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{
    "id": 1371798,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1371798/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 165,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "aware that these are the problems we are facing in committees. When we tell a witness to produce a document, we are not doing it for the sake of the Senate. Maybe we want to see the expenditure of voucher of Dandora Stadium in Nairobi. We would want to know who has paid and what the company was. For example, what happened in Embakasi explosion, who did not do their job? Who derelicted their job? That is the future of the Kenya we want. Fourthly, when we visit your county like Busia, Kakamega, Mandera, Kilifi or Kitui, it is good that the next Governor of Kitui is here with us, Mhe. Enoch Wambua. When we decide to visit a project, there is always sabotage against our Committees. I would have expected Sen. Osotsi to add something because Governors and other agencies are mischievous. They will ensure when you want to visit a project, they will tell you that the road is not accessible and the security is not good. Madam Temporary Speaker, I remember when the Standing Committee on Labour and Social Welfare wanted to meet the victims of First Choice fraud in Eldoret, they were called at Ahero-Awasi and told that “you cannot proceed to Eldoret because your security is not assured.” Where are we headed as a country? We have seen cases where Parliament can visit even Ukraine, where the bombs are flying left, right and centre, but we are being told, “do not go to a certain place to investigate because security is not assured.” I remember, and Sen. Chute can bear me witness, I do not know where he is, and a number of Members of the Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism. Sen. Seki is here. They were visiting the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC) to check on the issue of edible oils. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) decided not to cooperate at all. They ensured the Committee did not visit and see, yet it was a Committee that should have visited that place. Madam Temporary Speaker, through Sen. Osotsi, I propose that when it comes to the Third Reading or when it reaches the amendment stage, we should say something about witnesses or entities who do not allow Parliament to access the premises to assess the situation. For example, if the Standing Committee on Energy wants to visit Embakasi, we do not want any entity to prevent or become a stumbling block for our committee to function properly. Let us not have a conversation on looking at the witness appearing before our committee. Let us also have a way. We should even say that if a witness, governor or anybody prevents a committee from accessing a site of interest of the committee in the course of committee work, we should also ensure that we fine them Kshs5 million. I think that would be very important. Finally, we should also find a way of doing a mental assessment of some of the witnesses. I was sitting in another committee where the witness started wailing and Members started running away. So, we should also find a way of looking at the aptitude or the mental stability of some of the witnesses. I do not know what we can do because some witnesses can pledge lucid moments, or they were not aware of what was happening."
}