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{
    "id": 500733,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/500733/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 168,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Kiptui",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 499,
        "legal_name": "Grace Jemutai Kiptui",
        "slug": "grace-jemutai-kiptui"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I also rise to support this Bill. I want to speak on two clauses. One is Clause 5(2)(a) and (h) where we are given the values that a public servant must have. They are very good values if only they would be implemented. However, my question is: Where are we going to find that when in our school curriculum we do not inculcate those values in our young people? We have so many laws enumerating a lot of things we need to do. However, they are never implemented. So, as much as we are enumerating these, it is important that it is in the law so that if somebody does not follow then they can be asked to account for their actions. At the same time, it is important that as a country we start going backwards and looking at our young people and inculcating these ideals in them while they are still young. This is so that by the time they are our age they will be emulating these ideals. When we look at the Public Service at the moment, we realise that so many mega deals have been done like the Anglo Leasing and Goldenberg scandals. We would not have lost so much money if public servants observed the law. So, it is important as a country that, as much as we are progressively changing the landscape of Public Service, we inculcate these values in the people who will come and implement these kinds of laws for posterity. The other point is on Clause 11 which talks about public participation. I do not know how we are going to ensure that this thing is implemented as per the law because at the moment, you realise that even these budgetary cycles do not involve the public. When you go upcountry, you find the citizens complaining that they just heard there was a meeting somewhere. Nobody really tells them. They are not aware. People in the capital city or towns are at least lucky because we have technology. The common wananchi at home, the ones we are targeting, may not even be aware of what they are required to do. They will tell you: “What was that? We heard there was a meeting but we did not know.” So, when we list all these things and say that public participation will be done through markets, we may have to change and provide the procedure under which that kind of information is disseminated so that it becomes a reality. The public should participate by giving their views so that the programmes we do reflect the true position of what the people want. Sometimes public officers stage-manage public participation by calling some few people in a room and say that it is public participation. We may have to change this clause so that we provide the procedure to ensure that people participate in an activity. The Constitution now charges us that ‘ Wanjiku ’ or ‘ Chemutai ’ must speak to everything we do. So, this is a clause that we may need to refine when we bring the amendments. The other point, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, is about officers who, for instance, give false information. In the police force, for instance, when there is a problem and you call an officer and tell him: “There is a problem here you need to look into it,” they will tell you: “We have taken charge.” However, when you go down to the ground, you realise they have done nothing. In this instance, we must have a way of ensuring that when officers give false information, they are held to account. Otherwise, this Bill will help this country. It is incorporating the values that we have in the Constitution. I only pray that we implement them. Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. 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."
}