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{
    "id": 1483282,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1483282/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 44,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Veronica Maina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would persuade you not to take the bait of having to determine these preliminary points or applications for two reasons. They raise such fundamental and weighty points of law and some have, of course, raised issues of fact, whether service was effected or not. If you were to determine these issues, it would bring to a determination of the entire impeachment proceeding. That means you would have abrogated yourself the function of what the Senate is supposed to be doing. Consequently, you should bring these points to a vote by the honourable Members of the Senate. Secondly, there was an application on the issue of protection of a key witness in these proceedings. It is my opinion that that protection should be afforded to a witness who feels vulnerable because of the nature of the offenses that have been brought forth. However, while giving that protection to this witness, there must be a balance as to how that protection is given. For instance, if you are guided by the Witness Protection Act, we could take off the proceedings from camera with respect to that witness, but ensure that Senators have an opportunity to hear the kind of allegations. This will ensure that you balance between the witness not being hidden away from the accused governor and the Senators who are supposed to be judges, and also ensure that the witness is not exposed to an extent that reputational damage would occur, in the event that the evidence she is adducing is true. Whether that evidence is true or not, will be determined after the witness has been heard. We should balance the two, but ensure that the witness is protected because of the nature of the offenses. Mr. Speaker, Sir, with those remarks, I would urge you to allow the Senators to vote on this. I will not---"
}