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{
    "id": 1398629,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1398629/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 279,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13165,
        "legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
        "slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
    },
    "content": "the conflict of interest. This where public officials and state officers take advantage of their position to enhance their own personal interest as opposed to public interest. If you do not curb this vice, I am afraid you may not have a country to write about in the next few years to come. Therefore, I urge colleagues, that you take time, listen and debate this Bill with all the energy and vigour that you can summon. If you live in a country where industry pays less than politics, then you know that there is a problem. In a country where industrialists are poorer than members of the political class, because, say, for example, those in the political class and those within the realms of Government are able to flex their policy making position and powers to the advantage of their own interests, against the public good, then you find yourself in a very difficult situation. This has been one of the greatest inhibitors of growth in our country and that is why our country for so long cannot take off and join the middle-income economies, yet it is blessed with so much potential. Additionally, it should be a country that many people can look up to. Hitherto, everybody appreciates that we have a well-educated workforce. Our human capital is the envy of the world and that when Kenyans are granted an opportunity they thrive and excel. However, because of issues such as what we are confronting in this particular Bill, we are unable to get to the next level. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, it is until we all summon our collective strength and conscience to believe that there is a greater sense of moral good when the country thrives even better than you as an individual do. That, when you are granted the opportunity to serve in a public office, be it as an elected official or a public servant, you must remember that it is that poor young man in the village or poor old lady that perhaps walk barefoot, that has granted you the opportunity to use that office to make their life better. I am particularly impressed that this Bill provides that opportunity for us to move in that direction. I will quickly move to the various sections of the Bill. Article 73(2) of our Constitution provides guiding principles of leadership and integrity. Further, Article 75 requires a State officer to behave, whether in public and official life or sometimes even in private and in association with other persons, in a manner that avoids conflict of interest between that personal interest and their official duties, which may end up compromising your official interest in favour of personal interest. This is a point which I have just taken time to explain, that many countries that have been firm, fluid and fluent on matters corruption and slaying the dragons of conflict of interest, have succeeded and excelled. When people know that public office is only accessed with a sense and the desire to serve the public, those countries have moved ahead and thrived. Unfortunately, that has not been our story and we must be the generation and Parliament that eventually turns this around. Clauses 1 to 4 of the Bill provide for preliminary matters. I will not take a lot of time looking into that. Part III of the Bill, which consist of Clauses 8 to 29, defines the various situations that amount to conflict of interest and imposes obligations to public officers to either avoid situations that will result in conflict of interest or prohibits them from engaging in activities that will make you or put you in a situation where private interest is on a The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}