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{
    "id": 815138,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/815138/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 109,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1835,
        "legal_name": "Anthony Kimani Ichung'Wah",
        "slug": "anthony-kimani-ichungwah"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, consider the Report on the Ruaraka Land by the Departmental Committee on Lands of the National Assembly which we adopted and have, in fact, made recommendations on. Those recommendations are to be implemented by agencies of Government. The same matter is now under consideration by ‘the Public Accounts and “Something” Committee of the Senate. What will happen if that Committee comes up with recommendations that are counter those of this House? That is why I want to agree with Hon. Junet that, indeed, the best and most tidy thing to do is to participate in the process within the National Assembly. I have seen them summon members of Government who are serving in parastatals. It goes to the heart of our Constitution. Hon. Speaker, I must thank you as Chairman of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) for these gadgets. Article 96(2) is quite clear that the Senate represents the counties and serves to protect the interests of the counties and their governments. Sub-article 3 is clear that the Senate determines the allocation of national revenue among counties as provided in Article 217 and exercises oversight over national revenue allocated to the county governments. So, I wonder what would happen when the Senate summons the Kenya Pipeline Company Limited (KPC), the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) or any other parastatal that has been allocated money from this Assembly; money that is not going to counties but to serve national interests. The Senate has no business overseeing those parastatals! That work should be left to the National Assembly. The National Assembly, we have said this before and made it clear in this Parliament and even in the 11th Parliament, with regard to the Public Investments Committee (PIC) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) deals with post-audit. Look at the issues that the Senate is dealing with. There is nothing that has come out of an audit report. It is things that people pick up in the media and elsewhere. Therefore, it is a matter that you also may need to rule on much as you say you have consulted on how we introduce Bills and even on how they deal with other issues outside matters to do with Bills. When do they summon people and over what in Government? We should not end up with two conflicting reports because agencies of Government like the DCI and the EACC will not know who to investigate or not on the Ruaraka issue. We have been reading in the media that the EACC and the DCI, probably following the recommendations of the Departmental Committee on Lands from this Assembly, has already investigated the matter and it is about to charge people in courts. Maybe, the only reason we have not seen people being charged last Friday – hopefully they do it this Saturday– is because they have been waiting for the other Committee in Senate to finish its report and make recommendations. It is imperative we all remain true to the provisions of Article 95 and Article 96 of the Constitution. Let what is the work for the National Assembly remains in it and what is work for the Senate, the same. There is a lot of work. In this fight against corruption, the President called on Parliament and that is why he addresses a Joint Sitting where Members of the National Assembly and Senators are present, to help him in the fight against corruption. It is this House to oversight the national Executive and its agencies, ministries and departments. For the county governments, as Hon. John Mbadi has said, you will never see any Committee of this House summoning a Governor on any issue even if it is on lands. The Committee on Lands could also summon the Governor of Narok, for instance, on the Mau Narok issue because it is an issue on lands or of the The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}