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{
"id": 1461180,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1461180/?format=api",
"text_counter": 338,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Omogeni",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 13219,
"legal_name": "Erick Okong'o Mogeni",
"slug": "erick-okongo-mogeni"
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"content": "As a Committee, we were very keen to confirm whether Dr. Patrick Amoth, who was assisted by the Government, was given a loan through HELB and went to the UoN. We were very keen to confirm whether he had cleared his loan. I want to assure the House that his record is clear. He produced a certificate from HELB and he confirmed that his loan is not in arrears. He does not have any cases pending with the DCI and he is a very impartial Kenyan. He does not belong to any political party. He is a dedicated Kenyan who wants to serve, whether you belong to Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party or the United Democratic Alliance. He is a technocrat who wants to serve Kenyans without any discrimination. I am assuring the hon. Members that this nominee is not a member of any political party. In terms of his financial probity and integrity; you can confirm a nominee who brings you baggage, has a lot of debts and who will join the public service to look for money to clear his many debts out there. It is important, as a House, when we are approving a nominee, we also look at his finances. Are you bringing somebody on board who is coming with baggage? Nonetheless, I am happy to report to the House that on the case of Dr. Patrick Amoth, he produced a certificate from the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) and confirmed that his debts are well managed. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, he has a loan, but that is taken care of. Like any Kenyan, you need to borrow to advance yourself, but he does not have any loan defaults. He is a person who we can hold in high esteem and I have no doubt that this Kenyan will serve us well. I have no hesitation in seconding his nomination to go and serve us as a Director General for Health. Finally, I hope as the National Assembly concludes its vetting they will abide by the provisions of Article 130 of the Constitution, so that we have ethnic and regional diversity. Kenyans are very litigious. In the history of this country, for the first time, we have seen situations where the courts have nullified two Finance Acts. We need to be careful as we undertake our vetting or confirmation of our Cabinet Secretaries. We need to ensure that we take care of regional and ethnic diversity. I hope His Excellency the President will very soon address the issue of imbalances on principal secretaries. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, people such as the Pokomos, where Sen. Mungatana comes from, they do not have a Principal Secretary or a Cabinet Secretary. The same case applies to Nyamira County. If you go to Kuria, they have two constituencies, but have no Principal Secretary nor Cabinet Secretary; the same with the Taitas. We need to build a Kenya where all of us have a sense of belonging. It does not mean that if you come from a small town like Nyamira, where you have four constituencies, you cannot rise to be a Cabinet Secretary or a Principal Secretary. One of the most successful Cabinet Secretaries, Dr. Fred Matiangi, hailed from Nyamira County. We need to see the face of Kenya in our Executive. This idea of a Broad-Based Government should extend to Principal Secretaries. Those who have been lucky to get Cabinet Secretaries should not again benefit from the position of Principal Secretaries. If Kisii County, for example, has gotten the position of Cabinet Secretary, let Nyamira 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."
}