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{
    "id": 1211727,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1211727/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 146,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kangema, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Peter Kihungi",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "We have the issue of gender as it stands today, that there is a ruling that Parliament is unconstitutionally constituted without the two-thirds gender rule. When the President requests Parliament in his own wisdom on a formula that cannot be a burden to our nation, that formula can only be through an amendment so that it is constitutional and very easy. The President proposes that the gender rule should be tabulated on 290 constituencies whereby we only have to add about 24 women to become constitutional. Therefore, Hon Temporary Speaker, as we consider this amendment, let it be supported constitutionally. We are fighting for the NG-CDF, but it is currently not constitutional. On the issue of the Leader of the Official Opposition, people believe that the person who garnered over six million votes, which is almost half of the total votes cast in the whole country deserves an office. The Hon. Leader of the Minority Party cannot take the position of the Leader of the Official Opposition who was a presidential candidate and came second in the election. Therefore, my interpretation is that the President wants to bring the issue of constitutionality whereby you do not find the person who came second after the President trying to beg for a position. That person should have an official office and support anchored in the Constitution without having to beg for people’s support. He needs to be supported by the Government. On the issue of Cabinet Secretaries coming to Parliament; the CSs hide behind Committees. The Cabinet Secretary for Water for example only recognises Members of the Departmental Committee on Water, Sanitation and Irrigation. The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure honours and respects the relevant Committee Members who are 15. The rest 290 Members of Parliament are dealt with after the Committee Members. Therefore, when there is an issue in Kangema, where a road has been left and nothing is going on and you visit his office, he just communicates with the Committee Members and feels he is safe. But if he came here on the Floor of the House, I could freely question him. Therefore, the issue of the Cabinet Secretaries coming to Floor is not a small issue that can be managed by a Departmental Committee. There are areas as MPs that we must question them on behalf of our constituents. Hon. Temporary Speaker, I wish we looked at this amendment as if it is not about the party and the presidency but as an issue of constitutionalism whereby we will make necessary changes so that we even question the Judiciary itself. This is because, they are telling us to be constitutional but how are they constituted themselves? 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."
}