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{
    "id": 711689,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/711689/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 485,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Wamunyinyi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 291,
        "legal_name": "Athanas Misiko Wafula Wamunyinyi",
        "slug": "athanas-wamunyinyi"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me the opportunity to make my contribution on the Public Service Commission Bill, 2016. Members may not realise, but this is one of the most important Bills before the House. It is not just giving effect to the Constitution. Any country, world over, that wants to keep it’s stability and harmonise relationships within its people and ensure that peace is maintained at all times even under unique circumstances, must have a stable public service. There is need to have a public service that will ensure that there is adequate delivery of service to the people; one that will manage the affairs of the public at all times and one that is non- partisan and is well-resourced. The public service needs to have a human resource that is equipped properly to deliver those services. Therefore, this Bill is very important to us as it will ensure that this country has a public service, which should undertake its functions effectively to the satisfaction of the people. We have experienced challenges in our country. During President Mwai Kibaki’s reign, the Government increased the retirement age to 60 years. Those who were due for retirement at the time, that is 55 years old, had to continue up to 60 years. When they attained the age of retirement at 60 years and were retiring, there was a problem of settlement of pensions, gratuities and so on. It would appear that there was no planning. We have experienced shortage of personnel in the public service, the military, the National Police Service, and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). In Bungoma, some schools have only a principal, one teacher and others Form Four leavers who are employed by the board to teach in high schools. You will get some primary schools with 800 pupils have a headmaster and one teacher. It is like people never knew that we need adequate staffing. We must prepare ourselves. What makes me happy is the fact that we are trying to put in place what this Bill is seeking to do. We want to give effect to the structure, functions and powers of the PSC. We have talked about this but if you do not determine the level of staffing, and you do not plan your staff well within the ministries and public service, it will be very difficult to operate. So, this Bill sets out the minimum requirements in terms of training, recruitment, planning, staffing, policy development and guidelines that are required by the PSC. We have seen a conflict in our country. We have been victims here in the House. We have the Parliamentary Service Commission on one hand and the SRC on the other hand, trying to determine how Parliament should operate and how the members of staff of the Parliamentary Service Commission should be remunerated. The PSC should develop human resource development guidelines and policies. Ms. Sarah Serem is now working to determine what needs to be banned in public service. We must remove this confusion. If we pass good laws, we will be able to solve this confusion. This conflict is not good for our country because at some point, we will face litigation. People will go to court to challenge what the SRC, the PSC and other commissions are doing. We must be clear on roles. The PSC must play its responsibilities and roles as the lead unit in ensuring delivery of public service to citizens. Our young graduates need to be well trained to be 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."
}