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{
    "id": 1087119,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1087119/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 138,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Eng.) Hargura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 827,
        "legal_name": "Godana Hargura",
        "slug": "godana-hargura"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I would like to thank Sen. (Dr.) Zani for coming up with important amendments to the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act. For some time, as committees, we have been making recommendations, especially sitting in CPAIC sometimes we even ask Government organizations like the EACC to take up some issues, DCI to do investigations in our reports which we table in this House but it ends there. I support this amendment because it gives very clear procedures and very clear timelines. Sometimes we make recommendations here but because there is nothing, even mandating the Clerk to communicate with the officers, it might even be lying within the Senate. It might not even have left here. Now it is very clear that the Clerks of the two Houses have to write to the relevant officer within seven days of that report being adopted by the House. From there the officer who is required to act within the time stipulated in the Standing Orders. We need to look at the Standing Orders. Do they give that stipulation because the amendment talks of “within the time stipulated in the Standing Orders.” Do we have those timelines in the Standing Orders where the public officer is supposed to reply back to the parliamentary committees? We need to check that. It is very clear that the officer has to give a progress report within that time. It should be a report on what action has been taken and if there is no action, then the reason for the inaction and what challenges they have so that the relevant committee have to understand. In the event that the officer just refuses to obey the law then it also very clearly states that there are consequences to failure to comply; a fine not exceeding Kshs500,000 or a jail term not exceeding six months. It makes it very clear that the officers will be held responsible as individuals when they do not take parliamentary work seriously. I support and hope that this Bill goes through and becomes an Act so that we can rely on it to enforce most of these decisions which are supposed to be implemented by Government officers. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker."
}