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{
    "id": 1348006,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1348006/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, you will recall that during the afternoon sitting of Tuesday, 28th November 2023, I allowed the Member of Parliament for Rarieda, Hon. (Dr) Otiende Amollo, Senior Counsel, EBS, to raise concerns on the contents of the Conflict of Interest Bill (National Assembly Bill No.12 of 2023). The concerns were also contained in his two letters to the Speaker dated 21st November 2023. In prosecuting the matter, the Hon. Member queried the constitutionality of various provisions of the Bill and highlighted particular concerns with a number of provisions. These included the definition of the term ‘public officer’ and the singling out of Members of Parliament and Members of county assemblies in the Bill, the shift from self-regulation of public bodies to the supervision of all public officers by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the obligation on public officers to include their spouses in their wealth declarations. During yesterday's Sitting, I also allowed the Leader of the Majority Party, as the sponsor of the Bill and other Members, to ventilate on the concerns raised by Hon. Otiende Amollo. In the ensuing debate, it was reported that the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs was at an advanced stage of reconsidering the Bill. The Vice-Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Mwengi Mutuse, confirmed that the Committee was seized of the matter and the concerns, and had taken them into account in consideration of the Bill. Consequently, I guided the House to await the tabling of an Addendum to the Report of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs on the Bill. The Report and the Addendum would inform my ruling on the concerns raised by the Member for Rarieda. I note that the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs tabled an Addendum to their Report on the Conflict of Interest Bill (National Assembly Bill No.12 of 2023) during today's Morning Sitting. From a perusal of the Addendum, it is clear that the Committee has addressed itself to the concerns raised by Hon. (Dr) Otiende Amollo and indicated its views on the said concerns. Additionally, arising partly from the concerns of the Member, the Committee has proposed amendments for consideration by the House. As a Member of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, Hon. (Dr) Otiende Amollo confirmed yesterday that he participated in the deliberations of the Committee during its re-consideration of the Bill. I am, therefore, satisfied that the tabling of the Addendum and proposal of further amendments by the Committee sufficiently allow the House to consider the Bill and the amendments at the Committee of the whole House. As I conclude, permit me to reiterate the significance of the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023. As aptly put by the Leader of the Majority Party, the Bill seeks to breathe life into the provisions of Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity, with a particular focus on conflict of interest. As the House is aware, the Bill seeks to repeal and replace the Public Officer Ethics Act, 2003, which has never been fully updated to accord with the Constitution. The importance of the ongoing deliberations on the form and content of the Bill cannot be overstated. I thank the Member for Rarieda for raising pertinent issues, which can 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"
}