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{
    "id": 1219891,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1219891/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 242,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Navakholo, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Motion on the general debate on the proposal to amend the Constitution and Standing Orders. The Memorandum by His Excellency the President to this House mentioned two issues. First, that we look into the matter of amending the Constitution to allow for the formation of the Office of the Leader of Official Opposition. Secondly, that we look into amending the Standing Orders and the Constitution to include several affirmative action funds into the Constitution of Kenya. I would first like to talk about the creation of the Office of the Leader of Official Opposition. A short while ago, we had an issue where the Leader of the Minority Party was looking into the issue of the Committee on Selection. If the leader of official opposition was in the House, the Minority side would align itself with him. That position may have been held by His Excellency the Right Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga. Similarly, on the Government side, Cabinet Secretaries would come into the House, unlike today where we refer Questions to chairpersons of various committees. It is a better and direct approach to issues whereby we can face the people who hold the offices and hold them accountable rather than taking a longer route which the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 did not envisage. We must appreciate the milestone of moving from the old Constitution to the new one. We are now trying to make it better. Therefore, the proposal to have the Office of the Leader of Official Opposition is good. We were in the last Parliament where we had the issue of the BBI. Had we gone that route, we would not be where we are. Now that it did not work, we have an opportunity to anchor the Office of the Leader of Official Opposition into the Constitution of Kenya, so that we can move forward to deal with current issues. The second part of the memorandum looks into anchoring various funds into the Constitution and the Standing Orders. One of these is the NG-CDF. As we are all aware, disbursement of the NG-CDF has always been a tall order each year, especially each first year of a new parliamentary term. There are always challenges. The Executive wants to shift goalposts. They do not want to disburse the NG-CDF on time. Members of Parliament have to pester or beg the Executive to release those funds. Despite the fact that we vote for those funds, disbursement is solely in the hands of the Executive. Therefore, it is their prerogative on when to disburse the funds. However, the moment we anchor such affirmative action funds into the Constitution and the Standing Orders, it will be mandatory and obvious. No one will challenge it. There have been very many litigation cases on the NG-CDF since its inception in 2003. You find that anyone who wants to hammer away at Members of Parliament or throw stones at Parliament always focuses on the issue of the NG-CDF. Anchoring the fund into the Constitution will be a better move so that it is fully recognised by the Constitution of Kenya and we can all enjoy it. The amendment is not in terms of the NG-CDF alone. We will also look into the NGAAF which goes to our sisters who represent various counties. Therefore, all of us will have a “cake” to share in terms of representation. Any oversight we undertake will be backed up by resources. Once you have power, it must be supported by resources. If you have power without authority and resources, it is an empty debe . It is important that those funds are anchored into the Constitution. We could have 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."
}