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{
    "id": 306846,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/306846/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 213,
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    "content": "Constitution. When the members of the Executive remove the declaration of wealth, it is nothing but impunity. Something else that has been left out is the prohibition of State officers from participating in any other gainful employment. It is good to remember that State officers tender in the Ministries they serve or in other Ministries through proxies and their companies. If we do not have a provision that bars this, then it is business as usual. These are issues that the Committee agreed to be proposing to reinstate. There are also issues of conflict of interest. We need to be very specific. That any company where you have a significant shares, even if it is not controlling, cannot tender anywhere near you business because the tendering is one of the ways that corruption has thrived in this country. It is a well known fact that the civil society, the CIC and Kenyans are unhappy with the Leadership and Integrity Bill as it is before the House. But because it is before the House, we are the elected representatives of the people and, therefore, we are charged with the duty of enriching this Bill and ensuring that it is much stronger by the time we pass it. I want to refer to Article 80. It is true that the Constitution does not explicitly say somebody charged with an offence should not run; that is a criminal offence. But if you look at the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes law, it decrees that if you are charged and you are serving in Government or in a job in the Civil Service, you must be suspended or you step aside until the conclusion of the case. Applying ourselves fully, we ought to give effect to Article 80 by legislating on such matters. But even if we do not, all will not be lost. The highest court is the court of public opinion. We, therefore, must put a clause in this law that anybody with a pending case, once the Electoral Commission receives the papers, they will publish a least of all those having pending criminal cases and the cases they are facing, so that the public can, with information, be able to choose leaders. This is the era of transparency. If you have been investigated, or under investigations, if you have been involved in this or that scam, then the public will get to know. I would say that as Parliament we ought to actually legislate on all the areas envisaged. But we are not the final authority. A court of law interpreting this law can also put a higher threshold. I am telling Kenyans that our collective efforts will ensure that we raise the bar high on issues of integrity. It is not about you and me. There are many people who are just focusing on those seeking for seats, right from the county to the Presidency. This is about Kenya. It does not matter who ends up getting elected in the various posts. We must ask ourselves: Who are the enemies of Kenya today? I identify the two greatest enemies of Kenya and the people of Kenya as corruption and impunity. This law is supposed to help us tame corruption and impunity. It is not enough to say that a code of conduct of another organization will be the guiding light. A law enacted in Parliament is superior to subsidiary legislation. We want it spelt out and there are many more issues that we have lined up in the Committee, to come and amend. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, let us put self-interest aside and legislate for the country. I always say: Legislate even for your worst enemy because, tomorrow, you may be in the position of the person you do not like today. So, we need legislation that is fair, in the interest of the people of Kenya and in line with the Constitution. For those who are talking of foreign masters, who is suffering because of corruption? It is Kenyans and not any foreigner. If you are talking of foreign masters, then the person that is"
}