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{
    "id": 1559987,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1559987/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 978,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "(c) The establishment and growth of local industries. We are looking into this to develop and industrialise the country. We will not allow any treaties that try to curtail this from coming into being. (d) The ability of the Government to regulate an industry in the public interest. If the treaty brings in a new industry or economic sector, the Government will have residual powers to regulate it purely because of public interest. Clause 6 of the Bill proposes to amend Section 6 of the Principal Act and introduce New Section 6A, which provides as follows– ‘6A. (1) The relevant Cabinet Secretary shall, prior to signing an economic treaty, prepare a regulatory impact statement. It will put down the impact of that agreement. (2) A regulatory impact statement shall contain information in respect to the proposed economic treaty in clear and precise language, including the various areas that are set out in New Clause 6A(2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e). This will establish the economic effect of an agreement to the country and how it will benefit.’ There is also a proposal to introduce New Clause 6B, which provides that the notification of the regulatory impact statement will be gazetted. That means the public will be informed on what we are negotiating on, and the impact the treaty will have in the country. This is taken to be information that will be accessible to every Kenyan regarding to a particular treaty. We go on with what is required in the regulations, including the consultations that are necessary to bring into effect a particular treaty. Clause 7 of the Bill proposes to amend Section 8 of the Principal Act. The provision here is that the National Assembly may introduce any reservation as a proviso into a treaty. This opens up the process of negotiating treaties to the National Assembly. It means our hands will not be as tied as they are today. When this Bill comes into force, where we feel that there is need for us to make reservations to protect the interests of the country, we will be allowed to do so. Clause 8 of the Bill proposes to amend Section 9 of the Principal Act by introducing a procedure during the ratification process in the National Assembly. Once a treaty is introduced in the National Assembly, it is supposed to be committed to the relevant Committee for consideration. In addition to the information required to be submitted to the National Assembly under written law, the Committee may require the relevant Cabinet Secretary to submit further information relating to what the treaty is all about, specifically what is set out in Sections 9A(3)(a) and (b). Once that is done, a report is prepared and brought to the House, which will adopt the report, in which case the treaty will come into force."
}