from Judy Miriga
Folks,
Things never seizes to amaze………about 80% of Legislatures, specifically in Kenya hardly contributes or participate in weekly Parliament debate ………yet there is so much that needs representation for facilitation on behalf of voters in their respective constitutencies, ……… and .Presently they are doing nothing to provide Devolution readiness to Federalism structural strategies for implementation to their Constituents, the HECK, they do not understand what to do and why they are in Parliament……. except their Centred Special Interest FODDER Agenda…….the reason, now there is no easy, cheap dirty money and donor money trickling………the Parliemant and Government activities has come to a stand-still……..Totally Irresponsible Leaders without Focus or direction, who know nothing of development, advocacy ….. those that require them to visit their constituents and prepare people to plant enough food to avoid hunger…….get involved and engaged in public progressive matters and concerns……..cannot think beyond their stomach with those of their family members.
Sad to Say…..But, this is why Complete Transformation and overhaul for new broom is necessary and very very important, irrespective of Drum-Beat Sounds of Freedom Struggle…….Freedom Struggle is only relevant if the players remain relevant and true to the cause of the struggle……..otherwise, they become unproductive, and a burden to the society……..and mostly, they end up derrailing the process by becoming obstructionist to Public Empowerment towards Success & Prosperity and altogether slow progress where Production and Improvement of Natural Resources would spur Destiny towards prospects of Wealth Generating Agenda.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
– – – – – – – – – – – –
2nd August 2011
NO, NO and No Again – Parliament CANNOT be Overburden by the Task Ahead when that’s why it exists!
Edward Kennedy has sponsored 512 bills between Jan 6, 1987 and Aug 6, 2009 of which 328 haven’t made it out of committee and 41 were successfully enacted. Kennedy has co-sponsored 2,398 bills during the same time period. (The count of enacted bills considers only bills actually sponsored by Kennedy and companion bills identified by CRS that were themselves enacted, but not if they were incorporated into other bills, as that information is not readily available.)
In 1999, there were 5,514 bills introduced in Congress (not counting procedural and internal Congress housekeeping bills). Almost 2000 in the Senate and about 3500 in the House. Less than 300 became law.
Coming across the statements above leaves one wondering whether the Kenyan parliament and those that are its members really understand what their role is. Matters are made worse by a media that chooses to sell the ‘story of the moment’ and not the ‘truth of the matter’. The truth cannot be that parliament is in for a busy schedule. What busy schedule when there is evidence that ours is one of the most ‘unbusy’ of parliaments across the world? By the approach of selling the ‘story of the moment’ media has conceded ground to politicians to become the agenda setters as the media follows blindly. 2007-08 PEV was penned under such a foundation.
The most serious story that the press missed there was: why is it that our parliament does not debate so well when in fact the mention of parliament is almost synonymous to the word debate? How come there are members of parliament who do not (Or is it they can not) debate, yet they are members in that house? Maybe then the story of how they came to get there should have been great fodder for investigative media activism that can help bring out the positive influence that is needed for better elected leadership next time round. How about the rules and regulations that are hidden in standing orders that makes parliament a house of technical-ness as opposed to really performance in as far as its roles are concern. How about how hard it is to for private members bills to see the light of day and what huddles await a member who decides to do what his primary roles are – making laws. How about members who have taken this challenge and pulled major statutes off the air into the lives of Kenyans? How about the calendar that with a week that starts on Tuesday afternoon and ends on Thursday by 2PM when the person who is employed gets to take home over 1 million and dares his/her employers that they will not pay taxes? And do Kenyans really understand the job description of Mps. In my mind I have three 1) Law Making 2) Representation 3) Oversight – CDF? How about development? The oversight role that press is supposed to be playing has in fact been on hold for far too long.
The fact is that as we look into doing about 20 bills in three weeks, we know we are in a crisis. But what are the real underlining facts of the crisis we find ourselves in as 26 August beckons. Are we going to get ourselves out of this circle of fire fighting if we had an election tomorrow or would we elect the same breed of leadership or maybe even better record breakers in terms of worst of work rates?
And matters are worsened by the famine we are faced with. That should have been the top agenda in parliamentary debate at this very moment. May the Good Lord Have Mercy on us!
Nicholas Oyoo Ochieng
P. Box 28899 – 00200
Nairobi