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{
    "id": 578805,
    "url": "http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/578805/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 240,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Mbui",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1750,
        "legal_name": "Robert Mbui",
        "slug": "robert-mbui"
    },
    "content": "have seen that we have very clear roles for Members of Parliament and Judges that are enshrined in our Constitution. However, there are many times when there is interference with operations of this House. We have seen the courts attempting to define what it is that we can do and cannot do which is not acceptable. I want to say that one of the roles that Members of Parliament have is to represent the people and the other one is to make laws. In representing the people, there are a lot of things that we have to do. Many a times, there are things that may rub people the wrong way because that is what our people want. So, in representing people, we need the privileges and the power to do that without fear. Hon. Kaluma was very right in making laws. We need to have a situation where we can make laws from the beginning up to the end without any interference from anybody else. So, this situation where the courts come in and stop us in the middle of making laws is totally uncalled for. I believe that courts should not and cannot injunct Parliament in carrying out its responsibilities of making laws. We do not need permission or to be “perfected” by anyone as we do our job. Now, there is this issue of constitutionality that keeps on coming up. What is really constitutional? Making laws is constitutional when it is being done by Parliament. In fact, for anyone to stop Parliament from making laws is unconstitutional. So, we also know that we have a role to play. I want to believe that by passing this amendment, we shall be ensuring that the powers of this House are respected and we are allowed to do our job without fear or favour. We noticed that the courts keep overstepping their mandate. In fact, recently, sometime last year, the courts reached this point where they were stopping Parliament from doing its job of summoning governors. The Senate was trying to summon governors to question them about the management of the funds. The courts would stop them from doing that. That was unfortunate because one of the other jobs that Parliament has is to oversee the Executive. One of the executives that we have is the county governments. So, if the governor who is the executive or the accounting officer cannot be summoned to account for money that he has been given by this country, then that is totally unacceptable. That is one of the areas that I felt that the court was overstepping its mandate and making major mistakes. There is too much to say but on this particular issue, I strongly support it. I urge all my colleagues to support it because we need to protect ourselves. We need to give ourselves power to represent our people, make laws and oversee without fear or favour of any other department or organ of Government. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker."
}