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{
    "id": 680148,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/680148/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 28,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kaluma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1565,
        "legal_name": "George Peter Opondo Kaluma",
        "slug": "george-peter-opondo-kaluma"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I stand with your permission to raise a matter that is affecting the business of Members with regard to Private Members’ Motions and Bills. It is not specific in the Standing Orders. It is taking too long for Private Members’ Bills and Motions on matters of critical national policy to be transacted in Committees and to be remitted to the House for consideration. Hon. Speaker, I recently raised the matter concerning the Police Vetting Bill. You can imagine it took one-and-a-half years for communication to come from the Budget and Appropriations Committee and another relevant Committee, the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security. While that was happening, the vetting process which I sought to have provisions relating to it in the National Police Service Act repealed had gone half way, thus rendering that legislative proposal in vain. Hon. Speaker, a number of Members, if not all, come to this House seasonally for specific purposes, to either further some legislative agenda or move a nation to some policy directions. In as much as there could be no clear provisions, I want your direction by way of a formal communication with regard to how long it should take a Committee seized of a Private Members’ Bill or a Motion to transact that business. I was going to propose a period of one month to a maximum of three months so that we do not leave so much business not transacted in this House, if some of us are not fortunate to return to this House in the manner that the people of Kenya usually do. The biggest problem is actually in the Budget and Appropriations Committee. There is too much work in that Committee admittedly. However, priority and time should be given to these Motions and where possible, those Private Members’ Bills so that, we do not end up not engaging in business for which we sought election for. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}