Martha Karua

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 2011 to 2020 of 2953.

• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: It does not mean, because we are expecting either to defend our seats or to run for higher seats, that we shall never be asked questions because we will be pledging: "This is politics!" Politics aside, when questions are directed to us as the Government, we must account to the people! view
• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is not on the basis of criminality that we answer. It is on the basis of political responsibility. I want to refer hon. Members to Section 22(3) of the Constitution, which is the basis of that responsibility:- view
• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: "Where the Vice-President or any other Minister has been charged with responsibility for a department of Government, he shall exercise general direction and control over that department and, subject to that direction and control, every department of Government shall be under the supervision of a Permanent Secretary." view
• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Although the Permanent Secretary is the day-to-day person, he or she is subject to the general direction and control of the Minister. In other words, the Minister is the one responsible to answer. Therefore, a Minister must answer satisfactorily to the House and to the public. By answering, it does not mean that a Minister is guilty. view
• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: It is only criminal investigations that can prove whether one is guilty or not. But you can be guilty of political responsibility. You may be asked to take responsibility for wrongs done in your department, even without investigations. That is the basis under which Ministers step aside. They do not step aside because they have been convicted. That is why a Minister who has stepped aside can come back to the fold, if he or she is not guilty. view
• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in this National Assembly, we passed the Public Officer Ethics Act. Are we, as hon. Members of Parliament, going to stay ignorant of a law that we have passed? We are Fe bruary 18, 2009 PARLIAMENTAR Y DEBATES view
• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Once again, I urge hon. Members to read and understand the laws and also to understand the responsibilities of Ministers. view
• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, yes, administratively, and as far as answering in Parliament is concerned, KACC is under me. I am aware that they have launched investigations. Therefore, we are not talking of criminal responsibility because investigations are yet to be concluded. I do understand that the investigations may also be together with the Police Department. I am talking about political responsibility and pegging it on the Constitution. view
• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is, therefore, the duty of us, as Ministers, to get to know the working of our departments. We say it is reform time. How can we reform if we do not understand the--- view
• 18 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Bring the Motion and it will be debated! view