 32 of the proposed Bill. This Section has made the board to be independent in the performance of its functions. Having been given independence, if they fail, they will not be saying that there is interference because the Bill itself has specifically stated that they will be independent and they should not be subject to any person’s direction. I have an issue with Section 38. It is a good Section because it gives the Cabinet Secretary (CS) the power to make regulations. However, I have noted that there is no time frame which has been provided. We have seen, sometimes, that we pass very good Acts of Parliament and when they are signed, they do not come into operation or even if they come into operation, they are not effective. The full benefits are not realised because the CS has slept on his duties and has failed to make regulations in a timely manner. Sometimes, you find some Acts of Parliament whose regulations have not been made for 10 or 20 years. It could have been a better way, if we were to provide that any regulations to be made under that Section be made within five or ten years so that, at least, there is a limit and the full benefits of this Bill are realised. As I conclude, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the reading culture in Kenya, and especially currently, has really gone down. Once this Bill becomes law - and I believe that we will pass it as Members of this House and the Senate will concur - it may be important that we have a library in each sub-county. Why do I say so? I say so because it is true that you can read from the comfort of your phone or house, but when you are assembled together in a place where you can exchange knowledge, in a place where you can find other people reading and enjoying books, you will also get motivated. You also know where you can always get the materials you require. Much as we have some small libraries upcountry, and mostly in our primary and secondary schools, you will find that what is stocked there is only text books that are meant for either primary or secondary schools. We do not have a library which stocks all kinds of materials for the community to research, read and advance their knowledge. I believe that once the Bill is passed, this august House will move with speed. When it comes to the issue of the budget, we will rise to the occasion and provide the necessary money for the board because without money, the Service will not go far. Most importantly, the Bill has recognised that the main source of funding would be the money appropriated by the National Assembly. 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."
}