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{
    "id": 522682,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/522682/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Oyoo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2408,
        "legal_name": "James Onyango Oyoo",
        "slug": "james-onyango-oyoo"
    },
    "content": "are not going right. There is hue and cry regarding all the major projects that the Jubilee Government has intended to undertake. Hon. Speaker, unlike the Public Audit Bill, the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Bill is not being properly insulated from interference by the “big boys”. The Bill does not have any mechanisms for shielding the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) from those who will be interested in pushing through mega deals and procurement scams. Some funny characters are slipping in and finding their way into getting their cronies appointed to serve on PPOA right from the outset. These are people with untoward character, who are being passed as being of toward character. In keeping with the spirit of this Bill, we need to provide for more powers for the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Authority and make sure that we will have transparency in the future. The one thing that is spoiling this country is impunity. We have leaders who do not know that we are operating under a new Constitution. They still believe that the big man’s word is final and as a result, all the transactions that are adjudicated by procurement entities within the Government and the quasi-government institutions are done with a lot of impunity. Telephone calls still emanate from above, directing subordinate officers on what to do. Procurement officers within the Authority say that whenever a proper procurement deal is underway, and somebody is going to win genuinely, they are called from ‘above’ and instructed to look at the other side because of vested interest. We thought that with the new constitutional dispensation, these would remain things of the past; but they are slowly coming in. This is because when we have an opportunity, as a House, we do not take time to critically look at Bills and put more emphasis on certain aspects. Some time back, I complained about bad things being done by Cabinet Secretaries, who have no capacity to run Ministries. An example is the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services. I am a member of an oversight authority. We have a Cabinet Secretary who has no capacity to run a Ministry. When I complained somewhere, my colleagues, and people from outside, laughed at me and told me: “You cannot blame the appointing authority, because all such public appointments passed through the National Assembly, specifically your departmental committee”. Since corruption is deep-rooted, even within Parliament, we have made flagrant mistakes and allowed inconceivable things to just pass through the House. Therefore, I urge hon. Members that this is an opportunity for us to critically look at this Bill, and ensure that we factor into it provisions that will help curb corruption. Thank you, hon. Speaker."
}