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{
    "id": 1452775,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1452775/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 165,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " I have told you that the Public Officer Ethics Act establishes various commissions that are responsible for overseeing the conflict of interest. Under this Act, the Powers and Privileges Committee of the National Assembly is the responsible Commission under the Act for Members of Parliament, while the Parliamentary Service Commission is the responsible Commission for members of staff. I further said that the Bill as published sought to change this by making the EACC the responsible Commission for all State and public officers. I further told you that when this House considered the Bill in the Second Reading and the Committee of the whole House, we made various amendments which sought to do a number of things, including maintaining the existing model of wealth declarations to entities that directly supervise the conduct and ethics of the various categories of public officers. In this regard, the House agreed to repeal the Public Officer Ethics Act and insisted on transferring specific provisions from the Act to the Bill. Secondly, we aligned the Bill with the responsibilities of Members of Parliament, and this is important for Members. When we considered the amendments in the Committee of the whole House, we aligned the Bill to your responsibilities as Members of Parliament on declaration of conflict of interest in parliamentary debate under the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act of 2017. You remember the Bill as was published was creating a conflict of interest even on matters that pertain to your work as a Member of Parliament. We sought to make those amendments during the Committee of the whole House. Thirdly, we expanded the declarations to include previous categories of public and State officers that were not expressly provided for under the Public Officer Ethics Act. For instance, that of the Chief Justice and Cabinet Secretaries. Fourth, we limited the definition of the word ‘relative.’ Those who were here during the Second Reading will recall the very broad definition of the word ‘relative’ in the conduct of affairs of a State or public officer. We limited this definition to the affairs of a State or public officer and his or her dependent children. Fifth, we prohibited public officers from contracting with public bodies in which they are employed. You will recall the Bill as published prohibited public and State officers and their broad definition of ‘relatives’ from conducting business with any entity of the Government. Hon. Speaker, the Senate, through its amendments to the Bill, reversed everything that this House passed. The Senate has deleted the proposed repeal of the Public Officer Ethics Act. This has resulted in the proposed repeal of clauses, including those on functions of the commission, participation of Members in proceedings before Parliament or county assemblies. Therefore, there 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."
}