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{
    "id": 827537,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/827537/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 140,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, I think the issue raised by the Chair of the BAC about Members who write letters is valid. To write letters is perfect. Members write letters to me indicating that they have intentions of initiating certain legislative proposals. I have noticed a trend whereby the moment I write “approved, Clerk of National Assembly, please assist the Member”, I see it on social media and then debate follows. I do not want to mention any Member. This week, a Member has been debating such letter. In the minds of Kenyans, there is a Bill. Even today, I have been inundated with questions by members of the public, “Where is the Bill by Hon. So-and-so? It is so popular with Kenyans.” I asked: “Which one?” Hon. Members, please, follow what the Chair of BAC has said. I know many of you think that the BAC may be sitting on your Bills. The Committee has to follow due process and invite you, as the person who is initiating the legislative proposal, to appear before them. That is after it has been analysed by the Parliamentary Budget Office to determine whether it is a Money Bill or not and such other considerations, as required by the Constitution. I know that many of you could be businesspeople or you could be desirous of having Kenyan businesspeople assisted, but look at the two Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bills. They have proposals to amend some of the laws that you are busy discussing in the radio stations and television stations and causing a lot of unnecessary excitement among Kenyans. In the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill published on 10th April, there is a proposal to amend the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015. So, even though you write a letter and get excited about it, and want to excite the entire constituency and the church where you go so that everybody is busy saying: “This is the greatest law proposal that has ever been sent to Parliament”, let it be known that it is just a letter that the Member has written. You may not even appear before the Committee. More importantly, read the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill and propose your amendments there because it is already there. So, please try to follow the procedure. Of course, I know that some of those debates are motivated by the desire to earn bonga points, but you cause unnecessary pressure on some of us. We are asked: “How far has that law gone? Have you taken it to the President for assent?” We go through this despite that it was only a letter which was written. I cannot take a letter to the President to assent to. But you will have excited everybody in the country and they are very happy. As you know, they will be asking you how far the Bill is within one week. Since it was only a letter, when they come to me writing or asking, I will just write to them: “Tell the Member that it was only a letter and it was just meant to get your attention.” Of course, it is not a very bad thing to get attention. I mean, why are you elected? It is because a lot of attention is paid to you. But, please, let us just try to moderate a bit. There is too much of debate on television stations as opposed to the Floor of the House. You are only debating letters or notices of intention. Member for Samburu North."
}