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{
    "id": 549048,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/549048/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 171,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kaluma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1565,
        "legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
        "slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
    },
    "content": "think that the recommendations of this Report were floated in terms of documentation in a manner that enables Zakhem Construction Limited get more than what the bid price is - we have somebody who is a State officer to fall for under Article 95(5) of the Constitution. Lastly, Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am really concerned at the manner we run our State parastatals in this country. This is the enterprise wing - the business wing – of the Government. My idea of the management or the operations of State parastatals is that this is one sector of Government that the Government ought to have the best minds in. If people like Hon. Kobando were not in Government, they are the people I was imagining would be in parastatals. Hon. Deputy Speaker, look at the appointments last made. From Homa Bay, we have appointments but when a person goes howling Uhuru leta TV, leta TV and then he is appointed and yet he is over 80 years, what is it that, that person can do in a parastatal to help the Government generate money? We are concerned when you see people being appointed to State parastatals simply because they were previously politicians or simply because they come from a family which has been associated with politics. I want to use this occasion to urge the Government that State parastatals are the Government’s engine for business. Let us have the best of our minds there. Let us have the best people there and people who are above aboard in terms of knowledge and competence and other issues. Then we can deal with it. I end by saying that I hope I will be in Parliament by the time the implementation of that particular project will come to an end. If there are issues to interrogate--- I am saying I am giving very cautious support. I know Zakhem quite well and they know me if they are watching. We have had issues with them about financial capacity and their ability to perform. But I also respect the Committee and I want to support them. But, as a Member of Parliament, I am going to remain very alert in my oversight duty. I hope the people of Homa Bay will give me the grace to return if that project cannot be completed before 2017, so that we can cross-check and be sure the bid price was actually kept. Thank you, hon. Deputy Speaker."
}