Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1357389,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1357389/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 415,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity to comment on the President’s speech which is provided for under Article 132 and 240 of the Constitution. Before I dive into the contents of this speech, allow me to comment on this provision in the Constitution. This provision in the 2010 Constitution was revolutionary. Before that, we never used to have this opportunity where the President could come before Parliament and talk about the policies and measures he has put in place to address national issues. This is progressing. At the same time, this particular provision must be enhanced, so that we do not have a scenario where the President just appears in Parliament, reads a long speech then we come here, debate it and there are no specific actions that Parliament takes based on the speech by the President. I know this practise is borrowed from the common wealth tradition and from the United Kingdom (UK) where in the 16th Century, the head of the monarchy used to address Parliament once. This practise has further been enhanced. This is because in other jurisdictions like India, when the President makes a speech to Parliament, it is debated in the House in a very serious manner. The Prime Minister responds to Members concerns and a substantive Motion is tabled before the House. Members debate it and amend it where necessary. Here, look at the Motion that we are debating. The Motion is only doing two things. One, thanking the President; thanks of the Senate be recorded for the exposition of public policy. Two, the Senate ‘notes’ not ‘takes any action’ the following reports submitted by His Excellency the President. If we want to enhance parliamentary oversight, this is the provision of the Constitution that needs to be tightened, so that Parliament can have a stronger oversight on the Executive. It is useless for the Head of State to appear before Parliament, talk, get out and no questions are posted after that to Government officials. We simply record what he has said and come here to debate a Motion that has no action. These are some of the weaker points that we have in the Constitution."
}