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{
    "id": 681157,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/681157/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 192,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Eng.) Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 24,
        "legal_name": "Nicholas Gumbo",
        "slug": "nicholas-gumbo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Bill. This amendment by Hon. Neto is very important. This is because at times when we give the CSs the leeway to give the time when an Act of Parliament can be operationalised, they misuse that provision. This is a good law. Debate about the role of NGOs has been going on in this country. Of course, there are times that NGOs tend to exceed in terms of the benefits they give to the community. There are times that some of the NGOs definitely have questionable activities. However, by and large, the majority of NGOs in this country do a good service. The fact that we have a proliferation of NGOs in our country is in a way an admission that there are many parts of this country where Government services still do not reach the people. I have always argued in this House that when we make laws in this House, we as the lawmakers should be the ones to state the date when the law should come into effect. However, when we give the CSs the leeway to be the ones to decide when the law can come into effect, many of them misuse it. This is because we give that leeway without caveats and once that is done, it is them to apply when it is necessary. Some of them bring subjective considerations into the operationalisation of the law which in a way hurts the people of Kenya. It has to be understood that every piece of legislation that we make in this House goes towards addressing the lives of our people. So, when a law that has been passed by this House cannot be operationalised because the CS is taking too long or for some subjective reason does not feel comfortable with certain provisions of the law, it is wrong. Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) have not been given any role in our Constitution to make laws. That role has been given specifically to Parliament, with the President having the power of veto. This probably is a lesson for us that, as we go forward, let us stop this habit of always vesting too much powers on the CSs. 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."
}