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{
    "id": 1057772,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1057772/?format=api",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The Narcotics, Drugs Psychotropic Substances Control (Amendment) Bill, 2020, was read the First Time on 8th October 2020 and subsequently committed to the Committee, pursuant to Standing Order No.127 (1) and, for report to the House. The Committee considered the Bill in its sitting held from 15th to 17th November 2020 and adopted its Report on Monday, 30th November 2020. In accordance with Article 118 of the Constitution and Standing Orders No. 127 (3), the Committee sought views from the public by way of written memoranda. The institutions that made representation to the Committee on the Bill, includes the following: (a) State Department for Interior and Citizen Service; (b) Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI); and, (c) National Intelligence Service (NIS). Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Committee observed the following with regard to the Bill that in order to enhance the objectives of the Bill. It was necessary to insert new definitions in the Bill. They include, “clandestine laboratory”, “market value” and “public officer”. The import of the proposed amendment is to curb illicit drug operations, which can be set up in private, commercial and mobile property and which pose risk to human health and surrounding environment. The sentence with respect to cannabis should be reduced in order to reflect the current practice in our courts. The proposed amendment is to provide that where a person satisfies the court that the cannabis was intended for his own consumption, imprisonment should be not more than five years or a fine of not more than Ksh100,000. There is need for a new section to provide for landlords and owners of buildings to conduct due diligence on their tenants and occupiers of their premises, in order to avoid setting up of clandestine laboratories. As I conclude, the Committee observed that drug trafficking operations pose risk to human health, society and the surrounding environment. The perpetrators of such acts include law enforcement officers and public officers. Therefore, the Committee proposed a new section to provide for disqualification of persons from being elected or appointed to a public office, where such persons are convicted under the Act. In view of the above, the Committee has proposed amendments to the Bill in order to enhance the objectives of the Bill. I, therefore, invite Members to take time and read the Report of the Committee. As individual Members of this House, we are called upon to make good decisions for the sake of our future generations. We need to safeguard the future of our children and generations to come. It is about time that we acted like the developed world does when it comes to dealing with drug lords - be ruthless with them. We also need to act firmly on the enablers of the illegal business of narcotics, drugs and psychotropic substances. These include some unscrupulous Government officers and law enforcement officers who think they can illicitly enrich themselves at the expense of our children. If we do not act now, we risk seeing our children being converted into zombies by drug lords as we watch helplessly. I beg to move and ask Hon. Kaluma to second. 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."
}