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"content": "minutes when replying. The Senate Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader are also given a maximum of 60 minutes, because they represent big constituencies. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on page 15, there is Standing Order No.144 which deals with re- introduction of Bills after the Session. Here we are providing that the Bill should not lapse at the end of a Session, but can continue at the beginning of the following Session. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on page 16, Standing Order No.174 is being amended to provide for the Deputy Speaker to chair meetings of the Rules and Business Committee when the Speaker is not available to Chair those meetings. As it is now, it becomes very difficult for somebody to chair when the Speaker is not there, because there is no rule empowering any Senator to chair the meeting. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the next innovation, which has generated quite a bit of interest are the Committees. These are provided for between pages 17 and 21 of the Report. It is proposed that certain Committees which cover very large dockets be split, so that we can be more efficient in our oversight functions, regarding those functions. I think that this is in the Second Schedule that is being amended. It is being proposed that the Committee on Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources be split into two, that is, the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and Committee on Land and Natural Resources. It is also being proposed that the Committee on Education, Information and Technology be split into two, that is, Committee on Education and Committee on Information and Technology. Education is a very big docket as it covers education from nursery schools to universities. Therefore, it should be handled by a separate Committee. Similarly information and technology is where Kenya is going, hence it needs specific focus by a separate Committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee on Energy, Roads and Transportation is also considered to be too large. It covers all the energy issues, that is, electricity, petroleum, renewable energy, oil, gas and coal. Infrastructure, transportation and roads is also a very big docket covering the ports, airports, roads and railways. It was felt that this is too big to be handled by a single Committee. It is, therefore, proposed that the Committee be split into two; the Committee on Energy and the Committee on Roads and Transport. Mr. Speaker, Sir, equally, the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare is also being proposed to be split into two; one, the Committee on Health and, two, the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. You all know that health is considered to be a very big docket covering issues all the way from the dispensaries, health centres and all the various levels of the hospitals, including national institutions. So, the Committee also proposed that, that Committee also be split into two Committees. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the focus has also gone on to Standing Order No.209, and it is being proposed that, that Standing Order be amended to produce a new Standing Order No.209(a). The purpose of this amendment is to enhance our oversight role by creating a new Sessional Committee which is to be called County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC). Sen. (Dr.) Khalwale will be very happy with this. We are looking at page 17 of the Report. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I think we need to read the functions of this new Committee. The Committee will be known as the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee. It will consist of a Chairperson, who shall be a Member of the Second largest The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}