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{
    "id": 1488819,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1488819/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 37,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Eric Gumbo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, at the beginning of these proceedings, this House invited parties to give indications as to the witnesses they wanted to call. We gave the list of the witnesses whom we thought were relevant for purposes of clarifying what we needed to have clarified. If Counsel for His Excellency the Deputy President did not do as much or did not take advantage of that window that was open, surely they cannot blame us for it. Secondly, and more importantly, yesterday, in the course of deliberations in relation to one of the preliminary questions that had been raised, you gave a very clear ruling on the intendment of Rule 20 of the rules of this House. In particular, the understanding was that every material that was forwarded by the Speaker of the National Assembly to this House constituted evidence in support of the allegations that are the subject of inquiry by this House. It then follows that if the application that learned Senior Counsel, Hon. Paul Muite, is making is to be looked at in its totality, he is actually making an application to amend or to remove certain aspects of the evidence from the record. Mr. Speaker, Sir, that is an issue that you settled and rested yesterday. I do not think it is an issue that is open for reintervention. It should also suffice to note that even on our side, there are affidavits that form part of the record that came from the National Assembly. In particular, there is an affidavit sworn and is in favour of His Excellency, the Deputy President by the joint executors of the Will; that is Mr. Njoroge Regeru together with the other executors. It is part of this record. We have not made an application to have it expunged. We have an opportunity to deal with it when the time comes. Mr. Speaker, Sir, lastly, the nature of the sittings that this House currently is undertaking is quasi-judicial. It is inquisitorial in nature. If that is to be the correct position, then the rules of evidence as we know, it in the court would not necessarily bind the proceedings because what has been presented is a subject of what the hon. Senators will investigate. At the end of it, it is not a judgment they will be giving, but a vote. I rest my case."
}