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{
    "id": 719533,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/719533/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 164,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) H.K. Njuguna",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1508,
        "legal_name": "Humphrey Kimani Njuguna",
        "slug": "humphrey-kimani-njuguna"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I want to contribute to this Bill. This is because it touches on very core issues in this country. This is because we are talking about privatising of public assets. We are also in an area where we can interrogate the achievements we have made so far. This is because privatisation started some decades ago. I was reading in the newspapers today that Kenya is one of the countries at the rock- bottom in terms of scores. As a country, we are being judged very harshly by Transparent International in terms of corruption. We are not being judged very well worldwide. When we talk about privatisation of Kenya Airways, Uchumi, Mumias Sugar Company and other parastatals in this country because they are numerous, it gives a very worrying trend. What is there in Nakumatt that cannot be in Uchumi because basically, they are birds of the same feather? These are chains of supermarkets. One is very successful while the other one is a failure. We are just pumping taxpayers’ money. We need to do a spot analysis and find out what has really gone wrong in our privatisation mission. We also know the reasons people fight so much for power. Like now, we are going to fight so much for power in August, 2017 to be able to manage and control public resources. Part of the public resources is what is before us; privatisation of public assets. I have listened to submissions from Hon. Kaluma. I am also convinced that when you talk about public resources, the public has a role to play. Hon. Speaker, our Constitution was a product of social fact. The people of Kenya determined the way they want to be governed. Part of the spirit of our Constitution is public participation. That spirit is echoed in Article 1 where the sovereign of the Republic is the people, and the people to exercise that authority themselves or through their democratically elected representatives. Therefore, this means that you cannot alienate the role of Parliament when it comes to such matters. If the people are not participating directly then Parliament must participate. It is a constitutional right. If such a Bill alienates the right of people to participate then that Bill is unconstitutional. If you read Clause 3 of this Bill together with Clause 5, you will find that the role of Parliament is ignored. The people are no longer playing a major role. Although I am a Member of this House, I got very surprised when we approved for appointment the Chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), who is a retired and tired Archbishop. It is like we can no longer trust ourselves and we have to go for divine intervention to manage public resources. It is very important that we respect our Constitution when we are talking about public resources. Public participation, which is part of Parliament, cannot be ignored. To that extent, I oppose this Bill. Thank you."
}