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{
"id": 1461050,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1461050/?format=api",
"text_counter": 208,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": null,
"content": "If we do not have proper structures of checks and balances, then we end up being a House of talking and just creating nonsensical bureaucratic measures that are not needed in terms of vetting. I add my voice on that and say that, perhaps, the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget, which has done a good job, should have the vetting and deciding of which nominee is going to a Commission televised. This is so that we could have followed and listened to our nominees; Lynette and Mohamed, and understand how the Committee decided on these two people. Maybe a lesson for the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget is, as much as you are criticising the National Assembly, a point to take is that there should be more transparency. I believe we have the measures and the systems in Bunge Towers and we can televise some of these things that are happening in the Committee. I was also a bit curious as to how the other members performed with regard to these final ones who are shortlisted. With those remarks, I encourage Kenyans who are out there that we have a lot of these kinds of opportunities that seem to be passing even the young Kenyans because they are not aware. A lesson to the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget is how to put out the information that they are looking for a Commissioner to go and protect the interests of the counties and sit in the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). That information should be put out publicly and sent to our young generation, like the Gen Z, so that they can also get an opportunity to participate in the process, even if they do not make it to the final list. If you look at the age of the nominees, you will see that both are senior citizens. I say this in jest because we need to get to a point where we are having more youths participating and coming to the table where the decisions are made. Madam Temporary Speaker, in the interest of time, I will conclude. However, before I do that, I do not know if this will be taken as a recommendation. Since we have seen that the Committees of the Senate are actually very effective and efficient, maybe this is an opportune time to have a conversation as to why the Senate is not involved in vetting Cabinet Secretaries or all other nominees that are sent to the National Assembly. If it is because it is pegged on a Standing Order or the Constitution, that is why we are here as legislators. I believe this House can add good input in terms of vetting. As you can see, the Standing Committee on Finance and Budget has proven time and again that we are good at this and our processes are transparent. I believe some of us can also pose certain questions. On Sunday, I was listening to the Cabinet Secretary nominee for the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage and I told myself that maybe it was an issue of lack of preparedness or a mismatch in what she was told to prepare for and what they were asking. I do not know what the issue was. However, had we been sitting there as representatives of the Senate, we would have been able to demystify why a Cabinet Secretary nominee for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage could not express what a two-third gender rule entails. Perhaps, we would also be able to shed some light to the leaders out there or the electorate as to why we had a Cabinet nominee for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage who was completely unable to even give direction on what her plans were on femicide or issues such as Gender-Based Violence (GBV). It was a very sad moment as women leaders because, having read the credentials of the Cabinet nominee of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage, it was me who stood on this The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and Audio Services, Senate."
}