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{
    "id": 424765,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/424765/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 153,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "business. I think that it should be given a wider mandate to include evaluating what happens to the other Committees which will also be formed. I noted that during recess, some Committee did not even do anything. They are now back waiting for another Session. They might not even do anything, yet they exist in record. I am of the opinion that the Rules and Business Committee should be given extra work. It should be supervisory and try to know who is in which Committee because some of the Members really do not do anything or even move anywhere. That is why you hear some Members expressing some bit of concern. Members of some Committees have never attended any meeting outside Nairobi or made any oversees trip, yet other Committees go out every other weekend or month. So, we would like to know whether this is the work of the Rules and Business Committee, the Speaker or the Chairmen who are so shrewd to make sure that their Committees move everywhere everytime. It could not be the fault of the Chairman of a Committee which does not move or maybe that Chairman does not know that the Committee needs to move out. So, we need to know whether this Committee can be added a mandate to scrutinize, appraise and put on record which Committee is doing well at the end of the year, so that we can pull our socks. This is because all of us may think that we are doing well, only to realize that we have not done much. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I was able to receive the Committee on Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources, headed by the Chairman, Sen. Kivuti, in my county. I was happy that the Members who came visited Mwea and saw the kinds of problems that had been petitioned by the farmers about. We had very fruitful discussions with Committee Members and the farmers. This is what should happen. Some of the Committees have not even moved anywhere. Some of the Committees have so many problems that they do not even care to get to the field to see what happens. I pointed out last time that a road in Kirinyaga is in a mess. It has not been repaired for almost two years, yet the contract has been given. I asked whether it was possible for the Committee to make a move but to date, I have not heard any response towards that regard. We need to have proactive Committees which are seen to be working. I am happy that I belong to the Committee on Education, Information and Technology, where we have worked very hard. But when you belong to another Committee, you wonder what the matter is because nothing happens there. When a Committee does not move out and it has a budget, what happens to that budget when it is not used by that Committee? Mr. Speaker, Sir, secondly, the mandate of some of the Committees is amorphous and too wide. For example, the Committee on Agriculture, Land and Natural Resources is in charge of agriculture which is crop husbandry, water, fisheries, livestock, mining, land and the environment. So, it is very hard for the Chairman to get answers in response to statements sought by Members. This is because he has to go to all these departments and Ministries. That is why we were asking that some of these Committees be split. When will they be split, so that we can have them well managed and in charge of a few departments? This will enable good deliberations in the Committees, House and outside the House. That is why we needed to know when they will be split. When will the new Committees be named and who becomes the Chair? That is very important. 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."
}