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{
    "id": 1064883,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1064883/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 243,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": "matter whether it is KEMSA or elsewhere—but the sheer fact that we have an ethics and anti- corruption commission in the Constitution is a sure admission that corruption is so much in our system. In countries that have sorted out corruption issues, you do not even have an anti-corruption police because they have sorted out the problem through their national ethos. They hate corruption because it is bad; it deprives people of services. The other issue is devolution. In 2010 we said let us move from decentralisation of services to actual devolution of services. Under decentralisation, you are basically moving government down. You may recall the District Focus for Rural Development Programme, where government services were being taken to the districts. But there was no power at the district level to make decisions. In fact, the first model of devolution was setting up Constituencies Development Fund (CDF), where money was devolved to the constituencies and there was decision-making in terms of what to do with the money at the constituency level. And that seemed to have persuaded people and in 2010 we decided to move most of the funds and functions, which used to be under the old Local Governments Act, which had listed what to be done by local authorities. We shifted the focus from local governments to county governments. We changed the name and assigned functions and powers and we said let the people elect their local representatives other than having appointees of the Minister for Local Government. Eight years down the line, it is time to look at that devolution and ask, has it worked? I will be coming back to that later. The other issue was safety and security. You cannot have peace unless you can guarantee safety and security. In January 2020, His Excellency the President appointed a steering committee on the implementation of the recommendations of the BBI taskforce, with the following terms of reference: To conduct validation of the taskforce report through consultations with citizens, civil society, faith-based organisations, cultural leaders, the private sector and experts; to propose administrative, policy, statutory and constitutional changes that may be necessary for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the taskforce report and to consider any relevant contribution made during the validation process. The output of that process was this report, which I had the honour of tabling in this House on 3rd November 2020. I hope Members have had the opportunity to look at it. The report contains not just the Bill but also proposes administrative, policy and legislative measures that need to be taken to achieve the nine-point agenda. The report also contains the constitutional issues that need to be addressed. These were contained in a draft Bill that was processed through the provisions of Article 257, which basically outlines what you need to do if you want to convince Kenyans to support your amendment to the Constitution without having to go through the parliamentary route. On 26th January 2021, the BBI steering committee delivered a draft Bill to amend the Constitution by popular initiative, supported by four million signatures—more than the mandatory one million signatures. The IEBC then submitted the draft Bill to each of the 47 county assemblies for consideration after verification of signatures in support of the initiative. Article 257(7) of the Constitution provides that if a draft Bill has been approved by a majority of county assemblies, it shall be introduced in Parliament without delay. It is something that we need to have at the back of our minds. In the county assemblies, it was clear that they need to consider within 90 days. In the House, there is no time limit as to what we need to consider except the operating words that it shall be introduced in Parliament without delay. This now brings in the whole issue of urgency. That is why we are having this Special Sitting today because we have no reason to delay the consideration the Committee having finished its Report last Friday. 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."
}