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{
    "id": 859340,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/859340/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 243,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Garissa Township, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Aden Duale",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 15,
        "legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
        "slug": "aden-duale"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the Second Reading of the Parliamentary Service Bill, 2018. It is very unfortunate that as a body mandated to legislate, it is now eight years since the promulgation of the new Constitution and we have been unable to pass a law that touches on the very foundation of this House - which is parliamentary service. We are still relying on archaic, old, outdated and spent legislation, namely, the Parliamentary Service Act, 2000. Can you imagine that this House managed to pass all the Bills establishing constitutional commissions as found in Article 248 of the Constitution which are 10 in number, with the exception of only the Parliamentary Service Commission? We have even established a law to regulate the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). We have done that for all the other 10 commissions. We have come up with their regulations. It is very unfortunate that it is only the Parliamentary Service Commission that does not have a current law. There is a direct link between the efficiency of the performance of this House and there being a Parliamentary Service that is aligned to the dictates of Article 127 (6) of the Constitution. What does Article 127 (6) of the Constitution say? With your indulgence, I am getting old. The font is too small for my eyes. Article 127 (6) (a) states: “The Commission is responsible for – (a) providing services and facilities to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of Parliament;” That is what Article 127 (6) says. Have we attained that? Have we passed that provision? The Commission constitutes offices in the Parliamentary Service, appoints and supervises office holders. The Commission shall prepare annual estimates of expenditure of the Parliamentary Service and submit them to the National Assembly for approval. We must actualise Article 127(6) of the Constitution which this House has not legislated on. It is very unfortunate that the 11th Parliament was unable to conclude this Bill. Therefore, it calls for this House to ensure that we pass this Bill. Suffice it to say, this House should go down in history as the one which oversaw the implementation of Article 248(2) of the Constitution in terms of passing the relevant enabling laws establishing constitutional commissions including the Parliamentary Service Commission. Of great importance is to know that the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, chaired by our brother, Hon. Cheptumo, has the responsibility of ensuring that the process of realigning the Commission in accordance with the dictates of the new Constitution is concluded before the end of the 12th Parliament. The mantle, therefore, is with the Committee to oversee the conclusion of this important Bill. Each one of us must take part. Allow me to remind 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."
}