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{
    "id": 568487,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/568487/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 132,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Nyenze",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1987,
        "legal_name": "Francis Mwanzia Nyenze (Deceased)",
        "slug": "francis-mwanzia-nyenze"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, I have listened to the very able Chairman talk about these amendments, the reasons and the need to adopt them. I do agree with him that the in-fighting that has been there between the commissioners and the secretariat has “killed” most of the corruption cases. If these amendments will do away with that in-fighting, then they are welcomed. I urge Members to support these amendments. Also, the idea to increase the commissioners from three to five will help in forming quorum. It will bring a bigger pool of resourceful people together who will make a good policy statement. We know the Committee’s recommendation is that the commissioners’ work is policy, guidance and oversight. However, even in these other parastatals, wherever chairmen or boards stay near CEOs and other workers, there is bound to be conflict. In order not to create centers of power, I think these amendments are good. Let the secretariat do its work but, as Hon. Nyokabi has said, let there be fresh vetting of all the people who serve in that Commission, so that there is no witch-hunt and that qualified people who are supposed to hold those offices are the ones who own the offices. There have been allegations by those who have been called to testify or give their part of the story that some of the accusations are politically instigated. I just want to say that the secretariat can do good work if we recruit the best brains. But there is one thing that I oppose, which is the Committee’s recommendation that they do not want job seekers. They want retired judges or those people who can stand without expecting anything. Let us not shut the door to Kenyans. In fact, the young Kenyans are very alert. I am sure if they are appointed on part-time basis – meaning that they are not permanent in office - they can also offer very good services. Lawyers and people who are young have the energy and can drive the country forward. But if we say it is the old retired judges, why do people retire? Civil servants are told to retire because their usefulness has reduced to a level where they cannot discharge their duties effectively. Now, when you re-appoint them and you leave young people, you are contradicting yourselves. So, make sure that jobs are open to all Kenyans. Most of those commissioners have promised jobs to young Kenyans. Let jobs not be the preserve of the old retired judges. Let them be for young lawyers, young educated people and all Kenyans, so that we also create jobs for the young. I want to say that when Aaron Ringera was nearing retiring, he said corruption fights back and Kenyans took it lightly. Corruption fights back because the people who are accused of corruption; most of them have acquired a lot of money. They can hire the best lawyers and are powerful. So, that statement was very true at that time and also at this time. I want to say that the secretariat is having a very difficult time. Every time people are called to the Ethics and Anti- corruption Commission, they mobilize their communities, politicians and other leaders and start saying that they are being targeted. So long as there is fair play and everything is done overboard and on the table, let us give the secretariat room to do what it is trained to do - to investigate and give a report. I will go further and say the following: I support giving EACC prosecutorial powers so that they can act on corruption. That is because corruption gobbles close to Kshs700 billion if we go by the current Budget that we have just read. About 30 per cent of the Budget is lost to corruption and that is a big chunk of our money. Corruption should be fought by all and sundry and we should not try to interfere so long as fairness has been done. Let us not cry that we are being targeted so long as there is fairness. That way, we will finish corruption in this country. 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."
}