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{
    "id": 1367509,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1367509/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 63,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "This is a very important Petition. I wish to request the Committee that will handle this matter to act expeditiously and communicate to this House on the way forward. That is a lacuna in law that we need to deal with. How I wish that they looked at the issue of qualification of the Speaker holistically and not just on the issue of education. There are other aspects that we require of a Speaker. Speakers of the House such as this one, the National or county assembly must be people of high integrity. People who will lead by example and protect the established traditions and norms of Parliament. The Speaker is the key person in the House in terms of ensuring that the House in its dealings with the people and whatever forms of work it is engaged in, maintains high levels of integrity, believability and trust. We have had Speakers in this Parliament who have done exceptionally well and promoted the independence of Parliament. We need to sustain that. When the Committee looks at this matter, it is important for them to look at it holistically. We do not expect to have a Speaker who is a player and the referee at the same time. We are getting to situations where even our Speakers are putting on party colours. Our Speakers are engaged in day-to-day politics in funerals, harambees and churches. This country is treading on very dangerous grounds if we allow our Speakers to be involved in that kind of thing."
}