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{
"id": 202002,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/202002/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Prof. Anyang'-Nyong'o",
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"speaker": {
"id": 193,
"legal_name": "Peter Anyang' Nyong'o",
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"content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I stand to second the Fifteenth Report of the PIC on the accounts of State corporations for the year 2006/2007, that the Chairman of the PIC has ably presented to the House. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was at one time the Chairman of the PIC and a Member of the same Committee from 1993 to 1995. I chaired the PIC for two consecutive years. One of the things that we observed before the Committee then is that we tended to deal with history. What we were doing was postfacto. In the final analysis, the recommendations that we made could not, very often, lead to the Government recovering the monies that had been lost. However, if the recommendations would, at least, be followed, they could lead to better management of public corporations and avoidance of future losses. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the result of the Report that we made in the mid- 1990s led to the Kombo Committee on Anti-Corruption, which finally tabled, in this House, the famous Kombo Report from which names were expunged for reasons which still pertain to this day. Finally, it led to the passing, by this House, of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Bill. So, I believe that the Report of the PIC and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), although quite often they deal with historical matters in terms of public accounting, have been very useful in the evolution of proper management of public affairs in the Republic of Kenya. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, having said that, when I look at this Report, the only public corporation whose accounts were up to date by the time the PIC was sitting was the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), whose Report for the year ending 30th June, 2006, was handled by the PIC. Otherwise, all other public corporations handled herein had their reports of previous years attached to that. That means that we have not made substantial improvements in ten years, notwithstanding the fact that, many public corporations have been privatised and hence, the few that remained should be better managed. The report submitting to the Public Investments Committee and appearances before it should be done more promptly. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was here when the Speaker was making a ruling that any public official who has been employed by a public corporation whether he or she is in active service or has retired, when summoned by the Public Investments Committee to appear before that Committee, has the duty to appear before that Committee. The Public Investments Committee has the powers to summon such a person, even using the police Airwing, to appear before the October 2, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 4271 Committee. I did such a thing when I was the Chairman. Somebody was hauled from his farm in Narok by the Police Airwing and brought before my Committee. So, there should be no excuse whatsoever for anybody not to appear before the Committee because he or she has simply retired as a civil servant. The law does not allow that. Having said that, when I look at the accounts of Kenya Airports Authority--- I agree with the Chairman that Kenya Airports Authority should be commended for turning around the performance. But, nonetheless, as we stand here today, Kenya Airports Authority has still not been able to meet its target. In April, last year, we met Kisumu in the Imperial Hotel, when the Netherlands Airport Authority, which was doing the basic work for building Kisumu Airport, presented us with their report. Construction of the new airport was supposed to have started by September last year. We are now in October - two years later - and the work has not started. So, all is not well with the Kenya Airports Authority. There is sluggishness in financial management and implementation stated agenda as, indeed, stated in the Economic Recovery Strategy, still leaves a lot to be desired. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the issue between Kenya Ports Authority and M/S Grain Bulk Handlers Limited is not simply confined to Grain Bulk Handlers Limited. The performance of the Kenya Ports Authority in terms of efficiency and delivery of services still leaves a lot to be desired. If only one read the editorial in The Standard today, one would understand what I mean. At the moment, there are containers stuck up at the Port of Mombasa. Shippers are actually asking for a new tax to be levied that could help them meet the extra charges for the extra delay at the Port, so that they do not incur too much losses. The reason given is that the Kenya Revenue Authority is not only inefficient in the collection of its taxes, but it is actually bordering on corruption. The Kenya Ports Authority is the goose that lays the golden egg for revenue collection in this country. Promises to make the Kenya Ports Authority efficient are not enough. Performance is the key issue. Where the Kenya Ports Authority enters into a contract, as we can see here, with the Grain Bulk Handlers Limited, that is a symptom of a greater disease in Kenya Ports Authority. If, indeed, the country is going to triple its revenue collection, which it can, efficiency and proper management of such institutions such as Kenya Ports Authority must, indeed, be taken seriously. If indeed, appointments to Kenya Ports Authority are going to be based on client-patron relationship, then, indeed, performance will not improve. But if appointment to the management of Kenya Ports Authority is going to be based on merit, qualification and proper reporting system, then the Kenya Ports Authority will, indeed, perform well. Both shipper and traders will---"
}