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{
    "id": 816426,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/816426/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 371,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, ANC",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Godfrey Osotsi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13172,
        "legal_name": "Godfrey Osotsi",
        "slug": "godfrey-osotsi"
    },
    "content": "Before I go into the substance of this Motion, I would like to make a comment regarding the vetting process for these nominees. You will remember that yesterday, Hon. Kaluma raised a very fundamental issue regarding the law on the matter touching on Ben Chumo. Mr. Ben Chumo, despite the fact that he is facing a court process, was invited to be vetted. Then, we have just heard from the Chairman of the Committee that the law, the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, provides that if that process is not concluded within 14 days, the nominee stands appointed. Hon. Kaluma asked of a convicted nominee and is in prison. What do we do? It is important for this Parliament to revisit that issue and if possible, amend that provision in the law. The second issue about vetting is that there are officers, CSs and PSs who are serving yet they are not in compliance with the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act. Section 3 of that Act provides that if you are appointed to a different position like what has happened with CSs after election - even recently, some PSs were reappointed after their services being terminated - they are supposed to go through a vetting process by Parliament. That has not happened and these people are serving. We will require direction on that matter. Going into the substance of this Motion, I want to bring to your attention that the mandate of the CAJ is to investigate any conduct in State affairs, any act, and any omission in public administration in any sphere of Government. Complaints of abuse of office, unfair treatment, manifest injustice, unlawful oppression and unfair or unresponsive official conduct. I want to underline the word ‘any sphere of Government’. This commission is very important. I join my colleagues who said that we must look at the organisation, not the individuals who are going there. This is a very important organisation in the administration system of this country. If we are serious about fighting corruption as the President has said, we will begin by ensuring that this organisation or commission is given teeth to bite. As it is, with the nominees listed here, we are not going to achieve the mandate of this commission. I am saying this because if you look at the mandate of this commission, whoever is appointed to be a commissioner must be totally independent. I know the mood of the House is to pass this Motion. If you ask a question: Is Hon. Florence Kajuju going to be independent? The answer is ‘no’ and you know the reason. Is Mrs. Lucy Ndung’u going to be independent? The answer is ‘no’. We need to be consistent in what we do as Parliament. We have just passed a Motion rejecting Mr. Ben Chumo for the reasons we have given. But we are now in the mood of passing another Motion appointing people to a very serious commission and we are not looking at the details. I have known the third nominee as the Registrar of Political Parties for some time now. If there is an office in this country that requires serious reforms and serious administration, it is the office of the Registrar of Political Parties. What is happening there? We have cases of abuse of office. We have cases of unfair treatment. I do not know whether the Committee tried to do more thorough work by even seeking for a presentation from the Political Parties Tribunal. Many judgments have queried the capability and fairness of the office of the Registrar of Political Parties, notably, deregistration of the PNU, which was not done fairly and objectively. So, I join my colleagues…"
}