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{
    "id": 1049450,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1049450/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 159,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Lari, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Jonah Mwangi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13405,
        "legal_name": "Jonah Mburu Mwangi",
        "slug": "jonah-mburu-mwangi"
    },
    "content": "happy because the people of Kenya will also have democratic space to participate in a referendum which is well guided by the law. I am a bit concerned about Section 7 as Hon. Millie has said. I do not know whether the Speakers of the two Houses do not receive a response from the county assemblies within the three months stipulated under Article 257 of the Constitution. The Bill will be ‘deemed as not approved.’ I wish we had said that it will be ‘deemed as approved.’ This is so that we give people who are ignorant a chance that they have to participate in a process rather than just ignore and leave it at that. Therefore, I thought it should read as: “It should be deemed as approved in respect of that county assembly…” That is just a part. I am happy about this Bill because it also provides for procedures before the conduct of a referendum, the way a referendum question will be presented, and the way it should be acted upon by the Houses. I am also happy about this Bill because it outlines other referendums, which we did not have before. We say that we can have other acts of Parliament to guide on those referendums. Therefore, when the JLAC and the CIOC were on this one, I believe they were on the correct path. On the other part where we are talking about multiple questions and all that, I think this Bill is very clear. It is saying to the extent possible, all opinions and recommendations that are not divergent shall be contained in a single Bill. Even when we are coming to a question, rather than confusing most Kenyans, the question should be straight forward to most people. Where there is a divergent opinion, a separate Bill should come in. I support its timeliness and I support that it is coming at a time when we need to pass the BBI, like yesterday. I am also happy about how most of the county assemblies are passing the BBI Bill. This is because as many may say that they are being muzzled, I do not think when you have many counties passing the BBI day and night, they are being muzzled. I think it is popular. I think they could be muzzled not to pass it, but when they are passing it day and night, I think it is the will of the people prevailing. In addition, I also believe that the same message is going to everybody on the ground so that when we come to the referendum, it will be a non- contested one; one that will pass early in the morning and then we can move on to the 2022 elections. With those few and many remarks, I support."
}