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"speaker_name": "Mr. Musyoka",
"speaker_title": "The Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs",
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"legal_name": "Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka",
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to move:- THAT, Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair. In moving this Motion, I want to record my own appreciation for the wonderful work done by the Standing Orders Committee. It has taken time for us to come this far. If I can quote you, as the Chair of that Committee, at Page 6 of the Report, you say:- December 9, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3943 \"Indeed, the Standing Orders proposed in this Sessional Paper have been described by Members of the Committee as the Standing Orders for the 21st Century.\" This is commendable. We all know that, really, nothing is written on stone. We want to applaud the fact that these Standing Orders have also taken into account the concerns of the Serena Team which was able to do this country proud at the time when we were at our lowest as a nation, in the months of January and February. In Serena, they actually said that in order to strengthen the democratic practice of our country, it was important to amend the Standing Orders. I am sure that lady Members of Parliament will now be very happy with these Standing Orders, because I think that they are given certain rights of passage. They will not any more be required to deposit their handbags with the Serjeant-at-Arms as they enter the Chamber. But I am sure that this is not a licence for anybody to carry offensive instruments into the august House. Most important is the introduction of the Prime Minister's Question Time, when the Government will be actually held to account. I know that Kenyans have been looking forward to this development. This is really commendable. So, when we go on recess for Christmas and return in the month of March or thereabout, the country will expect that on every Wednesday afternoon, the Prime Minister will take Questions from Members of Parliament and be able to issue policy in the matter of co- ordination and supervision of Government Business. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I have also noted that on every Thursday afternoon, the Leader of Government Business will be supposed to, within 15 minutes, be able to issue a Statement regarding Business for the following week. However, I am a little disappointed because, on page 42 of the Draft Standing Orders, under Standing Order No.34(5), it is like the Statement that the Leader of Government Business will issue, will actually go undebated. I think that is rigidity, at a time when we are introducing televised debate, and given that the people having been following what goes on in Parliament with a lot of curiosity. So, as we open the democratic space and upgrade our traditions, we should avoid situations where we are seen to be retrogressive. A situation where the Leader of Government Business stands up, issues a Statement and sits down, without even inviting comments from Members of Parliament, in my view, is retrogressive. I think everybody should be held to account on whatever one says. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I remember that even when there is a Communication from the Chair, just like you have done now, on the procedure to be followed this afternoon, you have been gracious and magnanimous to allow ventilation of your Communication from the Chair by Members of Parliament. Therefore, that particular Standing Order No.34(5), as proposed, is a little bit retrogressive. I know that there will, probably, be hon. Members wishing to move amendment or propose the deletion of that particular aspect. We, as the Tenth Parliament, have the opportunity to start on a new democratic journey for our country. I hope that we will all be able to rise to the occasion. Therefore, I want to commend the work of the Committee, which was very ably led by you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, in your capacity as the Chairman. I also want to commend the work that was started by hon. Musila, the Deputy Speaker in the Ninth Parliament, who also worked tirelessly, along with the other Committee Members, to make sure that they started on this very important work, which now finds its completion this afternoon. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I, therefore, urge the House to adopt this document, because it is a long awaited document, so that our history of parliamentary democracy will put this House in very good standing. With those remarks, I beg to move and beg Mr. Orengo, my learned friend, even without having consulted with him, to second this Motion."
}