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{
    "id": 99375,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/99375/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 200,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Nyambati",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 116,
        "legal_name": "Walter Enock Osebe Nyambati",
        "slug": "walter-nyambati"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, as hon. Members may be aware, the PSC is a creation of Section 45B of our Constitution. This Section came about following the constitutional amendment made by Parliament in 1999. This amendment was as a result of a long struggle of Members of the National Assembly and Kenyans at large for greater democratic space as well as having a vibrant independent National Assembly. Kenyans had for a long time complained that the National Assembly was a mere rubber stamp to the Executive and, therefore, was not able to scrutinise budgetary matters and other legislations brought before it by the Executive. The National Assembly was also accused of failing to properly carry out its mandate of checking the Executive through oversight. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the biggest problem facing the National Assembly prior to 1999 was that the Executive controlled all aspects of the National Assembly activities. Members of Parliament, at one point in time used to be paid salaries and allowances from the Office of the President. Members of Parliament used to queue outside the Cash Office at the Office of the President every week to receive allowances to allow them to travel to their constituencies. The remuneration of Members of Parliament was also totally inadequate to enable them effectively carry out their responsibilities as well as live a fairly dignified life. Members of Parliament were reduced to begging for handouts from senior Members of the Executive. Mr. Speaker, Sir, further to this, the Executive decided what facilities and amenities Members of Parliament could have in order to carry out their duties. Members of Parliament were denied facilities such as offices, computers, Research Assistants, Budget Officers, Legal Counsel and other members of staff necessary for a Member of Parliament to properly interrogate the Executive and ensure that the Government is working for the good of the people of Kenya. Parliamentary staff members were civil servants, meaning that they were seconded from the Ministries and, therefore, they owed allegiance to the Executive and worked at the direction and in the interest of the Executive. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the combination of all these circumstances put Members of Parliament at the mercy of the Executive. The representatives of the people of Kenya were unable to properly represent their constituents as they had no capacity to do so. The ineffectiveness of the National Assembly in these circumstances led to the enactment of Section 45B of our Constitution, and the PSC. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the PSC is an independent constitutional body with the primary mandate of providing services like the ones I have just mentioned, and facilities as necessary, to ensure that there is efficient and effective functioning of the National Assembly."
}