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"id": 632581,
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"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
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"content": "You will likewise recall that on Tuesday, 8th March, 2016, Hon. Korir brought up the matter once more, this time bemoaning lack of quorum in three sittings of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare that were ostensibly meant to deliberate on his legislative proposal on the anti-doping law. Upon the revelation of this matter, I directed the said Committee to meet on Thursday, 10th March, 2016 to consider this crucial legislative proposal for the sake of our Kenyan athletes who continue to bring great glory, honour and recognition to this county. Hon. Members, during the Sitting of Wednesday, 9th March, 2016, the Vice-Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Tiyah Galgalo, tabled a report on the status of the anti-doping legislative proposal, in which she highlighted the progress the Committee had made on the matter. Hon. Galgalo cited the appearance of the Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Social Security and Services, and quorum as the challenges encountered in the abortive meetings of 1st and 3rd March, 2016. She further informed the House that the sponsor of the said draft law, Hon. Korir, had actually failed to turn up in the scheduled meetings of 3rd and 8th March, 2016. Concerning this latter statement, Hon. Korir maintained that he had not only appeared at the said meetings but alleged that he had seen fellow Members of the Committee appearing at the venues for the sole purpose of signing the attendance register after which they immediately left. He claimed: “People came, signed and went away; then I am told that I have not been appearing before the Committee. That is a lie. The Vice-Chair must substantiate and say whether I have not been appearing because people come in, sign and go.” Hon. Members, you will additionally recall that on account of the divergent views canvased by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee and the sponsor of the legislative proposal on anti-doping law, I instructed the Director of Committee Services to provide me with a report of the work and activities undertaken by the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare. I have since received the report which, among other things, highlights the Committee’s activities and the progress made on Hon. Korir’s legislative proposal. As to the allegations made by Hon. Korir, the report states that the Hon. Member did not turn up at the appointed time for the scheduled meetings of 3rd and 8th March, 2016. Indeed, the report from the Director of Committees goes on to affirm that apart from the quorum factor, Hon. Korir’s failure to turn up at the appointed time was the key reason that the two meetings were adjourned. The report further clarifies that no Member signed any attendance register since the two meetings had adjourned due to lack of quorum pursuant to Standing Order No.185, which states:- “Unless quorum is achieved within thirty minutes of the appointed time, a meeting of a committee of the House shall stand adjourned to such further time or day as the chairperson of the committee may appoint.” Hon. Members, you may, with understandable regret, recall the unfortunate incidents last year in which Members of two Committees openly accused their colleagues of various forms of impropriety which they sadly could not substantiate. As you are aware, some were reprimanded by this noble House in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Privileges. I shall not bear any assumed culture of making unsubstantiated insinuations and more so when the allegations are made by a Member against other Members of this august House. Indeed, you will recall that before Hon. Korir made his allegations on the Floor on the afternoon of Wednesday, 9th March, 2016, I advised him against making unsubstantiated claims contrary to 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."
}