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{
    "id": 1086204,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1086204/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 108,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "failing to comply with provisions under Article 118 of the Constitution (Public Access and Participation). Hon. Members, I also hasten to remind Committees of the ramifications of Standing Order 127(5) regarding failure to table reports on Bills within the stipulated timeline. For clarity, the said Standing Order provides as follows – “If for any reason, at commencement of Second Reading the report has not been presented, the Committee concerned shall report progress to the House, and the failure to present the report shall be noted by the Liaison Committee for necessary action”. I therefore encourage Committees to have fidelity on the dictates of Standing Order 127, which is intended to enrich the law-making process rather than mete punishment to Committees for non- compliance. Hon. Members, the leadership of the House, through the House Business Committee, continues to play its part in ensuring that individual Members’ legislative business is considered and concluded. You may be aware of the progressive measures that the leadership has consistently instituted to accelerate processing of individual Members’ Bills and prioritise their consideration by the House. You may recall that in February 2019, upon a resolution of the House Business Committee, I ordered publication of 30 individual Members’ legislative proposals that had over- stayed in Committees during pre-publication scrutiny. In that Session, the number of individual Members’ Bills shot steeply. On 8th June 2021, the House Business Committee moved this House to resolve to accord priority to individual Members’ business during the Sittings of the House every Thursday Afternoon. Further, the House Business Committee has proposed to the House to alter its Calendar for Fifth Session so as to extend the upcoming recess from two to three weeks. Hon. Members, the intention of the leadership is largely to avail more time to Committees to consider Bills pending before them, and submit reports to the House, having undertaken public participation as required under Article 118 of the Constitution as read together with Standing Order 127(3). I therefore encourage Chairpersons of the concerned Committees to endeavour to prioritise the listed Bills during the recess period and table their Reports in the House as soon as possible. This will enable the House Business Committee to also prioritise the Bills for consideration at Second Reading and subsequent stages by the House in good time. Having said that, Hon. Members, it is important to take note that, some of the individual Members’ Bills awaiting Second Reading have already been overtaken by events. They include, but may not necessarily be limited to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2020, both sponsored by Hon. Jude Njomo, MP. Further, there may be Bills whose sponsors no longer have the interest to pursue for one reason or the other. Whereas it is the responsibility of the sponsor to cause the withdrawal, in accordance with Standing Order 140, the relevant Committees have a duty to report to the House such developments. Hon. Members, from a review of individual Members’ Bills awaiting Second Reading, the House Business Committee observed that certain Bills, such as the one to amend the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and another to amend the Public Finance Management Act, are similar in nature. As such, the Committee will take a decision on which Bills to schedule first, the import of which is that the other Bill might fall. With regard to individual Members’ Bills seeking to amend the Constitution, I urge the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs to take a deliberate decision on the said Bills and make appropriate recommendations to the House on how 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."
}