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"id": 27394,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/27394/?format=api",
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"speaker_name": "Mrs. Shebesh",
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"speaker": {
"id": 377,
"legal_name": "Rachel Wambui Shebesh",
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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill not just because of my gender, but because I am also a Member of this house. I think that the Minister did not do justice to this Bill as he was moving it. We were of the opinion, from the very beginning, that the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission that had already been set up should only be split into two commissions. The agreement for us to bring on board the third commission was because of its functions that Kenyans have really never understood. The first thing I want to say is that--- I believe this commission will be answerable to another Ministry unlike the Kenya Human Rights Commission. I suggest that it be answerable to the Ministry of State for Public Service. The reason is obviously explained, because of the work that the commission will do. Secondly, in the functions - and that is why I said that the Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs is eloquent when he is passionate about something and he can do a good job. However, on this one, he did not really do it. That is because Kenyans have never really known that even in the previous Kenya Human Rights Commission, there was an opportunity to complain about such issues. Kenyans have always thought that if you are mistreated by the Government, then that is your fate. This is a very important commission. The only problem is that it has never been known and its functions have never been understood. That is why, in my first recommendation, I will suggest that there be proper public awareness on this commission. That is because it can also disappear; with Kenyans just thinking it is another commission for the people. Therefore, public awareness over this commission should be our first priority. I also believe that because of the formation of the Kenya Human Rights and Equality Commission, which I really stand convinced that we have cut it into pieces--- I really feel that we should be able to put a provision where we can relook into some of these commissions after a few years, and see whether we can go back to having one commission that can do all the work. Once we have what we are looking for, we should go back and have one commission. Therefore, I am thinking that there must be some kind of provision that if it achieves its goals within a certain period of time, let us say ten years, the House can review the necessity of all these commissions. Let me also speak about the issue of those who are qualified. The issue of 15 years, we have said it and we keep on saying it, I do not know what the people who are drafting these Bills are thinking about and now we are getting irritated. Putting 15 years experience as a requirement is creating jobs for retirees. We are not going to accept that. We want to create jobs for the young people who are not yet employed in this country. The moment we demand for 15 years experience, we are locking them out of job market and creating job opportunities for other people. Please, let us limit these years of experience because I do not even see the need for it here. In addition to that, again the qualification of ten years in the related field may lock out very good people. I would urge the Minister and the committee that will be looking at these qualifications to consider them carefully because I do not want us to deny some people opportunity to serve this country. I want to give an example of people who I know are heading different organizations who have no training in those fields, but they are doing a very good job. I want to give the example of the CEO of Nation Media Group, Mr. Linus Gitahi who is a pharmacist running a media company. He is doing a very good job at it. I am tired of also creating jobs for lawyers. I think lawyers have got enough jobs. This obsession with lawyers should not limit us in giving other Kenyans opportunities to serve this nation. Public administration means we are looking for people to come from the Government and we give them jobs. Let us open up the parameters because it has been proved that experience at work and a good track record is what is needed. I believe we do not need to limit. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the last thing I want to talk about is the issue of the selection panel. Again, I see a selection panel consisting of members from the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry responsible for matters relating to justice, Public Service Commission, Association of Professional Scientists, Kenya Private Sector and National Council. However, I see no involvement of professionals from outside the Government. We cannot have a selection panel that is made up of Government representatives alone and we want it to investigate the Government. Really, it cannot work. So, that definitely for me must change. We must look for other bodies that are more representative of the general public, especially the civil society. I know most of us do not like hearing about them, but they are part of our system. If we do so, I believe that we will have a selection panel that will be fair. With those few remarks, I wish to support."
}