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{
    "id": 1104872,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1104872/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 50,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "of the rules by Members, both in plenary and in committee, undoubtedly provides Members with first-hand experience on their applicability. It is on this basis that the review process becomes important for future Parliaments as it is premised on views of the actual users of the rules of procedure. Members are, therefore, best placed to highlight gaps which help in continually improving and making the rules more practical and responsive to the ever-evolving environment within the institution apart from learning from legislatures in comparable jurisdictions where individual Hon. Members and committees have visited, and how the rules of procedure remain anchored within our nascent constitutional framework. Hon. Members, from the foregoing and in keeping with this practice, the Clerk of the National Assembly, in consultation with the Procedure and House Rules Committee, has constituted a technical team to commence the process of collation of views and any proposed amendments to the Standing Orders as part of the end-of-term review. In this regard, committees of the House, Members and staff are encouraged to proffer any proposed amendments they may have on the current rules of procedure. Specifically, committees are called upon to candidly look into and review the workings of our committee system, including ensuring constitutional and statutory compliance, and to make proposals for improvement. Additionally, committees may consider the legislative oversight mechanisms currently in place and highlight any gaps or neglected areas that require improvement. Suffice to say that individual Hon. Members are free to propose amendments to any part of the Standing Orders for collation by the technical team and consideration by the Procedure and House Rules Committee. The proposed amendments or general views should be channeled to the Committee through the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly by way of written submissions. Additionally, views will also be sought from the public and other external stakeholders in keeping with the requirements of Article 118 of the Constitution. The Committee will thereafter report to the House, isolating any provisions it may recommend for amendment or repeal. It is envisaged that this process of collation will be concluded by 15th November 2021. You are therefore, encouraged to give your views before then. Hon. Members, in considering the proposals from the various stakeholders, I implore the Procedure and House Rules Committee under the leadership of my very able deputy, Hon. Moses Cheboi, CBS, MP, not to shy away from genuinely relooking at all the provisions in our current Standing Orders, including: (a) The system of governance and bicameral nature of our legislature; (b) The subsisting committee system focusing on areas such as size, composition, operations, effectiveness and efficiency of our committees; (c) Areas of improvement in the general parliamentary oversight focusing on any aspects or areas that may not have received due attention, including but not limited to our budget processes and oversight mechanisms over the national debt; (d) The place of and mechanisms for consideration of the reports submitted to the House by Cabinet Secretaries under Article 153(4)(b) of the Constitution; (e) The place of constitutional commissions and independent offices and their place in our rules of procedure including the consideration of their reports submitted to the House pursuant to the provisions of Article 254 of the Constitution; and, (f) Consideration of the various Speaker’s rulings, as well as judicial decisions that have a bearing on the procedures of the House. Hon. Members, in this regard, as your Speaker and the Chairperson of the Procedure and House Rules Committee, I therefore: 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."
}