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{
    "id": 1001624,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1001624/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 198,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Ugenya, MDG",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. David Ochieng’",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2955,
        "legal_name": "David Ouma Ochieng'",
        "slug": "david-ouma-ochieng"
    },
    "content": " Thank you so much. Hon. Speaker, I listened to your ruling and this is something you have given serious thought. Your ruling talks about two things which are very important to me. One, is the role of political parties in our democracy. Two, is the place of the Constitution in the governance of the country, so that fidelity is always to the Constitution and not anything else. I am also very happy that you have indicated that when you are the Speaker, you will never allow anybody, whoever it is, to breach the law for whimsical reasons. It is important that when political parties are asked to nominate, they must be careful how they do it. They must know that, as soon as they nominate, the power to remove does not come easily. It should be so. Even in this House, as Members of Parliament, we are elected by the people. But for them to recall us, there is a procedure. They cannot wake up and say: “Ochieng’, you are no longer our Member of Parliament.” That is why you have indicated clearly that you nominate and you will have power to remove. But for you to do so some procedure, clear parameters will be followed. This is very important. It is not just in the PSC where political parties play a role - they play a role in so many other things. That is why they need to understand that this role given to them is not a role that would make the persons they nominate to those positions answerable to them. No! They are answerable to the public. I disagree with those who think that your ruling is against political parties. It actually favours political parties’ hands in the sense that they nominate, but there will be parameters that will be followed. I thank you so much for the ruling and I hope that those concerned will follow the law. I hear people ringing the bell, saying they are giving notices. You must follow the law. Thank you."
}