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{
    "id": 1129014,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1129014/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 409,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13491,
        "legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
        "slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I am anxious to speak to this because I was opposed to the Bill when it came with the Report saying that they would propose amendments to open it up. I am extremely thankful to the Chairman, his Committee and the engineer who has clarified that the issue of roads is a reserve of engineers, especially the civil engineers. My opposition was actually based on my own selfish interests that there is no way I would sit in this House and pass any law that says that a lawyer, a chief court registrar, the Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya or even a medical doctor can be the DG. That would be injustice to the country and to the other professionals, especially my own profession. So, I would not actually agree to this. When this amendment had been brought, I was going to oppose the Bill but I have read the addendum Report which was tabled yesterday. I am happy to note that the Chairman actually listened to all the stakeholders and their representations as shown in that particular addendum. Today, we are debating that the Bill remains as it is, which is quite acceptable. I am sure that the engineers, through the Engineers Board, the Institute of Engineers and other colleges where they do their own engineering practices, are happy to have it this way. The DG, who will be appointed to superintend over the construction of roads is a colleague in the civil engineering field. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I was also opposed to how a person who is not qualified can deal with strategy which sometimes includes looking at professional drawings to ascertain that they are correct and their quantification to know what it would cost, et cetera. As it is today, I agree that we give the DG a term of five years as opposed to the early proposal of three years. Roads are never constructed in a day or even in a year. They take a bit of time. It is important to put the limits here that they must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, a Master’s Degree and the period of practice that is supposed to be done. This is exactly what happens even when it comes to appointment of judges who serve in our Judiciary. Those are lawyers with given years of practice. The same things apply to what we are doing today. Therefore, what the Chairman and his Committee have done is commendable. It draws the will of the House from every Member to support this Bill so that we pass it to allow engineers to practise their engineering profession. I support."
}