HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 441569,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/441569/?format=api",
"text_counter": 281,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Oyugi",
"speaker_title": "",
"speaker": {
"id": 444,
"legal_name": "Augostinho Neto Oyugi",
"slug": "augostinho-neto-oyugi"
},
"content": "are that, one, it is going to strengthen the institutional position of Parliament within the Government and, secondly, it is going to provide an avenue for fast response to requests. Of course, hon. Members know that Parliament, under Article 95 of the Constitution, is supposed to be performing its cardinal roles but having had a mirage of both the Chairs of Committees and the Leader of the Majority Party speaking for Cabinet Secretaries, it has been a very difficult stint to have. The Committee Chairs have been speaking like they are speaking for the Executive, which does not create that particular distinction. The second advantage that has been highlighted by this Report is the fact that it is going to be quick to get responses as opposed to what we have been subjected to – Committee responses sometimes taking too long. Hon. Speaker, as the Report says, the new methodology will ensure that Committees are not over-burdened by requests for Statements. This has been taking considerable Committees’ time. Committees have, for example, been looking at several Statements as opposed to looking at several legislations. So, this is a welcome idea. It is going to fuse both Statements Time and Questions Time in one and it is going to be very useful. I also like the Committee’s presentation that this is going to be transitional. Nothing is engraved on marble. The Committee proposes that we try it for a couple of weeks or months and see the best that we can do. I highlighted earlier my understanding and appreciation of Article 53 of the Constitution. If you look at the second part, which is on page 24, the second bullet, on oversight in Committees, it still states that Committees will still be allowed to continue exercising the right, which they exercise under Article 53 of the Constitution. Therefore, that begs the question as to where then we get in the Constitution, the power to extrapolate the Constitution in Article 154 in the manner that we do propose. The other thing is the proposal in Article 44(c), which is on page 28. It says that if a prior request is made by a Member pursuant to Standing Order 44(d), it is supposed to address all the matters specified in the request. Does this mean, for example, that, if at all the Cabinet Secretary comes to the Floor of Parliament, then Members cannot ask for clarifications that are contingent to issues that are related to the particular question that the upcoming Cabinet Secretary is responding to? My understanding of the particular amendment to 44(C)( c), states that perhaps the Cabinet Secretary will then be restricted specifically to the issue that they have been asked to deal with. That, perhaps, would be fairly tricky because the Cabinet Secretary will not be having a lot of time. Perhaps, someone will be asking about the road going to Homa Bay or to Mbita, for example. There could be questions that are contingent or fairly relating to the same matter. I understand, perhaps, having what my colleague hon. Iringo said about draw back provisions. Perhaps, we could make an express provision to the extent that, for example, if there is a request or a question pertaining to an issue of roads or medication, the Cabinet Secretary should be well versed with his/her subject matter, so that we do not have them coming back to the Chamber from time to time. It is a well thought-out Report and if Parliament goes this way, with the two proposals that I have requested you to consider; one, to consider an extension of the hours of Parliament to include a sitting on Thursday morning as well as looking at the provisions of Article 153(4) of the Constitution and see if it gives us the mandate. So, we are able then to amend, should there be need, specific provisions of Article 154 and either The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}