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{
    "id": 492834,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/492834/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 141,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Wakhungu",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1889,
        "legal_name": "Chrisantus Wamalwa Wakhungu",
        "slug": "chrisantus-wamalwa-wakhungu"
    },
    "content": "Article 153 of the Constitution that Cabinet Secretaries shall appear before the Parliamentary Committees to answer any questions concerning their Ministries. It is high time that people knew, including Charles Nyachae, that when we sat here today, we were a committee. We were not in a plenary. That is why we did not have the Mace and your dress code was totally different. It was not plenary sitting. As far as the constitutionality of the issue is concerned, there was nothing unconstitutional about it. It is in the media that a letter was written by the Head of the Public Service, Mr. Kinyua. We also want a clarification, maybe from the Leader of Majority Party, on the capacity in which Mr. Kinyua wrote that letter. We know that the Cabinet Secretary is none other than Mr. Kimemia. So, is it true that Mr. Kinyua wrote the letter to advise the Cabinet Secretaries not to appear here or what is the issue? Last time when the issue of Mr. Kinyua came to this House, we wanted to vet him and we were told that he is a Personal Assistant to the President and not the Cabinet Secretary. It is my humble request that the Leader of Majority Party gets some clarification to, at least, explain this to us, so that we do not have this confusion. Before we started the session, we were told that Prof. Kaimenyi and Mr. ole Lenku were within the buildings. After hon. Ngilu finished, how they vanished, I do not know. This is a House of decorum. It is not a House to lynch any Cabinet Secretary. This is the best opportunity for the Cabinet Secretaries to showcase the policies of the Jubilee Government. Indeed, Article 1 of the Constitution talks about the sovereign power of the people as exercised by the people or through their democratically elected representatives like the hon. Members who are seated here today. I want to thank hon. Charity Ngilu. She appeared before the Committee and did very well. Hon. Members were very happy about it. In fact, Members tried to forget the current land saga because of the way she answered questions. As they come, they must come with an explanation on why they did not appear and we were told they were around this building. What happened to warrant their absence? We should not entertain this, hon. Speaker. In line with Article 125, we can summon anybody anywhere to appear before the Committee. What I am requesting and the Leader of Majority Party in particular is to whip your Cabinet Secretaries because we want accountability. Devolution is about equal distribution of resources, I was here because hon. Wafula from Saboti had raised a wonderful question concerning Mr. Ole Lenku. We have constituencies which were split, which were disadvantaged, they were not districts. Last time when they were recruiting policemen, Trans-Nzoia County particularly Saboti and Kiminini constituencies, we were disadvantaged in terms of the positions of recruitment for the police. That is why we want to know when this constituency is going to become a district, so that all constituencies are not disadvantaged but can enjoy equal opportunities like other constituencies. I want to thank you for this issue of general oversight. Mr. Nyachae needs to be told this: You do need to go to law school to understand the Constitution. So long as you understand basic English, you can read and understand, you can be able to interpret the Constitution. I want Mr. Nyachae to go back and read Article 153 of the Constitution, but if he wants to go back to activism, he should resign from that position and give it to many Kenyans who can be able to perform. We have so many constitutional Bills which did not come to the Floor of this House in time just because the CIC was sleeping on its 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."
}