John Kipsang Koech

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 11 to 20 of 41.

• 22 May 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to give Notice of the following Motion:- THAT, Pursuant to the provisions of Article 50 of the Schedule to the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community Act, 2007; this House approves the East African Community election of Members of Parliament Draft Rules, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday, 22nd May, 2007. view
• 16 May 2007 in National Assembly: On a point of information, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. view
• 16 May 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to make quite a good number of things clear. In accordance with our Constitution, Parliament has no role in ratification of all the international treaties. That function is performed by the Executive and the Government. The Minister concerned will provide instruments of the treaty to the Cabinet for ratification. Thereafter, His Excellency the President assents and it becomes binding internationally--- view
• 16 May 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if the hon. Member can allow me to speak, I will quote all the information that I have. What is generally accepted is the precedent. I know that all the treaties that have been ratified in this country have been done by the Cabinet. It is not only the EAC Treaty or the amendment of the Treaty which has gone through the Cabinet. There has never been any issue which has come to this Parliament for ratification, as far as international treaties are concerned. Now,--- view
• 16 May 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to ask my hon. colleagues to show me any part of the Constitution that says that Parliament is allowed to ratify treaties. There is nothing! view
• 16 May 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, if I can be allowed to speak, I will elaborate. We need to make the issue here very clear. There is no part of our Constitution which says that the treaty must be ratified by Parliament. So, through practice, and that is also the tradition performed by part of our Constitution--- view
• 16 May 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is part of our tradition! view
• 16 May 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is silent. There is an issue that I was coming to, if the hon. Members could be patient--- view
• 16 May 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to remind hon. Members that I was involved in the Bomas Constitution talks. On the request to change the Constitution, one thing that came out very well was the ratification of international treaties should be done by Parliament. That was the recommendation by the Bomas talks. That shows very clearly that we have been going by our traditions--- view
• 16 May 2007 in National Assembly: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, that shows very clearly that what has been happening was through tradition. If there is need and nations agree that international treaties have to be ratified by Parliament, we should change the Constitution and say: "Any international treaties must be ratified by Parliament." Some countries have made that very clear in their constitutions. They have given their parliaments the power to ratify international treaties. So, we should not be in a hurry and change the Constitution through a Motion. I do not think it is right. We cannot change the Constitution of this country through ... view