Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 492948,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/492948/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 255,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Anyango",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 130,
        "legal_name": "Dalmas Anyango Otieno",
        "slug": "dalmas-otieno"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I wish we were also able to find a way of making the independent commissions more accountable than what they appear to be doing now. If there is a way Parliament should look creatively in that other direction, to be able to hold all commissioners and all commissions equally accountable to the people by a way of reporting to the National Assembly or through the Departmental Committees--- Secondly, having been in Cabinet for so many years, a Cabinet Secretary knows a lot and can formulate policy on the spot, based on the interest conveyed by the hon. Members in the quality and content of a particular question. You do not expect Departmental Committees to be the same. Therefore, let them also be persuaded that coming before us will help them develop more appropriate policy and undertake and implement more useful service delivery issues that this country requires. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, on the face of it, the issue in contention is the separation of powers. Separation of powers yes, it may be there but what was the objective? It can only be there for purposes of enhancing performance and accountability. We are not in breach of the qualitative values in the separation of powers concept. Therefore, I am persuaded on the face of it. Somebody would argue that you are bringing Cabinet Secretaries into the House and you are doubling the Presidential system; it is now going to be mixed. Let us separate it and say; this one is Kenyan Government standards, practices and systems. If it will work for us, let it be so. Finally, I want to say that we have been very lazy. If you go to the Departmental committees, you can hardly get 12 hon. Members sitting throughout the session. Therefore, even Cabinet Secretaries sometimes will also rate us. If we are going to demand more by way of accountability, they are also right as an Executive to demand quality contributions at the Committees and in Parliament and in all committees; including the Committee on General Oversight that has been formulated. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I thank you and we should persuade the whole country to be equally creative with us."
}