mzalendo :: Eye On Kenyan Parliament

We’ve been busy beavers this week.

1) The Bills Status page has been updated. As you can see Parliament has been more active that in past sessions having passed 6 bills already. Perhaps the threat of 2007 elections is making them nervous. In any event, it’s good to see some work getting done.

2) The Ministries page has been updated to include the Shadow Cabinet, click here for an example.

3) We were hoping to have the voting records of MPs up this week, but in a case of “we-just-can’t-believe-this-s***” we’ve found out that:

“Voting in parliament is called Division but MP’s don’t go for division when they are passing a Bill. They mostly use “Ayes” for those supporting and “noes” for those opposing when deciding on a certain clause. They only go for division when there is a crucial vote like when to adjourn/recess or on a contentious item like what they did during the constitution or when they cannot decide on which side was loudest in shouting “aye’ or”No“.

So basically, unless a Bill is contentious we have no way of finding out who voted for what and Kenyans cannot hold their MPs to task based on their voting records in Parliament. This is very very disappointing (and incredulous!). Nevertheless, that won’t deter us from hounding out the division voting records.

4) We can now confirm that we will be receiving the order papers on a regular basis (thanks S!). We are busy working hard to find a way to get the papers up systematically for easier navigation and cross-linking with other parts of the site e.g. the questions asked section. Hopefully, from next week the process will be finalized and you can visit Mzalendo on a daily basis to find out what’s coming up in Parliament.

5) Coming soon if everything works out as planned…regular reporting on Parliament’s sessions; updated MP profiles for those MPs whose profiles are missing; most of the Bills that are being presented in this session.

6) Wasting no time, the new MPs are in our database. Take some time and play around with the MP Query Page. Try for yourself and see how many MPs we have that are under 30. Or Over 70.

Yesterday’s order paper. Again source of great insight into how the House conducts its business and into which MPs are actually trying do serve their constituents. Also, looks like a couple of bills are moving forward.

BILLS

1. THE KENYA INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS BILL, (The Minister for Planning and National Development)

First Reading COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE

2. The Statistics Bill (Bill No. 10)(The Minister for Planning and National Development)

3. THE STATUTE LAW (MISCELLENOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL (BILL NO. 12) (The Attorney-General)

Second Reading

MOTIONS

1. MOTION - (The Chairman, Public Investments Committee) (Minister for Finance)
THAT, this House adopts the Report of the Public Investments Committee on the Kenya Sugar Board - Loss of Export and Import of Raw Sugar pursuant to Legal Notice No. 2 of 2006 laid on the Table of the House on Wednesday, 29th June, 2006.

QUESTIONS BY PRIVATE NOTICE

1. The Member for Marakwet ( Mr. David Sudi) to ask the Minister Roads & Public Works: -
a) Is the Minister aware that Road C48 which passes through Cheborowa, Tenden and Kapcherop centres is impassable owing to the current rainy season and failure to gravel the road for a long time?
b) What immediate steps is he taking to repair the road and make it passable?

2. The Member for Gatundu North (Mr. Patrick Muiruri) to ask the Minister for Health: -
a) Is the Minister aware that the body of a 17 year old patient, Mr. John Kibaru (IP/ No. 1099688) who was admitted on 11th June 2006 has been lying at Kenyatta National Hospital Mortuary since 4.7.2006 to date?
b) If the answer is in the affirmative and considering the parents of the deceased are unable to raise a sum of Kshs. 224,150 demanded by Kenyatta National Hospital, could the Minister intervene to have the body released to the family for burial?

ORDINARY QUESTIONS

1) The Member for Wajir North (Dr. Abdullahi Ali) to ask the Minister for Education: -
a) Could the Minister confirm that the free primary education program has increased primary school enrolment by about 2 million children?
b) Given that the current transition rate from primary to secondary school stands at 57% which the government intends to increase to 70%, how does the Ministry intend to cope with increased secondary school enrolment without employing new teachers?

2) The Member for Machakos Town (Mr. David Mwanzia) to ask the Minister Education: -
a) Is the Minister aware that school inspections in both primary and secondary schools within Machakos District are lagging behind schedule?
b) Why are the inspections lagging behind schedule and how far is the backlog?

3) The Nominated Member (Prof. Julia Ojiambo) to ask the Minister for Roads and Public Works:
a) Is the Minister aware that the road between Maji ya Chumvi and Mombasa is a danger to motorists traveling to and from Mombasa City?
b) Could the Minister consider decentralizing the Mariakani weigh bridge in order to decongest the road and avert traffic accidents?
c) Who is the contractor assigned to work on the Maji ya Chumvi – Mombasa road and how much is the job costing the Government?

4) The Member for Ugenya (Archbishop Stephen Ondiek) to ask the Minister for Health: -
a) Could the Minister inform the House what happened to the ambulances that she promised to deliver to Ukwala Health Centre and Ambira Sub-District Hospital during the last Session?
b) Could she explain why the ambulance lying at Ukwala Health Centre for the last five years has not been repaired despite her assurance to the House that it would be repaired and that the money had set aside for the purpose?

5. The Member for Mosop (Mr. John Sambu) to ask the Minister for Lands: -
a) Is the Minister aware that the residents of Kamungei, Kaptich and Kamwega areas in Nandi North District have not been issued with their title deeds?
b) What measures is the Minister taking to address the above problem?

6. The Member for Kerugoya/Kutus (Mr. Daniel Karaba) to ask the Minister for Transport: -
a) Is the Minister aware that the Meteorological Department has continued to make misleading/inaccurate weather forecasts to the detriment of farmers countrywide?
b) What measures is the Minister taking to address the above problem?

7) The Member for Bumula (Mr. Wakoli Bifwoli) to ask the Minister for Water and Irrigation: -
a) Is the Minister aware that Bumula CDF started Mukwa-Siboti-Kibuke water project but has not received any assistance form the Ministry?
b) What plans does he have to assist this water project?

8) The Member for Ol’ Kalou (Eng. Karue Muriuki) to ask the Minister for Finance: -
a) Could the Minister table a list of all the money that was allocated in the annual budget and not spent per each of the votes in the two financial years 2003/04 and 2004/05?
b) How much of the unused funds had Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIEs) been issued?
c) What happened to the money after the end of the financial years?

An order paper is simply a listing of Parliament’s business for the day and is published on a daily basis. If all works out well we plan to make them available for as many upcoming sessions as we can, however, since their regular availability is not within our control we cannot make any promises. Some potential a-day-in-parliament volunteers have asked as whether we have access to the Parliamentary calendar, so that they can plan accordingly. Unfortunately, our sources indicate that there is no “formal” calendar since the Kenyan Parliament is not required to publish one and things can change based on the whims of the President e.g. calling a recess. The next best thing is the order paper, but copies of that are only available on the day of.
To give you a better idea of what’s contained in an order paper, below we’ve excerpted the order paper from July 19, 2007. For definitions of word like motions etc., refer to the glossary.

COMMENCEMENT OF BUSINESS

1) MOTION – (Mr. Mutinda Mutiso) (Ministry of Housing)

THAT, in view of the acute shortage of housing and high mortgage rates in the country; cognizant of the fact that shelter is a basic human right; aware that very few Kenyans can afford to pay for decent housing; this House calls upon the Government to introduce a Bill for an Act of Parliament entitled the Community Housing Re-investment Bill to provide for the establishment of a Fund from which low income earners can acquire loans to develop houses of their own or purchase existing ones at low interest rates

2. MOTION – (Mr. Jakoyo Midiwo)(Ministry of Trade and Industry)
THAT, in order to ensure comprehensive protection of the Kenyan consumer, this House do grant leave for the introduction of a Bill entitled the Consumer Protection Bill to establish the Consumer Protection Board that will contribute towards the improvement of consumer welfare and for matters incidental thereto and connected herewith.

3. MOTION – (Prof. Ruth Oniang’o) (Ministry of Special Programmes)
THAT, in view of the fact that Kenya has continued to persistently experience famine and drought; considering that hunger has been experienced every year without any permanent solution by the Government; cognizant of the fact that famine has been declared a national disaster and that there is no law or special body to take care of famine issues in Kenya; this House grants leave for the introduction of a Bill entitled “The National Famine and Drought Management Bill 2006” to establish a legal framework to address famine related issues.

4. MOTION - (Mr. Macharia Mukiri) (Ministry of Finance)
THAT, in view of the important role electricity plays in the daily lives of ordinary Kenyans and considering that most citizens are unable to access electricity due to the fact that it is expensive; this House resolves that Value Added Tax (VAT) charged on those applying for installation of electric power be waived.

5. N O T I C E
The House on Thursday, 23rd March, 2006 resolved as follows:-
THAT, the debate on the Private Members’ Motions shall be limited in the following manner:-
A maximum of two hours with not more than 20 minutes for the Mover; 20 minutes for the Government Official responder and 10 minutes for each other member speaking, and that 10 minutes before the time expires the Mover be called upon to reply.

QUESTIONS BY PRIVATE NOTICE

1. The Member for Rangwe ( Eng. Philip Okundi) to ask the Minister of State, Office of the President: -

a) Is the Minister aware that on 26th May, 2006 armed thugs attacked and seriously injured about 15 people at Namba Nyokal, in Gem East Location, Rangwe Division of Homa Bay District?
b) What steps has he taken to bring the culprits to book?
c) When will police posts be put up at Namba Nyokal and Onyege market centre in Kagan East to beef up security?

2. The Member for Magarini ( Mwalimu Harrison Kombe) to ask the Minister Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services: -
a) Is the Minister aware that National Womens Football team is experiencing financial constraints and was due to start residential training on 15th June, 2006 but has not yet started?
b) In view of the fact that the team is due to travel to Cameroon on 28th July, 2006 what is the Minister doing to prepare the team for the match?

ORDINARY QUESTIONS
1 ) The Member for Kitutu Masaba ( Mr. Mwancha Okioma) to ask the Minister of State, Office of the President: - When will the over 300 persons displaced from Meteitei during the land clashes, be resettled in their farms?

2) The Member for Tharaka ( Mr. Francis Kagwima) to ask the Minister for Agriculture: - Could the Minister consider refunding Mr. Joseph Mutegi Kirugi, deposits worth Kshs. 14,530 which he paid to Kagugu Farmers’ Training Colleges in Meru Central District for purchase of boarded goods advertised through Tender No. MOA/BS/3 VOL. II/ (149)?

3) The Member for Samburu West (Mr. Simeon Lesirma) to ask the Minister for Health: -
a) Is the Minister aware that Arsim Lutheran in Samburu West Constituency also serves residents of Marsabit?
b) Could the Minister consider providing maternity facilities for the dispensary?

4) The Member for Kigumo (Mr. Kihara Mwangi) to ask the Minister for Trade & Industry: -
a) What is the quantity and value of soda ash mined at Lake Magadi annually?
b) Could the Minister give a breakdown of by-products obtained from the manufacture of soda ash?
c) Why is there no industrial plant in Kenya to process soda ash?
d) How much does the Government spend annually to import soda-ash by-products?

5) The Member for Makadara (Mr. Reuben Ndolo) to ask the Minister for Information & Communications: -
a) Why has Jane Auma Oduol (Personal File No. 53219) not been paid her benefits for the years she worked at the Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corporation?
b) How much money is due to her, having worked for over 22 years?
c) What measures is the Minister taking to ensure that Mrs. Oduol is paid her benefits?

6) The Member for Kaiti (Mr. Gideon Ndambuki) to ask the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development: -
a) Could the Minister inform the House how much money was allocated to Makueni District to buy livestock and animal feed?
b) How many livestock and how much animal feed have been bought with the money?

7) The Member for North Mugirango/ Borabu (Mr. Godfrey Masanya) to ask the Minister for Roads & Public Works: -
a) When will Chabera-Chebilat Road be tarmacked?
b) Have the designs been completed?

8) The Member for Mbita (Mr. Otieno Kajwang’) to ask the Minister for Education:-
a) Is the Minister aware that certain Head Teachers of Secondary Schools in cahoots with Parents Teachers Associations and District Education Boards conspired to beat the Ministry’s guidelines on fees by:- (i)publishing two fee structures, one for public consumption and other between the parents and the school administration; and (ii) introducing numerous projects charged annually outside the prescribed fees?
b)Is he further aware that this is a conspiracy of the rich against the poor?
c)What steps is the government taking to contain this mischief?

9) The Member for Juja (Mr. William Kabogo) to ask the Minister for Local Government: -
a) Is the Minister aware that Ruiru Municipality has no dumping site and that residents dump garbage in open fields within residential areas in Murera, resulting in the spread of air-borne diseases and exposure of harmful materials to children?
b) What action is he taking to rectify this problem?

- We have now finished updating the MP profiles (as best as we could). We are aware that some MP profiles are incomplete. Please help us fill in the gaps with any information that you come across. To everyone who has sent in corrections, updates, etc., thank you!

- If you want to receive emails whenever there are any updates or new posts on Mzalendo, please subscribe here.

One of the things we plan to do with Mzalendo.com is have the Hansard available online, dating back to 2003 in a searchable format.

The Hansard is the verbatim report of the proceeding of the house outlining all the debate taking place in the house, capturing the contribution of every member — questions, responses and debate in the house.

Reading the Hansard can be quite the eye opener, because much of what goes on in the house never gets reported in the press, and it is these oversights that lead to the abuse of the parliamentary process by parliamentarians.

For example, here are some stunning excerpts from the Hansard concerning the acrimonious passing of the Internal Security budget last week.

Participating in the debate are Internal Security Minister John Michuki, Shadow Finance Minister Billow Kerrow, Raila Odinga, Eric Gor Sungu, Kirungi M’Mukinidia, Jakoyo Midiwo, Justin Muturi, Orwa Ojodeh, Planning Minister Henry Obwocha, Justice Minister Martha Karua and Ochilo Ayacko

Kerrow: Some of the expenses which the minister has mentioned now as ‘Other Operating Expenses’ have got sub-heads and items that we can use such as legal expenses. If you add all of them within the Office of the President vote, it amounts to Sh535 million. That is our concern.

Michuki: These estimate books used to comprise huge volumes that were sometimes impossible to bring to this. Like now, if we sent the General Service Unit out, how will they move to various places? We have to cater for this eventuality, which is very difficult to estimate.

Odinga: With regards to ‘Specialised Materials and Supplies’, last year, there was a provision for Sh109.27 million. This time round, the minister is asking for Sh214 million. Can we be told what these specialised materials and supplies are?

Michuki: Those are security items.

Kerrow: It is this House that is required to scrutinise the itemised expenditures of this Ministry. Is he (Michuki) in order to hide under the cover of national security as he often does? In the case of financial expenditure, he should give us the breakdown.

Sunguh: Could the minister explain what specialised materials and supplies are? I hope it is not a question of national security this time.

Michuki: Even the gallant, Maj-General (rtd) here (Kajiado Central MP Joseph Nkaisserry) here knows that a specialised equipment is a specialised equipment.

Odinga: It is our responsibility to scrutinise the expenditure, but the Chair is denying us that opportunity. It appears as if the Chair is allowing ‘voting machines’ on the Government side to raise whatever they want and we, on this side, just rubber-stamp it. We are not prepared to be used as rubber-stamps!

M’Mukindia: I ought to tell Mr Raila that he is imputing improper motives on the part of the Chair, and that is not acceptable. We have to conduct this business in a way that shows decorum and respect for one another. Once the question has been put, that is it and we move on!

Kerrow: When you read 10 heads at once, how are we expected to raise queries? If you are not going to give us time to understand the issues, you better just ask us to say yes or no for the whole vote. That is a joke. It is ridiculing the House.

M’Mukindia: We have had the printed estimates for a long time. This is not the time to read it.

Midiwo: We might be the minority on this side, but we deserve to be heard. We demand that right. When the minister is being queried on what he wants to use taxpayers’ money on, he stands up and says: ‘A specialised equipment is a specialised equipment.’ I think that is the lowest that this Parliament can get to.

Muturi: A whopping Sh200 million has been allocated for the purchase of specialised plant, equipment and machinery for the Presidential Escort. What plant is that? These are policemen on motorbikes! What specialised equipment do they need?

Michuki: The amounts are to purchase networking communication equipment, including their installation for the Presidential Escort Unit. Those equipment that are in use now do not have spare parts.

Ojodeh: The cost of the specialised materials is Sh1.2 billion. Let him (the minister) explain to us what these specialised items in every police department are.

Michuki: I have actually stated in this House many times before that this nation must take care of itself. If you want to tell the world the details of every security equipment that we have, do not do that through me.

Odinga: The Presidential Escort Unit is currently heavily furnished with very many vehicles. Why is it necessary, in the face of declared frugality, to provide Sh200 million just for the Unit?

Obwocha: If he went to The Gambia, he would know that the President of that country has two big armoured limousines – I am telling him because he wants to become President.

Karua: Since it appears as if honourable members do not understand or appreciate security issues, their personal bodyguards, who are not a requirement of the law, should be withdrawn.

Ayacko: There is a point that Ms Karua has and I want to correct it. If you look at the Parliamentary Service Commission Act and the provisions by the (Justice) Cockar Report, it (provision of personal bodyguards) is a right and an entitlement to all MPs.

(In protest, some MPs from the Opposition benches withdraw from the Chamber)

An MP: Where are they going? There are no World Cup matches!

Muturi: The Government Printer has always existed. Could the minister explain to us whether he is going to put up another building at Sh40 million? Is he proposing to relocate?

Michuki: We are not relocating, but the buildings are all dilapidated.

Kerrow: When the minister was moving the vote, he mentioned that Sh960 million is meant for the construction of the forensic science laboratory. The contract for it has yet to be cancelled. Is this money going to be paid to the same contractors or is the minister going to award a new contract after he has verified and cancelled the old contract in which billions of shillings are at stake?

Michuki: If the honourable member wants to micro-manage the Government, then he better comes to my office!

Hansard Source: OWINO OPONDO, Daily Nation, 16 July (Hat tip Alexcia!)

AOB: Apparently, the Parliament’s Standing Orders (rules under which Parliament conducts its business and they regulate the way Members behave and debates are organised) are set to be reviewed, to among other things, open up the all important committee sittings to the public.