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"content": "audacity to accuse my Ministry of being responsible for such watering down of this Bill. I wish this afternoon, as I move this Bill, to dispel such rumours and to make it very clear to Kenyans that this Bill is one of the Bills that have gone through a very wide consultative process and has taken views of Kenyans onboard. Mr. Speaker, Sir, my Ministry started developing this Bill as early as August, 2011. At all material times, my Ministry worked very closely with other stakeholders such as the Constitution Implementation Commission (CIC), Kenya Law Reform Commission, hon. Attorney-General’s Office and all constitutional commissions. We have also worked with the civil society organizations. We have engaged with our development partners and international agencies. We have also been able to consult with all Kenyans who were concerned about bad governance in our country and poor leadership. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is one of the Bills that have received support. After concluding the Bill, as the originator of the Bill, we did, in April, 2012, forward it to the hon. Attorney-General’s office and the Kenya Law Reform Commission. Subsequently, this Bill was forwarded from the Attorney General’s Office to the CIC. The CIC did carry out further stakeholder consultation between June and July. Eventually, we did hold a round table that brought together all stakeholders on the 27th of July. After the round table conference, it was then given back to the hon. Attorney- General for cleaning up. Subsequently, it was brought back to the Ministry. Eventually, we did table it before the Cabinet sub-committee on the Implementation of the Constitution, on 30th under the chairmanship of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister. We did have a committee that went through it thoroughly. All stakeholders were involved. They participated in that meeting, including the Chairman of the CIC and Dr. Elizabeth Muli fully participated both in the meeting and resolution that finally approved it. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Bill as published originally had about 83 sections. But after going through the sub-committee meeting, the Bill that was approved subsequently and returned to my Ministry for publication had certain sections removed from it. It is important for Kenyans to understand the reasons some sections of the Bill were removed. We had a part that required the declaration of income, assets and liabilities. After going through it, those present found that, indeed, we still have the Public Officers Ethics Act, 2003, which still has provisions that require declaration of wealth. It looked like duplicity of certain requirements of the law. Subsequently, what was agreed was that the sections that were duplicating what was already provided and what was already law, through the said Act, be removed. This was by consensus and by resolution of all present, including the CIC. That is why that section was removed. We have the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission Act, also providing for ethics. It was agreed that the Office of the Attorney General, Law Reform Commission and the CIC should look for a way of consolidating all statutes touching on ethics together, so that we have one comprehensive Act that will address the issues of ethics. Therefore, whatever has been left out, whatever probably the public is complaining about, will be addressed during the consolidation of this Act. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, primarily, the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission are given powers by this same Bill to be the implementing Commission. There was a requirement for vetting of all those aspiring to be elected to State offices in"
}