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{
    "id": 477615,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/477615/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 155,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Baiya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 8,
        "legal_name": "Peter Njoroge Baiya",
        "slug": "peter-baiya"
    },
    "content": "Public Service Bill – had already gone through the process. It had already been done by the relevant Ministry. They had referred it to the Attorney-General who had in turn referred it to CIC, who had, therefore, finished and had referred to the Cabinet for ratification or approval. It was at that stage where assurances were given that before long, the Bill will be released by the Cabinet for publication and presentation to Parliament. As the situation turned out, those Bills were forwarded to Parliament last week and they were immediately published and that is where Parliament’s responsibility to ensure that they are matured by 27th of August begins. It is quite clear that these timelines are too strict and too short for Parliament to comply, given that we need public participation. We need to involve the committees of the House and that is why we are saying that time is not adequate and, therefore, we are proposing to reduce the timeline of publication of the Bill from 15 to five days, so that we can expedite the process. Hon. Speaker, what I have stated with regard to the Public Service Bill also applies to the Persons Deprived of Liberty Bill as well as the Environmental Management and Coordination (Amendment) Bill. All of them were published last week and the responsibility of Parliament equally applies and the delay is, therefore, squarely within the realm of the Executive. When we sought to get the explanation for this, we are very sure--- Even in your rulings severally, you have clearly indicated that we need to actually ask the Executive to expedite the draft Bill for us to pass it within the specific timelines. Hon. Speaker, we have constantly held meetings with the Attorney-General and the other stakeholders and they have actually cited challenges of complying in terms of them being unable for one reason or another to come up with the draft Bills. However, at least, for these three, we are now assured that they have brought them to Parliament and we are now on schedule to ensure that they are implemented. Even the Leader of the Majority Party has also taken the initiative to actually also speak with the Executive with a view to urging them to expedite with regard to meeting of that deadline. Hon. Speaker, it appears that there is a challenge emanating from the transition process and the Executive has also cited pressure of work even in the Cabinet. We believe, trust and hope that those excuses are going to become a matter of the past but, this time round, we are absolutely caught up within those challenges of meeting timelines and Parliament has to actually assist by seeking this accommodation by reducing the timeline. Hon. Speaker, we know there are also other Bills that are even fairing worse than these ones and we intend to come to Parliament to make the relevant application after we have confirmed that we have received all the draft Bills. However, for these Bills, we already have them. They have already been published meaning that they are no longer within the hands and control of the Executive and we are required to expedite the process of meeting the deadline of 27th August. The Bills are not really very complex. Each Bill seeks to effect changes in its various areas. The Public Service Bill seeks to amend the principles of public service as set out in Article 232 of the Constitution. The Persons Deprived of Liberty Bill seeks to enforce the constitutional rights to fair treatment of people who are deprived of liberty, pursuant to Article 51(9) of the Constitution. With regard to the Environmental Management and Coordination (Amendment) Bill, it seeks to enforce Article 72 with regard to enforcement of environmental rights. Therefore, these are very key Bills. There 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."
}