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{
"id": 1056392,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1056392/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
"speaker": {
"id": 174,
"legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
"slug": "amos-kimunya"
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"content": "the choice of the promoters to bring it as a package, either way, it still has to go for referendum. This gives an ideal opportunity for the House not only to reflect on the issues contained therein, but also to put on record our own observations on the proposed amendments to help at the referendum and any future amendments. We are representatives of the people who have sovereign power, who gave it to us through Article 1 of the Constitution. The people themselves can decide directly or decide through their elected representatives. We are the elected representatives to think on behalf of them and put things on record for them. Do we agree with what the promoters are saying? If we do, what else would we like to see as an amendment? I know people out there still think there is need for amendments. The promoters are no longer available to amend because it has left their hands. The Bill is now before us. The people of Kenya are the only ones who can make a decision. For any other person who feels there is an amendment that might be required in the future, this would be an opportune time to get the debate from this House and bring an amendment either directly or through the House or through a future referendum. We can go on refining our Constitution with this amendment and a subsequent amendment. By the time we get to 27 amendments, like the USA, we will probably have perfected it. The import of this debate, which will hopefully be brief, is just to get a few remarks from Members, especially seasoned Members on constitutionalism and constitution-making so that we guide the House and the Committee. Most importantly, in order to support the decisions being made by our two Speakers who are also consulting heavily in terms of the process, which is not provided for in law or in the Standing Orders, we must create it as we go. As long as we are all in agreement, we are good to go. If there are any issues, we should be able to resolve them and move together as the two Houses of the Parliament of Kenya. Yesterday we had a productive leadership meeting. It was a joint meeting of the leaderships of the two Houses, where we all agreed that there has not been much concurrence in the past. However, we agreed to have joint sittings of the committees as you reported, Hon. Speaker, because the people who will be bringing papers for public participation will probably be on the same issue. There is nothing for the Senate and there is nothing for the National Assembly. It will be the same; the effective use of time, and hopefully we will be able to get through this process before the end of this month and then we can allow the rest of the processing by the people in the referendum. Therefore, Hon. Speaker, I want to urge this House to note the approval of the Bill by the majority and then affirm the expedited processing in accordance with the provisions of Article 257(7). Moreover, remember we are doing it as a draft Bill and it is only after we pass it, then it becomes a Bill. However, we then go to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. If you look at Articles 257(7) and 257(8), the distinction becomes very clear that the draft Bill is coming before us and after we pass it, it becomes a Bill. Therefore, again it is the thinking of the makers of the Constitution, the experts who will tell us. However, with those few remarks, I beg to move that we pass this Motion, and I request the Leader of Minority party, who is my co-sponsor on this Motion to second."
}