Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1195308,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1195308/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 152,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "as a chairperson. They are not 24 of them because some are chaired by the Hon. Speaker, for example, the House Business Committee (HBC) and the Committee on Powers and Privileges. Again, this will allow Members to get more slots. This is not from the Majority Party only but even the Minority Party with about eight committees they are designated to chair. Therefore, even on the minority side, those who will be elected as chairpersons of either Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Public Investment Committee (PIC) or the Special Funds Accounts Committee for the Independents will have to relinquish those positions. I take this opportunity to commit as the Chairperson of the Committee on Selection that this time round we shall not make it a committee that only sits at the beginning of the Session to place Members and then sit again in case there is some movement in the course of the Session. As soon as we are done with the election of committees, chairpersons, and vice- chairpersons, we will endeavour to sit again to reallocate the available slots to Members from both sides of the coalitions. Hon. Speaker, I do not want to belabour on these points although it is worthy to note, especially by new Members of Parliament that this is one of the most divisive exercises in any parliament. It is always not possible to please everybody in the House or place everybody in the committee they desire. I will give you an example of the Departmental Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. From the Majority side we had 79 Members who sought to be fixed in eight slots. The Minority side had 71 Members who also wanted to be slotted in that Committee. The Budget and Appropriations Committee had 99 Members who sought to sit in it yet it can only accommodate 27 Members. Therefore, Hon. Members, I beseech you it is not possible to please everybody. We will please some and disappoint others but at the end of the day, we are all Members of Parliament who have the opportunity to attend all committees of this House. Nothing precludes you as a Member of Parliament from attending any committee of the House. You do not have to be a Member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee to attend meetings there. I truly want to encourage, especially, our first time Members of Parliament. Please, take your time to learn what happens in other committees other than the committee you are designated in. In conclusion, it has been a custom to find people in two or three committees. The moment Members are placed in committees, they end up never showing up in any sitting. I want to assure Members because I have assurance from the Leader of the Minority Party that they will keep track, like those in the Majority Party will do. If you are not active in the committee you have been designated in, please, allow us.... I can hear the Majority Whip saying this is what he will be doing on a daily basis, that is, ensuring he tracks who is active in a particular committee and who is not. So, if you do not have the opportunity or the time to attend a committee, there is no reason to hold that slot and stop someone else who would be more interested to serve in that committee. I am saying this to encourage Members to be active participants. If you are not a member of a committee or you have not been designated to a particular committee, be active in that committee. You may find a Member who has been designated in a committee, but never attends meetings. Whenever you attend a committee, it is always noted in the attendance register that you attended as a friend of the committee. Therefore, the Majority and Minority Whips will see who are the active Members in particular committees and if there is reassignment, we will then reassign. Hon. Speaker, with those many remarks, I beg to move this Motion and request the Leader of the Minority Party, Hon. Wandayi to second."
}