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{
"id": 1212708,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1212708/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Cheruiyot",
"speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
"speaker": {
"id": 13165,
"legal_name": "Aaron Kipkirui Cheruiyot",
"slug": "aaron-cheruiyot"
},
"content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, today we are here. There is a court order, but there is something different. I have taken time to look at the court order. Unlike in all the previous court orders that were addressed to the Senate, this one specifically mentions you as the Speaker. That leaves me in a very interesting place. It is not in my place to advise you. It is you to make your decision because you are the Speaker. However, I am not sure whether you want to proceed and defy a court order that is directly mentioning you as the Speaker and not the institution of the Senate, as has been the case previously. The order that we were carrying then was to the Senate, but not directly to the Speaker. That was the leeway that the then Speaker used and said that, in any case, it was not him that has been mentioned. Finally, I know my colleagues want us to debate this matter, and they are saying we should not involve yourselves. However, I agree with the Senate Minority Leader that there is precedent. Hardly two months ago, the National Assembly was vetting Principal Secretaries. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) moved to court on certain issues that they found to be wanting. What did your good brother in the National Assembly do? He lived up to the spirit of the Constitution, as was his interpretation, and waited. The National Assembly was injuncted for about one month. In fact, the Government stayed for close to two months without Principal Secretaries because of a court order. The process was ongoing, but the Speaker said that, first, he is a law- respecting Kenyan. Two, he swore by the Constitution and, three, as somebody who campaigned and actively promised Kenyan, because there is a history in our country, when court orders were being ignored--- It was one of our campaign promises that, at least, for those on this side that we shall always respect court orders. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you are being invited to tread on very dangerous ground, which is to defy a court order that is directly addressed to you. I leave it to your wisdom, but at least on this particular matter, I urge you take precedent from what your senior brother, the Speaker of the National Assembly, did when he was presented with a court order against the vetting of Principal Secretaries. He waited until that decision was vacated by the courts and the exercise was concluded. In any case, I have seen that the order is for only three or four days. How long is that? Some of the points that my god friend, the Senate Minority Leader is urging can be made before that court. They have an opportunity to go and tell the court all those nice things that he is saying. Indeed, he is right. I agree with him. You are not party to this dispute. These are divorce proceedings in the Azimio Coalition. You are neither one of the dowry negotiators who featured during the time that they were getting together, neither should you feature in their divorce. Unfortunately, your hands are tied. Therefore, make your decision, but be wise on how you go about it."
}