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{
    "id": 1625122,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1625122/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 337,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I am a member of the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations. I stand to applaud Mr. Laban Omusundi for his very progressive petitions to this House and to Parliament that are very momentous and relevant to the times of our nation at the moment. The issues raised by Mr. Laban Omusundi in terms of barring the appending of personal images and names on public projects is an important issue that is at the core of the values and principles of the Constitution. To be precise, Article 10 requires that the governance system in this country shall be accountable and transparent. Chapter Six has very key provisions on leadership and integrity. When it comes to responsibilities expected of leaders in this country, Article 73 (2) (1) requires that leaders shall be honest in the execution of public duties. When I am advanced or I use public resources to develop a project and then I call it a Catherine Mumma Project, that is clear evidence of dishonesty. Those who are currently appending their names on public projects are in violation of Chapter Six of our Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Article 75(1b) is also relevant on this matter. It talks about the conduct of state officers and requires that state officers shall not compromise any public or official interest in favor of personal interest. When I take my picture, my name and append it on a classroom built by public resources that I have some supervision over, I am compromising public interest for personal gain. How do I do so? I want those in the public to believe that I am the one who has done that, usually, so that they can elect me at the next election. It is a violation of Chapter Six of the Constitution in clear terms. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, what Mr. Omusundi has raised, and I told him when we were doing public participation, is that the only thing I regretted about his Petition was the fact that he was restricting it to governors and MCAs. This is a Petition that touches on both the national and county government officials. This includes us in the Parliament. We have also fallen into the trap of appending our pictures and names on public projects implemented with public resources. We have made the public imagine that we are the ones funding those projects. I believe beyond what we have recommended as a Committee. I call upon Mr. Omusundi and others who would go for public interest litigation that any public officer who appends their name on public projects should, on the basis of the Articles that I have just read, be barred from standing for public office. In fact, they need to be barred from holding any public office. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}