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{
    "id": 1355323,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1355323/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 97,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kiharu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Ndindi Nyoro",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I agree with all speakers that there has to be a clear demarcation between private enterprise and public service. Part of the reasons why countries like Kenya are not able to unlock the potential of its citizens is because we take the easy route where people interact with public resources. When people deal with public resources and enrich themselves through the same either via policy or by directly taking public resources, there is usually very little economic activity involved in making money. Whenever I rise to speak in this House, I do so to support any kind of Bill that minimises or even decimates corruption in our country. Allow me to refer to one analogy. The reason why young and enterprising people in African countries find it easier to join politics rather than enterprise is because of extracting political rent. This is a juxtaposition of what happens elsewhere. For example, in the USA, the reason why most young people graduate from universities and either go to the Wall Street or the Silicon Valley is because private enterprise thrives there. However, in Africa and other emerging economies, especially where the State is still evolving, a majority of people go to the public sector instead of creating value in the private sector. That is because it is easier to extract political rent when dealing with a public office – something that the prevailing efficiency in the private sector cannot give room to. Sometimes, we read in the newspapers, for example, of cases where an individual embezzled Ksh2 billion. Such money creates no economic value. You cannot compare an individual who has taken away with Ksh2 billion with a private company that makes Ksh2 billion as net profit. If I may cite listed companies, you can find a company that is making a net profit of Ksh2 billion, which has a lot of multiplier effect in the economy. It involves many people in terms of employment as well as in terms of forward and backward integration. Therefore, this Bill will minimise conflict of interest by public servants. It will clearly demarcate the people serving in the public sector with those making money. Making money is not a bad thing. So, it is important for us to continue strengthening our laws and ensure that we zero-in on the demarcation I have mentioned. I have a slight problem with the definition of ‘conflict of interest’, especially with the word ‘relative’. In companies, there is limited liability and the same applies to individuals. For example, my brother, Hon. Muriu, is a lawyer and, maybe, he has a brother who is a business person. You could find that he has a close friend who is not related to him in terms of kinship. Therefore, it will not be proper to load him with the activities of his brother. Going further, maybe his wife – and I am using him as an example… I do not think this is a good path to trend on. We put a lot of liability on an individual who has nothing to do with the activity of people related to them in terms of kin selection. Hon. Temporary Speaker, conflict of interest is not just about making money but also employment. This happens as States evolve because when we look at nascent States, the only sociability which happens is kin selection. As the economy and nation grows or a State evolves, the circle of sociability grows. So, conflict of interest is not just about tendering because this is popular in Kenya. It is also about nepotism and opportunities within where we serve. So, when you are given an opportunity to serve in a State like ours, which is based on merit, the 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."
}