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{
    "id": 1248780,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1248780/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 1514,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, in keeping with the requirements of Standing Order 20A, the letter from the Leader of the Minority Party, accompanied by minutes of the meeting at which the removal and replacement of the Whip was done, and a record of the membership of the Minority Party present at the meeting, suffices to effect the changes sought by the Minority Party. Fourthly, my office has also been served with a court order issued on Tuesday, 30th May 2023 in Kiambu High Court Petition No.E025 of 2023. The parties to the matter in question are the Association of Friends of Youths and Women as the Petitioner, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the National Assembly, and the Attorney-General as Respondents. In the Petition, the Petitioner argues that Standing Order 20A(4) of the National Assembly Standing Orders does not clearly outline the process for the removal of a whip or a deputy whip and is, therefore, contrary to Articles 10, 47, 73(2) and 236 of the Constitution. For the benefit of Members, the Orders issued by the Court in the matter are as follows, and I quote— 1. THAT the application is certified as urgent. 2. THAT pending the hearing and determination of the application, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued suspending the implementation of the decision to remove Hon. Sabina Chege from the office of the Deputy Minority Whip in the National Assembly as communicated by the 1st Respondent on 4th May 2023. 3. THAT the Applicant/Petitioner to serve the Respondents within seven days from the date hereof. 4. THAT the Respondents to file and serve their respective responses within seven days of being served by the Applicant/ Petitioner. 5. THAT mention on 14th June 2023 for parties to confirm compliance and take further directions before Court No.2. Hon. Members, the Constitution has distributed sovereign power to the three arms of Government in a very deliberate manner. Through a robust system of checks and balances, the Constitution has granted each arm sufficient powers to discharge its mandate and defend itself from unwarranted intrusion from either arm at the same time. For Government to work in a harmonious fashion, each arm ought to refrain from inordinately wading into the internal affairs of its counterparts. With regard to the affairs of the Legislature, the Executive may make general legislative proposals, but Parliament is solely vested with the mandate of enacting laws. Similarly, though the court is granted powers to enforce and interpret the Constitution, it normally refrains from interfering with the internal processes of the Legislature."
}