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"id": 282073,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Keynan",
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"legal_name": "Adan Wehliye Keynan",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I will also try to take the shortest time possible. I want to appreciate the contribution by different hon. Members. It seems even from the contributions that many hon. Members did not go through the East African Treaty and what informed this Committee and Parliament by extension to come up with these unique rules. First of all, as a country, we are not operating in isolation. The proposed rules we have here are as a result of Article 50 of the East African Treaty which clearly stipulates how different member States are supposed to formulate the rules that will enable them to elect their EALA representatives. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as a country, we already have a serious scar not only on the Members of Parliament but also on the entire citizenship of the Republic of Kenya. In 2006 we failed to agree taking into account that Kenya is a premier nation; Kenya is a leading nation in this region. Therefore, because of the party-based squabbles and the disagreements that we have had, the same things went to the East African Court of Justice at Arusha and on 9th November, 2006, a number of litigants from Kenya went to court. It is the findings of that particular court that has informed the Committee to change some of the rules to make sure that we do not face the same criticism that we were subjected to by the court and the other member States. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this takes into account: Do we do acclamation; do we just rubberstamp? In every aspect of Article 50 of the Treaty, it demands that there shall be elections and there shall be voters. The voters are the Members of the Kenya National Assembly. The elections will be conducted by the Clerk of the National Assembly. For those who are doubting their role as Members of Parliament, if, indeed, you have no confidence in yourself; if, indeed, you have been entrusted by the Kenyan public to discharge their function as their elected representative, instead of lamenting you have no business being in this House. If you have acted in line with your conscience, the Constitution and rules of natural justice, you have no reason to worry. I want to urge my colleagues that, as we think of this particular process--- This particular process was informed by the challenges we have had and the challenges we continue to have as a country. The issue of delaying remittances is one thing that remains an embarrassment to this important Republic. Why should Kenya, with 60 per cent of the Domestic Gross Product (GDP) of the entire East Africa Community (EAC), be the last to pay its remittances? Why should we be the last to comply with the rules that we have set and yet, we are the biggest beneficiaries economically in every aspect? This is an issue that the Government must address. I am glad that the Deputy Leader of Government Business is here. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I speak today, Kenya has defaulted in her remittances to the EAC. It is a big shame. We want you to pass this message to His Excellency the Prime Minister and those in the Government. This is not the way we are going to be called the big brother. These rules are just going to be on paper. If we are not going to discharge our constitutional regional duty and yet, we remain the biggest beneficiary of the process, I do not know what we can call ourselves. This is an issue we must take seriously and, therefore, we must discharge our functions. We hope the leadership - and in particular the President and the Prime Minister - wherever they are right now in their comfort, are hearing our lamentation and ensure we pay our dues to EAC. These rules are party-centered, party-based and party-oriented. It is the parties that will decide, but not on an open-ended situation. The parties have to operate within the rules. They will nominate, they will agree but they must remember that it is not like before. They will be subjected to thorough scrutiny by both Parliament, the Committee and the Kenyan public, so that we do not repeat the same mistakes that we made in 2006. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, look at our Constitution, Article 2(6) clearly talks about the domestication of all international treaties and rules. Therefore, it is a constitutional requirement that we go through the process the way we are doing."
}