Senators have endorsed a bill proposing tough punishment, including a six month jail term or Sh500, 000 fine, for public officers who fail or delay to act on parliamentary reports.
The Parliamentary Powers and Privileges (Amendment) Bill, 2020 requires the officers to promptly act on parliamentary resolution and report back within six months.
“The responsible officer shall submit a status report to the relevant Committee within 60 days from the date the resolution is conveyed or within such period as shall be specified by a resolution of the House,” the report states.
The proposed law is sponsored by ODM nominated senator Agnes Zani and is now awaiting approval of the National Assembly before it’s taken to the president for assent.
The senators argued that there has been contempt of parliamentary committees by the public officers charged with the implementation of the House reports.
“Ideally, we are saying that immediately a report is produced with commendations, then we should get a feedback," Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr said.
Mutula is a member of the Senate Justice and Legal Affairs Committee whose report on the bill was approved by the House.
“But we are not getting feedback and there is nothing we can do about it. That is why these amendments are important."
The committee in its report, cited several reports where the various committees have produced reports with recommendations for action but nothing has been done.
The committee chaired by Nyamira senator Okong’o Omogeni cited the report on Solai dam, and Ruaraka land scandal that the House made far reaching recommendations for actions by the DCI, EACC and other bodies.
“But we are not getting feedback and there is nothing we can do about it,” the senate minority chief said.
According to Zani, the bill seeks to tame laxity among officials who do nothing as parliamentary reports gather dust in government offices.
“The Bill will ensure that feedback on Parliament’s resolutions and reports is not only given but given in a timely manner as delays or failure to submit reports undermine the ability of Parliament to undertake its oversight mandate,” Zani said.
The Bill, sponsored by ODM nominated Senator Agnes Zani, seeks to tame the laxity among officials who do nothing as parliamentary reports gather dust in government offices.
Parliamentary reports and resolutions are sent to relevant government ministries, departments, agencies, independent commissions and offices to be acted on.
In most cases, however, they end up gathering dust on shelves, even despite public resources being spent in producing them.
The Bill provides that within seven days of the resolution of the House or of the tabling of a report of a committee, the clerk shall convey the resolution or a copy of the report to the responsible officer under whose portfolio the implementation of the resolution or recommendation of the committee falls.
Edited by CM