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{
"id": 1147790,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1147790/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Ruaraka, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. T.J. Kajwang’",
"speaker": {
"id": 2712,
"legal_name": "Tom Joseph Kajwang'",
"slug": "kajwang-tom-joseph-francis"
},
"content": "situation of ethics and corruption in this country. When this matter is brought to leaders as assembled, it requires a proper conscientious debate, and a full expression of the House so that we know that we have an instrument by which we can fight corruption in this country. As for the Members who would want us to go to the next Order, they can kindly, bear with us so that we are able to examine this matter properly, and put it to rest. I want to support the Motion for consideration of these two Kenyans. We have to set the law and jurisdiction of this House in approval hearings. I heard somewhere that some nominees are complaining that we ask them some embarrassing questions when they come before us. One day, a nominee was asked whether she or he attended funerals, and if she or he contributed to the same. That is a very legitimate concern of the country, and of the leaders assembled because we want to know their community network, and how they are able to push community interests when given public jobs. We are not conveyor belts such that because you have a degree, or you profess this or that, then you think you are good for the job you have. As representatives of the people, Articles 94 and 95 says that we are here to represent the interests or the concern of our people. A concern includes how much you donate when you go to a funeral, how many people you have taken to school or how you are supporting philanthropic issues. So, when you hear some of us ask such philanthropic issues, it is not because we want to, but my Ruaraka constituents, for example, are asking me to ask such issues. Specifically, these nominees have been put to a lot of scrutiny by the bodies that did the interviews. Our duty is now to approve by looking at their general governance suitability under Section 7 of the Act. One of the things that you may want to note is that the EACC as constituted has a man and a woman. If the nominees are then appointed, the Commission will have two women and three men. This is in fulfilment of Article 27(8) of the Constitution which talks about the big problem that we call two-thirds gender rule in our Constitution. It almost sent us home, but by the grace of God, we are still in this House. The two-thirds gender rule is a principle that we must see implemented. The Commission must move to be seen as the driver of that thing called anti ethics. According to the Constitution, it is the chairperson and the commissioners. The secretariat is just the body that helps this thing to move. We can see that we have a Commission being driven by the secretariat more than the commissioners. When this is done, it creates a lacuna and it is a big problem in the fight against corruption. We hope that with addition of these people, the Commission will take its place and will fight as a Commission and not as a secretariat. The ordinary wananchi are expecting to see some people being investigated, but they are not being investigated. We are finishing the first 10 years of devolution in this country. If you ask business people from Homa Bay and Migori, they know the people who should be investigated. You just wonder how it is so difficult to get investigations underway. The people who bear great political and governance responsibility are not investigated for things which are apparently clear in the face of the common people. We hope that the addition of these two people will give the Commission the impetus they require to do their job. Hon. Speaker, a few days ago, this Parliament discussed the Estimates. At least, the policy and the estimates are underway. We are putting a lot of money to this Commission. The other time we did the supplementary, the EACC cried that they were given very little that went to their recurrent for salaries. If you do not convince Kenyans that you are doing your job for which you need public money, you are not very honest to come and cry that we are not giving you money. We hope that this printed estimates that are going to come and the money that Parliament is going to push to these people, will change the way in which the Commission has done its infrastructure 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."
}