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{
    "id": 738010,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/738010/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 76,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. A.B. Duale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": "That is the essence. The President‟s Award Scheme already exists but, because of the benefits it brings to the young persons in our country, the Executive felt the essence of putting it into law through a statute. That is why this Bill is before this House. Hon. Speaker, just to highlight the salient features of the proposed law, Clause 2 defines the terms used in a technical sense. What is the Presidential Award? This means self- development programs designed for young persons in Kenya in order to equip them with positive life skills. We are facing global challenges of drug abuse, radicalization and religious extremism. The scheme is modelled around bringing up self-development initiatives for young persons in order to develop positive life skills amongst them. The Award is affiliated to the Duke of Edinburgh International Award – an Award re-programing the various activities which are undertaken by young people. This was launched in 1966 by the founding father of our nation, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the father of the current President, who is also the current patron of the President‟s Awards Scheme. Clause 3 provides for the objectives and the purpose of this Act. The purpose, objectives and the reason behind the Bill is to regulate the conferring of awards to young persons. There must be a set out criteria to be followed, like when young people voluntarily undertake to fulfil certain self-development skills and activities. This clause establishes mechanisms and procedures for undertaking the award programme so that there is transparency and accountability. Clause 4 provides for the establishment of the President‟s Award Scheme to ensure that the Award Scheme is anchored in law. Clause 5 establishes a board of trustees that will be responsible for the daily management and administration of the President‟s Award Scheme. Currently, there are people who manage the scheme, but that board must be grounded in law to regulate its operations. Clause 6 provides for the membership of the board, specifying who should be a member. The board shall comprise of a chairperson to be appointed by the President, the Cabinet Secretary for matters relating to education and youth and five other persons who have experience in resource mobilization, governance, public administration, community and social developments, planning, research and advocacy. Therefore, the other five members must come from those categories. They must be people who have experience in the fields of specialization that I have just mentioned. Clause 7 of the Bill provides for the tenure of office of the board. The term of office of the board cannot be open-ended. The board must have a certain timeline framework. The Bill proposes that the membership shall hold office for a period of three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment. This is borrowed from the leadership. Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in this country are eligible to serve for only two terms. An example is the governors. I think this is a very good governance procedure. Clause 8 of the Bill talks about the functions of the board, which include regulation of the President‟s Award Scheme, how it relates with other international awards schemes, providing typical experimental activities, how to impact positive life change on our young people, how to promote good ethical values amongst young people, how to formulate policies on the management of the Presidential award scheme, advising the President on this matter, conducting research and all matters relating to the scheme. Clause 9 talks about the powers that have been given to the board, which include its supervisory role, administrating the assets and managing the funds of the Award Scheme. Clause 11 talks about the grounds for the removal of the CEO of the board from office once he has been appointed. 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."
}