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{
    "id": 151704,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/151704/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 516,
    "type": "other",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, it is because of this that we really need to look, as a country, where we are going. If you just take the trouble to look at growing economies like the Republic of Jamaica, you will see that they have undergone three programmes. They have also initiated reform programmes within the Cabinet. Their mission statements alone show that they are serious people. They are not like what you see in our Republic. If you look at the three phases that the Republic of Jamaica was engaged in from 1st July, 1993 to 1995, you will find that tremendous things have happened that have helped to shape the organization of the Cabinet in that country. In Kenya, nothing has happened with the kind of services, mission and vision that the Cabinet office is supposed to offer. It is no wonder we have Ministers who come to this House and give wrong information. We have Ministers who have been appointed to very sensitive positions, like the Treasury and Defence. They come to this House, and have the temerity to tell the country that, in fact, it was an error. Some people were looking at that Minister and saying that it is probably a political war, but this issue is a deeper matter. Today, if any person in Kenya who was a charcoal dealer or was doing any other business gets elected as a Member of Parliament and is appointed a Minister, he does not undergo any form of preparation or capacity building to make him knowledgeable to advise the President in keeping with his constitutional mandate. We are surprised that Ministers come to this House without being aware of the Civil Service Code of Conduct. They have not even read their own Cabinet regulations! Someone is appointed today and tomorrow, he is in the office. Are we surprised then that Ministers in the past would wake up in the morning and say that an hospital or a municipal council is not functioning well and hire the treasurer without any form of regard to the Civil Service Code of Regulations. Are we not then surprised that you have Ministers who stand up in public to contradict themselves, including the President himself? The President gives direction in one way or a directive, but a Minister says that it cannot be done. I am talking about matters that are alive. We have heard the President talking about controlling fuel prices and a Minister talking afterwards, from the same energy conference, saying: “We cannot do it. We need to consult stakeholders.” We are, therefore, not surprised when we have confusion within the Cabinet. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, many times we keep on saying that we will do it better when we get into the Government. But the Government is a perpetual organ. It continues in perpetuity. It is upon us, as Parliament, to take concrete steps to do something because, right now, nothing is being done. It is important for us, as Parliament, to send a clear message to the Head of Cabinet Office, Amb. Muthaura. We are not happy because there are no reforms in the Cabinet Office that he is running. The Ministers who sit in the Cabinet must surely know that we are dissatisfied and something needs to be done yesterday, and not today. Several things come to mind when you think about reforms. We need to look at certain jurisdictions. When a Minister is appointed, it is suggested that administrative"
}