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{
"id": 1347270,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1347270/?format=api",
"text_counter": 142,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Kingi",
"speaker_title": "The Speaker",
"speaker": null,
"content": "on the Floor of the House that there are border clashes in Serem and Vihiga? This has not been recorded in any police station.” A reading of the HANSARD indicates that the statement that Sen. Godfrey Osotsi, MP, was called upon to substantiate states as follows - “We have had issues even recently in my county, in the boundary between Vihiga and Aldai at a place near Serem. This was very recent, in the last month. The attackers came, provoked and attacked a village, killed animals, burnt them, injured people and burnt houses. That was not given the coverage that Sondu is being given now.” Hon. Senators, Standing Order No. 105 (1) states that - “A Senator shall be responsible for the accuracy of any facts that the Senator alleges to be true and may be required to substantiate any such facts instantly.” Further, Standing Order No 105 (2) states that- “If a Senator has sufficient reason to convince the Speaker that the Senator is unable to substantiate the allegations instantly, the Speaker shall require that such Senator substantiates the allegations not later than the next sitting day, failure to which the Senator shall be deemed to be disorderly within the meaning of Standing Order No. 121 (Disorderly conduct) unless the Senator withdraws the allegations and gives a suitable apology.” At the sitting of the Senate held on 5th October, 2023, Sen. Godfrey Osotsi, MP, was not able to substantiate his statements as required under Standing Order No.105(1). Sen. Osotsi subsequently requested to be allowed by the Speaker, to provide the evidence at the next sitting day in accordance with Standing Order No.105 (2). On Wednesday, 18th October, 2023, I consequently invited Sen. Godfrey Osotsi, MP, to table the evidence in support of his statement made on Thursday, 5th October, 2023. Thereupon, Sen. Osotsi tabled a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive containing electronic material in support of his claim. I thereafter undertook to review the evidence and give a ruling on this matter. Further, vide a letter dated 19th October, 2023, the Senator requested for the admission of a certified copy of a charge sheet dated 16th August, 2023, Police case No. 722/237/2023, OB No. 3/15/8/2023, as part of the evidence on the allegations made. Following the tabling of the evidence by Sen. Godfrey Osotsi, MP, I undertook to review the documents and give a ruling on the matter as it was not practical to decide then. Hon. Senators, as you may recall, in my Communication to the Senate made on Thursday, 16th November, 2023, I indicated to the House that any document/evidence tabled by a Senator in this House as evidence for substantiation of any allegations made under Standing Order No.105, must pass a certain threshold. I thereafter highlighted the parameters for undertaking an assessment of the evidence tabled including- (i) Is the evidence tabled from a source, which by Parliamentary practice is official and admissible?"
}