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{
    "id": 1208489,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1208489/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 264,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Tom Ojienda, SC",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I would not say that either method is better. However, a plenary affords all Members, including first time Members like Sen. Okenyuri and myself, an opportunity to follow proceedings from an impartial front. I am informed that such a proceeding affords all Members an opportunity to listen to accusations instead of just waiting for a report to be tabled before the Senate. Sen. Methu was sharing with me this morning - He whispered to me that he would be happy to listen to the proceedings, so that we can have a fair process of removal from office under Section 33 of the County Governments Act. The process must be fair. This is the second time a woman is appearing before the Senate for impeachment. We had Governor Anne Waiguru during the previous Senate. Although the gender card may not be the strongest in the constitution of this committee, I believe that a number of five, for women Senators and 6, for men Senators would have been a fairer balance in this Committee. I speak for women not just because I have been a teacher advocating for gender issues, but because there is need to have some level of fairness for both women and men who sit in this Senate. I wish to remind Sen. Orwoba that should we proceed by way of plenary, she will not have a right to vote at the end of the process. However, it is fair to make this process all-inclusive. Ultimately, whether we decide to have a committee or go the plenary way, we should have a process that is fair and that which will give Governor Kawira Mwangaza an opportunity to defend herself. This is so that finally, if she is found to have breached the Constitution or not, it would have been a fair process that would speak to what the Senate will do from now and in the future. However, let me point to this, it is not about the 67 Members of the County Assembly (MCA). I am informed that out of those 67 Members, at least 21 of those are from the United Democratic Alliance party (UDA) and another 20 from the Devolution Empowerment Party (‘BUS’). This means that we are facing an impeachment for the first time where the governor serving in that county does not belong to any party because she is an independent candidate. This is, therefore, a very delicate impeachment proceeding. It should not therefore be made to appear that any singular party in the Committee that this House forms is from the party that forms the majority in the County Assembly and from the party that therefore was instrumental in the impeachment. Since I have no interest in this process, let the Committee be one that would speak to the fairness of this process. If it is Plenary, let the process be fair. That is all I would say with respect to this matter. I thank you."
}