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{
    "id": 681091,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/681091/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 126,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. J.K. Bett",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1765,
        "legal_name": "James Kimaru Bett",
        "slug": "james-kimaru-bett"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to add my voice to this important Bill. At the outset, I would like to thank Hon. Aghostinho Neto for bringing this Bill. The Public Benefits Organisations (Amendment) Bill captures the aspirations and expectations of Kenyans regarding operations of NGOs in Kenya. It will set the general legal framework where NGOs and most of the PBOs operate. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the setting out of the framework will also enable authorities to enforce compliance to the requirements. That will ensure that these NGOs operate within a specified legal framework whose compliance will be enforced. I want to pick on some of the benefits which NGOs or these PBOs have done in most parts of our rural areas where the Government may have not reached because of the terrain or remoteness. This is, for example, health and sanitation. We have seen many NGOs set up dispensaries and hospitals to meet health requirements of residents in such areas. In the area of education, we have seen many NGOs provide education to those areas. They have even improved infrastructure to reach those areas, not to mention employment opportunities that are offered by these NGOs. As it is, this law will enable members of the public to access information regarding what these organisations do. It will also enable the PBOs to be audited. This will make them to publish their financial statements at the end of every financial year so that we know what they deal in and what their balance sheets are. That is so, so that we can approve them. This House passed this Bill in 2013 and was assented to by the President. The only disappointing thing is that it was not operationalised. I join my colleagues in saying that the CS in charge of this needs to be reprimanded. We cannot perform our mandate and then the implementation part of it fails. As mentioned, the Public Benefits Organisations (Amendment) Bill will synchronise the operations between the Government and the NGOs so that here is no suspicion from the Government’s end regarding the operations of NGOs. When that happens, synergy will be built. This will help improve the socio-economic welfare of Kenyans. With those few remarks, I support this Bill. I once again thank Mhe. Neto for bringing it to the House. Thank you."
}