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{
    "id": 1272325,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1272325/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 122,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, that should not elicit debate. I just want to echo what the Leader of the Majority Party has said. For the first time, last week, I sat in my Chamber and watched with horror as a Member, whom I had given the privilege to move a Motion of Adjournment, literally, made it impossible for Members to debate her own Motion. That is a very strange happening. I have also noted, regrettably, Members who just walk across the aisle and those who stand time on end conversing loudly as if they do not know the Standing Orders. Under our Constitution, there are two official languages: English and Kiswahili. When you enter this Chamber, you cease being a Member representing your ethnic community, and in turn, become a Member of the National Assembly of Kenya. It is your duty, therefore, to correspond in this House using English and Kiswahili languages only. That is why you see your Hon. Speaker, who is acknowledged to be a good speaker of English, praying using the Kiswahili language in this House. That in itself demonstrates our alternative language. In the olden days, in our African societies, errant behaviour was largely a preserve for men. Regrettably, in this House errant behaviour is a preserve of our good lady Members, and that is very embarrassing. I do not want to mention any names but I sat in horror to see Members standing from where they sit and rushing to the Dispatch Box and to the Clerks-at-the-Table and menacing other Members. I liked how the Leader of the Minority Party responded to one of the Members. He said, ‘Your menacing behaviour will not stop me from making my point.’ He made his point and it went down very well. Hon. Members, you carry the dignity of the people who elected you. Even if you do not respect yourself, respect those who elected you. They gave you an opportunity to carry a title, Honourable. If, indeed, you are honourable and still behave in a dishonourable manner, then, you do not deserve the opportunity you have been given by the good people of this country. Your right to speak must correspond with your duty to listen. That is what debate is all about. Moving forward, I request the Leader of the Majority Party and the Leader of the Minority Party to rein in on their troops. I know that politics sometimes makes people take leave of their senses depending on certain situations. However, that should be a rare exception in your life. You can imagine those children in the galleries seeing you who is old enough to be their mother, father, brother or sister behaving in a manner that is so erratic that nobody expects such behaviour from you. Let us keep the dignity of this House. Those who want to converse, nobody will stop you from talking in your mother tongue, but there are very many alleys out there where you can go discuss your issues, finish and come back. Let us keep this House in good order. Thank you."
}