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{
    "id": 1279943,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1279943/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 388,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dagoretti South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Kiarie",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you very much, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I beg to move this Motion that is a Report on the goings-on at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) 146th Assembly that took place in Bahrain. The IPU is a Parliament that was established in 1889. It brings together 179 Parliaments from all over the World. There is an excellent reason to call the IPU the Parliament of Parliaments. This is a place where Parliaments can have worldwide dialogue. Out of this Parliament, great debates can be canvassed on the floor of the General Assembly and cascaded down to National Assemblies where necessary, and even escalated higher up when there is a need to escalate such debate. The current membership of the IPU is now standing at 179 parliaments. As we speak, about 12 parliaments have associated themselves with the IPU. It works closely with the United Nations (UN) and other partners with similar ideals. I want to let this House know that the IPU, in the format that it has been constituted, promotes democracy and the rule of law. It is a place that facilitates parliamentary debate, dialogue, and cooperation and is a good avenue for Members of this House to have an international platform where they can escalate the issues that we find being a bit more nagging locally and have cross-border implications. The IPU gives such an opportunity, and the premier assembly, the General Assembly, becomes the theatre of action whenever the IPU meets. The IPU also assists parliaments in coping up with the changing international dynamics. Many issues are coming up, some of which are a real threat to democracy as we know it. Democracy, over hundreds of years old, is facing its biggest challenge in this generation. The IPU has been assisting parliaments across the World to be able to face these changing dynamics. That is why this Parliament prides itself on being a great member of the IPU. The IPU’s principal statutory body expressing its views and political issues is the General Assembly, which the delegation I was leading attended. This is the 146th Assembly of IPU and related meetings held in Manama in the Kingdom of Bahrain from 11th to 15th March 2023. When we were there, we could come together as parliamentarians to study emerging international issues and make recommendations that inform parliamentary and governmental action. As I will demonstrate shortly, there were great debates at the IPU, which seriously impacted how we canvass business locally as an IPU member. During the 146th Assembly of the IPU, 136-member parliaments were represented. This is a spectacular representation. We ought to note that every General Assembly is organised in a different territory of member parliaments. As such, parliaments can see different cultural dynamics and emerging issues in different geopolitical areas, which make IPU a very important organization. In the 146th Assembly, seven associate members were represented. The Kenyan delegation was involved in deliberations that greatly enriched the meeting resolutions. The IPU statutory bodies and committees convened were all attended. I would like to proudly, but also humbly report to this House that I am representing Kenya not only as a Member of the Kenyan delegation and IPU Delegation but also as the Chairperson of one of the major IPU committees – the Committee on Respect for International 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."
}