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{
    "id": 862579,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/862579/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 248,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Tharaka, DP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. George Gitonga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13491,
        "legal_name": "George Gitonga Murugara",
        "slug": "george-gitonga-murugara"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support the Government Contracts Bill, 2018 which, if enacted by this House, is going to repeal the Government Contracts, Act (Cap. 25) of the Laws of Kenya. It is very important to note that the Government Contracts, Act (Cap. 25), is one of those colonial relics we inherited from the colonial government, which we baptized as an Act of this Parliament and proceeded to use it. We have used it for the last 55 years. Before it was a relic, we must admit it was a good law, for it would not have survived for over 55 years if it was not. Time has come for us to possibly look at it because of changing times and enact a law that is going to be in conformity with our lives today. This is why we have this Bill. Most of the provisions of this new Bill are not very different from what we had in the old Act, save for the changes that have come in through subsequent legislations, which possibly were not in the other Act or did not exist at that time. It is, therefore, important that this Act does conform to the other Acts which heavily lean towards Government contracting. Government contracts are like any other and they must conform to the set law and especially, the provisions that they must be in writing. We know very well that our country today is ailing from corruption. We are all crying and trying to fight a monster which has slowly crept into the society and seems to be bent on deviating our ways of life. If this Bill is going to assist the Government in fighting corruption, then it is a good law and we should support it. However, this Bill must be read closely with other Government laws on contracting, which include the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act and the Public Private Partnerships Act. It is important to align this law with those particular Acts so that it is not abused. There is potential of abuse and we have seen it especially in the county governments. Accounting officers are defined here and for the national Government, we know the accounting officers to be the Principal Secretaries or persons designated thereunder. In the county governments, 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."
}