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{
    "id": 1083158,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1083158/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 397,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1955,
        "legal_name": "Benson Makali Mulu",
        "slug": "benson-makali-mulu"
    },
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. This is a fairly short amendment. As you can see, it is a Senate Bill. The main object is to streamline operation of the county public service boards. These boards play a very key role at the county level. They oversee all recruitment in the counties. On that basis, it is important that we get the right people to manage the boards. One of the amendments, as my Chair has said, is the issue of secretary to the board. The Senate proposes that the person must be a professional with certified secretary qualification. What we are saying is that just like in any other profession, in any position you will have the minimum qualification and if you have a professional qualification it might be an added advantage. So what we are saying as a Committee is that this person must be trained in this area but if he has a professional qualification, then that becomes an added advantage. A bachelor’s degree is required, but if you have a master’s degree then that is an added advantage. The other important point in this matter is the issue of voting. The Bill clearly says the secretary will have no voting rights. So, when it comes to making decisions, the secretary should not participate in voting. This is one of the best international practices. It is just like when the Speaker says he has no voting rights. He only oversees what happens in the House. This amendment is in line with that. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, on the issue of the governor, what has happened overtime is that some of our governors have taken advantage of some of the boards. At times, they appoint people who are very weak to chair the boards. I am talking about the people who do not have the requisite qualifications. There are those who have gone past retirement age. Such people are not going to add value to the boards. Through this amendment, governors are going to be required by law to make sure that they appoint people who have the right qualifications and who can carry out the duties that are expected of them. This is a very short Bill. What I have observed - and it is also happening to us here - is that, as we legislate, there are Bills that we keep on saying that whatever appointment is going to happen, it will take care of the gender, the disabled and all the other marginalised groups. However, this is a constitutional provision. In the Constitution, Articles 10, 27 and 232 take care of that. So, 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."
}