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{
    "id": 877176,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/877176/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 88,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Muli, it is clear when a Question has not been answered, the chairs of the committees are expected to understand the Standing Orders so that they can fix other dates themselves. I am not too sure whether the chairpersons are really applying the Standing Orders. They are at liberty to reschedule the Question to some other date convenient to the committee. In fact, it is very appropriate when the committee is sitting and it has quorum for the chair to set another date for the CS or whomever to appear before the committee and respond to the Question. If it is Question requiring an oral answer, then the chairperson should be at liberty to set another date. The Question does not have to come back to the House. That is a better way of doing things because whoever it is that the ministry or department may have sent to the committee, then goes back to their offices knowing that they will be expected to appear on the date that is set by the committee. On the efficacy or otherwise of this particular method, the Committee on Procedure and House Rules has scheduled a meeting on 14th March 2019 to discuss, among other things, whether this procedure is adding value or not and recommend a way forward. So, we cannot just say now we stop because the procedure is already there in the Standing Orders. Even this particular procedure was adopted following the experience that the previous House had when Questions were just directed to the chairpersons of committees. We found that the better thing is that we improve that former system by requiring that the Question be read out publicly so that a Member is known to have asked the Question and then the Committee prioritises it. That is why this business is referred to the committee because it knows how much work it has on which dates and then it will prioritise. A more substantive response will come after the meeting of the Procedure and House Rules Committee when it sits and gets a brief from the Table Office. In the meantime, I see the Member for Kisumu West also wishes to weigh in."
}