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{
    "id": 454242,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/454242/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 203,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Eng) Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "These are matters that are not political. They are a reality and if we cannot confront them, we will not be able to achieve the ingredients for a country moving forward, which is societal conviviality between the various tribes in Kenya. Even as we pass these nominees, let us re-look at the composition of this Commission. I note with concern that as constituted today, the Gender and Equality Commission has functions which overlap with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and Office of the Ombudsman. These are matters that this House, going forward to the future, must courageously confront. If they are not confronted, we are going to have a situation like the one which is appertaining now, where the country is literary groaning under the weight of constitutional commissions. As we speak, the country today has about 12 constitutional commissions and the truth of the matter is that, in total composition, the total number of commissioners in those commissions is probably more than the total membership of the Senate. That, in my view, is not tenable. Apart from that, those commissions are too bloated and I think that their terms of engagement need to be re-looked into afresh. Why are most of those commissioners, for example, working on a full-time basis? This is a matter that we need to look at critically. It is important that, in the long run, we have commissions that, not only perform their functions, but are efficient. It must concern us that when those commissions were being constituted, we looked at the upper constitutional limit which says a mark between three and nine. We have come to a stage where we must ask: Should we go for the maximum constitutional provisions? A case in point is the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Kenya has a population of about 40 million people and yet, it is managed by nine electoral commissioners and more than 1,000 members of staff. If you compare that with India, which has a population of nearly 1.6 billion people, it is only managed by a commission comprising of three people and a staff of no more than three hundred. These are matters that, as a House, we must courageously confront. These are issues which we must lead the way in addressing. We are going to have commissions which are littered with people who are badly under-worked and over-paid and all this ends up as a public wage bill, which all of us have an interest to reduce. As I conclude, I know many of my colleagues are interested in this matter. I think the National Gender and Equality Commission has got a huge task ahead. The issue of equality in Kenya today cannot be wished away. It is a known fact that, as long as citizens do not feel that they have a stake in the affairs of their country, it is very difficult for them to feel a sense of belonging. Kenya will move forward the moment most Kenyan citizens will feel that they have a stake not only in the affairs, but in the future of their country. 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."
}