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{
    "id": 1167408,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1167408/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 132,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kiambu, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Jude Njomo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1784,
        "legal_name": "Jude L. Kangethe Njomo",
        "slug": "jude-l-kangethe-njomo"
    },
    "content": " This has happened severally. Even people have a problem pronouncing my name and call me Judy, which I accept. I am sure the women of Kiambu would be very happy for me to represent them. I support the Committee’s proposed amendments to the Standing Orders. First and foremost, it shows this House is not static but dynamic and ever changing. So, the Standing Orders must keep changing to suit the dynamism of this House. I am happy that they have addressed picketing and demonstrations that are done outside this House. I have addressed people out there severally just to calm them down. When you see people coming to picket or demonstrate around Parliament, they have come to the end of the road. There is nowhere else they can go and their hope is that they will get a solution from this House. Therefore, as a House, we must think of how we will be addressing those desperate people in an honourable and dignified way, so as to solve their problems. I am very happy about this particular amendment. I also founded the Committee on Economy and Business in this House. I am very happy and thank the Members of this Committee. They have done very good work in this Parliament. Currently, we are doing an exit Report, which we will table very soon. One of the proposals that this Committee is suggesting is to amend our Standing Orders so that Parliament is involved when our country is making treaties with other countries. If you remember the last treaty we dealt with between the United Kingdom (UK) and Kenya, this House felt it was used as a rubber-stamp. This is because the document had been discussed and we were told not to change a sentence and yet, it was brought to this House for ratification. These amendments will provide this House with an avenue where it is involved right from the negotiation of treaties. So, we will have teeth to bite and make changes in them. We will feel that we are part of treaty making, and not just being used as a rubber-stamp. This will help a lot. I have been a member of the Committee on Powers and Privileges, which you Chair. Honestly, you have so much in your hands for you to also chair a Committee. I think you can be accommodated as a member so that the Committee can run effectively. Secondly, as the Speaker, you arbitrate. The Committee on Powers and Privileges also acts as a disciplinary committee. So, it becomes very difficult for you to discipline the same Members you are supposed to arbitrate. I think this will be a very good amendment. We need more experienced Members in this Committee and, with the relevant training; they will help strengthen it and ensure there is discipline and order in this House. There are proposed amendments on how Bills are processed, which is very good. I would like to address Private Members’ Bills. It is a lot of work to draft a Bill, have it go through the parliamentary process, debate and finally having it signed. For a Member, this is a lot of work. I think we should change the tail-end of a Bill. This is because when it goes for signing, the Member only sees in the media that it has been signed. I think it is important to reward the Member by involving him in the signing of the Bill he or she worked so hard for. I know in other jurisdictions, a Member is normally present during the signing, gets a copy and the pen used for signing so that he can keep it in his office, and is proud every day for the work done. These are some practices we can emulate to encourage Members to draft Bills and appreciate them for the hard work done. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}