Otieno Kajwang

All parliamentary appearances

Entries 841 to 850 of 1172.

• 14 May 2009 in National Assembly: The Committee system is one of the most powerful things in the world in Parliamentary democracy. A Committee of Parliament investigated the President of the USA at one time. It even tried him. This Committee should have summoned the Prime Minister; the Minister for Agriculture; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of State for Special Programmes. There is no evidence that any of these people were summoned to appear before the Committee and yet it made very serious recommendations. First of all, the Committee should have investigated the Prime Minister’s Personal Assistant, son, family, associates ... view
• 14 May 2009 in National Assembly: I heard some hon. Members talk about genetic engineering and I thought that was an exciting thing. Now I am looking at political engineering in this Report. It is sensational, speculative and even sexy. We should not come to this House to entertain people. This House is supposed to serve Kenyans. The Report talks about issues like:- “The supply of maize must be demand-driven or cartel-driven or politically-driven”. I find this Report politically-driven. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I support. view
• 9 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Thank you very much, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker. This is a very important Bill. The first question we should ask ourselves is: Why the vetting in the first place? The Commissions that were set up after the troubles we had after the last general elections suggested that the biggest problem that caused the biggest strike in this country was lack of confidence in the Judiciary. If there was public confidence in the Judiciary, the people who felt aggrieved probably would have gone to the court, which is very near the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) at that time. But they ... view
• 9 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I think two weeks to the general elections, the President appointed a judge. The thinking in the minds of those who were very surprised with this kind of appointment was: Why appoint a judge two weeks to an election? Those are some of the reasons which worked in some minds and they said: “We will not go to this court, because how do you go to a court where somebody has just been rewarded by being appointed a judge two weeks before the case goes before him?” What justice will you get? These are some of ... view
• 9 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, there is a feeling in this country that must be corrected. That is why, after this vetting, we are putting together a Judicial Service Commission (JSC) that now has to advise the Executive. In fact, whoever will become President in the next dispensation will not quite enjoy it. This is because in every issue, there will be somebody who will be advising you and Parliament approving. These sweeping powers that we gave to the Presidency destroyed some of our best institutions. view
• 9 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Madam Temporary Speaker, ethnicization of the Judiciary is dangerous to this country. In fact, I agree with hon. Mungatana that the Pokomos also have a right to survive in this country. However, you know the Pokomos are lucky. At least, they have been the Head of the Public Service at one time. The Luos have suffered more. I do not know about the Subas. view
• 9 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: I think we got that one by our work. view
• 9 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, when you look at the Judiciary, sometimes you do not even want to go. You want to check the judge who will hear your case. view
• 9 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: When I practised law, I did not care who would be the judge because any judge, I presumed would be a good judge. However, these days, people walk and shop for judges because you are not sure, whether this one will give you a hearing. In fact, hon. Munganta talked about temperament as not an issue. Some judges are so cruel you cannot be heard in these courts. Once you get in, they ask you: What is your name? Can you spell it? Get out! How are you dressed? Until lawyers run away. In fact, I remember, one time, I ... view
• 9 Feb 2009 in National Assembly: We had, of course, to have final determination. We were tempted to say that if somebody feels that he is aggrieved and he is not satisfied with the decision of the Board, he can go to court. We realised if we say anything like that, then we will be 20 years in this thing. Which court will you go? Will you go to the judge who has not been vetted and who is awaiting his turn to be vetted? They are looking at this Board as a guillotine. We will never get anywhere. So, we realized that we must give ... view