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"id": 225849,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Muturi",
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"legal_name": "Justin Bedan Njoka Muturi",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to say one or two words about this re-published Bill. I am also happy, just like the Mover and the Seconder have said, that a lot of the issues that were discussed before Parliament went on Recess last year have been incorporated in the now re-published Bill, thereby, making the 764 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES April 18, 2007 work during the Committee Stage much easier. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there cannot be any gain-saying about the importance of professionalising our procurement order. As you know, a lot of goods and services that are procured for the Government and other Government agencies are currently done by people of dubious qualifications. This Bill, therefore, makes the first and the only effort in Independent Kenya to introduce professionalism in an area that is extremely critical. It makes provisions about qualification and examinations. It is important that those who describe themselves as procurement professionals, after the passage of this Bill, are people who can be held to account for transgressions that we have witnessed year in, year out, as we examine public expenditure both in mainstream Government and in the parastatal world. By enacting this Bill, Parliament and, indeed, the Mover is requiring that, even the private sector in this country shall be accordingly guided to engage, within their procurement department, people who are professionally qualified. I am, indeed, gratified by the fact that, many people who are involved in the procurement management in this country have taken part in the formulation of this Bill. They have taken part in the various discussions that came up with this Bill. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, all that we want to say is this: Procurement will no longer be an area for quacks. Like all other professions-- I want to really congratulate Prof. Ojiambo for moving this Bill because it a realisation on her part that this area is so crucial to the entire process of development of this country. For a long time, we have left it to people who nobody can say what they are qualified in. We have seen medical doctors who have risen to the levels of Permanent Secretaries. They engage in procurement exercises. In the process, when things go wrong, they are able to quickly say at the appropriate time when they are being interrogated: \"Hold on! I only trained in medicine. But, unfortunately, the appointing authority assumed that I am also a procurement professional!\" We now say that, that practice will be a thing of the past. I think this is an enlightened Bill which both sides of the House should pass. We had passed its Second Reading last year without much ado. I, therefore, beg to support. Thank you."
}