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{
    "id": 1371756,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1371756/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 123,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Osotsi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13588,
        "legal_name": "Osotsi Godfrey Otieno",
        "slug": "osotsi-godfrey-otieno"
    },
    "content": "should be paid by them and not the county government or the institution where the person heads. This will be a bigger pain to them. Most of them have been easily paying the Kshs500,000. If we enhance the fine to Kshs2 million, that will be a heavy burden to them. The cost of not appearing before the Senate or National Assembly will be higher. So, people will be compelled to appear before us. Mr. Speaker, Sir, although someone may argue that this Bill is too punitive, it provides that the process will be fair and the provisions of Article 50 will be followed. We must appreciate one thing, that Article 125 of the Constitution gives this House immense powers to summon everyone under the sun, including the President, to appear before this House. We have the powers to go further and arrest that person if, for any reason, that person does not appear before us after several invitations and summons as per our Standing Orders and, if the police are unable to arrest them. We are going to have the powers to have a higher fine. In fact, some people told me that this Kshs2 million is still too low. We should have increased it to maybe Kshs5 million or Kshs10 million so that people can feel the pain. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you will agree with me that the basis of this amendment is to protect the supremacy of Parliament. It is very disappointing that our committees work so hard, invite witnesses who decide to stay at home and not appear before us."
}