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{
    "id": 1066225,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1066225/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 191,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Kihika",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13216,
        "legal_name": "Susan Wakarura Kihika",
        "slug": "susan-wakarura-kihika"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I also rise to give my contribution towards the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020. I have taken note that we have quite a few preachers in the House. If anything, I think we should be in a good place. The most important thing that sticks out to me is the process of how the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020, got to Parliament; both the Senate and the National Assembly. My opinion is that this is a backdoor kind of popular initiative through Article 257 of the Constitution. I have heard the very distinguished Minority Whip give a very eloquent speech on how as long we have the one million signatures, we should be able to bring a popular initiative. In some way, I agree with that, but I think there is bad faith as far this popular initiative is concerned. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, there is bad faith as far as this popular initiative is concerned. We are not visitors in Kenya. We have lived here and have been seeing what has been going on. This Bill was created by two people through something they call ‘handshake’, which I have never understood what it means nor what it brings. That is what has gotten us to this point. From the ‘handshake’ to the BBI, eventually what they claim to be a popular initiative. I believe that the spirit of the Constitution as well as its framers could not have envisaged that the President of the Republic as well as a former Prime Minister with a party large enough to influence the goings on of Parliament, coming together, would use the popular initiative as the vehicle to bring these amendments. I believe the spirit of the Constitution was more for Wanjikus out there to bring it here. However, that is neither here nor there. It is my weighty opinion that from the beginning, we have a messed up unconstitutional Bill. I will go ahead to explain some of the things that stand out and stink. We have seen and read that different county assemblies had different Bills from others. We have also been given different Bills. That of the Senate is different from that of the National Assembly. This begs the question as to which will proceed to the people for a referendum, once they have been passed by the county assemblies, Senate and National Assembly. It is quite interesting to watch as we do things using the back door and then try to sanitize them. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}