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{
    "id": 1476909,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1476909/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 231,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "From the experience we have had in this country, accountability is key in running our co- operative societies. I also heard a proposal by the new Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development that is it high time that the leadership of co-operatives observed some democratic principles regarding the term of office. We have leaders of co-operative societies who have been officials for ages. I even met one who is too old to be an official. He has been there for over 30 years. That is how corruption comes in. I hope the new Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSME Development will come up with further amendments to the Co-operative Societies Act to ensure that we have a term of office for these people. I know that Sen. Eddie who is seated in front of me has been pushing for a Bill to introduce a term of office for trade unionists and I encourage him to do that. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, another area that we need to look at and I want to encourage him to do that is a cooperative movement. You cannot argue that you present yourself to the election to be elected and, therefore, people elect you because there is no problem with that. People elect you because you bribe them with the money that you have stolen from them. I want to encourage the new Cabinet Secretary to bring further amendments to the Cooperative Act, to ensure that we have a term limit for officials of the cooperative movement in this country. That will be the first step in addressing the issue of accountability, graft and lack of transparency in the management of the cooperative society. So, Sen. Mariam, I would suggest that under New Clause 2A, one of the principles that you need to add is just to say that “they will adhere to Article 10 principles.” That will cover all the issues of transparency, accountability, equity, regional balance and all those. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the Bill is a good attempt. As I said earlier, my best scenario would have been to have a total overhaul of the entire Act, so that we have a completely new Act that will guide our Cooperative Movement in line with the emerging best practices in the cooperative movement. This Bill specifies the functions of the Commissioner for Cooperatives. The Commissioner for Cooperatives is supposed to handle functions at the national level, that is, the apex society. The Cooperative Union and the respective county directors will handle matters of the primary societies. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when you read further in the Bill, there are ambiguities. I would encourage the Mover of this Bill to try and clean up these ambiguities to clarify the role of the County Director of Cooperatives and the Commissioner for Cooperatives. Let me give you an example. If you go to Clause 10(1) it says this:"
}