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{
"id": 1479282,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1479282/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
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"content": "one presently before the House, may be concluded without the participation of the public. Article 118 (2) of the Constitution categorically enjoins Parliament to facilitate public participation and involvement in the legislative and other business of Parliament and its committees. My attention has also been drawn to various court decisions relating to the removal from office of State officers, including county governors. I am, indeed, persuaded that public participation is an integral element of the process of removal of an elected State officer from office. Having reiterated the centrality of public participation in the process, how then shall the public participate in the consideration of the Special Motion? In answering this question, the House Business Committee has addressed this issue during its meeting this afternoon and approved a programme of public participation across the country to be coordinated from the 47 counties. The Clerk shall communicate the full details of the programme for the information of the public, through print and electronic media advertisements, which will run from tomorrow, 2nd October 2024. With regard to the administrative arrangements to facilitate public participation, the House Business Committee also resolved on the following modalities— 1. That the public participation will be undertaken on Friday, 4th October 2024. Consequently, all other parliamentary activities previously scheduled between Thursday, 3rd October 2024 until Monday, 7th October 2024, shall be suspended. This unprecedented occasion is one which requires the House to summon all Members to avail themselves and participate in all activities relating to the Special Motion. 2. Further, Standing Order 68 provides that a Motion for the removal of a person from office takes precedence over all other businesses on the Order Paper. Consequently, the consideration of the Special Motion shall have priority over all activities in the House, whether domestic or foreign. 3. That, the House Business Committee will seek a resolution of the House to: (a) Suspend the sitting of the House on Thursday, 3rd October 2024, in order to facilitate the administrative arrangements for public participation. (b) Hold a morning sitting on Tuesday, 8th October 2024, and commence an early afternoon sitting on the same day to consider the Special Motion. Further, Hon. Members, I have been requested by the Mover of the Motion, and in consultation with the House Business Committee, to convene a forum for a briefing of Members on the modalities of the public participation programme. In this regard, I will interrupt tomorrow’s Morning Sitting at noon and adjourn the House for this purpose. I also direct the Clerk of the National Assembly to make the necessary arrangements for the briefing of the House at that Session. The third issue touched on the manner of affording the Deputy President an opportunity to be heard and the modalities of the same. In this case, Standing Order 67 obligates the House to afford the Deputy President an opportunity to be heard either in person, through a representative or both. Further, the House is under an obligation to accord him the right to fair administrative action, under Article 47 of the Constitution, and the right to fair hearing, under Article 50 of the Constitution. Drawing from the foregoing and the timelines provided for the House to dispose of the Special Motion for which notice was given today, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya is entitled to appear before the House in person, through a legal representative or both, during the consideration of the Motion. Noting that the Special Motion shall be considered on 8th October 2024, I have directed that the Deputy President be notified of his right to appear on the said date, and the allocation of time from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., which is two hours. 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."
}